Common Contaminants in Minneapolis Drinking Water

Drinking Water Systems, Kinetico

Do you know what’s in your drinking water? The Washingtonian recently asked this question in a very well-written article. The article focuses on the quality of water in and around Washington, D.C., which gets its water from the Potamac River, a surface water source (Minneapolis and St Paul get theirs from another surface source, the Mississippi River). The article noted:

In tests conducted by the USGS between 2003 and 2005, trace amounts of 26 chemical compounds were detected in Potomac River water, including the herbicide 2,4-D, a component of Agent Orange, and insecticides including DEET. Atrazine, a chemical commonly used in weed killers, has been associated with intersex in amphibians and has been found in many rivers, including the Potomac. Studies revealed that male frogs exposed to atrazine produce eggs in their testes, the same phenomenon seen with intersex fish.

You can read the whole article here.

As an authorized dealer of Kinetico products, Haferman Water Conditioning makes sure to know what’s in your drinking water, and what can be done to remove these foreign objects. While there are many different contaminants that can be found in tap water, here are some of the most common:

MICROORGANISMS

Microorganisms include bacteria and viruses, and these can cause illness, and, in the most severe cases, death. The microorganisms found in drinking and tap water come from animal and human waste products that are washed into bodies of water. These are usually treated by municipal water systems, so it’s rare to find a case of contamination from these microbes. Water systems are required to test for contaminants that can indicate waste products, including e. coli and coliform, neither of which are permitted in public drinking water supplies.

NITRATE

Nitrate is a chemical, found most often in manure, fertilizers and the liquid waste left out of septic tanks. It usually impacts well water systems, especially those that are shallow, not very well constructed or not properly located. If ingested, it can be hazardous, especially for small children and pregnant women.

ARSENIC

The level of arsenic in groundwater widely varies, and is the result of rock formations that contain the contaminant. Very low levels are not harmful, but high levels can damage skin and increase the risk of cancer.