Some Facts About the Many Types of Drinking Water Contamination Causes

In our contemporary society, more and more people are becoming concerned about the quality of the water (H2O) they drink. Some question the purity of the municipal water that comes from the tap. There is also debate about how much better, if any, bottled H2O is to drink and to cook with. All this concern may be justified, considering that there are many drinking water contamination causes that are present today.

In older buildings where the pipes have not been replaced for many years, there may be danger that lead and other chemicals can enter the H2O as it passes through. Substances such as copper and cadmium, as well as lead, are toxic and can affect various organs such as the liver and kidneys. These metals also may have adverse effects on children, causing mental and physical impairment.

Many other contaminants may get into the H2O supply from sources such as farms and factories. These inorganic chemicals come from runoff from agricultural processes such as fertilizer usage, and may include arsenic, cyanide, nitrite and nitrate. Industrial wastes such as thallium, barium, chromium and mercury may also find their way into the supply from petroleum and metal refineries as well as the manufacturers of batteries, electronics, glass and plastics.

Some undesirable substances may be added from municipal processing plants in an effort to make the water fit to drink. These include chlorine and chloramines used to kill microbes. Disinfection processes may also produce bromate, possibly increasing the risk of cancer. Another additive in some locales is fluoride, which is added for dental health and cavity prevention but which can also cause health problems, especially in children.

Microscopic organisms such are cryptosporidium, giardia, legionella, and e. Coli bacteria can infect the H2O supply. These microbes can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and other problems. While chlorine and other disinfectants may be used to kill these organisms, the disinfectants can cause health problems themselves.

There are also many organic chemicals which are produced by herbicide runoff from agriculture and by discharge from factories. Dry cleaning facilities and textile finishing factories may also contribute to this problem, as may many other types of businesses and industries. Organic chemicals often affect the liver and kidneys, and many are also known to be carcinogenic.

It is obvious that drinking water contamination causes are many and varied. Quite a few are a result of agriculture and industry. Others result from the efforts of municipal purification facilities to get rid of some problem substances by using other substances which may themselves be a health problem. It does seem to be a good idea for consumers to educate themselves in this area and decide how to obtain more healthy water to drink.