According to the American Water Quality Association, about 77% of American households use some form of water treatment or filtration. The most common filter we use is activated carbon, like what’s used in Brita, and most countertop and under-sink water filters. But did you know that activated carbon is not effective in removing the most dangerous drinking water contaminants, such as chloramine, poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), glyphosate, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, and nitrates?
What’s worse is that these contaminants have been linked to cancer, birth defects, mental disorders, learning disabilities, and more! The concentration of these nasty contaminants has been steadily increasing for decades. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clean water regulations are regularly violated by those in charge of making our water safe!
We are now facing a nationwide drinking water crisis in the United States.
The past fifty years have seen Americans getting much sicker than they ever have before. For example, According to the American Cancer Society, cancer rates have increased 12.6% since 1975. In the last decade, cancer rates have increased by one to two percent every single year for all types of cancer. Specifically, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has increased a whopping 146%!
Beyond cancer, Americans have also experienced a sharp increase in birth defects such as spina Bifida, cardiac defects, early gestational age, low birth weight, preterm delivery, spontaneous abortion, oral clefts, and neural tube defects. These are all linked to the
We are also suffering from increased mental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that there has been a 10% increase in ADHD in our children over the past twenty years. The National Center for Learning Disabilities says there has also been a 61.1% increase in children receiving special education services for learning disabilities since 1975.
But this American health crisis doesn’t stop there. Acne, dermatitis, and rashes on our skin have also increased. Plus, the number of Americans getting sick from hormone disruption is also increasing, causing their testosterone and estrogen levels to become too high or too low. This affects their entire body’s functioning!
What do all of these health conditions have in common?
They all have been linked to contaminants in YOUR drinking water! Even the water you’re filtering with a carbon-based filter!
Non-Hodgkins lymphoma is caused by nitrites, mostly from animal agriculture. Birth defects are caused by trimethanes created when our drinking water is treated with chlorine. Fluoride, iron, aluminum, and manganese cause mental disorders. Arsenic and other water contaminants cause skin conditions. Meanwhile, hormone disruption is caused by the flushing of hormones and other medications down toilets.
Our municipal water treatment facilities are legally bound to follow the water safety guidelines provided by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). However, many times, they have failed to keep contaminants at a safe level. Furthermore, contaminants like excessive heavy metals and glyphosate aren’t safe to consume at ANY level.
Americans are getting sicker, and for decades, we have assumed that our drinking water is safe or that a simple carbon filter is enough to keep us safe. It’s time to rethink that assumption! The path to making water great again begins by taking a hard, cold look at the contaminants in our drinking water, how they got there, who is most impacted, and what we can do about it.
