Is your tap water safe to drink?
Did you know that your tap water is federally regulated? There are rules and regulations about keeping the water “safe” straight from the EPA. However, there are still quite a few chemicals added to our water supply that may make you second guess how safe it is. While I do believe that clean water has contributed to healthier people and communities, be aware of what is actually in our tap water and how we can protect ourselves from unnecessary toxins.
Chemicals In Tap Water
Fluoride– Added to the water supply to “protect” our teeth. Fluoride dosages cannot be controlled. Studies on animals have shown that fluoride calcifies the pineal gland leading to the onset of early puberty, reduced melatonin production (which studies show leads to Alzheimer’s), abnormal thyroid function, anxiety, and abnormal adrenal function. Just to name a few 🙂
Aluminum– Naturally comes from soil and rock into the water source and at low levels is not harmful to your health. Aluminum becomes toxic when it’s mixed with other water treatment chemicals and leaches into the drinking water from cement mortar pipes or linings. Ingesting large amounts of aluminum has been linked to diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons.
Chromium – Is a mineral that in trace amounts is good for the body, but many public water systems have amounts that are toxic. Too much chromium could lead to irregular heartbeat, poor sleep, headaches, mood changes, and allergic reactions. In more serious cases it could lead to kidney or liver damage.
Nitrate – Naturally nitrate shows up in drinking water. Safe levels are less than 3mg/L and is concerning when levels rise. High levels of nitrate over 10mg/L are usually a result if leakage and runoff. Fertilizer, wastewater, landfills, or septic system runoff are common contributors of excess nitrate. Nitrates are difficult to remove from the water supply and reverse osmosis is one of the few ways to eliminate it from drinking water. While uncommon, nitrates can cause weakness, fatigue, dizziness, or increased heart rate.
Find out what is in your water
If you want to know exactly what is in your water, you can go to the EWG website !
A simple solution is to filter your water. It is an easy and inexpensive way to remove toxins from your home. Our bodies require water to function, so why not make it the best? I recommend products such as Aquacera or Berkey to help keep your drinking water fresh. If you have a larger budget a reverse osmosis system is ideal. Water filtration systems will not remove 100% of the toxins from your water supply, it does make it substantially better than what purely comes out of the tap.
Impurities in our water supply can significantly affect our health. While cleaner water has impacted our world for the better, you need to continue to be your own advocate. Checking your municipalities water levels, filtering in your home and steering clear of high levels of toxins will help prevent health concerns whether they are severe or not.
I empower you to take your health into your hands! Is your tap water safe to drink?
If you are interested in learning more about household toxins check out courses.