Common Contaminants in Drinking Water
Contaminants can get in drinking water from all different kinds of sources. Many of which are from industrial processes, metal corrosion, and chemicals, such as preservatives and disinfectants.
Most contaminants can be removed from drinking water through reverse osmosis. This is a process of passing water under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane to remove the majority of contaminants. This is the most common process of filtering water. Kinetico’s K5 drinking water station, a reverse osmosis system with flex filtration, is certified to remove more contaminants than any other reverse osmosis system on the market.
For any contaminants that cannot be removed through reverse osmosis, or to further combat a specific contaminant, up to 5 filters can be added to the K5. Contact us to learn more.
| Contaminant | Source | Health Effect |
| Aluminum | Rock and Soil Leaching | High risk for dialysis patients |
| Arsenic | Coal Power Plants
Petroleum Production Natural & Industrial Deposit Leaching Wood Preservatives Pesticides |
Severe skin problems
Disruption to endocrine system Cancer (skin, bladder, lung, kidney, liver, prostate) Cardiovascular & nervous system damage |
| Barium | Mineral Deposits
Drilling Waste Disposal Copper Smelting Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing |
Breathing problems
Increased blood pressure Changes in heart rhythm Stomach irritation Brain swelling Muscle weakness Damage to liver, kidney, heart & spleen |
| Cadmium | Galvanized Pipe Corrosion
Natural Deposit Erosion Metal Refinery Discharge Waste Battery & Paint runoff |
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, sensory disturbances, liver injury, shock & renal failure
Long term: kidney, liver, bone & blood damage |
| Chloramine | Municipal Treatment | When present in dialysis water, can cause hemolytic anemia |
| Chromium | Trivalent chromium is naturally occurring
Hexavalent chromium is a byproduct of some chemical processes |
Nausea, gastrointestinal distress, stomach ulcers, skin ulcers & allergic reactions
Kidney & liver damage Reproductive problems Pulmonary & nasal cancers |
| Copper | Industrial Discharges
Copper salts for reservoir algae control Copper Plumbing Corrosion |
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal illness & abdominal & muscle pain
Anemia, liver poisoning & kidney failure |
| Fluoride | Natural Deposits
Treated Municipal Water |
Long term consumption can cause:
Skeletal fluorosis (extremely dense & hard bones that are abnormally fragile) Disfiguration, pitting & mottling (discoloration) of teeth in children less than 9 years old |
| Lead | Mostly Lead Service Lines
Lead Containing Solder Brass Fittings Industrial Processes Mines Smelting |
Lower intelligence
Hearing impairment Growth impediment Damage to brain, kidneys, bone marrow, nervous system & red blood cells |
| Nitrates/Nitrites | Human Sewage
Livestock Manure |
Methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) |
| Mercury | Sport Fish
Natural De-Gassing of Earth’s Crust Fossil Fuel Combustion Mercurous & Mercuric Salts (from skin & antiseptic creams, ointments) |
Kidney damage |
| Perchlorate | Fireworks
Explosives Rocket Propellants Naturally occurring in low levels |
Hinders absorption of iodine by thyroid glands, leading to developmental and learning disabilities in children. |
| Radium | Radioactive decay of uranium & thorium in rocks & soil | Increased risk of cancer |
| Selenium | Natural Deposits
Copper Smelting |
Hair and fingernail changes
Fatigue and irritability Damage to peripheral nervous system |
| Silver | Primarily from use as a bacteriostat in water treatment devices
Naturally occurring in soil as insoluble silver chloride and silver sulfide |
Argyria (discoloration of skin, hair & organs) |
| Uranium | Naturally Occurring Mineral | Increased risk of cancer
Kidney toxicity |