13 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Drink Tap Water

Key Takeaways: 

• More than half of people believe their tap water is unsafe, and studies show their concerns are valid. 
• Tap water can contain arsenic, chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, nitrates, phosphates, radon, and bacteria.
• To keep yourself safe from the potential side effects of drinking tap water, test your water, avoid plastic water bottles, and invest in a Tyent ionizer which can remove more than 200 contaminants.

What’s in your tap water? According to a nine-month investigation by The Guardian and Consumer Reports, your tap water could contain toxic chemicals, as the report found a whopping 118 of 120 samples had PFAS (also known as “forever chemicals”), arsenic, or lead. No wonder more than half of people think tap water is unsafe. But just what are the potential side effects of drinking tap water containing these chemicals and toxins?

In this article, we’ll explore the potentially dangerous effects of tap water and, hopefully, put your mind at ease by sharing a safer way to get your daily H2O.

Reasons Tap Water Causes Side Effects

Tap water can contain a number of potentially unsafe chemicals. Let’s talk about the side effects and negative health outcomes that can come from drinking contaminated tap water.

Arsenic

Arsenic is a natural metalloid chemical usually present in groundwater. It poses health problems when consumed in dangerous amounts.

This chemical can enter residential tap water through agricultural runoff, industrial pollution, or contamination of private wells.

Arsenic poisoning may lead to the following health issues:

• partial paralysis
• numbness in hands and feet
• vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea
• discoloration of the skin
• blindness

Arsenic Poisoning Definition: Also known as arsenicosis, arsenic poisoning can occur when an individual consumes a dangerous level of arsenic from drinking groundwater or tap water, resulting in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin changes like darkening or lesions.

Chlorine

This is also another naturally-occurring chemical element that does not only kill bacteria and germs but also causes damage to the human body when taken in dangerous amounts orally and through inhalation.

When chlorine enters the body, it reacts with water and produces corrosive acids. People exposed to excessive chlorine may experience the following health issues:

• chronic cough
• breathing difficulty
• chronic sore throat
• chest tightness
• airway irritation

Fluoride

Fluoride is a mineral found in teeth, bones, air, rocks, plants, soil, and water.

Although naturally occurring in the human body, excess amounts of fluoride from tap water pose some health issues, such as fluorosis and severe skeletal problems.

Fluorosis Definition: A mild discoloration of the teeth due to excessive amounts of fluoride.

Heavy Metals

Heavy metals are known for their potential toxicity, especially in environmental contexts. Mercury, lead, copper, chromium, cadmium, and aluminum are all heavy metals that can pollute tap water.

If taken excessively for a long time, these heavy metals often found in tap water can harm your health. Aluminum, for example, can increase risks of the following health conditions:

• brain deformities
• Parkinson’s disease
• dementia
• Alzheimer’s disease

Lead can damage the kidneys and increase the risk of high blood pressure.

Herbicides and Pesticides

Herbicides and pesticides are toxic chemicals used to get rid of insects and control unwanted plants. They can sometimes sneak into water supplies, especially in the groundwater near agricultural areas.

When consumed through tap water, these chemicals can cause:

• eye and skin irritation
• headache
• allergic sensitization
• extreme weakness

Nitrates

These inorganic compounds are commonly present in processed meats, such as hot dogs, bacon, and ham, acting as preservatives. They are also present in tap water because they naturally occur in the air, soil, and water.

The most concerning health effect of excess nitrates is methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder that causes an abnormal amount of methemoglobin. When the body produces too much methemoglobin, it begins to replace the normal hemoglobin count, which can lead to a lack of oxygen supply in cells.

Methemoglobin Definition: A type of hemoglobin that is unable to carry oxygen in the blood, resulting in slate-gray, cyanotic skin color.

Radon

Radon is a natural gas present in the air and occurs in water tapped from wells. When groundwater passes through rocks with uranium, it releases radon into the water.

If your tap water has radon, you may be at increased risk of developing stomach cancer or internal organ cancers.

Uranium Definition: A naturally occurring, radioactive element that’s primarily used to fuel nuclear power plants.

Bacteria

There are many types of bacteria that are present in tap water, as well as other microorganisms like viruses and protozoans. The bacteria Escherichia coli, for example, can be an issue in dirty water. It is an indicator that water has animal waste or sewage contamination.

1. coli can cause health concerns like:

• nausea and vomiting
• abdominal tenderness, pain, and cramping
• diarrhea

Legionella is a type of bacteria that can be found in tap water which can affect the lungs and cause localized infections.

