minerals

What minerals are in tap water?

The minerals in tap water are numerous, both good and bad. We are writing this article to explain more about how minerals got into your water in the first place.

We can all agree that drinking water is a good thing. Your body needs water to perform its daily functions such as keeping your organs and cells organized, as well as aiding in digestion and transportation of nutrients. Most of us will likely take additional daily supplements, such as vitamins, to make sure our bodies are working properly. Vitamins and minerals keep our bodies working, but did you know that you can get minerals from tap water? While there are minerals in the water that is good for you, some are not. We’re here to educate you on the good and bad minerals and learn more about how minerals got into the water in the first place.

Types of minerals in tap water

Before we dive into the specific minerals found in your water and the health benefits, let’s start by explaining the minerals. Minerals are inorganic elements or substances that come from the earth. Minerals differ from vitamins in that vitamins are organic elements or substances that must be made by plants or animals. Your body needs minerals to grow and stay healthy. They help strengthen the immune system, support the growth and development of the body, and help your organs and cells.

How do minerals enter the water?

The minerals in drinking water depend on where on Earth the waterfalls. When it rains or snows, that water does not contain any minerals. But when it rains, the water lands on different surfaces. These include land, soil, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. When water lands on flat, porous land, the water will seep into the soil and make its way into the aquifer. Along the way, the water will come into contact with rocks and more ground, known as groundwater. Surface water, which is water that collects in water bodies, will not travel underground through the aquifer before it reaches your home, and thus remains on the “surface”. When it comes to specific minerals in the water and how much, it will depend on the geology of the area.

Groundwater will have a much higher concentration of minerals because the water moves slowly through the ground, sometimes even through small cracks in the rock. Since surface waters have limited contact with the ground, they will have a lower concentration of minerals. In Midwest regions, the water comes in contact with more limestone. The northwest contains more granite and basalt. The type of rock your drinking water comes into contact with will determine what minerals can be found in the water.

Minerals in your water

When it comes to the minerals in tap water, the main concern is your health. While there are health benefits to drinking mineral water, it depends on the type and quantity. Calcium-containing water helps build and maintain strong bones. Water containing magnesium helps maintain a normal heart rate and aids in muscle contraction. Sodium can help with nerve and muscle function.

Other metals, such as lead and arsenic, are not very good for your health. Lead can get into drinking water from old plumbing. In homes with lead water pipes, this harmful contaminant can leach into the water and is especially toxic to young children. Even if your home does not use lead pipes, you can still be exposed to lead that is picked up by one of six million major service lines in the United States. In fact, nearly a third of U.S. water systems report that service lines contain lead. On the other hand, arsenic can naturally pollute water from sediments in the ground or from industrial and agricultural pollution. A chemical used to preserve the wood and kill insects from crops, this contaminant is not something you want to find in your tap water.

Since each water source will vary in the type and concentration of minerals, it is best not to rely on drinking water to get the full recommended daily amount of good minerals. Make sure to supplement your diet with mineral-rich foods and supplements. But let’s go back to those unhealthy minerals. We have a solution to remove them while retaining health.

Reverse Osmosis technology

One of the most important technologies for water treatment is reverse osmosis, which effectively removes harmful and unwanted contaminants while leaving healthy minerals for you. Turn tap water into healthy, great-tasting water that contains all the minerals you want.

Carewater services in all water solutions

At Carewater, we offer a laboratory test service to determine the type of minerals present in tap water so that you can determine the type of water treatment that is right for you. Learn more about this service here.


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