How To Improve The Water Quality In Your Home
Improving the water quality in your home is one of the most important ways to reduce your family’s chemical exposure. There have been many studies published about various toxins found at unsafe levels in several US states. Additionally, chemicals with unknown toxicities have been allowed into the water supply for many years. I hope to answer many of the frequently asked questions that arise when discussing this issue with patients.
What does research say about chemicals in drinking water?
A Harvard study found that the water in millions of Americans’ homes contain PFAS, a chemical linked to cancer and immunodeficiencies. For my patients living on the South Shore and Cape Cod area of Massachusetts, more research is coming to light about Cape Cod's drinking water problem.
If your family vacations on Cape Cod in the summer, please be aware that health advisories have been issued due to known, unsafe levels of PFAS. PFAS are also called “forever chemicals” as they never completely degrade due to their strong carbon and flourine chemical bond. Other chemicals such as volatile organic compounds can lead to serious health concerns as noted by the American Lung Association and many other health agencies.
Are other chemicals allowed in the water by the EPA?
In addition to the known risks of certain chemicals at unsafe levels, there are numerous concerns about the complex interaction of hundreds or thousands of chemicals found in the water. The Environmental Protection Agency allows certain chemicals, inorganic, and organic compounds in the water including but not limited to lead, cadmium, mercury, trihalomethanes, and volatile organic compounds.
Safety limits for many of these chemicals have not been updated for years. Additionally, established standards do not exist for the total upper limits of exposure when considering all of these contaminants together. You can use the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database to assess the drinking water in any state including Massachusetts.
Who is responsible for safe drinking water?
All of the above information may lead you to ask: Who is in charge of making sure our water is safe? Water utility companies in addition to local, state, and federal government agencies are responsible for water safety. However, the cost to fix some of the known pollution issues is prohibitive and there are many elected officials that support industries that continue to pollute our water.
The priority of utility companies is to treat and eliminate harmful microorganisms in the water leading to acute health concerns such as harmful bacteria overgrowth. We have not reached a point in time where all of these agencies and governing bodies are prioritizing the removal of small amounts of pollutants that affect long-term health.
Should I drink my tap water if I am trying to conceive, pregnant, or nursing?
The study on Cape Cod’s drinking water found the levels of contamination to be unsafe for pregnant women, nursing mothers, as well as babies due to potential developmental issues arising from the ingestion of these chemicals. Additionally, many chemicals have now been linked to various endocrine disorders including endometriosis. Research studies have also linked high levels of BPA, chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and organophosphate pesticides to PCOS, infertility, and less successful IVF cycles.
Given the complexity of water safety, most people then ask: What can I do to protect my family? If you have a young or growing family, this is the perfect time to consider having your drinking water tested.
Should I test my drinking water?
Yes! Don’t purchase a water filter until you know what needs to be filtered out. You can request a free copy of your town’s or utility’s water report which may give you a sense of what may be in your water. While these reports are a helpful guide, they will give you limited information.
Ultimately, you will have to pay an independent laboratory to complete a comprehensive analysis. Not all companies are the same when it comes to testing the water. Be wary of companies that also sell water filters as this is a conflict of interest. One company that offers various types of water tests is National Testing Laboratories.
Home drinking water tests average about $250 depending on the extensiveness of the test and the number of areas you want to test in your home. You can customize the test depending on the number of locations you would like or if you are concerned about a particular chemical (such as asbestos).
What type of water filter should I buy for our home?
Once you receive the results of your lab test, you will need to decide what type of filter to buy. Many options exist, including whole house systems, bath and shower filters, outdoor hoses, as well as filters just for drinking water at a specific tap. For any water filter purchase, make sure it is National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) certified.
Double check that your plumber is familiar with the system you intend to purchase or that the company can provide excellent customer support should any issues arise with installation. You can also order a copy of the The Drinking Water Book by Colin Ingram for about $15. The book provides an extremely comprehensive look at all the various issues affecting our drinking water today, as well as an unbiased and thorough review of available water filters. This is probably one of the best resources that I have found on the subject of water. Good luck testing!
More About OMBE
OMBE is celebrating 15 years of service in Massachusetts! Additionally, we are now scheduling in-person acupuncture sessions for our South Shore and Cape Cod clients. Telehealth consultations are available for all of our Massachusetts clients living in the Boston area, North Shore, and Western Massachusetts.
Learn more about us, read our organic health philosophy, or schedule an appointment. Contact us for any questions about appointment scheduling, acupuncture services, or integrative medicine. We look forward to hearing from you!