According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 1 in 5 Americans drink water with chloramines. While the EPA does regulate chloramine levels under the Safe Drinking Water Act, chloramine can still negatively affect your health. The result of a study conducted by the Water Quality Association has found byproducts from the use of chloramine such as nitrosamines are suspected of being human carcinogens. These can affect almost all organs, can cross the placenta, and can lead to cell damage. Chloramines also lead to more copper and lead corrosion, which means higher levels of copper and lead in your water, aside from degenerating your water related appliances.

A specialized carbon filter will be installed which, through a process called adsorption, traps the chloramine molecules inside the carbon pores, effectively eliminating chloramine from your water. The carbon forms little pores when activated, and the contaminants become trapped inside these pockets.

Chlorine has been widely used because it is more efficient at disinfecting water, as well as being the least expensive option. Because it is quicker acting, it gets used up very easily, leading to the recent increase in chloramine use as a viable alternative. Chloramine remains in the water longer making it a more effective choice to clean the water. However, because chloramine stays in the water longer than chlorine, it is a lot more corrosive, as well as having its own set of harmful byproducts such as respiratory and immune system problems.

Chlorinating the water supply is something the US has done for well over 100 years in order to treat water borne diseases (www.cdc.gov). In the course of effectively eradicating these diseases, there can be a concern of the effect of chlorine on the taste and smell of water and what it means to your overall health, especially since the government hasn’t changed any regulations or done any testing in over 20 years. Besides for being consumed while drinking, chlorine is easily absorbed through the skin and inhaled while showering. Byproducts are created from chlorine reacting to natural substances in the water, leading to potential health risks such as asthma and increased risk of cancer. One of the primary benefits of a water treatment system is to eliminate chlorine as a contaminant.

The amount of sodium in water varies. You can have sodium in your water naturally, as well as with treated water. Water softeners, for instance, use sodium in exchange for magnesium and calcium. If you are on a sodium restricted diet, just know that the amount of sodium in treated water is less than a single piece of bread. If you have any concerns, our water treatment specialists can answer any questions you have of sodium in your water.

Nitrate is commonly found in animal waste and fertilizers. Nitrate easily travels through groundwater when it rains, and ends up in the water supply. If you are a well owner, your water can be affected by nitrate. Excess levels of nitrate can be harmful to infants, pregnant and nursing women, and livestock.

Lead and copper in outdated plumbing are easily distributed through the tap and into the water you use on a daily basis, and can cause a range of health problems. The Environmental Protection Agency does monitor and treat public water systems for lead if the concentrations reach an unsafe level. However, with some lead and copper still leaching through public water systems, and with the potential of serious health issues, it is important to eliminate all possible levels of lead and copper in the water in your home in order to protect yourself and your family. One such way is through reverse osmosis.

Reverse osmosis effectively removes impurities from your water through the process of forcing the water through a semipermeable membrane. This means that all the minerals and impurities are left behind, leaving only pure, clear water. Reverse osmosis is one of the most common ways to produce fresh drinking water. Because reverse osmosis water removes all the additives such as lead, chlorine, sodium, parasites, and many other harmful bacteria, you are left with the purest form of water possible.