Chlorine in Drinking Water - A Necessary Evil?

We're fortunate in the U.S. in that the vast majority of us have access to clean inexpensive drinking water. Billions of other people around the world are not so fortunate. (see UNICEF's TAP Project to learn more...)

One thing we don't seem so sure of anymore, however, is whether or not that drinking water is safe. (see our earlier post Clean Drinking Water a Major Concern) Disinfectants are added to water to eliminate water-borne diseases like cholera, dysentery and typhoid - so it's potable and obviously relatively safe considering what many other people have to drink. But what about the chemicals used to disinfect that water?

Chlorine is a fact of life in municipal water, and while it might be an important step in removing dangerous pathogens from the general water supply, it turns out it’s not something you want to take in on a regular basis once that water gets to your home. Studies now link increased cancer rates to drinking chlorinated water, and there are other health concerns as well. (See links at the bottom of this post for more info.) And it's not just about drinking chlorinated water. Over 60% of the chlorine and other impurities that you take in from your water come through your skin while bathing or showering. Plus, during showering your lungs are rapidly absorbing the chlorine as well.

The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA), the primary water wholesaler for Sonoma and Marin counties, adds chlorine as a disinfectant and also pH balances the water*. The water companies that receive the wholesale water from SCWA may or may not do additional things to treat the water before they deliver it to their customers. Check with your supplier if you want to know specifics (some links below).

Another concern with treated water are the byproducts of disinfection. Disinfection byproducts are compounds that form when chlorine or bromine disinfectants mix with naturally occurring organic material in the water.

The disinfection byproducts that occur most frequently are trihalomethanes or THMs. According to the EPA, "Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of EPA's standard over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer." According to the Valley of the Moon Water District (a major water supplier in Sonoma Valley), "The federal standard for THMs is 80 ug/L (micrograms per liter, or parts per billion), while the THM count in VOMWD's water averages 17 ug/L."

So that's a good thing - that these chemicals are regulated and that VOMWD water falls well below the allowable limit, although given what we do know about these substances many people still choose to limit their exposure as much as possible by filtering their water prior to consumption.

Granular activated carbon systems and ozonation prove effective in removing these types of chemicals from water. Reverse osmosis is also good but wastes a lot of water in the process and just releases the contaminants again in the discharge water. If you don't already have a home filtration system and you're concerned about your water quality, you might want to look into the various options. Studies indicate water filtration can help.

If you have any questions about installation of point-of-use or whole-house water filtration systems, give us a call here at the shop (707 996 8683). We'd be happy to give you more information. You can also go to the link on our main website for info on the Nature's Miracle whole-house system we feature. And you can read all our blog posts on water filtration here.

If you live in the North Bay area (Sonoma or Napa counties) and you'd like to have your water tested, there is info on testing facilities in the area at Clean Drinking Water a Major Concern.

:: Valley of the Moon Water District
:: City of Napa Water Quality
:: City of Petaluma Water Resources & Conservation
:: City of Sonoma - no online info available. Call City Hall at 707 938 3681.

:: The Water Geeks
:: Chlorine in tap water 'nearly doubles the risk of birth defects'
:: The Potential Health Risks of Municipal Water
:: Drinking Water Disinfection from American Chemistry Council
:: Municipal Water Safety & Drinking Water Safety
:: Chloramine or Chlorine in Drinking Water?
:: Chlorine, Cancer, and Heart Disease

*re: ph balancing water "Municipal water is often pH-adjusted, in order to prevent corrosion from pipes and to prevent dissolution of lead into water supplies. During water treatment pH adjustments may also be required. The pH is brought up or down through addition of basics or acids. An example of lowering the pH is the addition of hydrogen chloride, in case of a basic liquid. An example of bringing up the pH is the addition of natrium (sodium) hydroxide, in case of an acidic liquid. The pH will be converted to approximately seven to seven and a half, after addition of certain concentrations of acids or basics. The concentration of the substance and the kind of substance that is added, depend upon the necessary decrease or increase of the pH." (source: www.lenntech.com)


Bookmark this on Delicious

***
Boden Plumbing primarily serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7477
www.nodrips.com