Have you ever looked at the water coming out of your faucet and wondered: “What exactly is in that?” With all the chemicals and contamination in the world, you’d have to think there is something “extra” in your tap water, right? After all, we wouldn’t spend $3.50 at the gas station for that bottle of glacier-sourced ultra-pure magic-water without good reason…
Before “diving in” allow us to preface this article on tap water safety by saying that extreme examples of water contamination exist. Thankfully, these disasters are few and far between.
While there is a ton of information available on water treatment, our goal is to address the safety of common tap water additives. There are thousands of articles and videos online endorsing or denouncing these commonly-found ingredients. We’d like to take a different approach, and have an honest discussion about the good and not-so-good of these mystery chemicals.
So, let’s get our feet wet with the four ingredients you’re most likely to find in your tap water.
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Fluoride
What is it?
Fluoride is an odorless, tasteless, naturally-occurring chemical found in tap water around the world. Heavily used in toothpaste, fluoride is one of the most abundant elements on earth.
Why is it in my water?
Simply put, fluoride helps protect your teeth from wear and tear. Years of biting, chewing, and drinking take their toll on your biters, and fluoride supports the preservation of enamel, protecting you from painful decay and cavity issues.
Is it safe?
There’s plenty of evidence showing fluorides effectiveness. But, it’s also been demonstrated that too much can be seriously harmful. Concerned citizens around the world have contested the addition of fluoride to the public water supply, with mixed results. As of 2018, the majority of tap water has either natural or artificially added fluoride.
Our recommendation? Use a fluoride-reducing filter if you’re concerned about consuming too much.
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Lead
What is it?
Just like fluoride, lead is a naturally-occurring element that has been used in a variety of man-made products, including paint, piping, and fossil fuels. It’s durable and flexible nature makes it very popular for manufacturing purposes.
Why is it in my water?
Up until 1986, lead was heavily used in the piping for residential and public plumbing. Over time, it can break down and leak into the water supply.
Is it safe?
In short, no. Lead is extremely toxic, and unsafe for human or animal consumption. Symptoms of lead poisoning include abdominal pain, vomiting, and fatigue. If left untreated, lead poisoning can be fatal. Scientific evidence combined with public outcry led the EPA to ban the majority of lead used for plumbing purposes.
If you have an older home, we strongly suggest speaking to a professional plumber about potentially updating your plumbing to a safer material.
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Chlorine
What is it?
One of the most abundant elements on earth, chlorine has a variety of sources and even more uses. Available as a gas, liquid, or solid, chlorine is widely used as a disinfecting agent, as its design lends itself very well to fighting bacteria.
Why is it in my water?
Due to its contamination-fighting prowess, the EPA requires that all drinking water contain a detectable amount of chlorine for public health purposes.
Is it safe?
As with anything added to our water, there has been a small amount of debate about chlorine’s safety. However, in the concentrations you’ll find in your tap water, chlorine appears to be perfectly fine. If anything, it’s beneficial, thanks to its ability to kill micro-organisms and potentially harmful bacteria.
In fact, chlorine seems to be so effective, some industry experts consider water chlorination one of the greatest public health initiatives in history.
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Phosphorus
What is it?
Phosphorus is a mineral found throughout nature (though it must be isolated artificially) that is essential to life. Today, phosphorus is produced as a by-product of large-scale agriculture and industrial manufacturing.
Why is it in my water?
Phosphates are added to public water systems to fight corrosion in the piping. In turn, these keep the metal pipes from breaking down and leeching metal into your tap water.
Is it safe?
As we mentioned above, phosphorus is essential to life, and it would appear that getting some in your drinking water is perfectly fine. The FDA has been quoted saying phosphorus is “generally recognized as safe.” The amounts added to public water systems is reportedly low enough that it poses little or no threat to the health of you and your family.
Despite click-bait articles and heavy-handed Netflix documentaries, it seems that tap water is perfectly safe for most of us. Ironically, the purity of your tap water is much more heavily regulated that the water that goes into that expensive bottled stuff we mentioned before. So, before you go spending hundreds of dollars on filters and bottled H20, pour yourself a glass of good ol’ tap water. You just might like it.
If you’re concerned your home’s plumbing may be outdated and potentially hazardous, contact us today. For over 30 years, we’ve been providing residential and commercial plumbing services for St. Louis and surrounding communities. From simple drain clogs to full-scale remodels, we have the expertise and experience to get the job done right.
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