Why Take Your Water Safety Seriously in 2022

After the events of 2020, our society has become smarter when it comes to asking important questions about health issues. Today, we want to know everything about where our resources come from and make sure that everyone involved in our supply chain is taking the necessary measures to guarantee our families are only getting high-quality and safe water and food.

Given what we know about the number of chemicals our tap water contains, the number of Americans filling up their glasses right from their faucets or washing their hands and food with tap water should surprise us. Little do they know that every glass of water might contain a dangerous amount of harmful elements with negative cumulative effects on their bodies. The most common of these chemicals is lead, a neurotoxin that is proven to lower IQ and induce several behavioral disorders. Shockingly, many studies have found unsafe concentrations of these elements in various sources around the Country.

Fortunately, year after year people have developed a healthy distrust in their water sources, making sure they ask the right questions to our authorities and experts. A study showed that tap water avoidance has been on the rise since 2017, right after the Flint water crisis. Today, 40% more adults declare that they won't drink water directly from their faucets, and 63% more children now share the same sentiment.

Interestingly enough, catastrophic events are not the only drivers of this hesitancy. Even good-natured campaigns showing the benefits of boiling water cause people to be aware of what they put into their bodies. In other words, every time something makes us think about where our water comes from, we become aware of how little we know about the subject.

Unfortunately, this can have some negative effects as well.

For example, children who avoid drinking water often have all their liquid intake from sugary drinks that can cause other problems such as obesity or dental cavities.

Even with healthy dietary habits, families who want to stay healthy feel forced to buy bottled water which has its own problems due to certain toxins being liberated in their water from plastic sources. This only changes one problem for another without really addressing the issue at hand.

To properly assess the problem, and come up with sensible solutions, we need to understand the source of the problem.

What Makes Tap Water Unsafe?
While not all tap water is unsafe, many elements can affect its quality during its journey from the source to our homes. The quality of the water is determined by taking samples and comparing them to toxicity charts provided by authorities and experts. But there is a catch: collecting water samples is like taking a picture; you will only know its quality and contents on a given day and hour. It will not register fluctuations due to recent changes due to irrigation, agricultural activities, or even pipe decay. This means that even if the latest measurement of water quality finds “acceptable” toxin levels, that does not mean that water stays that way during the whole year.

Water composition can fluctuate over long periods or even seasons.

So, it is not uncommon to find unacceptable levels of contaminants in our tap water, shortly after we have it tested. Among the most common pollutants, we find are those called “per and polyfluoroalkyl substances” or PFAS. These chemicals have become extremely difficult to eradicate from our water sources because they are found in products people tend to use every day. They´re not only used in pesticides, paints, and industrial products, but also fast-food packaging, non-stick cookware, and even shampoos. This means that the water we use to wash them away ultimately penetrates the soil and can potentially come in contact with our water sources.

They are also called "forever chemicals" because they are nearly impossible to break down. Once we consume them, they stay with us forever, and they are linked to several health problems according to several studies.

And it is not just lead that poses a health hazard. On average, 15% of tests carried out by the EPA find unacceptable levels of arsenic and other dangerous elements such as nitrates and pesticides.

How Does Lead End Up in Our Tap Water?
Even though several studies show that water treatment can reduce the concentration of lead in tap water, there are many reasons why this contaminant can still get into our water supply.

The most important source of lead in tap water is aging inner pipes that have not been replaced for decades. Even though these can be found in both public and private sources, the latter usually pose a much higher risk, since many Americans still rely on private water wells.

Of course, aging pipes in public water systems can also cause the release of lead into our tap water through corrosion. If you live in a place that has a great number of older houses or buildings with lead pipe installation, then your probability of having high levels of lead in your water is considerable.

How Can You Improve The Quality Of Your Water?
Many families choose to purchase large supplies of bottled water. However, as stated before, this only shifts the nature of the harmful substances that might get into their bodies.

One other solution is to buy pitchers of water jugs with disposable filter cartridges. However, apart from the obvious waste generated when changing the cartridges, the real problem is that these limited water filter systems do not take care of the water used for cooking or washing our hands and consumables.

The only real solution is to install the best under-sink water filter, namely our Everpure H104. It allows families to have more control over the quality of the water they consume and are a lot more efficient in terms of sustainability in the long run. The Everpure H104 water filtration systems have proven to be extremely effective for filtering out harmful PFAS while providing great-tasting water for your family in a sustainable and energy-efficient way.

If you have any questions about PFAS in your water, or about the specific capabilities of our Everpure H104 water filter systems, please feel free to contact us at info@efilters.net.