What's in My Tap Water?

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Now back to this week’s regularly scheduled programming.

What’s this liquid being piped into my house?

A couple of years ago, I started hearing these rumblings that there may be certain contaminants in my drinking water. The most common impurities I heard about include inorganic contaminants like lead, arsenic and mercury as well as chemical contaminants which include industrial chemicals, household chemicals and pharmaceuticals that find their way into the water supply. Examples of these include polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and disinfection byproducts (DBPs).

Finding my water report

I got ahold of a water report of my town. Every municipality in the US is required to provide a water analysis to their population as mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act. You may ask yourself, “How do I find this DK?”. Simply Google “(your zip code) water report”. If you’re in a small town, it may not show up, so try a larger municipality close by.

You’ll see an eye chart produced like the one below…

These reports can tell you a lot about your water but they can’t tell you everything. That’s because once the water leaves the water treatment plant it has to pass through miles of pipes inside and outside of the house to get to your glass. Therefore, if you really want to go full nerd you can purchase a home water test.

*Non-pro pro tip: make sure to regularly clean that metal mesh filter at the tip of your faucet. If it hasn’t been cleaned in a while, one swipe of that thing with a cloth will most likely produce an audible “nasty” response from us all.

Knowing what to look for

Fluoride and Chlorine

Dr. Andrew Huberman advises caution regarding contaminants in drinking water, particularly fluoride and disinfection byproducts from chlorination. He suggests keeping fluoride levels below 0.5 mg/L to minimize health risks.

Chlorination can be effective in killing bacteria and pathogens, but it can also produce harmful byproducts like trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), which are associated with increased cancer risk, reproductive issues, and developmental problems in children. Dr. Huberman tells us that the safe range for chlorine in drinking water is up to 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Higher levels can also cause short-term health issues such as eye irritation, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal discomfort.

Heavy Metals

Exposure to heavy metals in drinking water can lead to numerous health issues including neurological damage, kidney damage, immune system impairments and even cancer. But just like anything else, the dose makes the poison.

The EPA has set a threshold of 15 parts per billion (ppb) of lead in drinking water. However, no level of lead is considered completely safe, especially for children. If any lead is detected in your water I would advise drinking only filtered water.

The EPA’s max containment level for arsenic is 10 parts per billion. They have also set a standard of no more than 2 parts per billion in drinking water. If you see measurements exceeding these levels in your water report head for zee hills.

PFAS

Regulatory guidelines for PFAS in tap water vary, but the EPA has established health advisories for two common PFAS compounds. Those are PFOA and PFOS and the EPA’s guidance on both is a maximum of 70 parts per trillion.

Some states have set their own, more stringent limits based on emerging studies.

Report Conclusion

Looking through the Red Bank, NJ water report above, we can see that none of the levels of contaminants are high enough to cause concern. Again, that doesn’t show us the whole picture because of the other water delivery logistics involved, but I would feel safe brushing my teeth and showering with water out of the tap there. As far as everyday drinking I would choose to err on the side of caution with a pitcher or counter top filter.

Filtering out the bad stuff

For filtering out these contaminants, Huberman recommends several options based on budget:

Pitcher Filters: Effective for small quantities of water and removing fluoride and some other contaminants. Check out the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Runs around $100 plus cost of replacing the filters.

Countertop Filters: Larger capacity units that can remove a wide range of contaminants, including fluoride. Take a look at the Berkey Filter or AquaTru. I use the AquaTru countertop system at home. These brands go for between $350-$500 plus replacement filters.

*Non-pro pro tip: if looking into the AquaTru, or any reverse osmosis water filter, go with the mineral boost option in order to add back in the healthy minerals that are stripped away during the reverse osmosis filtering process.

Whole House Filters: Comprehensive solutions that treat all the water entering your home, though they can be expensive, check out Aquasana Filters. Whole house filters can run anywhere from $1,500 to several thousand dollars.

Doesn’t a Brita or my fridge door filter do all this?

Brita pitchers and refrigerator filters go for about $30-$45 and filter out some of the same contaminants. So why would I recommend that you spend 3 to 15 times more for one of these other water filters? They just don’t go far enough. Below is a breakdown of the contaminants we’ve discussed and what is filtered by each brand.

As you can see the Brita/Fridge Filter falls short on filtering many of the key contaminants that we are looking to put the kibosh on.

In future issues we’ll get specifically into all sorts of nerdy hydration stuff like pH levels, alkalinity, and electrolytes. I believe it’s most important to get the foundation right first and the foundation for hydration is clean, contaminant-free drinking water.

To learn more about water optimization, check out Dr. Andrew Huberman’s podcast episode on water here.

I’m here to support you on your journey to a healthier, fitter life. As always, I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. Let me know what topics you’d like me to cover in future issues by replying to this email.

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Be well,

Dave

Please note: This newsletter is designed for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for advice tailored to your health and fitness needs.