Tap Water Contaminants

Microplastics are tiny fibres of plastic that are usually so small that they are invisible to the naked eye. They have been detected in UK tap water that contains between zero and 10 microplastic particles in every litre.

Bottled water can contain hundreds of microplastic particles per litre.

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Microplastics exposure can cause toxicity through oxidative stress, inflammatory lesions, and increased uptake or translocation. Several studies have demonstrated the potentiality of metabolic disturbances, neurotoxicity, and increased cancer risk in humans.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are members of a group of chemicals known as perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). Both PFOS and PFOA are very persistent in the environment. PFOS was widely used in the past in products to provide protective coatings to materials such as textiles and leather. It was also used in some fire fighting foams. However, most production of PFOS ceased in 2002. Manufacture and essentially all uses are now prohibited in the EU. PFOA is still manufactured and is used to produce other chemicals such as fluoropolymers, which are used in electronics and non-stick cookware.

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No conclusions can be drawn from the limited data available in humans, but studies in animals suggest that both PFOS and PFOA may be carcinogenic following prolonged exposure to relatively high levels.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) are a group of disinfection byproducts that form when chlorine compounds that are used to disinfect water react with other naturally occurring chemicals in the water.  They are colorless, and will evaporate out of the water into the air.  There are four significant TTHM potentially found in disinfected drinking water and their combined concentration is referred to as total TTHM.

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TTHM are considered to be possibly carcinogenic to humans because of evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental laboratory animals and limited evidence in people.  Some of the individual chemicals that comprise TTHM have also caused other effects in experimental laboratory animals following high levels of exposure, including toxicity to the liver, kidneys, neurological and reproductive systems.

Chlorine is used in the water treatment process to kill harmful bacteria and to keep water germ-free when on its journey to your taps.

While chlorination is a tried and tested method of disinfecting mains water supplies, it causes by-products such as TTHM's. The health risks from chlorine are relatively low but the chemical can cause the taste and smell of tap water to be off unpleasant. 

If you drink tap water, you may be ingesting the following heavy metals: fluoride, mercury, chlorine, lead, arsenic and dioxin.

Heavy metals in the UK are less of a problem than they used to be but still exist and the consumption of these heavy metals can be harmful.

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Mercury might be a naturally occurring element but it’s not one that you want to ingest. It’s extremely toxic and can lead to blindness, brain damage, nerve damage, headaches, tremors, mood swings, skin rashes and memory loss.

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Lead is poisonous to almost every organ in the body. Lead has been associated with stunted growth, developmental issues in children, deafness, learning disabilities, behavioural problems and brain damage.

Whilst many pathogens are microbes that live perfectly normally in water distribution systems, and can remain totally or relatively harmless to human health, some people are more susceptible to ill-health.

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Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs) - these organisms can cause serious pulmonary and lymphatic disease, skin ulcerations and other health issues.

Legionella pneumophila - is the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease (pneumonia) and milder variation Pontiac fever.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa - can occur in water distribution systems within buildings and can infect ears, skin, eyes and in some cases, cause pulmonary disease.

Escherichi Coli (E. Coli) - can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea if consumed in contaminated water.

Campylobacter Jejuni - can be found in contaminated drinking water and cause infections with symptoms of cramping, diarrhoea, fever and pain.

Hepatitis A - is an infection and can be present in drinking water. Symptoms include dark urine, jaundice and stomach pain.

Giardia Lamblia - is a waterborne parasite that causes nausea, cramps, gas and diarrhoea.

Salmonella - is a common pathogen that can cause chills, fever, headaches, diarrhoea and is infected through water and food ingestion.

Cryptosporidium - is a parasite that spreads through contaminated drinking water. It can cause severe pain and painful diarrhoea.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that both vaporize into air and dissolve in water. VOCs are pervasive in daily life, because they’re used in industry, agriculture, transportation, and day-to-day activities around the home. Once released into groundwater, many VOCs are persistent and can migrate to drinking-water supplies.

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The presence of elevated VOC concentrations in drinking water may be a concern to human health because some VOCs are carcinogens and/or may adversely affect the liver, kidneys, spleen, and stomach, as well as the nervous, circulatory, reproductive, immune, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.