When was the last time you grabbed a glass of tap water from your kitchen sink? Was it today? You probably drank that glass of water without any trouble, and it was probably even refreshing! Despite that tap water quenching your thirst, you probably don’t know what really was in the glass of water.

While St. Joseph, Missouri, drinking water might meet the standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the water utility might be in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards, that doesn’t mean it’s free from all contaminants or concerns. If you live in St. Joe, your tap water is likely provided by Missouri American Water. This water is pulled from groundwater taken from numerous vertical wells and a horizontal collector well in the Missouri River alluvium. While this water is treated, it isn’t completely void of issues.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the common water contaminants found in St. Joseph, Missouri water, and how water treatment solutions can remove these contaminants.

 

Contaminants Commonly Found in St. Joseph’s Water Supply

The Environmental Working Group provides a database with the most recent drinking water quality report of tests conducted by the water utility in that area. In the most recent report, the EWG detected 20 total contaminants. Out of these 20 contaminants, 12 of those contaminants exceeded EWG health guidelines. Many of those contaminants created potential health risks like cancer. Let’s explore a few of those contaminants.

 

Chloroform

The water utility for St. Joseph, Missouri, detected chloroform at a level of 7.74 ppb (parts per billion), exceeding the EWG’s health guideline of .4 ppb. Chloroform is a very common contaminant found in water supplies, as it is used as a water disinfectant nationwide. The first large-scale use of chlorine in water treatment occurred in 1908, and by the 1920s it was used in almost every large city. Chloroform is also known as trichloromethane or methyltrichloride. In a public health statement from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, it states that chloroform affects the central nervous system (brain), liver, and kidneys after a person breathes air or drinks liquids that contain large amounts of chloroform. Chloroform can be treated with the use of activated carbon or through reverse osmosis filtration.

 

Chromium

Chromium, found in the water supply at a level 44 times above EWG’s health guideline, is a carcinogen that commonly contaminates drinking water across America. Chromium, also known as hexavalent, can seep into the water supply through industrial pollution or through natural occurrences in mineral deposits and groundwater. While post-known health impacts of chromium come from inhalation, there is data suggesting a link between chromium consumption in drinking water and cancer and reproductive harm. Both reverse osmosis and ion exchange filtration can remove chromium in water.

 

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5 and HAA9)

Haloacetic acids can form when disinfectants like chlorine are added to water supplies. When chlorine reacts with natural organic matter already present in the water, haloacetic acids can form as a byproduct. In St. Joe’s water supply, HAA5 was detected at 83 times above and HAA9 was detected at 193 times above the EWG’s guidelines. Consumption of Haloacetic acids at high levels over many years has been linked to an increased risk of the development of bladder cancer. Just like chlorine, haloacetic acids can be removed from the water using filtration via activated carbon or reverse osmosis.

 

Nitrate

Largely caused by agricultural and urban runoff, nitrate is a water contaminant found at a level of 0.382 ppm in the results provided by St. Joseph’s water utility. While the legal limit of nitrate in the drinking water supply is 10 ppm, this contaminant is still known to cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. Similar to chromium, the use of reverse osmosis or ion exchange filtration processes can remove traces of nitrate from your tap water.

 

How to Remove These Water Contaminants

Just because you have contaminants in your water, doesn’t mean you’re stuck with them forever. In the contaminant descriptions above we mentioned different filtration processes that can remove these contaminants from your water. The great news is that a reverse osmosis system can work for all of these contaminants and more. Reverse osmosis is a process that pushes your current tap water through a semipermeable membrane, allowing water to pass through, but not impurities or contaminants. These contaminants are then flushed down the drain, leaving you with pure water to use in cooking, cleaning, and drinking.

Culligan Water of St. Joseph, Missouri, not only offers reverse osmosis systems but works with homeowners to deliver in-home water quality testing. These tests allow families to find out what contaminants are in their water. The professional that delivers each test will also consult with the homeowner on what solutions would work best to remedy their water issues.

If you’re ready to get your water tested and say goodbye to those disgusting water contaminants, contact us today to schedule a consultation.