Substances added deliberately or inadvertently

ALUMINIUM

Aluminium Sulphate is added to many municipal supplies, to act as a flocculent. This makes water look clearer by causing suspended matter and minerals to 'clump together' and sink to the bottom. Sydney eventually stopped adding it a few years ago, after their further investigation (and other large international studies) into the health risks associated with aluminium.

CHLORINE

A disinfectant to kill germs in water, to prevent outbreaks of illness like gastro, hepatitis, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis etc. - the prime concern of water authorities.

Some bacteria are growing immune to chlorine e.g. Cryptosporidium (of which there are hundreds of strains, not well understood by authorities, researchers). Cryptosporidium is generally found in all water supplies. Chlorine is one of a wide range of 'organic' compounds/chemicals. Chlorine reacts with substances in water, which create by-products called Trihalomethanes e.g. Chloroform, suspected carcinogens. THM's can be commonly found in tap water.

FLUORIDE

Fluoride is a by-product of aluminium smeltering and also of fertilizer manufacturing. It is not permitted to be disposed of by common methods like ground-fill, in the ocean, or via chimneys. Strict contols now require that fluoride gases be removed from the smoke waste, by a process called 'scrubbing', because it was found that it burned crops and crippled or killed cattle. The collected blend of waste products is called phosphogypsum, which includes fluoride, and must be carefully 'stored' in huge waste ponds, called 'gypsum stacks'. According to EPA, America produces 32 million tons of phosphogypsum per year.For every 500 gms of commercial fertilizer produced, 2.5 kgs of concentrated phosphogypsum slurry is created.

98% of Western Europe has rejected fluoride, including: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden, and majority of UK (90%). Australia and New Zealand are the most heavily fluoridated countries in the world. The Anti Fluoride Council (Melb) continues to oppose, and advise you.

The claimed benefit of fluoride comes from contact with the teeth, but not from ingesting it! Numerous studies show that better teeth conditions today are due to other factors, not fluoride.

Some of the main health issues associated with fluoride are: dental fluorosis (very common in young children), skeletal fluorosis (rampant in India, China where fluoride in groundwater is very high), kidney damage, infertility, hyperthyroidism, increased aluminium uptake, increased lead uptake, reduced magnesium uptake, tumours, hypoactivity, bone cancer, brain cell damage.
mild fluorosis severe fluorosis

5 grams (1 teaspoon) of fluoride is enough to kill an adult, while one tube of toothpaste would kill a small child, if consumed.

LEAD

Concentration should not exceed 5 parts per billion (ppb), according to authorities. Lead was used to solder household plumbing, until bans came about (about a decade ago). In USA, water now accounts for 15-25% of a child's total exposure.

NITRATE

High levels usually stem from agricultural activities. Chemical fertilizers and stock manure are rich sources of nitrate. Leaking septic tanks also add it to groundwater. High levels can cause serious illness for babies less than 6 months old. High nitrate levels may signal that other contaminants such as pesticides or bacteria & viruses from septic tanks are also present. The EPA in United States standard is 10 parts per million (ppm).

RADON

Is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It is a product of uranium, and is ubiquitous in the earth's crust. Water aeration disperses radon gas to the atmosphere.

HARDNESS

Calcium and magnesium ions which, in high concentrations, or over a long period of time, cause 'scale' to build up in pipes, fixtures, hot water units, equipment of all sorts. Soap lather is difficult, hair is dry and dull, clothes wash stiffly, more detergents etc. are used. Scum build up and stains in showers and wet areas. Scale build up results in higher energy costs for water heating. Hardness is commonly high in bore water, and Sth Aust, West Aust.

Some Example Chemicals:

ORGANICS

Not to be interpreted as a 'natural, harmless' compound, as in organic food. Some examples of organic chemicals: chlorine, toluene, xylene, styrene, hydrocarbons (widespread), Benzene etc. (all from industrial contamination and atmospheric deposition), chloral hydrate, chlorophenols, trihalomethanes, chloroketones, chloroacetic acids (all byproducts of disinfection), formaldehyde (byproduct of ozone disinfection), VOC's. Many pesticides, fertilizers and detergents are organic chemicals. There are 121 different pesticides listed as possibly present in Australian water.

INORGANICS

Some in-organic chemicals include: cyanide, sulphate, nitrates, molybdenum, hydrogen sulfide, fluoride, chromium, iodide, arsenic (from industrial waste), asbestos, beryllium, boron, chloride, chlorite, chlorate, mono-chloromine (byproduct of chlorine).

METALS

Lead, zinc, copper, mercury & cadmium (from industrial waste), iron, aluminium (added), tin, and nickel.

GIARDIA AND CRYPTOSPORIDIUM Bacteria