What is actually in our water?

If you don´t know these frightening facts you may find yourself in trouble!

Agricultural and industrial chemicals and mining effluent have been polluting South Africa´s surface and underground water supplies for decades, with towns and cities below the Vaal Dam at greatest risk. But there is now a more serious threat. Eutrophication (mineral enrichment of water) caused by uncontrolled sewage spills into rivers and streams encourages rampant growth of blue-green algae. These organisms are proliferating in our dams and rivers, and when they die they release micro-toxins that are not easily removed by conventional waterworks.

Pharmaceuticals (oestrogen, antiretrovirals and antibiotics) and other endocrine disrupters in raw sewage are ending up in our water supplies, and they too are not removed in conventional water works.

Oestrogen cell receptors (which detect hormones in the blood) are extremely sensitive to pollutants in water. They detect levels of pollution as low as a few parts per trillion - the equivalent of less than a grain of sugar in an Olympic size swimming pool. The oestrogen-like pollutants in tap water are detected by the cell receptors and cause the body to respond in unnatural ways. It is speculated that they may be responsible for many breast cancers, prostate cancers, hormone imbalances and genital deformities (especially in male fetuses), for endometriosis in young women, even for brain abnormalities - as evidenced by the high rates of learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity today.

Take a look at the following topics to make an informed choice