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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,
Watersafe® 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.
Order Online or By
Phone Toll Free:
1-888-H2OKITS (426-5487)
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