Part 5 - Silent Killers in Your Home: Polluted Water

We couldn’t live without it—cool, clear water. But, when you grab a glass of water and chug it down, how do you know you’re not doing more harm than good? That beautiful clear fluid that pours out of our faucets can actually be hiding some pretty serious toxins. But since our bodies are 70% water, it’s not like we can just deny ourselves. Water is healthy and healing, but only if it’s clean and clear.

Risky Business

The water that comes into our homes can come from one of two sources—a treatment facility or an underground source. Water from underground sources is usually safer than water from a treatment facility because it doesn’t get exposed to all of the human-generated pollution, such as pesticides, detergents, fertilizers, bacteria, and viruses. However, just because you’re pulling from a well, don’t think you’re safe from contaminants. Ground water can contain toxins from poor-performing septic systems, as well as agricultural run-off and naturally occurring metals, such as copper, arsenic, and lead. The truth of the matter is that standards are pretty loose when it comes to safe drinking water. Just by grabbing a gulp from the sink, you may be consuming heavy metals, cancer-causing chemicals, and toxic waste.

What To Do?

Just like the other silent killers, water toxins can be there without giving any clue as to its presence. The majority of pollutants are odorless and tasteless. So, the real question is—what’s a mom to do? The first step in your line of defense is to have your water tested. There are many test kits available at your local home improvement store.
You can also check out the EPA website, or contact them directly, to find out how your city ranks in healthy drinking water. However, even if your city is healthy, your plumbing may not be. About 10-20% of lead exposure comes from faulty plumbing systems within homes. Be smart and take action right where it counts—in your own home.

Filter It

Even if you don’t think you may be at risk for water pollution, you should still be cautious and install a water filter in your home. There are many options here and one is sure to fit your budget. You can simply pick up a filtered pitcher to keep cool, clean drinking water in your fridge. Or take it a step further and install a filter on your kitchen faucet, or wherever people may be pouring drinking water. Another option is to install an under-the-sink filter that clean all of the water coming from that particular sink. However, if you are super serious about clean water (and cost is not an issue), then you may want to consider installing a whole home water filtration system. This not only filters the water that you drink, but all of the water coming into your home (think clean soft showers and laundry). Whatever your choice, make sure that you your family are enjoying clean, pure water. You deserve it. Health is your birthright!

Read Part 1: Mold

Read Part 2: Carbon Monoxide

Read Part 3: Dust Mites

Read Part 4: Asbestos