Contaminants found most often in Twin Cities drinking water

“What’s in your drinking water?” This question was asked recently by The Washingtonian in a very well-written article which focused on the quality of water in and around Washington, D.C. The city gets its water from the Potamac River, a surface water source (Minneapolis and St Paul get theirs from another surface source, the Mississippi River). The article noted:

In tests conducted by the USGS between 2003 and 2005, trace amounts of 26 chemical compounds were detected in Potomac River water, including the herbicide 2,4-D, a component of Agent Orange, and insecticides including DEET. Atrazine, a chemical commonly used in weed killers, has been associated with intersex in amphibians and has been found in many rivers, including the Potomac. Studies revealed that male frogs exposed to atrazine produce eggs in their testes, the same phenomenon seen with intersex fish.

The whole article can be read by clicking here.

Haferman Water Conditioning makes sure to know what’s in your drinking water, and how to best remove these foreign objects. There are many different contaminants that can be found in tap water, and here are some of the most common:

Arsenic

The level of arsenic in groundwater widely varies, and is the result of rock formations that contain the contaminant. Very low levels are not harmful, but high levels can damage skin and increase the risk of cancer.

Nitrate

This is a chemical found most often in manure, fertilizers and the liquid waste emptied from septic tanks. Nitrate often affects well water systems that are shallow, not very well constructed or not properly located. If ingested, it can be hazardous, especially for small children and pregnant women.

Microorganisms

Microorganisms include bacteria and viruses that can cause illness, and death in the most severe cases. The microorganisms found in drinking and tap water are the result of animal and human waste products washed into bodies of water. These are usually treated by municipal water systems, so it’s rare to find a case of contamination from these microbes. Water systems are required to test for contaminants that can indicate waste products, including e. coli and coliform, which are not permitted in public drinking water supplies.

Other common contaminants

• Radioactivity (Radon)
• Methane
• Lead
• Chromium
• Calcium
• Aluminum
• Chloride
• Fluoride

Please visit our page on Twin Cities Kinetico Water Filters for more information.