Salmonella is another concerning bacteria that can cause the following health issues:

• food poisoning
• typhoid fever
• gastroenteritis (the inflammation of the intestines and stomach as a result of viral infections or bacterial toxins)

Phosphates

These are compounds of phosphate ions commonly present in fertilizers as plant nutrients and in detergents as a water softener. The presence of phosphates in water promotes excessive algae growth that makes the water dirty when algae die.

Phosphates enter water systems when dissolved rocks mix into groundwater. High levels of phosphates in the body can put people at high risk of hardened arterial walls.

How to Protect Yourself From the Side Effects of Drinking Tap Water

Getting sick from tap water can be avoided. Let’s talk about how to keep yourself and your family safe from the potential side effects of tap water.

Test Your Tap Water

If you have a private well that supplies your water, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends testing your water at least once a year. But even if you get your water from a public water system, you should still test your water if you notice any change in taste, smell, or color. You may also want to test your water if you just welcomed or are about to welcome a new baby to your home or if someone in your household has a sudden, unexplained illness.

If you’re unsure about the quality of your water, you can request a free water report from Tyent.

Avoid Plastic

Bottled water is not the safest way to avoid potential tap water dangers. In many cases, it is simply purified tap water—sold at a much higher cost. Additionally, the plastic used in bottles is harmful to the environment and potentially to your health. A study by Rutgers and Columbia University revealed that an average liter of bottled water contains at least 240,000 plastic particles.

Invest in the Best Water System

The best way to get clean, healthy water is by investing in the best water system: a Tyent ionizer. Tyent’s ionizers clean your tap water by removing more than 200 contaminants using .01-micron Dialapure filters—the same filtration level used for kidney dialysis. 

Tyent ionizers provide the cleanest, best water to drink while offering all the benefits of both alkaline and hydrogen water. Unlike tap water, which can cause many negative health effects, alkaline water and hydrogen water have tons of health benefits, including improved gut health, more radiant skin, and immunity support.

Get started with your own Tyent ionizer.

Tyent ACE-13

More About the Side Effects of Drinking Tap Water

Concerned about the side effects of drinking tap water? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about tap water:

What happens to your body when you drink tap water?

Drinking tap water can expose you to many potentially dangerous pollutants, including bacteria, radon, and arsenic. These contaminants can cause many detrimental health effects, such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, eye irritation, skin irritation, stomach cramping, and much more serious conditions, such as the blood disorder methemoglobinemia.

What are the types of contaminants?

The most common types of contaminants in tap water include: arsenic, chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, nitrates, radon, phosphates, and bacteria.

Can you drink too much water?

Although rare, overhydration—or drinking too much water—can occur and may lead to water toxicity. Water toxicity, also known as water poisoning, happens when excess water causes cells to swell, leading to pressure in the brain. This can disrupt the central nervous system, potentially resulting in seizures, coma, or even death if left untreated.

It’s important to note that water poisoning usually isn’t caused solely by excessive water consumption. It often occurs in individuals with underlying health conditions that impair the kidneys’ ability to regulate water balance.

Is hard water a health concern?

Hard water can pose health risks, particularly related to stomach issues and diarrhea. Even if you don’t drink hard water, bathing in it can still be problematic. Showering in hard water can irritate the skin, leading to conditions like acne and eczema, and it may also damage your hair.

How do you know if your tap water is making you sick?

Usually, stomach conditions and gastrointestinal distress are some of the first signs your tap water is making you sick. If you’re frequently struggling with stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting after you drink your tap water, it’s time to test your water for contaminants.

Avoid Side Effects of Drinking Tap Water With Tyent

While most Americans still drink tap water, more than half of them are worried about what contaminants they’re consuming—and studies show they’re right to be concerned. From arsenic to bacteria to lead, many pollutants might be hanging out in your tap water.

Luckily, there’s a safer way to stay hydrated without giving up on tap water altogether. Consider filtering your tap water with the help of a Tyent ionizer. Tyent uses Dialapure filters that possess the same filtration capabilities as kidney dialysis machines. These ionizers are trusted by doctors, athletes, and celebrities around the world, who rely on Tyent not only to provide them with the cleanest water possible but also the most powerful hydrogen water. 

Tyent does more than just filter your water. It provides the highest molecular hydrogen content of any hydrogen water machine on the market, enhancing energy, immune support, and more. Additionally, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of alkaline water, including improved hydration, healthier skin, and better overall health.

Make your tap water safer, cleaner, and more powerful with a Tyent ionizer.