Aluminum contaminates our tap water and threatens our health

Aluminum in drinking water poses health risks

We are all familiar with aluminum, the lightweight metal used in cans, window frames, and other common items. Less well known is the presence of aluminum in drinking water. Scientists know that aluminum causes dementia, or memory loss, and drinking water turns out to be a significant source of aluminum for many people.

Aluminum, in its molecular form, can be combined with other chemicals for use in medicines, skin products, and as a chemical used in water purification plants. It also comes from natural sources when some types of rock are broken down by rain or in streams and rivers. All of these sources put aluminum in drinking water.

Water treatment plants use large amounts of aluminum sulfate (a salt) to remove organic matter from water. It is also used to remove phosphates, a byproduct of many soaps and fertilizers. Companies put it in antacids, deodorants, and kitchen utensils. It is clear that it can damage our nervous system as it accumulates in our bodies over the years.

Once we absorb aluminum into our bodies, it’s hard to get rid of it. It tends to accumulate in our tissues and over time can accelerate Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. A study by Dr. C. McLachlan found that many cases of Alzheimer’s disease could be prevented if aluminum was kept below a safe standard level in public water supplies. Aluminum damages our nervous system.

The United States government does not regulate aluminum in drinking water supplies. It is one of at least 200 unregulated chemicals commonly found in US drinking water supplies. The Environmental Protection Agency has set a non-compliance standard (no legal limit) for aluminum in our faucets.

Aluminum is difficult to remove from water. Two types of filters can remove aluminum molecules. First, a filter called “alumina” can remove it and other metals from the water. Second, a reduction or “redox” filter causes some metals to come out of the water.

With the dangers of clear aluminum, we need to guard against it by not using aluminum-surfaced cookware, avoiding aluminum foil, and filtering our home water supplies for drinking and cooking. A good quality home water purification system can go a long way towards giving you peace of mind with so many contaminants in your water supplies.

Click the link below for information on a high-quality home water purification system.