Microplastics, Chlorine, and Metals: What May Be in Your Water

Research published in Orb Media found microplastics in 83% of tap water samples around the world. In the United States, that figure rises to 94%. These are particles invisible to the naked eye, resulting from the breakdown of plastic containers, synthetic clothing, and bags that end up in rivers and aquifers.

Chlorine: necessary but not harmless

The chlorine municipal plants add to water serves a vital function: eliminating dangerous bacteria and viruses. Without it, there would be epidemics. But chlorine doesn't disappear when it reaches your home. When it comes into contact with organic matter (which is always present in water), it forms byproducts called trihalomethanes (THMs), some classified as possible carcinogens by the EPA.

Additionally, chlorine destroys beneficial intestinal flora in the same way it eliminates bacteria in water. This affects the microbiome, which we now know plays a central role in the immune system, mental health, and metabolism.

Heavy metals: lead, copper, arsenic

Lead in drinking water is one of the most serious public health problems in the US. Lead pipes installed before 1986 still supply millions of homes. Lead accumulates in bones, affects neurological development in children, and has no safe level according to the WHO.

Copper can also leach from relatively new pipes, especially in acidic-pH water. Arsenic, meanwhile, is a natural soil contaminant affecting aquifers in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

How do you know what's in your water?

You can request the Annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) from your municipal provider. But that report measures water at the plant, not at your tap. The only way to know what actually reaches your home is to do a local analysis.

At AlkaliNation USA we offer a free in-home evaluation. We use precise measurement equipment and explain what each result means. No surprises, no pressure — just information that lets you make smart decisions for your family.