TWSB is your ultimate resource for everything related to home water treatment and healthy, high-quality water. We provide expert advice on treating well water, city water, water contaminants, water filtration, water softeners, drinking water, product comparisons, reviews, and practical tips to help homeowners and DIY enthusiasts make informed decisions about water for their home, family, and lifestyle.
If you rely on a private well for your water supply, understanding the pH of your water is crucial. Whether your water is too acidic or too alkaline, or neutral, the pH level plays a significant role in how well your water treatment system functions and how it impacts your home's plumbing and appliances. In this "Water Filtration Series" article, we'll break down the pH scale, explain how pH affects water chemistry, and explore how to address both low and high pH levels in well water.
During a recent online "water treatment discussion forum" there was a questioned posted regarding health issues the person was having and how, or if, they could be related to their water. After a very lenghty discussion. Which invloved getting much more detail from the original person posting the discussion, getting more in depth as to exactly what their health issues were, doing some research myself, drawing on my thirty six of professional experience in the water treatment industry and helping customers having health issues from drinking water contaminated with BPA, we came to an educated, researched based conclusion. Her health issues are related to drinking from plastic water bottles contaminated with BPA chemicals. This article sheds light on the health hazards of BPA and BPS chemicals in water, how we can avoid BPA and BPS chemicals in our drinking water and, most importantly, protect our health.
BPA (Bisphenol A) and BPS (Bisphenol S) are industrial chemicals used since the 1950s to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPS is often used as a substitute for BPA in "BPA-Free" products but may pose similar health risks. These materials are commonly found in:
Both BPA and BPS can leach into food and water, especially when plastics are heated or exposed to sunlight.
BPA and BPS Standards for Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets a Reference Dose (RfD) for BPA at 0.05 mg/kg/day, considered the maximum acceptable daily exposure level. Currently, there are no legally enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for BPA or BPS in U.S. drinking water. Some states and international agencies have stricter regulations, including BPA bans in certain consumer products.
Why Some Plastic Water Bottles and Some Reverse Osmosis Systems Leach BPA and BPS
Plastic Water Bottles
Plastic bottles made from polycarbonate or certain PET plastics are more likely to release BPA and BPS when:
Heated by sunlight
Left in hot cars
Reused or scratched
Reverse Osmosis Systems
Some RO systems use plastic storage tanks, housings, and tubing that are not BPA- or BPS-free. Exposure to warm water over time can cause these components to leach harmful chemicals into filtered water.
How to Prevent BPA and BPS from Getting into Your Drinking Water
Key Prevention Tips:
Choose BPA- and BPS-Free Water Bottles: Look for BPA- and BPS-Free labels on the bottom or side.
Avoid Leaving Bottles in Hot Environments: Heat accelerates chemical leaching.
Use Stainless Steel or Glass Containers: These are safe alternatives.
Select BPA- and BPS-Free Reverse Osmosis Systems: Modern systems often use safer, certified components.
Check Product Certifications: Look for NSF/ANSI Standard 58 and BPA- and BPS-Free labels.
Replace Old Plastic Containers: Aging plastics leach more chemicals.
Verify 3-Gallon and 5-Gallon Water Bottles: Not all large-capacity plastic water bottles are BPA- or BPS-free. Always ask your dealer or store and check for appropriate labels before purchasing or committing to delivery services.
How to ensure Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems are BPA and BPS Free
To find a BPA-free reverse osmosis system with relevant certifications, look for systems certofied under NSF/ANSI 58 . This standard specifically addresses reverse osmosis systems and their ability to reduce various contaminants. Additionally, ensure the system's components, especially those in contact with drinking water, are certified to be BPA-free.
BPA and BPS contamination in drinking water are an overlooked but preventable health risk. By making informed choices about water bottles and filtration systems and verifying BPA-and BPS-free certifications, consumers can significantly reduce their exposure to these harmful chemicals and lead a healthier life.
Water softening systems are basically an appliance that treats incoming water to the home to remove hardness minerals (Calcium, Magnesium) present in water and provide conditioned, softened water for the home to protect plumbing fixtures and water-using appliances to prevent hard water scale buildup and iron staining. Making the home run more efficient. Water softeners/conditioners are not the solution to every water treatment problem. There are a myriad of water chemistry problems such as high iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, and low PH along with many other water problems that require different types of water treatment equipment to correctly treat the water. The first step in determining the proper water treatment solution is a complete water analysis to determine the hardness, iron, and other water chemistry issues that may need more treatment than a water softener. Water softeners have six main components: 1. Control Valve 2. Distributor Tube 3. Water Sof...
Water filters cover the gambit from simple faucet filters, refrigerator filters, in-line filters to filter housings with a replaceable filter cartridge to all types of whole house backwashing / regenerating filtration systems that remove, iron, odors, manganese, radium, lead, turbidity and a plethora of other water problems. This subject covers such a wide range of water problems it could take many blog articles to cover just the basics of water filtration. One thing I know for certain though is what the typical consumer considers a water filter and what a water treatment professional would consider a water filter are totally different.
In our Second Article of - "Whole House Water Filters" We will be looking at whole-house filtration systems for iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide removal along with iron bacteria. When to use a whole house filtration system, what to use, why use a particular type of filter system, and how to apply the right system for your water and family. Frequently, water treatment professionals refer to water that is extremely high in iron, manganese, and H2S as "problem water" because it can be a challenge at times to find the proper solution to treat particular water problems and, quite frankly, it can take some experimenting with different methods to finally find the right water treatment method that works effectively and consistently. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ✅ In our First Article - "Water Filters Part 1" We discussed using cartridge-style pre-filters. As discussed, they...
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Thank you, Ray