The Health Effects of Community Chlorination

When you live in a home that receives water from your municipal or rural water system, it is easy to assume that your water is 100% healthy. After all, the water systems have procedures for disinfecting the water and they must be required to test it for purity. Right? Well, yes, but that’s not all of the story.

The truth is that even diligent community water systems may supply water containing a variety of toxins. Some of these toxins can result from poor sanitation or filtration of the source water. Then, even if water coming from a community water system is properly disinfected and filtered, there are toxic substances that could be making their way into your home as a result of that disinfection process. It’s important to know what you could be drinking. 

The Effects of Drinking Water Disinfection Chemicals

Chlorine is the disinfectant used for most drinking water supplies. Chemically, it is similar to the chlorine bleach you might use when doing laundry. This chemical in drinking water kills or inactivates harmful microorganisms that can cause diseases such as typhoid, cholera and hepatitis. 

Another chemical used for this purpose is chloramine. It is formed when ammonia is added to chlorine in the disinfection process.

It is common for community water supplies to have small quantities of chlorine left in the water by the time it gets to the home. However, there can also be other toxic substances reaching your home as a result of the interaction of these disinfecting chemicals with biological material in the water.

The By-Products of Disinfection

Chlorine-based products can interact with biological material in the water such as the bacteria, parasites, plankton or algae which may be present in water sources. While the concentrations of these toxic by-products are very low, there are still risks involved in consuming them.

Four common toxic by-products of this disinfection are:

  • Bromodichloromethane: In industry, bromodichloromethane is used as a flame retardant. The State of California recommends that your water contain no more than 0.06 parts per billion. However, bromodichloromethane has been found in 48 states above this level. The EPA has classified this chemical as a probable human carcinogen. It has also been classified as a chemical causing harm to reproduction, child development and fetal growth. 
  • Bromoform: In industry, bromoform is a solvent for grease, wax and oil. The State of California recommends no more than 0.5 parts per billion in drinking water. However, bromoform has been found in 48 states above this level. While low levels are not likely to cause harm, the EPA has classified this chemical as a probable human carcinogen. It has also been classified as a chemical causing harm to reproduction, liver and kidney function, child development and fetal growth.
  • Dibromochloromethane: In industry, dibromochloromethane has been used to make fire extinguishers and refrigerants. The State of California recommends a limit of 0.1 part per billion. Dibromochloromethane has been found in 48 states above this level. At elevated exposures, it is carcinogenic, causes harm to liver and kidney function, and is capable of causing changes to human DNA.
  • Chloroform: In industry, chloroform is used to produce a popular refrigerant. The State of California recommends no more than 0.4 parts per billion in drinking water. Chloroform is both carcinogenic and capable of causing harm to fetal growth and development. It has been detected in the drinking water of 48 states.

There are no limits set for these chemicals by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Therefore, we have cited the limits set by the State of California. 

Protecting Your Microbiome (and What is That?)

Your microbiome is the accumulation of all microorganisms and viruses that live in your body, especially your digestive system. Recent research has shown that a healthy intestinal microbiome is essential for maintaining health and immunity to disease. 

Chlorine and its byproducts in household water supplies can damage a person’s immunity by harming or unbalancing the intestinal microbiome. These chemicals may be absorbed when showering in treated water, when drinking the water or when inhaling water vapor. 

The effects can be most severe for infants and small children. Maintaining optimal health for yourself and your family may require the removal of these and other chemicals from your household water. 

Eliminating Toxins from Household Water

Fortunately, it is possible to reduce the levels of these and many other chemicals that could be found in your water. Either reverse osmosis or activated charcoal filters will take these chemicals out of the water. 

If you want an accurate test of these or hundreds of other toxins that could be in your drinking water, check out ETR Laboratories water tests or call us at (800) 344-9977 We’ll also be glad to advise you on the correct filtering system for the toxins found in your water supply.