All Wet: How to Identify and Remove Common Water Contaminants
(Page 2 of 4)
July/August 2003
By Lori Tobias
Copper and lead
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When these elements are found in the water, the problem nearly always results from plumbing with brass attachments or solder-containing lead. The limit set by the EPA for lead—which has been linked to brain and nerve damage, cancer, testicular atrophy, and birth defects—is fifteen parts per billion. For copper, which in high amounts can cause liver and kidney damage, the limit is thirteen parts per million. While the source of the elements can often be found within the home, according to Water Quality Association technical director Joseph Harrison, lead and copper in the water can also be traced to the service connection on the outside of the house and may be exacerbated by the corrosive quality of the water. “Old solder is not the responsibility of the city,” says Harrison, “but the service connection and the corrosive nature of the water that causes the lead to dissolve are.”
If lead or copper is a concern, EPA’s Millett suggests: “Don’t use hot water from your tap to make coffee or formulas for children. Instead, use cold water and heat it.” Also, whenever water sits in the pipes overnight or for longer than six hours, flush out the faucet until the water becomes cold—about five to thirty seconds, he says. “Filters can be effective in removing lead or copper from the water, but be sure the system you purchase is designed to remove those contaminants,” he adds.
Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE)
MTBE has been used since the late 1970s as a fuel additive to make gas burn more efficiently. While it was initially added in low levels, concentrations became higher in the 1990s to comply with Congress’s Clean Air Act Amendments. In recent years, however, MTBE has been found in water supplies nationwide. “The trouble with MTBE,” says Harrison, “is it loves water. If you spill gas on the ground or even dribble it at a filling station, the MTBE will be attracted to rainwater and will drain with it right into the gutters or groundwater.”
Nitrates
Nitrates are naturally occurring chemicals commonly found in water at low levels. When levels are elevated—often because of nitrates from fertilizers leaching into the soil—they can be hazardous to young children. “Blue baby” syndrome, a blood disorder, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, and even death in infants.
Filters aren’t typically effective in screening nitrates from the water. To find out if your water is affected, contact your local water authority for suggestions about testing (or check the National Ground Water Association’s website). If your water has concentrations of more than ten parts per million and there is a child in the house younger than four months, use only bottled water for formula and other food preparations.