| Most drinking water is provided to
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| | standards. This group of contaminants
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| communities comes from surface sources,
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| | includes: ? Trihalomthanes (THMs),
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| like lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
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| | which are formed when chlorine in treated
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| These water bodies unfortunately are
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| | drinking water combines with naturally
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| attacked daily with harmful chemicals
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| | occurring organic matter. ? Pesticides,
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| from industry, the environment, and the
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| | including herbicides, insecticides, and
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| human race. In addition, storm water
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| | fungicides. ? Volatile organic
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| drains empty into our lakes and rivers
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| | chemicals (VOCs), which include solvents,
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| further contaminating them with gasoline,
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| | degreasers, adhesives, gasoline
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| oils, and anti-freeze, just to name a
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| | additives, and fuels additives. Some of
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| few.
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| | the common VOCs are: benzene,
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| There was a day when underground surface
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| | trichloroethylene (TCE), styrene,
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| water (well water) was suggested to be
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| | toluene, and vinyl chloride. Possible
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| cleaner than surface water because of its
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| | chronic health effects include cancer,
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| natural filtering system, however,
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| | central nervous system disorders, liver
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| underground water has also been
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| | and kidney damage, reproductive
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| contaminated with chemicals dumped onto
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| | disorders, and birth defects.
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| the ground (oils, paints, fuel, etc).
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| | Inorganics: These are toxic metals like
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| Although your community water may pass
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| | arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, mercury,
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| through a filtration system before it
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| | and silver. Inorganic contaminants get
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| gets to your house, are you really sure
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| | into your drinking water from natural
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| your water is free from chemicals and
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| | sources, industrial processes, and
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| harmful bacteria? Today's water supplies
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| | materials used in your plumbing system.
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| are certain to contain a certain amount
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| | Toxic metals are regulated in public
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| if chemicals just to clear and clean it.
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| | water supplies because they can cause
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| The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
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| | acute poisoning, cancer and have other
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| has set standards on the minimum and
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| | ill health effects.
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| maximum amount of contaminants allowed in
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| | Nitrate is another inorganic contaminant.
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| drinking water. That alone is a scary
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| | The nitrate in mineral deposits,
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| thought.
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| | fertilizers, sewage, and animal wastes
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| There are four groups of contaminants in
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| | can contaminate water. Nitrate has been
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| water:
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| | associated with "blue baby syndrome" in
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| ? Microbial Pathogens: Pathogens are
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| | infants.
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| disease-producing microorganisms, which
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| | Radioactive Elements. Radon is a
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| include bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
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| | radioactive contaminant that results from
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| They get into drinking water when it is
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| | the decay of uranium in soils and rocks.
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| contaminated by sewage, animal waste, or
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| | It is usually more of a health concern
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| well are not improperly sealed and
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| | when it enters a home as a soil gas than
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| constructed. Health effects of this
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| | when it occurs in water supplies. Radon
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| contaminant can include gastroenteritis,
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| | in air is associated with lung cancer.
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| salmonella infection, dysentery,
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| | There are many water purifications on the
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| shigellosis, hepatitis, and giardiasis (a
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| | market today. Sorting through the vast
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| gastrointestinal infection causing
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| | amount of information on water
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| diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and gas).
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| | purification systems can be intimidating
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| ? Organics: Many people are concerned
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| | and time consuming. When selecting your
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| about potentially toxic chemicals and
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| | water purification system, be sure it is
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| metals in water. Only a few of the toxic
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| | a purification system that can actually
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| organic chemicals that occur in drinking
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| | remove harmful chemicals and bacteria
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| water are regulated by drinking water
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| | from your drinking water.
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