How safe your drinking water is?

How safe is the water you drink? It was a question I'd never given much thought to...until high levels of perchlorate, a rocket-fuel ingredient which can interfere with thyroid function, was found in our city's primary water supply. It's not the first time Las Vegas has faced water woes. In the spring of 1994 an outbreak of Cryptosporidium, a parasite found in 90 percent of America's untreated surface water, killed at least twenty and sickened more than 100 people, despite a state-of-the-art municipal water treatment plant. A year earlier the same organism was responsible for more than 400,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Normally water quality doesn't make front page news. Thanks to the Safe Drinking Water Act, passed in 1974 and strengthened in 1986, the water most Americans drink today is far safer than it was just 25 years ago. The Act, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency, requires the identification of contaminants which could pose a health risk to the public. Once a contaminant is placed on the EPA's hit list, 'safe' levels are determined. Unfortunately, the EPA has only identified 84 substances and pathogens so far, leaving more than 2,000 toxic substances still unregulated. Among these unregulated toxins are synthetic organic chemicals, radioactive materials, and pathogens which can pollute our water and affect our health.

Under the EPA's guidance, community water agencies are required to monitor and treat their water supplies to meet the government's minimum quality standards. Yet, the EPA's record of enforcing these standards has been poor at best. According to a 1995 study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, more than 180,000 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act occurred between 1993 and 1994 alone. To make matters worse, fewer than 3,500 of these violations received any formal action.

TOXINS ON TAP

Where do these contaminants come from? Nature plays its part, contributing naturally occurring radioactive minerals such as uranium and radon to our water resources. Most toxins, however, can be directly linked to human activity. Industry can be the source of everything from synthetic solvents to pesticides. Runoff from animal feedlots and sewage overflow can carry pathogens into the water supply. Mining is often a source of high levels of heavy metals, such as arsenic and cadmium. Mercury can leach into the ground water from long-forgotten batteries and paint tossed into landfills.

Since the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act and other environmental legislation, much of the ongoing industrial and agricultural pollution of the past has been stopped. But, in the years before these laws made dumping illegal, toxic chemicals were routinely disposed of in our landfills, streams, and rivers. Over the years, a number of these chemicals have infiltrated our surface and ground water.

What are the potential health effects of drinking this toxic brew? It depends on the type of contaminant, its concentration, and how long it's been consumed. Because many of the toxins found in our water can't be seen or tasted, without vigilant monitoring, an entire community may be drinking contaminated water for years before they realize there is a problem. Many of these toxins, including heavy metals, herbicides, and pesticides, are suspected carcinogens. Others may damage the liver, kidneys, nervous system, and even the reproductive tract over a period of time.

GOING BUGGY!

Where do these contaminants come from? Nature plays its part, contributing naturally occurring radioactive minerals such as uranium and radon to our water resources. Most toxins, however, can be directly linked to human activity. Industry can be the source of everything from synthetic solvents to pesticides. Runoff from animal feedlots and sewage overflow can carry pathogens into the water supply. Mining is often a source of high levels of heavy metals, such as arsenic and cadmium. Mercury can leach into the ground water from long-forgotten batteries and paint tossed into landfills.

Even with state-of-the-art purification technology, some viruses, such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, are resistant to current disinfection practices. Over the past decade, more than a hundred waterborne disease outbreaks were reported in the US, causing an estimated 940,000 people to become ill and killing several hundred. While some scientists estimate that up to seven million Americans become ill from contaminated water every year, Sue Partridge of the Division of Parasitic Diseases at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, says, "It's difficult to get exact numbers since many cases go unreported."

For most of us, the symptoms of waterborne disease can be severe, usually attacking our gastrointestinal system. But, for small children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems, such as HIV patients, the consequences can be fatal.

THE MYTH OF CHLORINATION

While adding chlorine to public water supplies is an effective method of destroying many types of microorganisms, the practice of chlorination produces its own set of problems. In 1974, chlorine was found to create dangerous chemical by-products commonly known as disinfection by-products (DBPs). These DBPs are formed when chlorine reacts with the naturally occurring organic chemicals commonly found in water, such as soil or decaying vegetation. Recent research by both Harvard University and the Medical College of Wisconsin has tied chlorine-treated water to increased bladder and rectal cancer in men, and some health professionals believe DBPs contribute to birth defects and heart disease.

