What Are the Most Common Water Contaminants?

Clean drinking water is something that most people take for granted because they think water contamination only occurs in developing countries. However, The Guardian recently published a report detailing high levels of water contamination from 118 locations throughout the United States. This study underscores the importance of access to clean drinking water and how the issue of water contamination is one that we should all be worried about. So, what are the most common water contaminants and what can you do about them?

Here are some of the most common (and dangerous) contaminants found in drinking water:

• Heavy metals like lead, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury
• Pharmaceuticals like naproxen
• Pesticides, insecticides, organic compounds, and cancer-causing substances like 1,2-dichloroethane, trihalomethane
• PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are human-made chemicals that don’t break down easily and can be found in numerous substances like cleaning products, waxes, paints, food packaging, fire-fighting foams, and countless others

Water can be contaminated in a variety of ways, including through natural deposits in the ground as well as industrial and agricultural pollution. Some studies include maps of contaminants like arsenic and PFAS throughout the United States, so you can see if there may be contamination in your area. Research suggests that exposure to even low levels of these water contaminants can pose serious health risks. 

So, what can you do about these harmful chemicals? Look into using a water cartridge filter.

At Aqua Clara, our Universal Cartridge Filter reduces nearly all of the contaminants mentioned above and is certified to also reduce odor, emerging compound contaminants such as bisphenol A, estrone, naproxen, and nonylphenol, and contains no lead. We are constantly adapting our filters to reduce new contaminants.

Our mission is to help communities in water-insecure areas access clean water through our water filtration systems. Much of the funding for our filter projects comes from donors and customers like you. While we're known for installing filters in water-insecure areas, we also have a commercial filter for your home. Our Universal Cartridge Filter fits most household filter products and will purify your home's drinking water at a reasonable price. The proceeds of these filters help fund our projects all over the world.

About Aqua Clara International

Scientists long ago discovered how to purify unsafe water. To us, the central issue has been in designing solutions that are both sustainable and scalable and that can reach the millions in need while at the same time continuing to function without sustained outside input. Our target populations are those individuals and families who live on $2 per day or less.

We are a technology transfer organization. Our niche in clean water continues to be in designing science-based technologies that utilize locally available materials where possible and then transferring what we learn to those working in areas of need. The cost of our technologies varies by country and is dependent on the prevailing costs of raw materials, such as plastic containers, PVC piping, sand, etc. Learn more by visiting our website.