Clean water is fundamental to health, but the quality of water from public systems may be less pure than most people realize. While municipal water treatment plants remove many pathogens, they often fail to address contaminants that pose long-term health risks. Substances like halides (flourides, bromides, chlorines), hormones, microplastics, and heavy metals such as lead and chromium highlight the necessity of water filtration. Otherwise, these chemicals and toxins lodge themselves in our tissues as well as hormone receptor sites, festering, causing disease and require heavy detoxing to remove. This can be an unpleasant experience. The best method is always prevention first and foremost. Not letting these things in your body by eliminating them from your envorinment. Unfortunately, we have all been exposed to these things in some way, shape, or form already. It is not just our water, but in our clothing, foods, plasticware, body care products etc. That is where iodine comes in...and also why I make my own body care products! Yes, I know what you might be thinking. But read here to find out why you need it, in fact, everyone does. Even well water, natural springs, and runoff can harbor these contaminants, making filtration important no matter your water source.
Fluoride: A Hidden Danger
Fluoride is commonly added to public water supplies under the assumption that it prevents cavities, but this practice has been increasingly questioned. Research shows that fluoride is not essential for oral health and can pose significant risks when ingested. Excess fluoride exposure is linked to dental and skeletal fluorosis and may impair neurological development. For your teeth, this means flouride buikldup causing yellowing and patchy teeth. For your bones in your skeleton, this means symptoms including joint pain and stiffness, and bones that are weaker than normal. More severe symptoms include bone deformities, increased risk of fractures, and impaired muscles (Science Direct, 2017 and Oxford Academic 2024). A systematic review conducted by the National Toxicology Program found a correlation between prenatal fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children (NTP, 2020). Filtering water is a critical step for minimizing unnecessary fluoride exposure.
Hormones and Pharmaceuticals: An Invisible Threat
Public water systems are not designed to remove hormones and pharmaceutical residues, so they remain in the water after chemically treating the water at the water treatment plants and get redistributed to the city's citizens. Medications like birth control pills, hormone replacement therapies, and antidepressants often make their way into the water supply through wastewater. All of these additional pharmaceuticals and hormones from others is still in the water that you drink. These are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and can disrupt human hormonal systems even at low concentrations. Research published in Environmental Health Perspectives indicates that exposure to EDCs in drinking water can lead to reproductive and developmental health issues (Runnalls et al., 2010).
Even well water and runoff can be contaminated with hormones due to agricultural practices, where livestock waste and fertilizers introduce EDCs into the groundwater. Filtering well water is essential for rural households to avoid these health risks.
Microplastics in Water: A Growing Concern
Microplastics—tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size—are increasingly found in water supplies. These particles enter the environment through degraded plastics and industrial processes, ultimately making their way into tap water, wells, and even natural springs. Studies suggest that microplastics can carry harmful chemicals and may contribute to inflammation, oxidative stress, and toxicity in humans (Koelmans et al., 2019). Public water treatment systems and natural water sources are not equipped to filter out microplastics, underscoring the importance of advanced filtration systems at home. These are commonly called PFAs.
Heavy Metals: Silent and Dangerous
Lead, chromium, and other heavy metals often contaminate water due to industrial pollution and aging infrastructure. However, these metals are not confined to municipal systems. Well water and spring water can also be contaminated through naturally occurring deposits in the earth’s crust, industrial runoff, or agricultural activities. For example, groundwater near farming areas often contains elevated levels of arsenic, lead, or nitrate, all of which pose significant health risks. Chromium-6, a toxic form of chromium, is classified as a probable carcinogen (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2018).
Advanced Filtration Systems: Which Brands Are Best?
Investing in the right water filtration system is essential for addressing these contaminants. Reverse osmosis systems are most thorough. Here are some of the top-rated options:
1. Waterdrop Countertop Reverse Osmosis System (My personal pick)!
- Features a 4-stage filtration process, including reverse osmosis and UV sterilization. Different models also have a carbon filter that collects 73% of PFAS (miscroplastics). The reverse osmosis systems target 1,000 contaminants and residues out of the water. Including viruses, cysts, and other harmful contaminants.
- Effectively removes fluoride, hormones, microplastics, and heavy metals.
- Offers a 3:1 pure-to-drain ratio and requires no installation, making it convenient for home use.
- Removes over 365 contaminants, including fluoride, hormones, microplastics, and heavy metals.
- Combines mechanical filtration, adsorption, and ion exchange.
- Independently tested to meet NSF standards.
- Offers reverse osmosis filtration with 0.0001-micron accuracy.
- Removes up to 99.99% of contaminants, including heavy metals, fluoride, and hormones.
- Includes a built-in booster pump for faster water flow.
In contrast, popular systems like Berkey filters are effective for chlorine, fluoride, and lead but may struggle with contaminants like iron and sulfate. Berkey systems also filter water at a slower rate compared to advanced options like Waterdrop, making them less suitable for comprehensive filtration needs.
Check Your Local Water Quality
For readers who want to understand their local water quality, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers a comprehensive Tap Water Database. This resource allows users to search by state and city to view water quality reports, including detected contaminants and their levels. It is an invaluable tool for identifying potential risks in your water supply and can help you make informed decisions about filtration needs (Environmental Working Group, 2024). For a more thorough analysis, the Water Quality Portal (WQP) aggregates water monitoring data from over 400 agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey and the EPA, allowing users to search for localized water quality data (Water Quality Portal, n.d.).
Why Filtering Matters
Whether your water comes from a municipal source, a private well, or a natural spring, contaminants like fluoride, hormones, microplastics, and heavy metals can still pose a threat. Filtration systems designed to remove these impurities are essential for ensuring the safety and quality of your drinking water.
Conclusion
Water is vital for life, but ensuring it is truly clean and safe requires action. Filtering your water protects against contaminants that public treatment systems, natural springs, and even private wells cannot eliminate. By investing in a reliable water filtration system, and utilizing resources like the EWG’s Tap Water Database to assess local risks, you can give your family the peace of mind that your water supports your health, not harms it.
References
Environmental Working Group. (2024). Tap water database. Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/
Koelmans, A. A., Mohamed Nor, N. H., Hermsen, E., Kooi, M., Mintenig, S. M., & De France, J. (2019). Microplastics in freshwaters and drinking water: Critical review and assessment of data quality. Water Research, 155, 410-422.
National Toxicology Program. (2020). Systematic review of fluoride exposure and neurodevelopmental and cognitive health effects. Environmental Health Perspectives, 128(9), 1-9.
Runnalls, T., Margiotta-Casaluci, L., Kugathas, S., & Sumpter, J. P. (2010). Pharmaceuticals in the environment: Direct effects on reproductive health in aquatic organisms. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118(3), 292-296.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2018). Chromium in drinking water. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/chromium-drinking-water
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