Common Water Contaminants
Purpose of this wiki
This wiki is intended to provide short, legible descriptions of common water contaminants, with a no-nonsense rundown on what methods might be used to both assess and address the presence of these contaminants. We're aiming to pay special attention to the relative cost and technical expertise required for each method.
For example, some of these contaminants might be readily addressed by simple, cheap home testing kits. Some of them might currently require expensive laboratory testing. For many of them, the EPA and others have published protocols for how to assess the level of these contaminants in a laboratory setting; we'd like to begin to collect links to these protocols, labeling them as "possibly DIY?" or "DIY: implausible", etc ...
Suggested format for entries:
Name of the contaminant Why is it a problem? How does it enter the water supply? How much of this contaminant is safe? How can we measure it? Does it require a professional lab? Are there DIY techniques available?
What can be done about it? Can I filter it out of my water myself? Links to good relevant resources, helpful agencies, and groups concerned about the issue.
Please help us fill out this list with relevant info about important water contaminants ...
Glyphosate
Why is it a problem? How does it enter the water supply?
Glyphosate is a commonly used pesticide sold under trademarks such as Monsanto's 'Roundup'. that enters the water supply via ...
How much is safe?
Experts disagree on safe levels; the EPA has set a legally enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) for glyphosate of 700 ug/l in drinking water, which is 7,000 times higher than the MCL in Europe.
How is it tested?
Possible testing methods include: a) laboratory tests, for $200 - $300 (links to more info) b) spectroscopy (see Public Lab's Spectroscopy Kit) (links more info) ; c) conductivity (see Public Lab's Riffle) (links more info) d) paper chromatography tests (see the following four kits, available online) (links to more info)
What can be done about it?
Links to more info
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_29696.cfm