Common Water Pollutants and How to Handle Them
Despite the authorities’ best efforts, pollutants still contaminate our drinking water, be them organic or inorganic.
Ironically, in some cases, the authorities themselves were to blame for some of the most well-known water-related disasters of our time. Hopefully, many people reading this article still remember the EPA’s blunder regarding Colorado’s Animas River. And who could forget the situation in Flint, Michigan?
Nevertheless, even if such blunders haven’t occurred in your area, you might still have some of the following pollutants without even realizing it.
E. Coli
One of the most widespread form of bacteria in our country is Escherichia coli (by its full scientific name).
Usually, the most common symptoms are diarrhea, stomach cramps, and uncontrollable vomiting. Of course, other symptoms may accompany the previously mentioned ones, but those are the three main signs you should look for.
And while diarrhea and stomach cramps don’t sound bad at first, know that with E. Coli they are persistent. You won’t be able to sleep at night or have a moment’s rest. Even worse, sometimes the diarrhea might become bloody. And the cramps might become so painful that you’ll find it hard to think about anything else.
Giardia
The most common parasitic disease in the USA is Giardiasis, which is caused by the Giardia parasite.
Its symptoms are very similar to E. Coli, with the added “bonus” of greasy stools, dehydration, and significant weight loss. And no, it’s not the type of weight loss program that you’ve been dreaming about. It’s the one that involves heavy diarrhea and vomiting.
Legionella
Many people think that pneumonia can only be transmitted through air. However, Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that you can come in contact with through the Legionella bacteria in untreated water.
The sad part about it is that, if left unchecked, Legionella can lead to death. Yes, even young folk can easily die from it. It’s not like a common cold that you can just wash away with some hot tea, soup, and basic medication.
Makeup, Pharmaceutics, and Other Chemicals
As you can imagine, people tend to throw away a lot of stuff in the sink and toilet. Unfortunately, these pollutants leak inside the earth and further contaminate our drinking water.
You don’t need us to tell you what chemicals can do to your body. The best approach would be to prevent this from ever happening to you. In this sense, investing in a water filter is your best option.
We know that some whole house filtration systems can be quite expensive, so if you can’t afford it, you can focus on the drinking water. Our recommendation is to look for water filter pitcher reviews and choose the one that fits your budget and needs.
The Bottom Line
You should always protect yourself from pollutants found in drinking water, even if your municipality has a clean track record when it comes to filtering local water.
As you saw earlier, even the authorities mess up from time to time, so it’s best to be cautious.