Is my water safe to drink and shower in?

Yes and no. On one hand, chlorination – the universal process of adding chlorine to public drinking supplies to disinfect them – has freed civilization from the constant dangers of waterborne epidemics. On the other hand, in the mid-70's scientists discovered that chlorination could create carcinogens in water. Exposure to the chemical can come from both ingesting it via drinking, cooking, etc., and absorption/inhalation via bathing in chlorine-contaminated water. While it is believed 80 percent of the population drinks chlorinated water, conservative calculations indicate that one can be exposed to just as much chlorine by inhalation during one shower as by drinking two liters of unfiltered tap water a day. There was a higher incidence of cancer of the esophagus, rectum, breast and larynx, as well as Hodgkin's Disease, among those drinking chlorinated surface waters. Absorbing chlorine through the skin also causes dry skin and hair, irritates the eyes causing redness and, when inhaled directly into the lungs via shower vapor, can cause a host of other health concerns. Home Page | FAQs | Glossary | Contact Us