| Problems at drinking water treatment facilities are | | | | drink. The risks of drinking water contamination |
| always making headlines in US papers. We don't | | | | are not limited to exposure from consumption. |
| have to worry that drinking water contamination | | | | That's another problem with the EPA's standards |
| will make us sick. We have to worry if it will kill us. | | | | for safety. |
| Many years ago, public drinking water treatment | | | | We absorb more of these hazardous |
| efforts began to include the use of chlorine. | | | | contaminants while showering. We inhale them |
| Chlorine is a toxic compound. The Department of | | | | when they become airborne in steam. We eat |
| Homeland Security is concerned that the chemical | | | | them when we use tap-water to clean fresh |
| is not properly stored at facilities and could be | | | | fruits and vegetables. |
| used by terrorists. | | | | We are exposed while cooking and steaming |
| Most people are just concerned that there's too | | | | vegetables. Chlorine and its byproducts are |
| much of it in the tap-water. While it helps to | | | | vaporized more quickly than water is turned into |
| control drinking water contamination that could | | | | steam. And, that's not the only type of drinking |
| lead to widespread outbreaks of waterborne | | | | water contamination that we must contend with. |
| illnesses, it is believed to increase the risk of | | | | The public facilities cannot remove parasitic cysts. |
| cancer of the bladder and colon. | | | | The EPA warns "at-risk" individuals to take |
| In addition, the byproducts released when drinking | | | | additional precautions. We are all at risk! I would |
| water treatment centers use it to kill bacteria are | | | | prefer not to lie ill for days with diarrhea, vomiting |
| known carcinogens. The amount that may be | | | | and fever. |
| present in a sample is regulated by the | | | | But, some people are at greater risks than others |
| Environmental Protection Agency. | | | | from this type of drinking water contamination. |
| But, the way that they arrived at these "safety" | | | | Individuals with weakened or lacking immunities |
| standards are flawed. They determine how much | | | | can be killed by an intestinal parasitic infection. |
| a 150 pound adult could consume over the course | | | | Home filtration is the answer. Multi-stage systems |
| of his lifetime, without detrimental effects. That's | | | | are affordable. You can install them on your |
| the amount that the call "safe". | | | | faucets and shower heads. You could filter all of |
| Well, first of all, not everyone weighs 150 pounds | | | | the water that touches you or that you consume |
| and most of us have children. What about their | | | | every day for less than a couple of hundred |
| safety? | | | | dollars per year. |
| It is obvious, to me, that large scale drinking | | | | Enough bottled water for a family of four to drink |
| water treatment is not the answer to our | | | | would cost over $1200, per year. You can see |
| problems. It may make us safer and I don't want | | | | what the most economical choice is. |
| them to give up on their efforts, but if we really | | | | Make the right choice for your home and your |
| want to protect our health, we have to do it | | | | family's health. Bring drinking water treatment into |
| ourselves. | | | | your home with a good purification device. |
| I'm not talking about buying bottled waters to | | | | |