What’s in Your Glass? A Guide to Common Chemicals in Water

More than three-quarters of the U.S. population over the age of two will drink tap water daily. Chances are, you fill up your cup from the faucet, too.

Drinking water is always touted as a benefit to your health and, of course, it is. You should stay hydrated to feel energized, keep your joints lubricated, boost circulation, stave off infections and help organs function properly, among other benefits.

But there’s one downside to drinking water that you may not have considered. There can be desalination plant chemicals in water poured from the tap. Here are the most common ones that show up — and what they mean for your health.

1. Chlorine

There’s a good chance that your drinking water has chlorine in it. It’s there for a reason, though: this chemical can ward off dangerous bacteria and other organisms that might sneak into the water supply.

By the time your water reaches you, it should only have trace amounts of chlorine in it. If you want to be extra sure that what your drinking is chemical-free, try installing a water filter chlorine fluoride to give yourself peace of mind.

2. Fluoride

On that note, you might have tested your tap water and found that your supply contains fluoride. Don’t panic if you find this mineral lingering in your pipes, though.

In fact, you may know why fluoride appears in our drinking water. Experts realized that tooth decay could be reduced with the help of fluoride. That’s why they had it deliberately added into many municipal water supplies across the country — it’s all about dental health.

So, small amounts of fluoride are okay. In fact, it’s great for your teeth.

3. Copper and Iron

You’ve probably seen algae blooms make headlines. These waterborne organisms can have explosive growth that damages the wildlife living in the same H2O. And the algae can make its way into the water supply, which can get people sick, too.

So, sometimes algaecides — made mostly of copper and iron — are added to your water. And it often remains in the water by the time it flows through your tap.

4. Hydrogen Chloride and Natrium Hydroxide

You might be able to guess now that both hydrogen chloride and natrium hydroxide serve a greater purpose, and that’s why they might appear in your water. These common chemicals are some of the most commonly used to balance water’s acidity.

Water should be neutral when traveling through the water treatment plant, city pipes, and homes. Otherwise, its acidity could cause damage to these very finely tuned systems.

That’s why water treatment experts will add hydrogen chloride, natrium hydroxide, and other chemicals to the water supply. They help balance out any acidity to make the water fit for service.

Chemicals in Water Aren’t Always Bad

Here’s some great news: the most common chemicals in water won’t do damage to you. In fact, most of them are there to keep you safe.

But if you prefer to drink the purest of H2Os, you still have options. Invest in a water filter or distiller to remove any unwanted substances from your water.

Otherwise, you’re fine to continue drinking from the tap and enjoying all of the benefits that proper hydration has to offer. And be sure to check back with us for more of the latest health news.