There has been a lot of concern lately about water contaminated with lead. Since the disaster in Flint, Michigan occurred, where its citizens were exposed to lead in their drinking water, a number of alarming reports have been published about high levels of lead in drinking water throughout the United States. There are a number of other heavy metals that can be just as devastating as lead. Those metals are: aluminum, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, mercury, selenium, and silver. In high concentrations, essential metals like cobalt, copper, manganese and zinc are also undesirable. While these metals haven’t gotten near as much publicity, they do pose a serious health threat.
The sources of these metals vary. They can come from the treatment plant in your community. Metals can also be dissolved from the storage tanks, pumps and piping leading to your home. Your own plumbing can be a source of heavy metal contamination. Often, water heaters have what are known as sacrificial aluminum rods designed to corrode instead of the water heater tank. That is why you should never use water from a hot water tank to drink or cook with.
How can you remove the heavy metals in your water?
First, if you are connected to a public water supply, request the most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from you water supplier. This will give you a snapshot of the water coming from the treatment plant. Knowing the quality of the water leaving the plant is only part of the picture. There is still the entire distribution system before it reaches your home. Then, you have your own plumbing system to evaluate.
Unfortunately, the test kit to measure heavy metals is nearly as expensive as getting a device to remove them. The benefits of getting a filter capable of removing heavy metals is they will remove so much more. Often these devices are a multi-stage system that will filter out heavy metals along with chlorine, fluoride, bacteria and viruses. Plus, they will remove repulsive tastes and odors.
You can get a system for the whole house or you can go with a point of use device for just drinking and cooking. A whole house system will connect to the main water line coming into the home. They are fairly easy to install and some companies provide installation kits. Point of use devices will connect right on the countertop or under the sink.
One of the benefits of a home water filtration unit is you will enjoy the taste of the water coming out of the tap. You will end up drinking more water instead of flavored drinks to quench your thirst, which will have a positive effect on your health and well-being.
