Is Your Water Safe? Understanding Tap Water Contaminants Linked to Cancer

Life depends on clean water, but what if there are hidden hazards in your tap water? Cancer and other major health hazards have been connected to certain pollutants found in drinking water. Here's what you need to know to keep your family and yourself safe.

Common Tap Water Contaminants and Cancer Risks

• Arsenic: Some groundwater naturally contains arsenic, a known carcinogen that has been connected to kidney, liver, lung, and bladder cancers. Even at modest levels, prolonged exposure can have serious consequences.
• PFAS (Forever Chemicals): Found in firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, and other items, PFAS build up in the body and environment. Research links them to malignancies of the kidney, testicles, thyroid, and other organs.
• Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs): Trihalomethanes (THMs), which are produced when chlorine, a water treatment chemical, reacts with organic materials, may raise the risk of bladder and rectal cancer.
• Nitrate: Often found in agricultural runoff, nitrate can change in the body into substances that cause cancer, increasing the risk of kidney, colon, and stomach cancers.
  

How to Check Your Local Water Quality

• Government Reports on Water Quality:  Data on water quality in both rural and urban regions is periodically released by the state water boards and the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Arsenic, fluoride, and nitrate levels in water are updated in real time on the JJM Dashboard (jmjm.gov.in). Annual water quality reports are also released by a number of state governments, including those in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
• Affordable Water Testing Kits: Local pharmacies and internet retailers carry inexpensive home testing kits for bacteria, fluoride, lead, and arsenic (such as the Eureka Forbes and H2O OK Kit). In rural areas, NGOs like WaterAid India and the Sehgal Foundation test water for free or at a reduced cost.
• Labs for Public Water Testing: Water testing services are provided at nominal cost by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and state pollution control boards. Advanced testing for pesticides and heavy metals is also offered by several agricultural institutes and IITs.
• Community Awareness Programs: In villages and urban slums, groups like Sulabh International and Piramal Sarvajal construct water ATMs with digital quality monitoring and conduct awareness campaigns.
  

Filtering Options for Safer Water

• Activated Carbon Filters: Activated carbon filters work well against some PFAS, insecticides, and chlorine. Coconut shell carbon is used by companies such as Swift Green Filters for environmentally friendly purification. 
• Reverse Osmosis (RO): Heavy metals, fluoride, and arsenic are eliminated via reverse osmosis (RO). For extra protection, Kent and Aquaguard provide RO systems with UV/UF stages.
• Biosand & Ceramic Filters: Biosand & Ceramic Filters: Low-cost alternatives such as JalKalp and MatiKalp (created by the Sehgal Foundation) eliminate germs and arsenic by using zero-valent iron.
• Whole-house systems are expensive but perfect for highly contaminated locations.
  

Cost-Conscious Ways to Reduce Exposure

• Boiling + Cloth Filtration: A conventional technique for reducing bacteria and sediment is boiling plus cloth filtration, however it is useless against chemicals.
• Copper Pot Storage: An Ayurvedic method for storing copper pots that eliminates infections but leaves heavy metals in place.
• Community Water ATMs: Sarvajal and other initiatives offer reasonably priced, filtered water in rural regions.

While India faces significant water quality challenges, awareness and affordable solutions can mitigate risks. Regular testing, investing in appropriate filters, and supporting community-level purification projects are key steps toward safer water. By adopting these measures, we protect our health without compromising access to this vital resource.