Thanks Patrick for the question. You’re not the only one wondering about this issue. In fact, there’s been a lot of concern lately about emerging contaminants in local drinking water supplies. The pharmaceuticals and cosmetic goods that find their way into our water supplies are present at very small concentrations. However, the cumulative impacts of years of exposure are unknown and there is evidence that even trace amounts cause reproductive problems in marine organisms and create antibiotic resistant bacteria.
The current methods used to treat our drinking water do not remove those contaminants. The same is true of types of bottled water which is much more loosely regulated than drinking water. The only real method known to remove those chemicals is reverse osmosis, which just happens to be the technology used in IPR. Coupled with microfiltration, UV radiation and hydrogen peroxide treatment, the IPR process creates pure water, free of pharmaceuticals and any other contaminants. The water is so pure, that minerals have to be added back in. The first part of the process, microfiltration is actually used in commercial industries to process baby food.
As an added bonus, by treating sewage through IPR, we’d be keeping the sewage out of the ocean, where it negatively impacts marine organisms.
With all the scientific advances we’ve made in the last century, we’re sure to discover more unanticipated side effects of chemical and manufacturing processes. But by using the best technology available to treat our water now, we’d be safeguarding our water supply against any contaminants discovered in the future.