If you think the water you are drinking is just H2O, think again!

According to some studies, an astonishing 75,000 chemical compounds have been found in our water, yet the EPA has established enforceable safety standards for only 87. Many of these chemicals are potentially harmful and can spawn health problems. According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, nearly one million people get sick from drinking contaminated water each year with about 1,000 cases tragically ending in death.

Often using outdated technology, many municipalities simply weren’t built to handle the influx of modern-day contaminants. A host of pollutants such as pesticides, herbicides, and toxic waste from landfills, chemical and oil spills; acid rain and more find their way into our water supplies.

THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK

Most often this water is treated with chlorine or chloramines to control bacterial growth, which, according to some health experts, may also contribute to illness.

Even if the water that leaves the treatment plants meets EPA minimum safety standards, health threats don’t stop there. The water may pass through unsafe water lines that recontaminate it on the way to your home.

Examine your pipes and those of water distribution systems and you’ll find the insides of some of these pipes caked with mineral, biological and chemical deposits. In some cases the pipes themselves may leach copper and lead! Another threat lurking inside older water pipes is bio-film, composed of layers of bacteria that can harbor pathogens like E. coli.

And don’t think well water is any safer because ground water pollutants may also seep into that source. Add to that the chlorine and other chemicals commonly used to treat well water, and you have drinking and cooking water that is chemically altered.

The sad truth is harmful chemicals compromise our water supply. EPA standards require water treatment plants to reduce certain contaminants. Annual reports issued by the EPA for 2002 indicate that there were 80,635 documented violations nationwide. When violations occur, “boil water” alerts are issued but, by then, you may have already consumed contaminated water.

You have to ask yourself the question, “Over the course of my life, how will these chemicals and trace pollutants affect my health and that of my family?” Consider what this means if, over the course of your life, you drink approximately 13,000 gallons of water. There could be undetected contaminants in each glass you drink having a cumulative affect on your health for the worse. That’s why it’s so important you make doubly sure the water you drink is pure. You can take control of your water quality today and enjoy peace of mind.