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Water is Not Just H2O

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Water is Not Just H2O
WATER 101

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what else could be in your water?

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created standards to allow water to be classified as potable (drinkable) even if it does have traces of other elements in it. The US EPA is a source of current, reputable research about:

  • Drinking water
  • Water bodies
  • Wastewater and water treatment

The safe water drinking act

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was established to protect the quality of drinking water in the U.S. This law focuses on all waters actually or potentially designed for drinking use, whether from above ground or underground sources. 

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Minimum standards

The SDWA authorizes the EPA to establish minimum standards to protect tap water and requires all owners or operators of public water systems to comply with these primary, health-related standards.

Under the Act, EPA also establishes minimum standards for state programs to protect underground sources of drinking water from endangerment by underground injection of fluids.

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Continued Development

The 1996 amendments to the SDWA require that EPA consider a detailed risk and cost assessment, and best available peer-reviewed science, when developing these standards.  

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Secondary standards

State governments, which can be approved to implement these rules for EPA, also encourage the attainment of  secondary standards that are nuisance related.

Categories and Sources of Contaminants

Contaminants can enter a water source in multiple ways. Click the markers below to learn more. 

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Underground Aquifers

Municipalities draw water from:

  • Underground aquifers
  • Lakes or rivers
  • Both

Rainwater picks up acidity from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As it percolates through soil and rock, it dissolves minerals along the way, such as limestone.

Aquifers can sometimes contain bacteria that feed on dissolved metals such as iron. Hydrogen sulfide gas (which can be detected by the “rotten egg” smell) can also be present.

Water from these aquifers tends to be high in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), especially “hard” minerals such as calcium and magnesium that cause limescale.

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Lakes or Rivers

Through the natural process of the water cycle, water can pick up gasses, sediment, and organics. These eventually find their way into lakes and rivers which can pick up:

  • Organic material such as algae blooms, leaves, and dead animals.
  • Colloids, which are particles so small they stay suspended in water – examples include bacteria, cysts, ferric iron and tiny dirt particles.
  • Chemicals from industrial pollutants.

Municipalities also add chlorine gas to water as a disinfectant to ensure safe drinking water.

  • Chlorine adds a distinctive “pool” smell to water and an off taste.
  • Chlorine is also very corrosive to metals.
  • The use of chloramines by municipalities is growing in popularity, as they can last longer in the service lines and lead to fewer disinfection byproducts.
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The amount of chlorine or chloramines can vary depending on the distance from the municipal source and the dose applied. Sometimes municipalities will add additional chlorine or chloramines to “shock” the water if there are high safety concerns.

Silt, sediment, and other minerals can build up inside water mains and household plumbing. Also, it's possible for these contaminants to enter the system if a water main breaks or is repaired. Homeowners relying on a private well should be aware that even in unpolluted areas there may be containments that occur naturally in the groundwater.

Categories of Contaminants

Physical
Biological
Chemical
Radiological
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Physical contaminants primarily impact the physical appearance or other physical properties of water. Examples of physical contaminants are sediment or organic material suspended in the water of lakes, rivers and streams from soil erosion.

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Biological contaminants are organisms in water. They are also referred to as microbes or microbiological contaminants. Examples of biological or microbial contaminants include:

  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Protozoa
  • Parasites
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Chemical contaminants are elements or compounds. These contaminants may be naturally occurring or man-made. Examples of chemical contaminants include:

  • Nitrogen
  • Bleach
  • Salts
  • Pesticides
  • Metals
  • Toxins produced by bacteria
  • Human or animal drugs
  • PFOA/PFOS
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Radiological contaminants are chemical elements with an unbalanced number of protons and neutrons resulting in unstable atoms that can emit ionizing radiation. Examples of radiological contaminants include:

  • Cesium
  • Plutonium
  • Uranium

Possible Contaminants

Frequent testing and monitoring are key to ensuring water is safe. Municipal authorities monitor levels of dangerous contaminants like arsenic and lead. Well water should be tested periodically to ensure the levels remain in a safe zone. 

Municipal Water Contaminants

Possible water contaminants you may experience if your water comes from a municipality include: 

  • Hardness
  • Chlorine
  • Chloramine
  • Fluoride
  • Lead
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Well Water Contaminants

Possible well water contaminants include: 

  • Hardness
  • Sulfur
  • Iron/Manganese
  • Bacteria and Viruses
  • High Acidity
  • Tannins
  • Nitrates
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What's in your water?
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