Escherichia Coli (E Coli)
One of the members of the Coliform bacteria group normally found in human and animal intestines and indicative of faecal contamination when found in water. Determination of whether E.Coli is present is often used to measure the microbiological safety of drinking water supplies.
E.Coli is one of the most prolific and beneficial bacteria in the human body helping it to metabolize food in the intestine, it also has the ability to mutate into a strain that can cause serious illness damaging intestinal walls, body organs and blood vessels.
Giardia and Cryptosporidium cysts “Crypto”
Giardia and Cryto are diarrheal diseases caused by microscopic parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium. The parasites are protected by an outer shell that allows them to survive outside the body for long periods of time. This shell makes them very resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants. During the past two decades, Crypto and Giardia have become recognized as two of the most common causes of waterborne diseases, and are found throughout the world. These parasites are found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with infected human or animal faeces. A person becomes infected by swallowing them contamination cannot occur through contact with blood.
Practice good hygiene and avoid water that might be contaminated. If you are unable to avoid using or drinking water that might be contaminated, then you can treat the water for Cryptosporidium by Heating the water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute or using an approved filter or using filtration that is rated to remove these cysts.
Volatile Organic Chlorides
VOCs can move easily through the environment. If improperly discarded onto the ground, these chemicals can travel downward through the soil and eventually end up in the groundwater. VOCs are not usually found in drinking water that comes from a surface water source, such as a lake, reservoir or stream. They tend to evaporate from the water into the air.
While there is no conclusive evidence that small amounts of VOCs will cause the same health effects that occurred in workers and animals exposed to high levels, harmful health effects from exposure to low levels of VOCs in drinking water cannot be ruled out until further research is conducted. One way to clean VOCs out of your water is using Activated Carbon or Reverse Osmosis filtration.
Always use a filter that has an absolute pore size of 2 micron or smaller or one that has been NSF rated for “Cyst removal.” Do not rely on chemicals to kill Cryptosporidium, it has a thick outer shell, this particular parasite is highly resistant to disinfectants such as Chlorine and Iodine.
