The people who 'suggest that several types of trihalomethanes may cause cancer' have also reaped huge rewards by inventing water treatment methods to remove trihalomethanes. Chlorine has been added to US water systems since the early 1900s resulting in a steady decline in water born diseases which caused many deaths. To reduce trihalomethanes, some water companies have had to utilize Chloramines (a blend of ammonia and chlorine) as the disinfectant. The breakdown of Chloramines produces nitrates in the water which reduces the uptake of O2 in the blood. Babies who drink water with nitrates will get 'blue baby syndrome', meaning they turn blue due to a lack of O2.
There is NO EVIDENCE to support the assertion that trihalomethanes cause cancer. The way the EPA scared people into reducing THMs was to make the statement that THMs may cause miscarriages. That was enough to scare everyone into spending billions to reduce THMs. I've worked at a major public water agency for 39 years and WE have spent billions for a fake boogie man.
Great post, BDR. I don't blame people if they want to filter out chlorine in their homes, but as you correctly assert, removing it from water treatment would be a disaster.
I'd encourage people to be far more focused on getting the fluoride out of their water than the chlorine.
Without a little bit of chlorine as part of the treatment process, there would undoubtedly be a huge uptick in waterborne pathogens so I understand why it's there (to BigDaddy's point).
That being said, I would encourage you to look into getting a reverse osmosis system as I don't particularly want to drink chlorine (as well as my wife and son).
The bigger problem in our water is the amount of fluoride. There's far more data showing that to have negative health impacts than chlorine. Reverse osmosis will get a good portion of the fluoride out but still leave quite a bit behind. I use a special pitcher filter to get most of the remaining fluoride out of our actual drinking water.
I would say that once the water comes out if the pipes in the house, then you can filter it and drink it. There is still the chance that bacterial can be in the house plumbing and the chlorine in the water will disinfect house plumbing. I have no problem drinking tap water. I don’t like the smell of the chlorine, but as long as I smell it I have a high confidence it is safe to drink.
The people who 'suggest that several types of trihalomethanes may cause cancer' have also reaped huge rewards by inventing water treatment methods to remove trihalomethanes. Chlorine has been added to US water systems since the early 1900s resulting in a steady decline in water born diseases which caused many deaths. To reduce trihalomethanes, some water companies have had to utilize Chloramines (a blend of ammonia and chlorine) as the disinfectant. The breakdown of Chloramines produces nitrates in the water which reduces the uptake of O2 in the blood. Babies who drink water with nitrates will get 'blue baby syndrome', meaning they turn blue due to a lack of O2.
There is NO EVIDENCE to support the assertion that trihalomethanes cause cancer. The way the EPA scared people into reducing THMs was to make the statement that THMs may cause miscarriages. That was enough to scare everyone into spending billions to reduce THMs. I've worked at a major public water agency for 39 years and WE have spent billions for a fake boogie man.
Great post, BDR. I don't blame people if they want to filter out chlorine in their homes, but as you correctly assert, removing it from water treatment would be a disaster.
I'd encourage people to be far more focused on getting the fluoride out of their water than the chlorine.
Absolutely agree, Fluoride is bad stuff for the body.
Without a little bit of chlorine as part of the treatment process, there would undoubtedly be a huge uptick in waterborne pathogens so I understand why it's there (to BigDaddy's point).
That being said, I would encourage you to look into getting a reverse osmosis system as I don't particularly want to drink chlorine (as well as my wife and son).
The bigger problem in our water is the amount of fluoride. There's far more data showing that to have negative health impacts than chlorine. Reverse osmosis will get a good portion of the fluoride out but still leave quite a bit behind. I use a special pitcher filter to get most of the remaining fluoride out of our actual drinking water.
I would say that once the water comes out if the pipes in the house, then you can filter it and drink it. There is still the chance that bacterial can be in the house plumbing and the chlorine in the water will disinfect house plumbing. I have no problem drinking tap water. I don’t like the smell of the chlorine, but as long as I smell it I have a high confidence it is safe to drink.