Problems Arising from Drinking Water Contaminants

All forms of drinking water including bottled water contain contaminants. Drinking water contaminants is not necessarily harmful as each contaminant has a specific level, which is acceptable. When the contaminants in drinking water go beyond certain levels, however, there is cause for concern. There are many types of contaminants present in drinking water and while some are harmful to the system, others are simply an indication that there are other more serious problems at work. Forms of contaminants found in drinking water include microbes, radio nuclides, inorganic contaminants, synthetic organic contaminants, volatile organic contaminants, disinfectants and disinfectant byproducts. There is a large amount of contaminants within these categories of various safety levels. There are generally standards set on the water supplies which mean that they have to ensure that the levels of contaminants in the drinking water are controlled to an acceptable and non-dangerous level.

Drinking water needs to have consistent tests for contaminants and in particular the levels of contaminants in order to ensure that the water is safe to drink. If something harmful is present in the water then the source of the problem needs to be identified and then dealt with before any harm is done.

Dangerous Contaminants in Drinking Water

There are some forms of contaminants that are harmful to the water supply and to the people who are using the water. E-coli can occur when human or animal wastes are contaminating the water supply. The short-term affects can include nausea and diarrhea. Radon gas can dissolve into water and increase the risk of lung cancer in the people who drink from the water supply. Lead piping in older buildings can seep lead substances into the water causing the most problems for children and pregnant women.

Disinfectants are sometimes added to water supplies to kill germs but they can lead to problems either directly from the disinfectant itself or from the reaction between the disinfectant and organic substances in the water. The effects can vary from slight irritation to increased risk of disease. Although all of this is cause for concern, the water supply boards are generally quick at finding the problem and treating it. Serious problems tend to be rare and caused by unforeseen circumstances. It is not usual for a water supply to experience seriously high levels of contaminants and toxins, at least not enough to cause detrimental harm. Many of the contaminants in drinking water only cause harm over a long-term basis and water supplies are generally treated frequently to avoid long-term harm caused by any source or substance.