What’s Really Hiding in Your Tap Water?

When you turn on the tap, you expect clean, safe water. After all, it’s been “treated,” right? But the truth is, most tap water still contains a cocktail of hidden contaminants, from microscopic metals to traces of industrial chemicals and even Pharmaceuticals that can quietly impact your health over time.

1. Chlorine & Chloramine – The Necessary Evils

Municipal water supplies are disinfected with chlorine or chloramine to kill bacteria and viruses. It’s effective, but these chemicals don’t disappear when the job’s done.
Residual chlorine reacts with organic matter to form disinfection by-products (DBPs), including trihalomethanes (THMs), which have been linked to health concerns when consumed long-term. Chlorine itself can disrupt our gut biome, strip natural oils of skin and hair. Hot showers and baths cause Chlorine to turn to gas which has been showing to damage our lungs.

2. Heavy Metals – The Silent Invaders

Even if your local water passes all government standards, trace metals often sneak in through aging pipes.
Common culprits include:

Lead – Leaches from old plumbing; harmful to the brain and nervous system.

Copper – Corrosive and can cause stomach irritation.

Chromium-6 – A known carcinogen found in some water sources.

3. Pesticides & Industrial Runoff

Runoff from farms and factories can seep into water supplies, carrying herbicides, insecticides, and solvents. These compounds are often detected in low concentrations but they accumulate in the body over time. NZ has extremely high Nitrate levels in some areas from our history of intense farming. There are alarming levels throughout the country and this will sadly be a persistent issue for our country for years to come.

4. Microplastics & PFAS – The Modern Threats

Recent studies show microplastics in over 90% of global tap water samples.
Then there are PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” found in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and packaging. These compounds don’t break down and are now being detected in human bloodstreams worldwide.

5. Sediment & Rust

Visible particles like sand, rust, and silt can make your water look cloudy, taste metallic, and wear down appliances, not to mention what they do to your body.

6. Fluoride – Helpful or Harmful?

Fluoride was introduced to protect against tooth decay, but growing research questions whether daily ingestion through tap water is beneficial. For those aiming to reduce unnecessary chemical exposure, it’s another additive worth filtering out.

The Simple Fix: Advanced Filtration POU system (point of use)

High-quality filtration systems, like our UFX3 are designed to tackle these hidden contaminants head-on.
By combining highly activated carbon blocks, UF membranes, KDF55 and controlled flow rates, our systems remove everything from chlorine and heavy metals to microplastics, bacteria, and viruses, leaving you with pure, safe, great-tasting water as nature intended.

Clean water isn’t just clear — it’s truly pure. What you can’t see is often what matters most.
Filtering your tap water isn’t paranoia; it’s prevention.