Disinfectant Byproducts in your Drinking Water
If you are on a public water supply, your drinking water is treated by a public utility to ensure that it’s safe from bacteria and other dangerous sources. But the way that it is treated is with chemical disinfectants that carry their own risk. Even though these disinfectants are typically a net positive on your drinking water, you want to ensure that you are not consuming too many of these disinfectant byproducts (DBPs).
Why are chemical disinfectants added to my drinking water?
The primary chemical disinfectant used by public water companies is chlorine. Chlorine is highly effective at removing disease-causing microorganisms from the public drinking water. Without this process, viruses and bacteria would cause serious illness or even death.
There are other processes that may be used to disinfect water besides chlorine, such as chlorine dioxide and chloramines. But these also produce disinfectant byproducts.
What disinfectant byproducts could be in my water?
When Chlorine is used as a disinfectant, it will leave what is commonly known as THMs, or Trihalomethanes, in the water. THMs are formed whenever chlorine interacts with organic matter in the water such as decaying plants, algae, or animal waste.
Different water sources will have various levels of THMs based on the amount of disinfectants used and the amount of organic matter for it to react with. For example, surface water will have elevated levels of THMs.
There are four different THMs:
- Chloroform
- Bromoform
- Chlorodibromomethane
- Bromodichloromethane
As well as the measure of “Total THMs” or TTHMs, which tells you the combined concentration of all four THMs.
THMs are classified as VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds.
Health Effects of Disinfectant Byproducts in Drinking Water
Elevated levels of Disinfectant Byproducts or THMs in your drinking water are connected to several negative health effects. Some potential health risk include:
- Increased risk of Bladder Cancer
- Reproductive issues
- Liver and Kidney damage.
The EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for TTHM in drinking water is 80 ppb. The MCL is the highest level of contamination permitted in drinking water. If your drinking water is above this level, you are more likely to encounter negative health if THMs are above this level.
If you use the Safe Home VOCs in Drinking Water Test Kit, your report will show the EPA’s limit for each THM, compared to the concentration at your home. Letting you know if your water is within EPA guidance.
How to Test for Disinfectant Byproduct in your Drinking Water
The best way to know if your water is free from disinfectant byproducts is to test at a certified laboratory. Even at levels as low as 80 ppb, you likely won’t be able to smell or taste them, but long-term exposure can pose health risks.
Most Affordable:
The Safe Home VOCs in Drinking Water Test Kit is the cheapest way to specifically test for THMs and 78 other dangerous organic compounds.
It makes testing easy and can be done from anywhere. Simply order your kit and we will send you bottles to collect your water sample in. Then ship your water sample back to our EPA-Certified lab and we’ll send you an easy-to-read report.
Most Comprehensive:
The most complete water testing kit on the market is the Safe Home Ultimate Drinking Water Test Kit. This test will include all the VOCs and TTHM testing from the previous kit, but will also include a variety of metals, physical properties, in-organics, pesticides, herbicides, and a free DIY Bacteria test.
Totaling two hundred parameters, the Ultimate Test Kit gives you a complete understanding of what is in your drinking water. Tested at our EPA-Certified Laboratory.
This kit has been awarded the #1 ranking Water Test Kit for the fourth year in a row.
At Safe Home, we have expert customer support that will help you every step of the way. From ordering your kit, collecting your sample, to understanding your results. If you need any assistance or have any questions about the kit.
Feel free to reach out and we’d be happy to help.
What to do if there are Disinfectant Byproducts in my water?
If your laboratory testing shows that you have elevated levels of disinfectant byproducts and THMs, then you will need some kind of filtration. The two most common styles of filters are either point of use or point of entry, each having pros and cons for THMs.
Point of Use (POU)
Point of Use filters are simply filters that remove contaminations at the tap. These are either connected directly to your faucet or have a separate faucet with the filter connected. Another common approach to point-of-use is a pitcher that has a filtration system built in.
POU filters are popular because of their affordability. There are options online for under $25, meaning they are affordable for everyone.
They are also accessible to renters since they require no plumbing modifications.
The negative of a POU filter is that it only removes water from one location instead of the whole home. Meaning that only one tap is safe to drink from or cook with if you have contamination.
THMs and VOCs also will evaporate into the air when heated, meaning that hot baths or showers also expose you to these dangerous chemicals.
Point of Entry (POE)
Point of Entry Filters work by filtering the water before it enters your home. The advantage to this is that every source of water in your home will be filtered. Some faucets, such as outdoor ones, may be bypassed but all indoor ones are typically filtered.
This means that your bathrooms will also be using filtered water, so you do not have to worry about breathing in evaporated chemicals or skin irritation.
The negatives of POEs are cost and complexity of installation. Because it will be installed at the point of entry, it often requires a plumber to install correctly. Depending on installation cost and the cost of the unit, they may be $1000 or more to have installed.
Get your Water Tested for Disinfectant Byproducts
If you want to get your water tested for Disinfectant Byproducts, order our VOCs in Drinking Water Test Kit or our Ultimate Drinking Water Test Kit today!
