About Your Tap Water

Where does your water come from?

A public water system? A private well? A plastic bottle?
No matter what the source of your water, you need to know the facts about what you drink and the effects it can have. At Aerus, we've separated 'fact' from 'fiction' to help educate you about the importance of choosing clean, safe drinking water for you, your family and the environment.

Know more about your water, if you need a water filtration system and water quality testing

The Truth About Tap Water

Thanks to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) passed in 1974, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates public water suppliers and sets standards to ensure the safety of your drinking water. While these regulations are in place to create safe drinking water, they do not create pure drinking water. These public water filtration systems treat nearly 34 billion gallons of water per day and not all contaminants can be removed with the water treatment methods used. Even more harmful additives can contaminate your water during the journey from the pipes to your home.
Below are some potential drinking water contaminants and the effects that they can have on you and your family:

Potential Water Contaminants

  • Microorganisms - bacteria, fecal waste, soil
  • Disinfectants - chemicals from water additives, such as chlorine, used during public water treatment
  • Inorganic Chemicals - asbestos, metal discharge, pharmaceuticals, lead, fertilizers
  • Organic Chemicals - herbicides, soil leaching, agricultural run-off
  • Radionuclides - mineral deposits that may emit certain types of radiation

Possible Effects of Water Contaminants

  • Gastrointestinal illness (nausea, cramps, diarrhea, parasites, intestinal lesions)
  • Liver, kidney or nervous system problems
  • Circulatory problems or increased blood pressure
  • Delays in physical and/or mental development in children
  • Reproductive difficulties
  • Increased risk of cancer
  • Headaches
  • Anemia
  • Bone disease
  • Immune deficiencies
  • Skin damage
  • Thyroid problems

There are several ways to help reduce the possible contamination of your public water supply including, reducing the amount of trash your produce, recycling used oil and anti-freeze and carpooling or taking public transportation to reduce emissions. You can also protect your family's health by adding a home water filtration system to help remove harmful contaminants that remain in your tap water.
Learn more about common methods of water filtration