Contaminants found in water in Reno and surrounding areas;
Phosphorous
A couple of ways phosphorous can get in our water supply are leaking septic systems or discharges from sewage treatment plants.
Too much phosphorus causes body changes that pull calcium out of your bones, making them weak. High phosphorus and calcium levels also lead to dangerous calcium deposits in blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and heart. Over time this can lead to increased risk of heart attack, stroke or death.
National Kidney Foundation
Beryllium
Beryllium is used in making metal alloys for nuclear reactors and the aerospace industry.
Beryllium and its compounds are toxic and are classified as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The general population is exposed to beryllium through inhalation of air and the consumption of food and drinking water. If beryllium dust or fumes are inhaled it can lead to an incurable inflammation of the lungs, called berylliosis.
Studies suggest consumption of drinking water containing beryllium well in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for many years could cause intestinal lesions, affect skin and lung tissues, and weaken the skeletal system.
KnowYourH2O.com
E. coli
E. coli in water is a strong indicator of sewage or animal waste contamination.
E.coli mainly attacks the intestines. The main symptoms of E Coli intestinal infection are:
- Stomach Cramps
- Bloody diarrhoea
- Nausea and vomiting
E Coli also causes serious problems with the kidneys and affects the blood. In this case the victim can develop symptoms like:
- Fever
- Pale skin
- Drowsiness
- Excreting small amounts of urine in regular intervals
PurityPortal.com
Cadmium
Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal used in Ni-Cd batteries, the colouration of plastic and various discarded electronic products released into the water system causes serious health issues.
Cadmium accumulates in the human body, especially in the kidneys, resulting in kidney damage (renal tubular damage), which is a critical health effect. Other effects of cadmium exposure are disturbances in calcium metabolism and the formation of kidney stones. High exposure to cadmium can lead to lung cancer and prostate cancer.
National Library of Medicine
Silver
Primary sources of anthropogenic silver in surface waters include industrial and smelting wastes, and wastes from jewellery manufacture and the production and disposal of photographic materials.
Argyria ( is a condition that causes your skin and mucous membranes (the lining of parts of your body) to turn blue to gray), exposure to soluble silver compounds may produce other toxic effects, including liver and kidney damage, irritation of the eyes, skin, respiratory, and intestinal tract, and changes in blood cells. Metallic silver appears to pose minimal risk to health.
PubMed
Boron
Boron is present in man-made materials like fire retardants, ceramics, glass, textiles, fertilizers, cleaning products like "Borax", and activities associated with burning coal.
High levels of boron exposure have been associated with skin inflammation and peeling, irritability, tremors, convulsions, weakness, headaches, depression, diarrhea, and vomiting and boron may interfere with the function of the kidneys.
KnowYourH2O.com
Zinc
The principal cause of zinc in drinking water is the corrosion of galvanized metal. When galvanized metal is exposed to an acidic water, zinc is dissolved from the exposed surface, along with iron and trace amounts of lead and cadmium.
The symptoms of zinc poisoning include "low blood pressure, urine retention, jaundice, seizures, joint pain, fever, coughing, and a metallic taste in the mouth".
KnowYourH2O.com
Manganese
Manganese is a mineral that is found naturally in the environment and is one of the most abundant metals on the earth’s surface, in air, water, and soil. It can be found in both groundwater and surface water from natural sources or as a result of human activity such as mining and industrial discharges.
Manganese is used in various industries, including the manufacture of iron and steel alloys, batteries, glass, fireworks, various cleaning supplies, fertilizers, varnish, fungicides, cosmetics, and livestock feeding supplements.
Studies suggest an association between high exposure to manganese in drinking water and neurological issues in infants and children, such as changes in behavior, lower IQ, speech and memory difficulties, and lack of coordination and movement control.
Manganese in drinking water can also cause aesthetic issues such as metallic-tasting water and black stains on tubs/showers, toilets, plumbing fixtures, and laundry.
Water Quality Association
Arsenic
The main anthropogenic sources for contamination of groundwater are mining, burning of fossil fuels, use of arsenical fungicides, herbicides and insecticides in agriculture, and wood preservatives.
Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking-water and food can cause cancer and skin lesions. It has also been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In utero and early childhood exposure has been linked to negative impacts on cognitive development and increased deaths in young adults.
World Health Organization
Nitrate
Nitrate is a chemical found in fertilizers, manure, agricultural runoff, dairy lagoons, and liquid waste discharged from septic tanks. Nitrate also naturally occurs at safe levels in vegetables. Rain or irrigation can carry nitrate down through soil into groundwater.
Most adults are not at risk from nitrates. However, some health conditions can make people more susceptible to health problems from nitrate in drinking water.
Pregnant individuals are at increased risk for methemoglobinemia because pregnancy increases the oxygen demand of the body. Some studies have found an increased risk of miscarriage or birth defects from drinking water contaminated with nitrates. Do not drink water with nitrate levels above 10 mg/L if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
Additional health conditions that increase the risk for methemoglobinemia in adults are:
- Low levels of stomach acids,
- Anemia, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, acidosis, or sepsis,
- A genetic condition such as reduced NADH diaphorase, cytochrome b5 reductase, pyruvate kinase, methemoglobin reductase, and/or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Washington State Dept of Health
*The info above is so you can make an informed decision on water purification for your home. Links are provided so that you can check out the information sources that were used in providing this info.
