Chemical impurities in water

We give below the most common chemical contaminants found in water. Each of
these chemical contaminants is described in detail including how the chemical
effects our health.

Iron in drinking water

Iron causes a rusty or metallic taste in water and it can also stain clothes. Iron in
water is not harmful to human health, but water containing iron salts can have a
bad taste and may be discoloured. Iron and manganese occur naturally and most
ground water has some amount of dissolved iron and manganese. Aeration (the
addition of air to the water), Green Sand filtration, chlorination, and dosing
hydrogen peroxide or Potassium permanganate are some of the remedies to get
rid of Iron. RO will remove dissolved Iron and Manganese.

Dangerous chemicals in drinking water

Salts of Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium-6, Lead, Mercury, Selenium, and
Silver are regulated by the EPA and almost all drinking water standards of the
world including the Indian water standards for drinking water. These water
standards assign a maximum contaminant value usually expressed in parts per
million or mg per liter. Even though Aluminium is not in the regulated lists of
WHO, EPA, etc. there has been links of Aluminium to diseases like Alzheimer's and
dementia. So we have included it in our list of dangerous chemicals in drinking
water.

Aluminium in drinking water

Aluminum in water is not regulated but recent research has revealed a link between
aluminum intake and possible adverse effects on human health and its possible role
as a cause of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. With these doubts being
raised it will be a wise decision to not use Aluminum cooking vessels. In this
respect we must also point out that almost universally, in all municipal size plants,
Aluminium Sulphate or Alum is used as a coagulating agent for the sedimentation
of suspended solids. For sure some of this aluminum will be present in the
municipal supplied waters. So an RO water purifier is the safest bet against all
water problems.

Fluorides in drinking water

Fluorides are chemicals that contain the element fluorine. Fluorides occur in many
water sources naturally. In some countries fluorides are added to drinking water as
a health supplement for the protection of teeth and bones. Fluoride in water in very
small quantities, about 1 to 1.5 mg per Liter or ppm - parts per million, is
beneficial to health, but any excess is not good for health.

Many toothpaste manufacturers add it in the toothpaste to protect the teeth against
cavities. The EPA has set a maximum limit of Fluorides in water as 4 mg per Liter
or ppm. Excess fluorides in water can have harmful effects ranging from
discoloration or pitting of teeth to bone and skeletal damage. RO water filter
purifier for removing Fluorides in water is the most effective treatment.

Nitrates in drinking water

The most common way Nitrates, Nitrites and Ammonia gets into our water
sources, is due to the leakage or seepage of fertilizers or farm and animal wastes
into the ground water sources. Nitrates in water are especially dangerous to infants
under 6 months, causing 'methemoglobinemia' or the blue baby syndrome due to
the infants blood not being able to carry enough Oxygen from their lungs to their
body. Adults may also be affected by nitrates and nitrites in water due to the
formation of chemicals called nitrosamine in the digestive tract. The EPA has set a
maximum limit for Nitrates in water as 10 mg per Liter or ppm measured as NO3
or Nitrate. RO water filter purifier for removing Nitrates in water is the most
effective treatment.

Organic Chemicals in drinking water

Organic chemicals in water make the water smell or taste bad and also give it some
discoloration. These impurities of water can vary from pesticides, petroleum
products and other various toxic chemicals. Chlorine which is used to keep water
free of bacteria, causes another problem by reacting with some organic material in
the water to form harmful chemicals like Chloroform, Trimethohalanes (TMHs),
Haloacetic Acids (HAA), Trihalomethanes (THMs) and other "Disinfection by-
products" (DBPs) or "Chlorination Disinfection by-products" (CBPs), which are all
environmental pollutants and many considered 'carcinogenic', or suspected of
causing Cancer. Activated Carbon filters are very effective in getting rid of such
impurities in water which normally occurs in minute quantities.

Heavy Metals in Water

way of getting rid of heavy metals in drinking water is with an RO water purifier.
We have a dedicated page The common toxic heavy metals in water are Arsenic,
Cadmium, Chromium, Lead and Mercury. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals is the
main cause of toxicity to heavy metals, because human beings cannot get rid of the
heavy metals consumed, which in small quantities are not that harmful. the most
effective on the toxic heavy metals

RADON or Radioactive drinking water

Certain minerals are radioactive and people who drink water containing it over
many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer. Radon is naturally
occurring and ground waters in some areas of India may be contaminated with it.
The only way to be certain is to get the ground or well water tested. Activated
Carbon filters are very good for the removal of radon from water supplies and it is
the most common way to reduce Radon in the water. RO water filter purifier for
removing Radons or radio active materials in water is the most effective treatment.