| There are almost an infinite number of contaminants | | | | can give water a rotten egg smell. |
| that can be found in water. Some affect your health, | | | | For detailed information on the major health affect |
| but many don't. Fortunately, not all contaminants are | | | | contaminants check the useful Contaminant Guide on |
| found in an individuals tap water. | | | | the NFS International site. |
| Furthermore, removing contaminants is something like | | | | What Drinking Water Contaminants Concern You? |
| catching fish. Different kinds of fish demand different | | | | The next step to finding the right filter for you is to |
| strategies to catching them. Some are tempted by a | | | | identify the contaminants that concern you. How do |
| certain bait while others are not. Some are best | | | | you go about this? Here are some things to consider |
| caught by hooks and other by nets. In the same | | | | in making a list of contaminants you want to be sure |
| way, there are different kinds of approaches needed | | | | to remove from your drinking water. |
| to remove different kinds of contaminants. | | | | What are the contaminants you are already |
| That's what this article is about. You will begin to | | | | concerned about? You've become aware of them |
| understand the big world of drinking water | | | | through your reading or through talk with friends and |
| contaminants. Then you need to decide which of | | | | neighbors. |
| these do you want to remove from your tap water | | | | Check your Consumer Confidence Report. Every local |
| by filtration. And finally, how to find the kind of filter | | | | community is required by law in the United States to |
| that removes those contaminants. | | | | mail out to their consumers annually a detailed report |
| What Kinds of Drinking Water Contaminants Are | | | | of the state of their water. Identify those |
| There? | | | | contaminants in your tap water that surpass the |
| There are different ways of classifying contaminants. | | | | Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). This is the |
| Following is one way of classifying them. | | | | maximum level of safety set by the EPA |
| - Pathogens are harmful microorganisms which can | | | | (Environmental Protection Agency) of the |
| cause diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid and | | | | contaminants they regulate. They are required to |
| Hepatitis. Bacteria are usually destroyed by water | | | | state in the notes at the end of the chart which, if |
| treatment plants using Chlorine. Viruses and parasites | | | | any, of the contaminants surpass the level of safety |
| such as Cryptosporidium cysts are harder to kill. | | | | and what they are doing about it. |
| - Toxic Minerals are harmful inorganic materials. They | | | | To discover other contaminants that you should be |
| include such minerals as Arsenic, Mercury or Lead. | | | | concerned about, you'll have to do some wide |
| They include also Nitrates and Nitrites which come | | | | reading. The author's web site would be one place to |
| from fertilizers in agricultural areas. | | | | find such information. |
| - Organic Chemicals come from plant or animal | | | | The geographic area you live in may also give you |
| matter, either directly or indirectly, and include | | | | clues to the kinds of contaminants to be alert to. If |
| pesticides, herbicides, paints, fuels, plastics and | | | | you live in a cattle raising area, check out the possible |
| pharmaceuticals. One kind of organic chemicals is | | | | danger of Cryptosporidium cysts in the local water. If |
| called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). | | | | you live in an agricultural area there may be |
| - Radio Active Substances are both minerals and | | | | pesticides or herbicides in the water. If your home is |
| gasses that are sometimes found in nature and | | | | in an industrial area there may be harmful chemicals in |
| sometimes man made. They include such things as | | | | the water. |
| Uranium and Radon which increase the risk of cancer. | | | | How to Find A Filter That Removes the Drinking |
| - Additives are those chemicals that are added to our | | | | Water Contaminants That Concern You? |
| tap water to either make it look better or make it | | | | There's a useful tool on the NSF International site for |
| safer. They are a mixed blessing. One of the most | | | | finding filters that remove the contaminants that |
| common is chlorine which combines with organic | | | | concern you. The NSF is the most respected source |
| chemicals to form toxic chemicals called THMs that | | | | of filter certification. If a filter is certified by NSF it |
| are a serious health threat. | | | | means that they have done thorough testing of that |
| - Taste, Smell, and Appearance include those | | | | filter. They tell you which contaminants have been |
| contaminants that don't affect our health so much as | | | | truly removed by that filter for the entire duration of |
| they are a nuisance. For example, Hydrogen Sulfide | | | | the time claimed for the filter before replacing it. |