Water Supply

Water Supply

Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Pharmaceuticals From Water Supplies?

According to a recent Associated Press article, there are trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in water supply systems across the nation and into Canada, so this is an important question to research.

To answer the question, does reverse osmosis remove pharmaceuticals from water supplies; let us first consider what an RO water filtration system does. Reverse osmosis pushes water through a membrane that allows H2O molecules to pass through, but traps particles larger than that, delivering water that is stripped of some contaminants and all minerals.

So does reverse osmosis remove pharmaceuticals from water supplies? Possibly, there may be some degree of reduction. But there is a filtration solution that will remove more of the potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals in water supply faucets. At most, a consumer can hope to significantly reduce, by as much as 99%, the amount of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that have been found.

Any pharmaceutical particle that is smaller than an H2O molecule will pass through a reverse osmosis membrane and into your cup for drinking or pot for cooking.

Pharmaceuticals in water supply systems are introduced as a result of our bodies not metabolizing all of the medications we take. The leftovers pass through us and are flushed down into our sewer system. That waste water enters the municipal storage plant to be filtered and directed back to our homes. By the time that it gets there, it has run through at least two RO stages, but since they have found pharmaceuticals in water supply tanks ready to be sent to customers, then the answer to "does reverse osmosis remove pharmaceuticals from water" is clear. A simple "no" will do.

Many water treatment facilities add chlorine to disinfect and remove harmful bacteria. Research as shown though that water treated with chlorine, when combined with certain pharmaceuticals in water supply systems can actually increase the toxicity of both. Chlorine causes enough health problems and now we have to deal with drugs, too.

In trying to determine does reverse osmosis remove pharmaceuticals from water supplies and is it the right solution for my family, keep in mind that RO filtration systems do not remove chlorine. Plus, they are expensive and have to be continually maintained.

Also, RO water purifiers create several gallons of polluted, waste water for every gallon that is drinkable. So even though an RO filtration system may remove some pharmaceuticals in water supply systems, it won't remove them all and in the meantime, you are flushing many gallons of undrinkable water back into the system.

Pharmaceuticals in our water supply systems is problematic. Though drug studies are done to determine side effects, those studies do not examine ingesting life-long trace amounts. Research is only now being done which shows the effects on developing cells. These trace levels seem to reduce their growth.

Several nationwide studies have attempted to answer the question of does reverse osmosis remove pharmaceuticals from water supplies, since treatment facilities use them. With the knowledge that the answer is "no, not completely", you can definitely find a more reasonably priced system that is even more effective.

Judith Pratt is passionate about maintaining optimum health naturally.To find the results of her extensive research on the best value for money, top quality, Water Filter Systems at factory prices go to: http://www.clean-water-filtration.com

 

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Why is there suddenly no water supply to my toilet?

Ok, I'll own up -- I've been fixing my toilet. I finished yesterday and it was working fine until this morning. Now there is no water supply to the toilet, although there is water from my sink taps. And yes, I've made sure that the tap under the toilet is on. Also, my basement ceiling has obviously had a major soaking from a leak. But if that came from the water pipe supplying the toilet, wouldn't it have effected the water supply to the sink? Help.

If it worked and then it quit, it sounds like you have some debris caught in the toilet valve(the one inside the tank). Often times and especially homes with the older galvanized steel pipes, any plumbing work will dislodge little bits of rust or other crud residing inside the supply pipe. These little bits then travel with the water flow until they come to a narrow or restricted portion of the system(usually a valve) and get stuck there. It is easy to check by simply turning off the water, disconnecting the supply line at the connection under the toilet tank and the turning the water back on. If no water flows then you know the toilet is not the problem but is further back in the water supply. I have had this problem a couple of times. The screen in the kitchen faucet aerator is a classic for this problem. Good luck!!

Battle To Keep Plattsmouth's Water Supply Safe