For over a century, public water systems have used chemical compounds to kill pathogens that cause waterborne diseases such as cholera.
  • xj9 [they/them, she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
    37·
    5 days ago

    Since the 1990s, many public systems have switched to inorganic chloramine, a chlorine derivative, to purify water supplies. Systems serving about 113 million people in the U.S. use this process. This alternative purifying chemical produces hundreds of byproducts, including an “unidentified product” that befuddled scientists.

    In findings published in the journal Science, researchers have identified that compound, chloronitramide anion. They found it has possible risks linked to carcinogens and could be harmful to reproductive and developmental health.

    I can’t find a public access version of that article tho… I wonder if any common filtering methods work on this substance?

    (this issue of Science just came out, so maybe the access issue will resolve itself in the next few days)

    • penitentkulak [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
      16·
      4 days ago

      Chloramines suck to get rid of, brewers sometimes use metabisulfite tablets . Pool people superchlorinate the water with free chlorine/bleach, which breaks down the chloramine then quickly gasses off. Carbon filters don’t work that well for chloramines, you have to really slow down flow for it to be effective. Not sure if any of these techniques would have any effect on the anions in this paper.

        • Lemister [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
          4·
          4 days ago

          Well yeah kinda. You get Carbondioxide and Chlorine and a very nucleophile Nitramide Anion which would react with water. But you would get it dissolved. The Chlorine could get then be removed by the activated carbon. Removing a Chloronitramide anion is something that isnt really feasible/affordable by a DIY homebrew water filtration system. Especially since newly indentified.

  • darkmode [comrade/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    34·
    5 days ago

    ahh I guess that’s why all that weird shit about US drinking water being totally safe was on my twitter FYP (I know I shouldnt be looking at it)

  • Josephine_Spiro [she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
    13·
    4 days ago

    Fuck I’m gonna have to use filtered water to wash my dishes now

    Also hot take, but maybe having undrinkable tap water is a good thing actually? The line keeps going up, so I font really see anything bad here

  • Sulvor [he/him, undecided]@hexbear.netEnglish
    18·
    4 days ago

    I’m doing contract work in a small town from Dec-Mar and they just released a statement about their drinking water…guess I’ll buy a water cooler to drink from but idk what to do about cooking water

    … Department of Health and Environment to all customers who have been determined that a portion of or the entire water pipe that connects your home, building or other structure to the water main is made from lead, galvanized material or unknown material.

  • blobjim [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    6·
    4 days ago

    Researchers recommend people use a Brita filter or similar product for tap water. These filters use carbon to rid tap water of such compounds.

    I have a countertop water filter that uses a carbon filter for this kind of thing. Gets rid of the chlorine-y smell and I guess stuff like this as well.

    The one I have is kinda lame though. Locks up easily if you accidentally completely empty it of water, one of the chambers has stagnant water, etc. And of course you have to buy filters, and replace them every 6 months.

    Not sure if there are many good countertop water filters. An under-sink one works better of course.

    okay penitentkulak in this thread says this may not be very effective.