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A
crystal-clear stream or lake usually contains microorganisms that can make
you sick. Water contaminants - protozoa, bacteria and viruses - can cause
serious illness or even death. Fortunately, portable drinking water systems
can help make water safe to drink. They have become essential outdoor
equipment worldwide. With portable water systems from Katadyn, you'll always
know that you can make any water safe to drink.
In general, tap water in the United States is perfectly safe for human
consumption. However, sometimes you may notice a funny color, odor or taste.
These often come from otherwise harmless contaminants like chlorine, sulfur,
iron and manganese. You can get rid of these problems easily by using a
conventional activated carbon filter, available at many retail stores and
even supermarkets.
But if your water contains dangerous levels of other pollutants, you'll need
to choose a water treatment technology that is appropriate for eliminating
the toxins. For the sake of discussion, it's easiest to group toxic
pollutants into four categories: organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals,
radio nuclides and microbiological organisms.
Organic chemicals include solvents, pesticides, synthetics, resins and other
manmade chemicals; many are known as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs).
Inorganic chemicals include nitrates and nitrites, asbestos, fluoride and
metals such as arsenic, mercury and the most notorious lead. Many of these
occur as natural mineral deposits. Some, such as copper and lead, leach into
water as it travels through pipes; treatment by your water utility doesn't
remove them. Radon gas, the most common radio nuclide, occurs naturally in a
number of regions, including Western mountain states and parts of the
Northeast. Microbiological contaminants, including protozoa, bacteria and
viruses, are normally killed by chlorinating and other treatment.
These dangerous pollutants are rare, but the water filter industry often
plays up fears to generate sales.
If you have any questions about your water's safety, call your water
supplier or health department and request copies of water treatment reports.
Less than 10 percent of the water produced by public systems is used for
 drinking
and cooking. The vast majority of our tap water is used by business,
industry and for purposes such as bathing, washing clothes, etc. While our
public utilities provide water that is safe to drink, it is neither
practical nor cost-effective for them to produce high-purity water, since
most uses do not require this level of quality. Impurities in your water can
be broken down into four categories: sediments, chemicals, dissolved solids
and microbiological organisms. Sediments include dirt, rust and particles of
plant or animal matter that are suspended in water.
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