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You cannot see, smell, or taste most
contaminants, but if they are in your water, the potential danger to your
health is staggering. Learn more about:
Bacteria
THE
MOST LIKELY SOURCE OF ACUTE WATER-BORNE DISEASE - E. coli Bacteria and other
potentially dangerous microbes are commonly found in our environment, but they
should not be present in our drinking water. Thousands of cases of bacterial
illness occur every year, many of them fatal. Many strains of bacteria are not
toxic, but some can cause very serious illness. Even mild cases can result in
diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Young
children and those with weaker immunity are more likely to be affected. Since
contaminated water may not taste or smell "bad", most cases of water-borne
disease are not likely to be identified as such. The presence of bacteria in
drinking water indicates that treatment methods are not working properly and
are not adequate to remove all viable microbes. When treatment fails, drinking
water may become potentially toxic. Community water systems take steps to
disinfect drinking water, but they may not become aware of problems until it's
too late. This bacteria was first recognized as a cause of illness in 1982.
Lead
LEAD
FROM PIPES CAN LEACH INTO HOUSEHOLD WATER USED FOR DRINKING, COOKING, AND
WASHING - Many homes and buildings have pipes and plumbing fixtures that
contain lead. Lead can leach from pipes into household water, making this
plumbing a major source of water contamination and a potential source of toxic
lead poisoning. Lead is so toxic that even very low levels may be dangerous.
Lead consumption and poisoning has been linked to many serious illnesses,
especially in young children. Lead can harm mental and physical development
and may cause brain abnormalities, kidney damage and hypertension. As with
other water contaminants, the risks of lead damage are much greater for
children than for adults --families should be particularly concerned about the
health of the water supply. Consumers should test lead levels at each faucet
in the home, especially if the plumbing fixtures could be from the 1980's or
older. Lead from pipes can leach into household water used for drinking,
cooking and washing.
Pesticides
PESTICIDES
ARE COMMONLY FOUND IN DRINKING WATER - Pesticides are deadly chemicals used to
eliminate weeds, insects and other harmful elements in crops. Their pervasive
use, however, has produced its own harm. Now it is not uncommon to find
pesticide contamination in our drinking water. Atrazine and Simazine are two
of the pesticides most commonly found to contaminate drinking water. More than
60 million pounds of these two chemicals are introduced into the environment
each year as herbicides, and left to potentially leak into the soil,
groundwater, and the lakes and rivers that are the sources for the water we
drink. They are so toxic that the EPA-mandated maximum level is equivalent to
less than one drop in a swimming pool. There are laws that require the regular
testing of community water supplies, but they are, in practice, rarely tested.
Now, H2OKits.com brings laboratory-level accuracy within your reach.
Nitrates
and Nitrites
A
COMMON YET INCREDIBLY HARMFULL POLLUTANT ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN AND SMALL
ANIMALS - When animal and human wastes or field fertilizers come into contact
with water, they show up as nitrates and nitrites. Both are serious
contaminants because they affect the very core of human life - birth and the
development of young life. In 1992, when the survey was released, some 22,500
infants drinking domestic well water were estimated to be exposed to levels of
nitrates exceeding the EPA safe drinking water limits; for community systems,
the number was estimated to be 43,500 infants.
Chlorine
DRINKING
CHLORINE IN SMALL AMOUNTS MAY NOT HURT YOU, BUT CHLORINE BY-PRODUCTS CAN - The
consumption of chlorine in very small amounts most likely will not cause you
serious harm. What may be harmful, however, are the by-products, including
chloroform that chlorine produces when mixed with organic matter.
Hardness
WHEN
YOU HAVE HARD WATER, IT CAN TAKE TWICE AS MUCH SOAP TO DO YOUR LAUNDRY - Water
hardness is primarily caused by calcium and magnesium compounds. These
chemicals are not easily detected, but the numerous negative effects can be
unpleasant and costly. When you have hard water it can take twice as much soap
to do your laundry.
pH
KNOWING
THE PH LEVEL OF YOUR WATER CAN HELP YOU PREVENT SECONDARY EFFECTS - If the
acidity of your water is too high, corrosion can leach out lead from pipes and
plumbing as well as damage your water supply system and water heater.
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