| We've all heard the term "tap water". And we've | | | | Q: Which type of water filtration is most effective in |
| learned that it connotes harm or danger to our health. | | | | removing lead from tap water? |
| But what does tap water contain that makes it feared | | | | A: The ion exchange process, whereby harmful lead |
| by so many? | | | | ions are replaced with healthy potassium ions, which |
| First, let me just give a brief clarification. Maybe not | | | | give water its "spring water" taste. |
| everyone makes the same misguided assumption that | | | | Q: Which water filtration method blocks the passage |
| "tap" is an acronym for something, like "terrible | | | | of herbicides and pesticides? |
| apparatus poison", like I once did - but let's just say that | | | | A: Absorption, otherwise known Granular Activated |
| tap is synonymous with "faucet" or "unfiltered", for the | | | | Carbon (GAC) filter. It is designed to remove organic |
| purpose of what we will explore in this article. | | | | chemicals that cause bad taste and odor, such as |
| Like most passionate educators, I believe fun is an | | | | sulfur and chlorine. |
| important element of learning. So test your tap water | | | | Q: What kind of water filtration reduces turbidity, or |
| knowledge! How many of these can you answer on | | | | cloudiness, in water? |
| your own? | | | | A: This would be mechanical filtration. What does tap |
| Q: What does tap water contain that is known to | | | | water contain which causes turbidity, you ask? Those |
| cause gastrointestinal illness? | | | | would be microorganisms such as viruses and |
| A: Copper, endothall, and microorganisms | | | | bacteria, which can be harmful to the body, causing |
| cryptosporidium, and giardia lamblia, caused by | | | | nausea, cramps, and headaches. |
| corrosion of plumbing systems, runoff from herbicide | | | | Q: What is the most effective kind of water filter out |
| use, and fecal waste, respectively. | | | | there? |
| Q: Which contaminants in tap water are known to | | | | A: It may seem I have already answered this question, |
| increase risk of or cause cancer? | | | | even if not directly. Without being an expert on the |
| A: There are probably too many too list, but among | | | | subject, it is clear that the best system will be a |
| some recognized by the EPA are organic chemicals | | | | comprehensive one that incorporates more than one |
| carbon tetrachloride, vinyl chloride, pentachlorophenol, | | | | kind of filtering mechanism. Since each kind performs a |
| and disinfection byproducts HAA5 and bromated. | | | | different function, it seems one would need a |
| Q: What does tap water contain that has been proven | | | | multi-purpose system to succeed in producing clean, |
| to cause delays in physical and mental development, | | | | truly potable water. |
| including learning disabilities, in children? | | | | Now it's your turn! Next time someone asks you the |
| A: L-E-A-D! (with a short "e" sound) This is very | | | | question, "what does tap water contain?", you can not |
| commonly found in household drinking water, which | | | | only answer with confidence, but you can also share |
| enters water through dissolving metals in plumbing | | | | with them your recently acquired knowledge regarding |
| materials. | | | | water filtration systems! |