I was enraged after reading about this.According to an article in the ONearth Online Literary Journal, traces of eighty two different contaminants were found in surface water all across the country. Different types of prescription drugs such as hormones, narcotics, and high blood pressure medication were found as well as fertilizers and other chemicals. These tests were conducted using highly sensitive testing equipment.

My frustration prompted me to perform a little more research regarding chemicals, hormones, pharmaceuticals, and other harmful chemicals that we may potentially be drinking and bathing in every day. The research found prompts us to strongly consider the absolute need for purifying the water we drink and use in our homes and well as consider the environmental impact of the chemicals and pharmaceuticals we use daily.

I found documented information on the internet about these chemicals, prescription drugs, fertilizers, and more in connection with our drinking water supply. The question is what is this free flow of toxins going into our ground water doing to the environment? If it continues, what problems will we have in the future?

They have already found mutations in frogs and fish that live in our waters. These creatures that live in and around our waters are indicators of how safe our water is and what it can do to harm us. Not only do we drink this water, but we also consume the fish and plant life that has absorbed whatever the water contains.

These chemicals and prescriptions have been around for many years and nothing has been found in the water until lately. Why is that? Until recently the equipment used to test the water was not sophisticated enough to detect these toxins. Researchers from Europe, water testing facilities in the United States, and university students were responsible for spreading the word about their findings.

Hormones, birth control, antibiotics, mood stabilizers, calcium blockers and other prescription drugs, pain killers, and over the counter drugs were all found in low levels when the water was tested.

When we take medicine it doesn't all get absorbed by our bodies. Some is expelled as waste and is flushed down the toilet. Many of us also flush our unused pills down the drain and into the sewer system. Heavy metals have also been found in the water as well as DDT and arsenic just to name a few. More and more new poisons are being found every year.

The frustrating thing about it is that they can all be removed; however the water plants either don't want to do it or do not have the money to do so. Our sewer water is filtered and treated with chemicals to make it safe to drink. The drugs, pesticides and other contaminates remain, in addition to the chemicals used to treat it.

The water is then, either pumped into the environment where we draw it up form water sheds in wells and farms, or it is piped back to us at the municipal water supply. This water is piped into our homes or to water bottling plants where little, if any further filtration is done before it is bottled back up and sent to us to drink.

The only solution to this growing problem is to protect yourself at the only water source you can control. In addition to safely disposing of unused medication in other ways, you can also filter the water you use in your home and garden.

You can find a system to filter your water that will take out most of the toxins in your water. You can get the ones to filter your whole water system or just put one on your faucet. You may even want to install one on every faucet in the house for maximum protection.

The water filtration systems recommended that remove the most contaminate include reverse osmosis, nano-filtration, activated carbon, and home distillation followed by membrane filters. However, to be effective, the filters on these must be installed properly and replaced according to the manufacturers directions. All too often the filters are installed improperly or used past their lifespan, which renders them ineffective.

If you want to know what is really in the water you're drinking, have it tested. Take it to a place that tests water, you can find out from your local health department where to take it. Having it tested will also show you how well your filter is working.