What Exactly Are Water Contaminants?
Any foreign substance that enters the water supply is considered a water contaminant.
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Pesticides
- Lead
- Chemicals
- Sediment
But aren't public water supplies already treated to remove these pesky pollutants?
Well, yes, however, there is always the possibility that something nasty will sneak through, and public treatment plants don’t necessarily remove all the different types of contaminants.
That’s why it’s so important to understand the different types of pollutants and what they can do to your health.
Health Effects of Drinking Contaminated Water In Children
What are the risks when kids drink contaminated water?
Not to be a party pooper, but…
Drinking contaminated water can cause a variety of health issues, such as respiratory infections, gastrointestinal illness, and even death.
At the same time, children who drink contaminated water may develop gastrointestinal and stomach problems such as nausea, vomiting, cramps, headaches, and diarrhea.
- Neurological problems
- Learning difficulties
- Mental retardation
- Immunotoxicity
- Hypertension
- Anemia
- Renal impairment
- Increased antisocial behavior
- Birth defects
They may also contract potentially fatal waterborne diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A, roundworm, typhoid, whipworm, poliomyelitis, cryptosporidium, giardia and others.
To make matters worse, the ingestion of harmful bacteria and parasites is one of the most common ways for children to become ill after drinking contaminated water.
How to Tell If Water Is Contaminated
There are several ways to determine whether or not your water is contaminated.
The most common is a change in appearance and taste.
If you notice a change in the appearance, taste or odor of your water, it is possible that it has become contaminated.
However, some of the worst pollutants are tasteless and odorless, and the only way to know for sure is to have it tested by a certified lab.
How to Protect Your Children from Drinking Water Pollutants
It goes without saying that water contamination is a major issue in the United States.
Many of the cases involve children!
Unfortunately, they’ve been experiencing some glitches in the matrix.
The EPA found over 80 different chemicals and contaminants throughout the country’s water supply, many of which are known carcinogens.
Luckily, no matter what toxins are found in your town, you have the ability to keep your family safe.
Here are a few things you can do to protect your children from these nasty contaminants:
Teach your kids the value of clean water and proper hand and body hygiene.
Carry a water bottle with your children when they leave the house to ensure that they always have access to clean, safe water.
If you have to buy water on-the-go, only buy from bottled water companies that purify their water using reverse osmosis and package in glass containers.
Believe it or not, reverse osmosis systems can remove up to 99.9% of contaminants from water!
You can purchase a water test kit and test your own water.
This is the most accurate way to determine what is in your water. In addition, you can use the EPA's list of certified laboratories.
Install a home water filter and turn your tap into a drinking water oasis!
There are numerous types of filters available, including:
- Pitcher filters
- Faucet filters
- Fridge filters
- Countertop filters
- Under-sink filters
- Whole-home water filters
However, under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most efficient at removing pollutants from water.
They are specifically designed to remove all types of pollutants that other filtration systems cannot.
A four-stage filtration procedure is used to eliminate hard-to-remove contaminants, like:
- Mercury
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Fluoride
- Atrazine
- Manganese
- Nitrate
- Chlorine
- Chloramine
- Chlorine byproducts
Installing a proper water treatment solution can provide a better life for children.
If you’re ready for a deeper dive into the different types of home filter, then you can find a more detailed explanation here.
Want to make a bigger impact?
Contact your local representatives and ask them to take action to protect the drinking water in your neighborhood and state.
My Child Has Been Exposed to Contaminated Water, What Now?
If you think your child has been exposed to contaminants in drinking water, then you should contact your doctor right away.
We also advise you to contact your local water supplier to see if there’s been a recent water supply problem.
Most importantly, consider setting up a filter in your home for the healthiest water for you and your family.
Cloud Water reverse osmosis filters remove up to 99.9% of harmful toxins and improve the taste of your water.
They even use built-in software to monitor your water quality 24/7.
