
Remember how surprised you were as a kid when you found out you could survive over three weeks without food but only three to four days without water? Our bodies are over 60% water, and as much as the saying “you are what you eat” is true, the real saying should be “you are what you drink.” This is why Charlotte area residents need to educate themselves about the water quality in Charlotte NC, and why you need to know what you can do to protect this essential source.
Understanding Why Water Quality Standards Change
We’d all love to believe the government protects us perfectly—keeping our water clean and our food safe—but history has proved that this isn’t always so. Legislation is created by human beings, and those human beings are influenced by many, many sources. Science is also constantly shifting; just think about what you were told constituted a healthy diet back in the ‘60s compared to what is considered a healthy diet today.
Water quality standards are no different. As new science emerges, our understanding of what is safe or unsafe changes, and regulations don’t always shift accordingly or quickly. And as long as it may take for legislation to change, implementation of those new rules lags far behind. That means every citizen has the responsibility to educate themselves about important issues such as food and water safety, and to make the appropriate choices to protect their families from water quality problems.
Current Water Quality in Charlotte NC
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) maintains a database of water quality records, documenting water quality data across the nation. You can enter any zip code or state to find out what the numbers are in the EWG Tap Water Database for your area.
Wondering how the current water quality in Charlotte NC ranks? We researched for you.
Water Contaminants Found in Charlotte Tap Water
The Charlotte water utility system serves over 833,000 people. While Charlotte tap water passes the current EPA standards, 7 known contaminants are found in alarming levels, many of which are found at a higher level than found nationally or considered safe by environmental scientists.
Here’s a breakdown of those contaminants, the levels found in Charlotte city water, and why they are of concern.
Guide:
Levels are expressed in parts per billion (ppb).
Health guideline levels are defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment1.
1. Bromodichloromethane
Level found in Charlotte water: 17.6 ppb
Health guideline: Should be less than .4 ppb
National average: 4.31 ppb
State average: 5.83 ppb
Conclusion: Charlotte tap water contains far more of this contaminant than is considered healthy, and far more than the state or national average.
Why is it a problem? Bromodichloromethane is a byproduct of chlorine, which is used to disinfect water. It is problematic because bromodichloromethane and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy.
2. Bromoform
Level found in Charlotte water: 12.7 ppb
Health guideline: Should be less than 5 ppb
National average: 1.73 ppb
State average: 1.26 ppb
Conclusion: Charlotte tap water contains far more of this contaminant than is considered healthy, and far more than the state or national average.
Why is it a problem? Bromoform is a byproduct of chlorine, which is used to disinfect water. It is problematic because this and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy.
3. Chloroform
Level found in Charlotte water: 6.83 ppb
Health guideline: Should be less than 1 ppb
National average: 11.2 ppb
State average: 18.3 ppb
Conclusion: Charlotte tap water contains far more of this contaminant than is considered healthy. However, Charlotte water contain less of this contaminant than the state or national average.
Why is it a problem? Chloroform is also a byproduct of chlorine, which is used to disinfect water. It is problematic because this and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy.
4. Chromium (hexavalent)
Level found in Charlotte water: 0.0668 ppb
Health guideline: Should be less than 0.02 ppb
National average: 0.797 ppb
State average: 0.0763 ppb
Conclusion: Charlotte tap water contains more of this contaminant than is considered healthy. However, Charlotte water contain less of this contaminant than the state or national average.
Why is it a problem? Chromium (hexavalent) is a carcinogen that is suspected to be the result of industrial pollution.
5. Dibromochloromethane
Level found in Charlotte water: 27.1 ppb
Health guideline: Should be less than 0.7 ppb
National average: 2.96 ppb
State average: 3.26 ppb
Conclusion: Charlotte tap water contains far more of this contaminant than is considered healthy. Charlotte water also contains far of this contaminant than the state or national average.
Why is it a problem? Dibromochloromethane is a byproduct of chlorine, which is used to disinfect water. It is problematic because this and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy.
6. Dichloroacetic acid
Level found in Charlotte water: 2.83 ppb
Health guideline: Should be less than 0.7 ppb
National average: 6.0 ppb
State average: 8.05 ppb
Conclusion: Charlotte tap water contains far more of this contaminant than is considered healthy. However, Charlotte water contains less of this contaminant than the state or national average.
Why is it a problem? Dichloroacetic acid is a byproduct of chlorine, which is used to disinfect water. It is problematic because this and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy.
7. Trichloroacetic acid
Level found in Charlotte water: 0.504 ppb
Health guideline: Should be less than 0.5 ppb
National average: 4.92 ppb
State average: 7.03 ppb
Conclusion: Charlotte tap water contains a little over what is considered healthy. Charlotte water contains considerably less of this contaminant than the state average or the national average.
Why is it a problem? Trichloroacetic acid is a byproduct of chlorine, which is used to disinfect water. It is problematic because this and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy.
Protect Your Family. Filter Drinking Water.
It can be shocking to read these kinds of reports, and you may want to brush it off. However, we encourage you to take the time to educate yourself about water filtration methods and to invest in filtering your water. As you can see, Charlotte tap water has a higher-than-acceptable level of chlorine byproducts, something that can’t be ignored.
Ready to talk about safe drinking water? Give us a call at 704-846-5371 and we’ll discuss water filtration options. We look forward to talking with you!
Article Summary
Quick question & answer: How safe is water in Charlotte, NC?
Charlotte tap water passes the current EPA standards, but 7 known contaminants are found in alarming levels, many of which are at higher levels than found nationally or are considered safe by environmental scientists. For example, the excess amount of Bromodichloromethane in Charlotte’s water can increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy.