Water, ground water, drinking water, streams, rivers, lakes, oceans–they’re all very precious and need our help.  When contaminants go in, most of them stay in; our government’s attempts to disinfect tap water with chloramines only adds to an already toxic condition. Our health is not boosted when we consume chemicalized water. Pollution and litter getting into waterways further mucks it up for the animals and birds whose lives depend upon them. What can any of us do that can help protect our water, protect our health?

1. At home and in the yard, use less of the dangerous chemical products (including pesticides, fertilizers, toxic cleaning products, chlorine bleach),  opt for phosphate-free shampoos, detergents and dish washing liquid.  Click to Find safer as well as DIY products and ideas. 
2. Encourage your town to purify water with reverse osmosis & ultraviolet light instead of chemicals.
3. Get your well water tested regularly for heavy metals like lead and arsenic, atrazine and herbicides, nitrate and fertilizer, as well as radioactive substances from fracking wastewater. 
4. Help pick up plastic litter including styrofoam, bottle caps, plastic bags, and six-pack rings when you see such to help protect the water animals; keeping these life-threatening objects out of waterways can save their lives.

See the chart below that identifies the origin and dangers of many water contaminants.

The following is an excerpt from the forthcoming Wecology Handbook.

GROUND WATER

While many of our water sources can be seen above ground, many of us obtain our drinking water from the vast water located beneath the surface of the earth. Ground water is comprised of water that makes its way through the soil and cracks in the earth to the bedrock below. Underground aquifers, rivers, streams, and caves lie beneath us almost everywhere. Residential wells draw from this water as do industries and municipalities. When more water is drawn and pumped out than what is replaced by rain and by people, the water levels fall. In some places, water levels have shrunk considerably and the risk of water shortages abound. Through careful, considerate, and mindful use of water we can maintain healthy and sustainable levels.

 

Map provided courtesy of US Geologic Survey, http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/

Ground Water At Risk

Throughout the U.S. groundwater is in jeopardy. Farms and agricultural systems depend upon the groundwater for irrigation, yet also pose a risk as many use toxic pesticides and fertilizers that end up in the groundwater. Drought and with it the insufficient recharge of ground water is an imminent problem in California. In the Central Plains, the Ogallala Aquifer is facing risk of depletion from irrigation and remains under threat of contamination should the Keystone pipeline be built. Perhaps the worst of all threats at the moment stems from toxic contaminants associated with fracking.

Currently fracking wastewater is not regulated under the Clean Water Act; and shockingly the EPA allows our groundwater to be contaminated with it. This is a major endangerment to our health–control of our water supply must be handled better, for it is through our water that our health is protected. If you have a private well, be sure to have it tested regularly for contaminants. According to the National Institutes of Health, “Populations living in agricultural areas typically have the highest exposures to drinking water contaminated with nitrate, with households using private wells for their drinking water often having exposures several-fold above households using public supplies.” See more

The following list and information, courtesy of the US Geological Service lists both inorganic and organic contaminants as well as their sources.

Contaminants Found in Groundwater

“Contaminants can be natural or human-induced. Groundwater will normally look clear and clean because the ground naturally filters out particulate matter. But, natural and human-induced chemicals can be found in groundwater. As groundwater flows through the ground, metals such as iron and manganese are dissolved and may later be found in high concentrations in the water. Industrial discharges, urban activities, agriculture, ground-water pumpage, and disposal of waste all can affect ground-water quality. Contaminants can be human-induced, as from leaking fuel tanks or toxic chemical spills. Pesticides and fertilizers applied to lawns and crops can accumulate and migrate to the water table. Leakage from septic tanks and/or waste-disposal sites also can introduce bacteria to the water, and pesticides and fertilizers that seep into farmed soil can eventually end up in water drawn from a well. Or, a well might have been placed in land that was once used for something like a garbage or chemical dumpsite. In any case, if you use your own well to supply drinking water to your home, it is wise to have your well water tested for contaminates.” https://water.usgs.gov/edu/groundwater-contaminants.html

Chemicals and contaminants in groundwater

Organic contaminants found in groundwater

Contaminant	Sources to groundwater	Potential health and other effects
Volatile organic compounds	Enter environment when used to make plastics, dyes, rubbers, polishes, solvents, crude oil, insecticides, inks, varnishes, paints, disinfectants, gasoline products, pharmaceuticals, preservatives, spot removers, paint removers, degreasers, and many more.	Can cause cancer and liver damage, anemia, gastrointestinal disorder, skin irritation, blurred vision, exhaustion, weight loss, damage to the nervous system, and respiratory tract irritation.
Pesticides	Enter environment as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, and algicides.	Cause poisoning, headaches, dizziness, gastrointestinal disturbance, numbness, weakness, and cancer. Destroys nervous system, thyroid, reproductive system, liver, and kidneys.
Plasticizers, chlorinated solvents, benzo[a]pyrene, and dioxin	Used as sealants, linings, solvents, pesticides, plasticizers, components of gasoline, disinfectant, and wood preservative. Enters the environment from improper waste disposal, leaching runoff, leaking storage tank, and industrial runoff.	Cause cancer. Damages nervous and reproductive systems, kidney, stomach, and liver.

Inorganic contaminants found in groundwater
Contaminant	Sources to groundwater	Potential health and other effects
Aluminum	Occurs naturally in some rocks and drainage from mines.	Can precipitate out of water after treatment, causing increased turbidity or discolored water.
Antimony	Enters environment from natural weathering, industrial production, municipal waste disposal, and manufacturing of flame retardants, ceramics, glass, batteries, fireworks, and explosives.	Decreases longevity, alters blood levels of glucose and cholesterol in laboratory animals exposed at high levels over their lifetime.
Arsenic	Enters environment from natural processes, industrial activities, pesticides, and industrial waste, smelting of copper, lead, and zinc ore.	Causes acute and chronic toxicity, liver and kidney damage; decreases blood hemoglobin. A carcinogen.
Barium	Occurs naturally in some limestones, sandstones, and soils in the eastern United States.		Can cause a variety of cardiac, gastrointestinal, and neuromuscular effects. Associated with hypertension and cardiotoxicity in animals.
Beryllium	Occurs naturally in soils, groundwater, and surface water. Often used in electrical industry equipment and components, nuclear power and space industry. Enters the environment from mining operations, processing plants, and improper waste disposal. Found in low concentrations in rocks, coal, and petroleum and enters the ground	Causes acute and chronic toxicity; can cause damage to lungs and bones. Possible carcinogen.
Cadmium	Found in low concentrations in rocks, coal, and petroleum and enters the groundwater and surface water when dissolved by acidic waters. May enter the environment from industrial discharge, mining waste, metal plating, water pipes, batteries, paints and pigments, plastic stabilizers, and landfill leachate.	Replaces zinc biochemically in the body and causes high blood pressure, liver and kidney damage, and anemia. Destroys testicular tissue and red blood cells. Toxic to aquatic biota.
Chloride	May be associated with the presence of sodium in drinking water when present in high concentrations. Often from saltwater intrusion, mineral dissolution, industrial and domestic waste.	Deteriorates plumbing, water heaters, and municipal water-works equipment at high levels. Above secondary maximum contaminant level, taste becomes noticeable.
Chromium	Enters environment from old mining operations runoff and leaching into groundwater, fossil-fuel combustion, cement-plant emissions, mineral leaching, and waste incineration. Used in metal plating and as a cooling-tower water additive.	Chromium III is a nutritionally essential element. Chromium VI is much more toxic than Chromium III and causes liver and kidney damage, internal hemorrhaging, respiratory damage, dermatitis, and ulcers on the skin at high concentrations.
Copper	Enters environment from metal plating, industrial and domestic waste, mining, and mineral leaching.	Can cause stomach and intestinal distress, liver and kidney damage, anemia in high doses. Imparts an adverse taste and significant staining to clothes and fixtures. Essential trace element but toxic to plants and algae at moderatelevels.
Cyanide	Often used in electroplating, steel processing, plastics, synthetic fabrics, and fertilizer production; also from improper waste disposal.	Poisoning is the result of damage to spleen, brain, and liver.
Dissolved solids	Occur naturally but also enters environment from man-made sources such as landfill leachate, feedlots, or sewage. A measure of the dissolved “salts” or minerals in the water. May also include some dissolved organic compounds.	May have an influence on the acceptability of water in general. May be indicative of the presence of excess concentrations of specific substances not included in the Safe Water Drinking Act, which would make water objectionable. High concentrations of dissolved solids shorten the life of hot water heaters.
Fluoride	Occurs naturally or as an additive to municipal water supplies; widely used in industry.	Decreases incidence of tooth decay but high levels can stain or mottle teeth. Causes crippling bone disorder (calcification of the bones and joints) at very high levels.
Hardness	Result of metallic ions dissolved in the water; reported as concentration of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is derived from dissolved limestone or discharges from operating or abandoned mines.	Decreases the lather formation of soap and increases scale formation in hot-water heaters and low-pressure boilers at high levels.
Iron	Occurs naturally as a mineral from sediment and rocks or from mining, industrial waste, and corroding metal.	Imparts a bitter astringent taste to water and a brownish color to laundered clothing and plumbing fixtures.
Lead	Enters environment from industry, mining, plumbing, gasoline, coal, and as a water additive.	Affects red blood cell chemistry; delays normal physical and mental development in babies and young children. Causes slight deficits in attention span, hearing, and learning in children. Can cause slight increase in blood pressure in some adults. Probable carcinogen.
Manganese	Occurs naturally as a mineral from sediment and rocks or from mining and industrial waste.	Causes aesthetic and economic damage, and imparts brownish stains to laundry. Affects taste of water, and causes dark brown or black stains on plumbing fixtures. Relatively non-toxic to animals but toxic to plants at high levels.
Mercury	Occurs as an inorganic salt and as organic mercury compounds. Enters the environment from industrial waste, mining, pesticides, coal, electrical equipment (batteries, lamps, switches), smelting, and fossil-fuel combustion.	Causes acute and chronic toxicity. Targets the kidneys and can cause nervous system disorders.
