Common Water Impurities and How to Filter Them

Have you ever gone to reach for a tall glass of water, only to find specks of dirt and debris floating around?

This is not an uncommon occurrence. There are numerous contaminants present in tap water. While not all are harmful, it helps to understand where these water impurities come from — and what you can do about them.

Considering the average American household uses over 300 gallons of water per day, it’s worth taking seriously.

Types of Water Impurities

While some particles (like dirt or sand) are visible in water, many common water contaminants are invisible, such as:

• Chlorine
• Fluoride
• Arsenic
• Iron
• Copper
• Pesticides
• Fertilizers
• Solvents
• Microplastics
• Pharmaceuticals

These can originate from aging infrastructure, industrial runoff, agricultural waste, or even broken water mains.

What Causes These Impurities?

Your water may come from rivers, lakes, or underground aquifers. Depending on your location, the source — and how it's treated — determines what ends up in your tap.

For example, many U.S. cities source their water from rivers and send it to treatment facilities. While treatment removes most major contaminants, **it doesn’t always eliminate everything**.

How Water Is Treated

Municipal water goes through these common treatment steps:

1. Screening
2. Coagulation
3. Sedimentation
4. Filtration
5. Disinfection
6. Distribution

Groundwater generally requires less treatment than surface water, but even the best systems can leave behind residual impurities.

Household Water Filters

Once water reaches your home, **household filters can provide the final layer of protection**. Popular filter types include:

• Under-sink filters
• Countertop filters
• Whole-house systems
• Pitcher filters

Each is designed to remove different contaminants depending on your needs.

Types of Water Filtration Systems

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

RO systems force water through a fine membrane to remove impurities like heavy metals, nitrates, and sulfates. It's one of the most effective filtration methods — but it also removes beneficial minerals.

Sediment Filtration

Ideal for removing large particles like rust, sand, or dirt. Often used as a pre-filter before other systems like RO units.

Anti-Scale Systems

These filters reduce hard water buildup (limescale) caused by minerals like calcium and magnesium. Prevents clogs in pipes and appliances.

Carbon Filters

Great for removing chlorine taste and reducing VOCs, lead, and other contaminants. Activated carbon traps particles larger than its pore size for efficient filtration.

UV Systems

Use ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms and bacteria without adding chemicals to the water.

Why Clean Water Matters

Even trace amounts of certain chemicals or metals can harm your health. Potential risks include:

• Gastrointestinal illness from bacteria
• Bone and skin issues from heavy metals
• Organ damage from long-term exposure

Filtration helps remove contaminants like:

• Lead
• Mercury
• Chromium
• Chloramines
• Zinc
• Beryllium

The Big Five Contaminants to Watch

• Microscopic particles (e.g. sand, gravel)
• Chlorine (used for sanitation)
• Radium (naturally occurring, potentially radioactive)
• Lead (often from old pipes)
• Arsenic (from rock or agricultural runoff)

Long-term exposure to these can cause high blood pressure, cognitive decline, cancer, and more.

Isn’t Tap Water Already Safe?

Public water treatment is effective — but not flawless. Outbreaks of E. coli or Salmonella do still occur. Plus, byproducts of disinfection and outdated infrastructure can reintroduce contamination.

The EPA regulates public water, but not all contaminants are monitored equally.

A Greener Choice: Filtered vs. Bottled Water

Filtered water = Less plastic, less waste. Bottled water uses more resources to produce and transport, and most plastic bottles aren’t recycled properly. Home filtration is both sustainable and cost-effective.

Clean Up Dirty Tap Water With the Right Filter

Water filtration ensures the water you drink, cook with, and bathe in is free from harmful impurities. Not only does it improve your health — it protects your appliances and pipes too.