Pharmaceutical Contamination in Water | Water Filtration System Fort Worth

Everyone would like to have the peace of mind knowing their water supply is clean. Most municipal water supplies are “acceptable” according to current standards. Unfortunately, these standards allow small amounts of contaminants. For those homeowners who want the cleanest, best tasting water possible Benjamin Franklin Plumbing can provide you with a water filtration system in Fort Worth that will deliver clean water, even when your supply is subject to pharmaceutical contamination in water.

It has been recently recognized that randomly checked public water supplies across the nation are testing positive for pharmaceuticals. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering in some states when a person receiving home health care or hospice passes away, a nurse will flush all drugs down the toilet. From an environmental perspective, current reports indicate these drugs are entering into the water table, nearby creeks, rivers, wells and pass through water treatment facilities unchanged.

Unfortunately, disposal in toilets isn’t the only means of drugs entering our water supply. Digested and metabolized medications are showing up after treatment in water treatment facilities, including illegal substances such as cocaine.

The U. S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is the authority who certifies water treatment devices for removal of particular contaminants. The NSF is now testing for the effectiveness of water filtration systems for the removal of an additional 15 contaminants whose presence is not required to be tested for in public water supplies. A water filtration system in Fort Worth will ensure if your water is contaminated with these substances, or is in the future, filtration will remove the substances.

The new standard adopted by the NSF establishes the requirements for water treatment and filtration devices that will reduce an additional 15 contaminants not previously monitored, and which have been identified in published studies as present in the tested drinking water supplies.

To date, the NSF has tested and identified over 50 water filtration systems that have received approval for removal of these substances. It emphasizes the fact that we can all benefit with safer water by use of a water filtration system in Fort Worth. Even if your water supply is currently free of these substances, only filtration can guarantee your water will remain safe from the following contaminants:

Pharmaceutical Drugs

• Meprobamate: a compound in anti-anxiety drugs.
• Phenytoin: an anti-epileptic drug for seizures.
• Atenolol: a beta blocker drug used for high blood pressure.
• Carbamazepine: an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug.
• Trimethoprim: an antibiotic medication used for infection.
• Estrone: a prescription birth control drug.

Over-the-Counter Medications

• Ibuprofen: an over-the-counter pain reliever, anti-pyretic, and anti-inflammatory medication.
• Naproxen: an over-the-counter pain reliever and anti-inflammatory medication.

Pesticides and Herbicides:

• DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide): a pesticide and common ingredient in insect repellents.
• Metolachlor: Used widely as an herbicide.
• Linuron: an herbicide used in the control of grass and weeds.

Chemical Compounds:

• TCEP (tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine): Used in various types of polymers including polyurethanes, polyester resins and polyacrylates.
• TCPP (Tris (1, 3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate): Used as a flame retardant.
• BPA (Bisphenol A): Used as a plasticizer in the manufacture of plastic products.
• Nonyl phenol: A mixture used as a precursor to commercial detergents.

The new classification for water filtration device certification on the 15 new additions is NSF ANSI 401. These are not newly designed water filters, but rather the existing water filter technology that removes or further reduce these contaminants. This clearly means, that the use of a water filtration system in Fort Worth will benefit households by the removal of these 15 substances from affected water supplies.

Current research indicates these substances are potentially harmful. Italian researcher Francesco Pomati exposed developing kidney cells to 13 drugs at levels found in Italian rivers. The trace amounts of drugs he used in his research were anti-cholesterol drugs, those used to treat high blood pressure, seizures, depression, pain, infection and cancer. The results showed cell growth was altered.

Ongoing research by other groups is indicating that even tiny amounts of these medications can over time have adverse effects upon our health. These results are especially troubling for the very young, the elderly, chronically ill persons and the unborn children of pregnant women. Persons in this category could especially benefit from the installation of a water filtration system in Fort Worth.

In addition, research is indicating a variety of effects upon cells when various drugs are combined. Equally disturbing are drug combinations that have been ingested and passed through water treatment facilities unchanged. The effects of these drugs are largely unknown at this time due to the fact that digestion has in some cases, altered their molecular structure. Considering the number of potential pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter drugs the full picture may not be available for some time.

Ultimately, the best line of defense for you and your family against any potential involuntary administration of these drugs is with a water filtration system in Fort Worth. Currently reverse osmosis and Nano-filtration systems appears to be the most effective treatment at removing drugs from the water supply according to the Rocky Mountain School of Mines.

However, pharmaceutical drugs and illegal drugs aren’t the only problem with the U. S. water supply. Depending on where your water supply source is, there can be traces of herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, and fungicides, as well as disease causing microbial agents, hard water minerals. Solvents such as gasoline additives and degreasers, as well as toxic metals such arsenic, lead, mercury, and chromium.

A whole house water filtration system combined with a water softener will give the assurance you desire when it comes to your water and health. A water filtration system in Fort Worth will provide crystal clear and great tasting water. When combined with a water softener to treat hard water, you will find your skin and hair will feel softer, look better without the itchy dryness hard water can cause. A water filtration system in Fort Worth will remove chlorine and any other trace chemicals from the water. In addition, the appliances and fixtures will benefit from water softening, lasting longer, and without the unsightly build-up and discoloration that hard water causes.

The benefits of a water filtration system in Fort Worth provide more than great tasting water, it will provide you and your family with the peace of mind in knowing you can drink, cook, bathe and launder with clean and safe water. For the installation of a water filtration system in Fort Worth call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing’s water filtration specialists.