Unfortunately, some experts claim that taking a shower in chlorinated water can be a health risk. It's been estimated that, during a typical shower, the skin absorbs as much chlorine as drinking six 8-ounce glasses of chlorinated water. Luckily, inexpensive activated-charcoal filters designed to fit your showerhead are available. Most use replaceable filters and will virtually eliminate chlorine.

One alternative to chlorination is the use of ozone as a primary disinfectant. Used widely in Europe and by many suppliers of bottled water, ozone is less likely to create DBPs than chlorination. While a few US cities have begun using this method, don't look for it in your neighborhood soon. According to The Sierra Club Guide to Safe Drinking Water, many water experts still believe that chlorination is the best method of disinfection since it acts as a "residual disinfectant," keeping microbes from regrowing or re-entering the system.

GOOD TEETH OR BAD MEDICINE?

Another common additive that has sparked great controversy is fluoride. Proponents maintain that fluoride strengthens bones and teeth, citing studies of lower tooth decay in areas providing fluoridated water. On the other hand. The Delaney Congressional Investigation Committee, charged with monitoring additives in the food supply, has even stated that, 'fluoridation is mass medication without parallel in the history of medicine.'

Whichever side of the debate you're on, the fact is that more than half the cities in America add fluoride to their water. If you would prefer your water sans fluoride, there are ways to remove it. Reverse osmosis and distillation will eliminate most of the fluoride from your water.

HEALTHY H20

Making sure the water you drink is pure is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your health. While water purification systems can be a good solution to heavily contaminated water, here are a few precautions to minimize toxic exposure at the tap:

• Avoid drinking water that smells of chlorine. To rid water of chlorine, boil the water for several minutes or let it stand overnight.
• Boiling your water also kills bacteria and microbes, such as Cryptosporidium.
• Run water for a few minutes before drinking it or using it for cooking. "First draw" water can contain higher concentrations of contaminants.
• Avoid using hot tap water for drinking or cooking. Lead and other impurities from water pipes leach out more readily when exposed to hot water.

An increasingly popular alternative to the tap is bottled water. While many water bottlers use excellent purification techniques, it's not a universal practice. Most states haven't set standards governing appropriate labeling of bottled water so it's possible for claims to be incorrect or misleading. In fact, some bottled water is no better than what you get from the tap! To be sure you're getting what you pay for, check if your water producer has been certified by NSF-International, an independent non-profit testing and certification organization. Another way to make sure the water you buy is as pure as possible-ask your bottler if they are a member of The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA). The IBWA maintains quality control measure for their members, setting water quality standards far above the EPA.

One disadvantage of drinking bottled water is the container itself. Plastic, especially the soft opaque type, can release chemicals into the water. If you use bottled water, opt for the clear, hard polycarbonate plastic bottles.

GUIDE TO WATER PURIFIERS

If you want to purify your water yourself, there are a number of home treatment systems on the market. Most remove only certain contaminants so choose one that remedies your specific water problems. Since no government standards exist for home water treatment systems, look for a system which has been certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

Carafe-style: Most remove lead and chlorine but not bacteria or other toxins.
Cost: under $30.

Point-of-Use Carbon Filters: Designed to fit individual faucets and showerheads, this type of system removes pesticides, herbicides, industrial solvents, petroleum compounds, radon, and chlorine.
Cost: $30 and up.

Whole House Activated-Carbon Filters: Removes chlorine and most synthetic organic chemicals. Carbon filters cannot remove bacteria or heavy metals such as nitrates.
Cost: up to $500.

Reverse Osmosis: Highly effective at removing nearly all contaminants except radon, pesticides, and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). To compensate, many systems come with add-on carbon filtration units.
Cost: up to $900 plus $150 per year for filters.

Distillation: Rids water of all metals and nitrates as well as bacteria and viruses. Distillation will not remove asbestos, chlorine, pesticides, or VOCs.
Cost: under $500.

Kinetic-Degradation-Fluxion (KDF): A fairly new type of treatment system, KDF removes most contaminants, including chlorine, lead, and bacteria. Point-of-use and whole house systems are available.
Cost: varies.