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What is lead and how do I know if I have it in my water?

Lead is a colourless, tasteless, odourless harmful metal that is typically found in water supplies that either pass through lead water service pipes or home water pipes that have been soldered using lead -solder. The National Plumbing Code allowed lead as an acceptable material for pipes until 1975 and in solder until 1986. Therefore homes constructed before 1990 are more likely to have lead problems.

Consumption of drinking water that has lead can lead to severe brain and blood damage, especially in young children, infants and pregnant women. Even low level exposure may harm the intellectual development, behaviour, size and hearing of infants. If your home was built prior to 1990 or you suspect that lead -based solder was used in your plumbing, you should contact your local water authority and get a water test done. Most municipalities in Canada will do a free lead test.

You can install Rainfresh Drinking Water system 3, Reverse Osmosis System (RO450) or TWIST system to have lead -free drinking water. All these systems are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction.

 

Trihalomethanes (THM ) – CHEMICALS

THM are chemical compounds formed by the reaction of disinfectants such as chlorine , with natural organic compounds (decaying leaves & vegetation). Many THM were also used over the years as solvents and refrigerants and now sometimes find their way into our drinking water supplies. THMs most commonly found in drinking water are chloroform, bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM) and bromoform, although over 50 are known to be present in various drinking water supplies.

THM are considered possible carcinogens (cancer-causing) in humans. According to Health Canada, animal studies indicate a link between specific THM and tumours. Some human studies also link THM with colorectal cancers & reproductive problems.

Rainfresh Drinking Water System models UCS3, QS1, QS2 and filter cartridge models LR1 & VC1 are tested and certified for reduction of THM from water.

VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) are a class of organic chemicals that are known to be harmful to human health. VOC s enter ground water from a variety of sources such as oil spills, pesticide run-off, boat traffic in lakes and rivers, flushing industrial solvents and cleaners into the environment etc. VOC are regarded as potentially cancer-causing and should be removed from all drinking water supplies.

Rainfresh Drinking Water System models UCS3, QS1, QS2 and filter cartridge models LR1 & VC1 are tested and certified for reduction of VOC from water.

What is Chlorine ?

Chlorine is the most common chemical used by municipalities around the world to make water safe to drink. Almost all municipal treatment plants in North America use chlorine for primary or secondary disinfection. Chlorine can form cancerous by-products with certain organic compounds present in water. In addition chlorine renders an offensive taste and odour to water and to beverages made from such water. Coffee and tea tastes much better when chlorine is removed from water. Many people have reported to be allergic to chlorine in the water.

Chlorine from drinking water can be effectively reduced by activated carbon filter cartridges. All Rainfresh Drinking Water Systems reduce chlorine effectively. For whole house reduction of chlorine , Rainfresh CCF systems are recommended.

A cyst is a resting stage of a parasite that helps it tide over unfavourable environmental conditions. When the parasite reaches favourable conditions (such as the human intestine), the cyst wall breaks and the microbe causes illness. Commonly known cysts are Giardia Lamblia and Cryptosporidium. They are present in stagnant waters such as dug wells, lakes, ponds and other surface waters. Cysts cause illnesses such as Giardiasis (commonly called Beaver Fever), stomach cramps, fever, diarrhea, etc.

Cysts are resistant to chlorination, the most common disinfection method used by municipalities. As such, it is possible to have cyst contamination even in chlorinated (municipally treated) water supplies. Physical removal of cysts from water by filtration is the most effective way of preventing illnesses from cyst. Rainfresh Drinking Water system 1, 2 and 3 are tested and certified for reduction of cyst from water.