Nickel	Occurs naturally in soils, groundwater, and surface water. Often used in electroplating, stainless steel and alloy products, mining, and refining.	Damages the heart and liver of laboratory animals exposed to large amounts over their lifetime.
Nitrate (as nitrogen)	Occurs naturally in mineral deposits, soils, seawater, freshwater systems, the atmosphere, and biota. More stable form of combined nitrogen in oxygenated water. Found in the highest levels in groundwater under extensively developed areas. Enters the environment from fertilizer, feedlots, and sewage.	Toxicity results from the body’s natural breakdown of nitrate to nitrite. Causes “bluebaby disease,” or methemoglobinemia, which threatens oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Nitrite (combined nitrate/nitrite)	Enters environment from fertilizer, sewage, and human or farm-animal waste.	Toxicity results from the body’s natural breakdown of nitrate to nitrite. Causes “bluebaby disease,” or methemoglobinemia, which threatens oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Selenium	Enters environment from naturally occurring geologic sources, sulfur, and coal.	Causes acute and chronic toxic effects in animals–“blind staggers” in cattle. Nutritionally essential element at low doses but toxic at high doses.
Silver	Enters environment from ore mining and processing, product fabrication, and disposal. Often used in photography, electric and electronic equipment, sterling and electroplating, alloy, and solder. Because of great economic value of silver, recovery practices are typically used to minimize loss.	Can cause argyria, a blue-gray coloration of the skin, mucous membranes, eyes, and organs in humans and animals with chronic exposure.
Sodium	Derived geologically from leaching of surface and underground deposits of salt and decomposition of various minerals. Human activities contribute through de-icing and washing products.	Can be a health risk factor for those individuals on a low-sodium diet.
Sulfate	Elevated concentrations may result from saltwater intrusion, mineral dissolution, and domestic or industrial waste.	Forms hard scales on boilers and heat exchangers; can change the taste of water, and has a laxative effect in high doses.
Thallium	Enters environment from soils; used in electronics, pharmaceuticals manufacturing, glass, and alloys.	Damages kidneys, liver, brain, and intestines in laboratory animals when given in high doses over their lifetime.
Zinc	Found naturally in water, most frequently in areas where it is mined. Enters environment from industrial waste, metal plating, and plumbing, and is a major component of sludge.	Aids in the healing of wounds. Causes no ill health effects except in very high doses. Imparts an undesirable taste to water. Toxic to plants at high levels.
Organic contaminants
Contaminants	Sources to groundwater	Potential health and other effects
Volatile organic compounds (Benzene	Enter environment when used to make plastics, dyes, rubbers, polishes, solvents, crude oil, insecticides, inks, varnishes, paints, disinfectants, gasoline products, pharmaceuticals, preservatives, spot removers, paint removers, degreasers, and many more.	Can cause cancer and liver damage, anemia, gastrointestinal disorder, skin irritation, blurred vision, exhaustion, weight loss, damage to the nervous system, and respiratory tract irritation.
Pesticides	Enter environment as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, and algicides.	Cause poisoning, headaches, dizziness, gastrointestinal disturbance, numbness, weakness, and cancer. Destroys nervous system, thyroid, kidneys, reproductive system, liver, and kidneys.
Plasticizers, chlorinated solvents, benzo[a]pyrene, and dioxin	Used as sealants, linings, solvents, pesticides, plasticizers, components of gasoline, disinfectant, and wood preservative. Enters environment from improper waste disposal, leaching runoff, leaking storage tank, Industrial runoff	Cause cancer. Damages nervous and reproductive systems, kidney, stomach, and liver.

How many contaminants can our water resources continue to absorb before it’s too late? In the meantime make sure the water you’re drinking is not contaminated with heavy metals or any of the toxins identified above.  Both public water supplies and well water can contain contaminants.  If you can, have your water tested and consider installing a home filtration system either at your sink and countertop or for your whole home. With a solid and dependable filtering system installed, you and your family can drink tap water without worry.

SOLUTIONS (reprinted from above)

What can any of us do that can help protect our water, protect our health?

1. At home and in the yard, use less of the dangerous chemical products (including pesticides, fertilizers, toxic cleaning products, chlorine bleach),  opt for phosphate-free shampoos, detergents and dish washing liquid.  Click to Find safer as well as DIY products and ideas. 
2. Encourage your town to purify water with reverse osmosis & ultraviolet light instead of chemicals.
3. Get your well water tested regularly for heavy metals like lead and arsenic, atrazine and herbicides, nitrate and fertilizer, as well as radioactive substances from fracking wastewater. 
4. Help pick up plastic litter including styrofoam, bottle caps, plastic bags, and six-pack rings when you see such to help protect the water animals; keeping these life-threatening objects out of waterways can save their lives.