Managing contamination in your tap water

Q: I am freaking out because I just read that there is uranium in most of the water systems in the U.S. What can we do about that? -- Joey K., Minneapolis, Minnesota

A: You must be referring to a study in the journal Lancet Planetary Health that analyzed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency records for 139,000 public water systems, serving 290 million people a year. Between 2000 and 2011, 2.1% of those water systems had average annual uranium concentrations that exceeded EPA maximums. According to the researchers from Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, that means that two-thirds of U.S. water systems have detectable levels of uranium. Increased uranium exposure ups the risk for high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, kidney damage and, at high levels of exposure, lung cancer. How does uranium get into your drinking water? It’s naturally found in bedrock, and it leaches into water.

Other potentially troublesome substances are also elevated in many water systems, according to the researchers. They include arsenic, chromium and selenium. Mailman School of Public Health provides maps of the whole country that show where trouble spots are. You can see what’s going on in your community water system at https:// msph.shinyapps.io/drinkingwater-dashboard.

The good news? The Connecticut Department of Health says reverse osmosis water filter systems are very effective at removing uranium. Reverse osmosis works by pushing the water under pressure through a semipermeable membrane. It can remove up to 99% of particles, organics, bacteria, dyes and metals like radium and uranium in water. They’re either whole-house or under-the-sink installations.

Using a water filter jug or ontap filter? Zero water filters are certified by NSF International to remove 99% of uranium. Many others are less effective, but each company’s website lets you know what their filtration abilities are. So check them out, too. Other sources of information on purifying your water are available from NSF International, which certifies many water treatment devices and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Water Treatment System.”