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Can Tap Water Cause Cancer? |
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Written by Mike
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Mark from Ontario Writes:
I have heard that municipal water systems that use a resevoir (say a large
pond like Waterford does) may have toxic water due treating still water
containing a lot of dear tree leaves and other plant life. When they
treat it with clorine, it creates a cancer causing bi-product. Is this
true? If so, explain.
Hi Mark
Yes, that is true, to a point. Let me
explain.
All water sources have something called NOM, or natural organic matter.
Every single one. The chlorine used to treat water for biological issues
can form trihalomethanes and halo acetic acids which are suspected
carcinogens, but only with prolonged exposure (decades) and only above a
certain level. These by product formations are highly tested and highly
regulated and if they exceed a certain level mains are shut down and
flushed until the low level is reached.
Water treatment is all about risk. Keep the THM's and halo acetic acids
low, a very very small percentage of the population may develop cancer in
30 years (compared that to smog, car exhaust, cigarettes, etc.which
carries a much higher risk), but use no chlorine in the distribution
system and things like cholera, typhoid, e.coli will take down a high percentage of
the population instantly should there be an outbreak.
If you want, purchase something with an activated carbon filter like a
brita. Activated carbon will easily reduce and/or remove THM's and halo
acetic acids, bringing your risk down from next to nothing to almost nothing.
I hope that helps.
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