Top 5 chemicals you did not expect in your tap water
Picture this. You turn on your tap. Fill the glass with tap water and are about to drink it but you stop yourself for a moment and think.
What’s in the water I’m about to drink and is it safe?
Well, yes it should be safe to drink. People say we have some of the best tap water in the world. The jury is out on that one!
Tap water is not exactly just ‘water’. That's because tap water contains a multitude of hidden contaminants, some of which may very well surprise you.
Here are 5 chemicals you would not expect in your tap water (the last one is a shocker!).
“Forever Chemicals”- That literally NEVER go away 🫣
Meet PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), they’ve already met you, these chemicals stick around forever.
Why are they in your water ?
They were original in firefighting foam to help put out fires and are found in your pans, fabrics, cosmetics and furniture and over time, they’ve seeped into groundwater and found their way into our homes
The craziest part:
They don’t break down (like ever). That’s why scientists have given them the name ‘forever chemicals’.
Chlorine… And it’s sneaky sidekicks 🐍
This next one you probably knew already but did you know it can transform into other chemicals?
How does it work?
Chlorine reacts with natural organic compounds and creates its very own sidekicks like trihalomethanes (THMs for short).
The reason for this:
Unfortunately, this is a kind of ‘necessary evil’ to make tap water safe to drink. As without it, the tap water people drink would be filled with dangerous bacteria that could make you really sick 🤢.
Tiny bits of plastic (we're not kidding)
Microplastics are literally everywhere these days and tap water is no different (and DON’T even get us started on bottled water!)
How do they get there?
Microplastics get into your tap water when larger plastics break down, fibers shed from synthetic clothing, and tiny particles wash into waterways through wastewater and urban runoff.
The part that keeps us up at night is that you can’t see them!
And while they’ve been found in up to 83% of tap water worldwide, scientists are still figuring out what effects they may have on us. So stay tuned… I guess.
Nitrates and Pesticides
If you live anywhere near agricultural areas, this one is particularly relevant. Trace amounts of pesticides and nitrates from fertilizers have been found in our tap water.
How do they get there?
Rain washes them into rivers and groundwater, feeding into our drinking water supplies.
Medication Residue 😷💊
This one’s a shock. Pharmaceutical residuals like antibiotics and hormones have been detected in our tap water.
How?
This is because our bodies don’t fully process medication. It then passes into wastewater and out treatment plants can’t remove everything. The Bottom Line is that our tap water is drinkable but it’s not just water anymore. From PFAS “forever chemicals” to invisible microplastics, there are traces of chemicals that make their way into the water we drink everyday. If you’re someone who wants to drink clean water you can trust, consider one of H2O’s water systems. We remove things like PFAS, chlorine byproducts, and microplastics so you can drink water without stressing about what’s in your glass.
Find out more below!
Fears as more toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in tap water | 7NEWS
PFAS 'forever chemicals' are all around us. What does it mean for our health? - ABC News
Trihalomethanes (THMs) | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
Microplastics are everywhere but there are ways to reduce your consumption - ABC News
Microplastics in water: Occurrence, fate and removal - ScienceDirect
Nitrate and nitrite | Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
Perceived agricultural runoff impact on drinking water - PubMed
What's in Your Tap Water? | Guide for Australian Homes & Health – EcoVenza