What are the risks of drinking tap water?

There are many risks associated with drinking tap water. Despite our desperate need for water, almost all water sources are contaminated and present significant health risks. Below we have outlined what to look out for when drinking tap water and the best options for staying hydrated.

The hard facts about drinking tap water

Over the past century, the widespread use of chemicals in agriculture and large industries has contaminated every water source on the planet. Traces of toxic synthetic chemicals can even be found in the polar ice caps and the Arctic Ocean. Despite our ingenuity, we are literally destroying our supply of two of the most essential elements of life.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are over 700 chemicals in our drinking water, and this includes "clean" water sources such as wells and springs. Of all the dangerous chemicals found in drinking water, chlorine and fluoride are two of the most prominent.

What are the risks of chlorine in drinking water?

The three most common types of chlorine used in water treatment are: chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite.

The Water Quality and Health Council has written extensively that chlorination of drinking water protects consumers from diseases caused by waterborne microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, and that only chlorine-based disinfectants can provide large-scale residual protection from the drinking water treatment plant to the tap.

However, the risks appear to far outweigh the benefits, with studies showing that repeated exposure to trace amounts of chlorine in water is associated with higher rates of bladder, rectal and breast cancers. The problem is that chlorine can interact with organic compounds in fresh water to produce trihalomethanes (THMs), which when ingested, promote the growth of free radicals that can destroy or damage vital cells in the body. In addition to cancer, exposure to THMs has been linked to other health problems, including asthma, eczema, heart disease and higher rates of miscarriage and birth defects.

What are the risks of fluoride in drinking water?

Water authorities add fluoride to municipal water supplies because studies have shown that adding fluoride to areas with low levels of fluoride in the water can reduce the incidence of tooth decay in the local population.

However, concerns have arisen about the health effects of fluoride, including problems with the development of bones, teeth and the nervous system. Overexposure to fluoride can lead to a bone disease known as skeletal fluorosis. Over the years this can lead to pain and damage to bones and joints.

Other effects of increased exposure and consumption of fluoride may include.

Acne and other skin problems

Cardiovascular problems, including atherosclerosis and arterial calcification, hypertension, heart muscle damage, cardiac insufficiency and heart failure

Reproductive problems, such as reduced fertility and early puberty in girls

Thyroid dysfunction

Disorders affecting joints and bones, such as osteoarthritis, bone cancer and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)

Neurological problems that can lead to ADHD