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Philadelphia, a city best known for its Super Bowl-winning football team and delicious cheese steaks, attracts millions of tourists each year. Because of the constant stream of tourists, the city demands an expansive water system to provide residents and visitors alike with adequate, safe water.
Philadelphia’s water supply originates in two rivers: the Delaware and the Schuylkill River, both surface water sources. The city itself sits at the point where these two rivers merge, which can be a benefit and a disadvantage.
While the rivers are both within close proximity to the city, this also means that sewage spills, oil leaks, wastewater discharge, and stormwater runoff can run from the city directly into its water source (1). The storm drains around the city connect directly to the river, so people throwing trash and pet waste into storm drains are directly polluting their water source. In order to combat pollution in the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, the local government is working to increase “street to stream” awareness.
Due to the presence of calcium in the rivers, Philadelphia’s water is moderately hard. Additionally, lime is added to the city’s water supplies to adjust the water’s pH, which also attributes to the city’s hard water.
The city of Philadelphia is vigilant in ensuring their water is safe to drink. Their tap water meets and exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards. On top of this, the local government wants to go one step farther, “set[ting] their own goals for water quality – goals that are more stringent than the federal or state standards” (2).
For example, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are a type of chemical that do not break down for thousands of years. Many cities struggle with these chemicals lingering in their water, as they are so widespread, but in Philadelphia, local water systems utilize new technology to diminish PFAS pollution in their water (3).
Despite all the tests and safety regulations that Philadelphia implements, there is always a risk that contaminants still enter the water supply. While the following contaminants are detected at “safe amounts” according to federal regulations, some people still prefer to filter these contaminants out of their water.
Nitrate is an inorganic compound that occurs naturally. It can be found in some lakes, rivers, and streams, including the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. The Schuylkill River in particular holds a history of having the highest nitrate concentration of the northeastern rivers (4).
Nitrate consumption in small amounts does not tend to have any harmful health effects for adults, but it can be fatal for babies. Consuming too much nitrate can lead toblue baby syndrome, which affects how blood carries oxygen in babies (5). In adults, consuming low amounts of nitrate over long periods of time can also negatively affect the body. Nitrate consumption has been linked to thyroid problems, pregnancy complications, and colorectal cancer.
The maximum contaminant level set by the EPA for nitrates is 10 parts per million. Currently, the highest result detected in Philadelphia drinking water falls at 3.82 parts per million, which is well below the maximum contaminant level (3). That being said, with research emerging that warns against constant consumption of even small amounts of nitrates, some people prefer to take the extra precaution of filtering nitrate out of their water completely.
Like many other cities, Philadelphia uses chlorine to disinfect its water supply. Doing this ensures that the water is free of germs and bacteria (2). However, adding chlorine to water does heighten the risk of forming harmful disinfection byproducts, like trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. Trihalomethanes are compounds that the Environmental Protection Agency have linked to liver, kidney, and colon cancer. Haloacetic acids are also considered carcinogens, and they have been linked to bladder cancer. That being said, more research needs to be conducted on haloacetic acids and their health effects on humans (6).
The highest allowed levels of total trihalomethanes permitted by the EPA is set at 80 parts per billion. In Philadelphia, the average amount detected was 52 parts per billion, but the range of results sampled ran from 17 to 91 parts per billion, which is above the national requirement. The same is true for haloacetic acids, where the maximum contaminant level is set at 60 parts per billion, but the range of results varied from 16 to 63 parts per billion (3).
Therefore, while the average amount detected of these disinfection byproducts was below the federal standard, it is important to note that some tested water sources around Philadelphia did exceed the federal standards.
While lead is considered one of the most dangerous contaminants in drinking water, it also tends to be one of the most difficult to remove on a wider scale. This is due to the fact that lead most often enters the water supply from the individual household’s plumbing, something public water distributors do not have control over. It is up to the individual to fund and replace any lead pipes or plumbing fixtures that are on their property, which is a costly and time-consuming process.
Lead exposure in drinking water affects all ages, with children under six years old being the most vulnerable population. Even lead exposure in low levels can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, hearing problems, and anemia. In adults, lead exposure can lead to hypertension, decreased kidney function, and reproductive issues.
The EPA currently sets the maximum contamination levels for lead at zero parts per billion. Lead levels detected in Philadelphia are fairly low, with 90% of private homeowner’s water testing below 2.0 parts per billion (3). For Philadelphia citizens unsure if their property contains lead pipes that could be contaminating their water, the local government provides free lead and copper testing. Additionally, zero-interest loans are offered to any homeowner in Philadelphia who would like to replace their lead service lines.
Whether it be lead, nitrate, or disinfection byproducts, there are some things you just don’t want to be ingesting. Even in small amounts, these contaminants may prove harmful and lead to long-term illnesses. In order to lower the risk of these outcomes, it is recommended to run your tap water through a water filter that is lab-tested to remove these specific contaminants. Seychelle offers a variety of water pitchers, all of which are independently lab-tested to remove chemical contaminants like trihalomethanes and inorganic contaminants like nitrates and lead. As a bonus, these pitchers also remove aesthetic contaminants, like the chlorine taste that accompanies many tap waters.
As a whole, Philadelphia water is considered safe to drink. The local government works tirelessly to implement new strategies to make their drinking water even safer, including providing loans to replace lead pipe lines. However, some people still choose not to drink the tap water due to the presence of nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and sometimes lead in the water. In order to avoid drinking harmful contaminants, consider running your tap water through a Seychelle water filter.
Is it safe to drink Philadelphia tap water?
Yes. Philadelphia tap water meets or exceeds all state and federal requirements for safe drinking water.
What is the biggest concern with the drinking water in Philadelphia?
The source of Philadelphia's drinking water, the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, are constantly being polluted. This pollution can stem from storm runoff, sewage spills, and trash being thrown in the storm drains.
How is the water in Philly?
The water in Philadelphia is safe to drink according to both state and federal regulations. Some people complain about the water being hard, due to the presence of extra minerals, but this does not affect the water’s quality.
References
Philadelphia Water Department,https://water.phila.gov/drinking-water/sourcewater-issues/#:~:text=Many%20of%20Philadelphia's%20storm%20drains,this%20pollution%20can%20be%20reduced.
Philadelphia Water Department,https://water.phila.gov/drinking-water/faq/#:~:text=The%20Philadelphia%20Water%20Department%20tests,state%20and%20federal%20safety%20requirements.
Philadelphia Water Department,https://water.phila.gov/quality/
Minnesota Department of Health,https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/contaminants/nitrate.html
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Sciences,https://www.des.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt341/files/documents/ard-ehp-36.pdf
