One of the best reasons not to drink tap water, no matter what your government or municipality tell you, is the presence of microbial pathogens and chemical pollutants in the water.
Inefficient cleaning of drinking water is generally to blame for this, and this has led to many communities, especially in rural areas, experiencing various water-related health problems from their drinking water which has been found to be infiltrated with microbial pathogens such as Vibrio cholera and Escherichia coli, derived from human and animal faeces.
Microbial pollutants are not the only pollutants to worry about though, because even in the most developed countries, including the UK, chemical pollutants such as halogenated organics, heavy metals and pesticides that have toxic or carcinogenic effects have been found in the drinking water. Bacteria, conductivity, turbidity and total organic carbon has also been found in contaminated water.
During the recent National Water Week 2016 in South Africa, themed “Water for people—Water by people†the drinking water in Lochiel, located in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality, was tested in response to community complaints. A community-engaged project was initiated after the problems were seen first-hand by Unisa professors Mhlanga and Bhekie Mamba.
The project has been funded by the NRF Nanotechnology Flagship, Water Research Commission, the Department of Science and Technology/Mintek Nanotechnology Flagship and Ghent University. Green synthesis structure and recyclable nanostructures are being used in order to improve sustainability and purify large quantities of water with small amounts of the nanomaterials.
While this study was done in South Africa, recent studies in various other parts of the world have also found various chemicals and pesticides in the drinking water, including in the US and the UK. The only way to really ensure that your drinking water is virtually as pure as spring water is to invest in a mains water cooler that is fitted with triple activated carbon filter such as those sold by Living-Water.
