Treatment

Municipal Water Treatment

Most cities and towns have some type of water treatment system that filters the public water supply and disinfects it with chemicals such as chlorine or Chloramine to make it safe for home use. But while this treatment can destroy harmful microorganisms, sometimes the disinfection process results in new disinfection by-products (DBPs), such as THMs (trihalomethanes), Haloketones, Haloacetylnitriles, and Chloropicrin. Contaminants, such as lead, can also enter the water in the distribution system.

Getting Your Water Tested

Many cities or local health agencies offer water-testing services. It is a good idea to have the tap water in your home tested so that you will know exactly what types of contaminants you may have in it–or just for added peace of mind. (This includes private well/bore water.) This is only one point of reference as there are seasonal variations that may also contribute to the quality of water that is delivered to your tap.