How Clean Is Your Drinking Water?

How clean is your drinking water? Well, the answer depends on who you ask. The definition of “clean” from The EPA, which is the governing body that decides what impurities are considered unsafe in drinking water. However, substances that have been shown to harm our health are still not on this list.

With the birth of our child, and quarantining in full force, we decided to take on a project at home to improve the safety of our drinking water with the main goal of removing toxic PFAS and fluoride. For me, it was important especially since whatever I drink will pass onto my little one. 

What are PFAS?

PFAS (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemicals designed to repel water and grease. Their main application is in non-stick materials especially in cookware, food storage, and coating materials for the water and grease resistant properties. Health implications of their ingestion include risk of cancer, infertility, hypertension and high cholesterol, and behavioral issues in children. PFAS are also known as the “forever chemical." These substances do not break down, but end up in our runoff water and are even found in rainfall. Recent studies have found these substances at high quantities in the drinking water in over thirty states (https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showPFAS). For the last 20 years of investigation, the EPA has yet to place more thorough and encompassing regulations, so it is up to us in the meantime to keep our drinking water clean and safe. 

A dentist who wants to filter fluoride out of water?

Yep, you read that right! From the 1940s onwards, there were lots of scientific studies showing the various benefits of fluoride to prevent dental cavities. Major study during this time period concluded that added fluoride to drinking water had lower rates of dental cavities particularly in children. What the research failed to account was that fluoride was also added to toothpaste, mouthwash, and other dental cleaning products. It didn't seem to matter whether fluoride was added to water. Many countries around the world that did not add fluoride to their drinking water also noted a decrease in the number of cavities for it's populations, raising the question if fluoride added to drinking water in fact contributed to the decrease in cavities. It is important to note that so far, the American Cancer Society has not found enough evidence to support claims that fluoride causes cancer (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/water-fluoridation-and-cancer-risk.html), however it is now being investigated for possible neurotoxin effects. Although the research at this time is controversial, the group that had been studied to be most sensitive to its effects is in children.

So how do we protect ourselves from the effects of PFAS and fluoride? The most cost effective and easiest option to remove both is using an activated carbon filter in combination with a reverse osmosis filter (fluoride is only removed with a reverse osmosis filter). Both are available as a system readily at home improvement stores and online, and can be installed in a few hours. It’s definitely a great weekend home and health improvement project to do while staying safe at home during the pandemic! And just to be sure it works, you can even pick up a TDS (total dissolved solids) meter to check the amount of particles in the water and how effectively the water has been treated.