It was very unnerving to find out that eighty two different contaminates have been found in our surface waters. This was found due to the use of highly sensitive testing methods. Many different types of dangerous prescription medicines, and narcotics were found. They also found various pesticides and other hazardous substances commonly used in farming, gardening and weed control.

My frustration prompted me to perform a little more research regarding chemicals, hormones, pharmaceuticals, and other harmful chemicals that we may potentially be drinking and bathing in every day. The research found prompts us to strongly consider the absolute need for purifying the water we drink and use in our homes and well as consider the environmental impact of the chemicals and pharmaceuticals we use daily.

I found documented information on the internet about these chemicals, prescription drugs, fertilizers, and more in connection with our drinking water supply. The question is what is this free flow of toxins going into our ground water doing to the environment? If it continues, what problems will we have in the future?

Frogs have been found with too many legs and various other defects and strange abnormalities. Fish, amphibians, and plants that live in our waters are examples of the effect a polluted environment can have on the biological development of all life forms. It could be bad news for us because we drink and bathe in this water every day. We also consume the fish and plants that have absorbed these contaminates.

We have used many of these chemicals and prescriptions for a lot of years, so why are we just hearing about it now? Simple because in earlier days they did not have the technology they have today to detect most of these toxins. Groups from Europe, the United States, and university students were involved in making the media and certain officials aware of this issue.

The chemicals found in low levels include hormones, estrogens, birth control, antibiotics, mood stabilizers, calcium blockers, and a host of other pharmaceuticals, pain killers, and over the counter medications.

When we take medicine it doesn’t all get absorbed by our bodies. Some is expelled as waste and is flushed down the toilet. Many of us also flush our unused pills down the drain and into the sewer system. Heavy metals have also been found in the water as well as DDT and arsenic just to name a few. More and more new poisons are being found every year.

Believe it or not all of these can be removed with the technology we have. This is not getting done due to lack of concern or lack of money to fund the process it would require to do it. Our water, which already has toxins and chemicals in it is having more chemicals put into it to remove bacteria after it goes from our toilet to the treatment plant. The solid wastes are filtered out leaving the toxins such as DDT and mercury in, and adding even more chemicals to make it “safe” to drink.

The water is then, either pumped into the environment where we draw it up form water sheds in wells and farms, or it is piped back to us at the municipal water supply. This water is piped into our homes or to water bottling plants where little, if any further filtration is done before it is bottled back up and sent to us to drink.

You can do something too protect yourself from these dangerous contaminates. You need to use other ways of disposing of unused medicines and get a system to filter these toxins out of the water you drink and use in your home.

Several water filtration systems are on the market today filter out 99% or more of the contaminants in our water. These water filtration systems can be installed in whole home systems and at the source such as shower heads, drinking water faucets, and other inlets.

The reverse osmosis, nano-filtration, activated carbon, and home distillation are highly recommended because they are the most effective in removing the most contaminates. The next one down the line is the membrane filters, these must be installed properly and changed regularly or they will lose their effectiveness.

The only way to be sure is to purchase home water testing kits or take your tap water to a certified testing facility to find out what is in it. A task that should be preformed regularly to make sure your home water filters are doing their job.