Many municipalities put chemicals in tap water, and there are others that can get into this from other sources. Knowing what they are can how they affect you, and why filtering it is so important to your health.

Chlorine is the number one chemical you will find in tap water. This is part of their purification process, and it is a known poison. It can also interact with organic materials and create more harmful ones. When the byproducts of chlorine is created, THMs, it may be a factor in increasing your risk for cancer and some studies show a relation to heart disease when they use this chemical.

When you shower with chlorinated water, it can dry out your skin and allow the poison to sink into your body. It also makes hair brittle, can increase dandruff and cause the hair to be dull and less healthy. Chlorine when heated also forms a gas that you breathe in, and this can cause respiratory problems, especially for those that have sensitive lungs.

Chloramine is also sometimes added, especially to larger cities, when they have put as much chlorine as they can into it, but it still needs sanitized. This chlorine/ammonia compound is said to be safe, but they have a warning not to give it to animals or add to fish tanks.

There are miles of lead pipes that still transport the liquid and even some fittings for pipes are made with it, and lead can get into what you drink. This is severely damaging to the brain, especially for children and those that are underweight where it can cause damage much faster.

Asbestos, too, is also a problem, since some pipes have been lined with it. Since the particles are so small, the treatment facilities do not even try to get these out, and it would clog the filters if they did. It has known cancer risks, and causes a plethora of health issues.

Pesticides like DDT and malathion can affect water as well. This is used to control insects, and DDT can cause reproductive problems and even has been linked to diabetes. While it is controlled, there is still many uses for it in most countries today. Methalion is used for mosquito control, and may be linked to nerve damage.

The need to use a quality filter to remove these out of what you are drinking is critical. It is important to remove all the chemicals in tap water so that you can remain healthy.