The quality of your water is essential for your health and well-being. Las Vegas treats its water using high levels of chlorine. While there are good reasons for this, it can be an issue for people who are concerned about their health. Chlorine is a controversial topic and there are different opinions about its safety. Let’s look at the possible effects of high dosages of chlorine and if you need to be concerned.
Las Vegas Water
Water is a fundamental need wherever you live. In a desert climate such as Las Vegas, however, it’s a particularly crucial issue. Every area has its own system for treating and evaluating water. Treating water with chlorine is a common practice. The 2020 Water Quality Report for the Las Vegas Valley reveals some interesting facts about the area’s water quality. If you’re studying this topic, you should know where your water comes from. Most of Las Vegas’ drinking water comes from Lake Mead and the rest from wells. This is largely reclaimed water. Chlorination is used throughout Southern Nevada in order to destroy harmful viruses and microorganisms. In a highly populated metropolitan area, it’s essential to make sure the water is safe for everyone. At the same time, there are legitimate concerns about chlorination.
Is Chlorine Safe?
Chlorine is a chemical used to disinfect water and kill harmful substances. It’s commonly used in drinking water as well as swimming pools. Modern water supplies are used by millions of people and are subject to all types of contamination. There’s no doubt that chlorine is effective in getting rid of dangerous bacteria and viruses. At the same time, there are arguments about the safety of consuming chlorine regularly. Chlorine is, after all, a toxic substance. In gaseous form, chlorine is poisonous and can cause throat, nose, and eye irritation.
People who are sensitive to chlorine may experience such irritation when swimming in a chlorinated pool. Of course, the amount of chlorine added to drinking water is quite a bit less concentrated. The official position of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is that chlorine is safe in small doses. While Las Vegas water falls within these safety guidelines, there are still reasons you may want to avoid chlorine in your water completely.
Side Effects of Chlorine
The long term effects of consuming small amounts of chlorine are disputed. However, some studies have found disturbing links between chlorinated water and serious health issues.
- As an article in Scientific American mentions that drinking chlorinated water is linked to a higher risk of bladder, rectal, and breast cancer.
- Another study found an increased risk of birth defects.
- Increased risk of asthma attacks in children.
- Many people simply don’t like the odor and taste of chlorine in their drinking water.
Alternatives to Chlorinated Water
While the health effects of chlorinated water are still debated and more study is needed. Las Vegas residents who are concerned and want to reduce their ingestion of chlorine have a few options.
Bottled Water
Bottled water is the simplest way to drink water without that chlorinated taste. Unfortunately, buying bottled water isn’t a surefire way to make sure you’re getting the safest and purest water. Let’s look at the pros and cons.
Pros
- It’s easy to find. You have lots of choices of brand and size.
- Bottled water generally tastes better than tap water.
Cons
- The cost adds up over time.
- Environmentally problematic as it results in lots of discarded plastic.
- Questionable purity. Studies reveal that bottled water is often no purer than tap water. While it may not contain chlorine, samples of bottled water have turned up harmful substances such as arsenic and E. coli.
- It may actually be tap water. Believe it or not, a high percentage of bottled water is tap water. The reason for this is that regulations on what companies can claim about water are confusing, allowing them quite a bit of leeway.
Purified Drinking Water
Water purified by a reverse osmosis drinking water system or water filter is another option, one that has some distinct advantages over both tap and bottled water.
Pros
- Convenient. Once you have a filter, you have purified water simply by turning on the tap.
- Better tasting water.
- Save money over time. While you have to buy a filter (or install a filtration system), you don’t have to buy water every day.
- Environmentally superior. No bottles to discard.
Cons
- There are many qualities of water filter. Cheap ones may not eliminate all harmful substances. You need to do some research if you want a truly effective filter.
- Maintenance. You have to change the filter in order to maintain water quality.
How to Choose the Best Water Filter
Given the uncertainty of bottled water, filtered water is the most reliable alternative to tap water. As noted, however, you have lots of choices and it’s important to choose the best water filter for your needs. Here are some criteria to use when shopping for a filter.
- Cost. You have to consider your budget. Remember, though, that you have to consider cost in relation to quality. Many filters are inexpensive but also not very effective.
- Filters out the maximum amount of contaminants. Filters differ greatly in capability. Reverse osmosis is an especially effective type of filtration that removes a high percentage of additives, including chlorine, lead, rust, sodium, parasites, and bacteria.
- The lifespan of cartridges. In order to remain effective, you need to change the cartridge on a water filter system regularly. A system with long-lasting cartridges is more economical and less trouble to maintain.
Chlorine in Your Water: Should You Be Concerned?
You’re naturally interested in the quality of the water consumed by you and your family. Las Vegas tap water, while passing safety standards, isn’t ideal for everyone. In addition to its hardness, the chlorine content may pose certain risks and create an unpleasant taste. If you want to drink chlorine-free water, your best option is to use a high-quality water filter.
EcoWater Systems provides innovative water solutions for Las Vegas such as water softening systems and reverse osmosis filtering. To learn more about our products and services, contact us.