| Contaminant | Description | Origin | At-Home Treatment Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrates | Naturally occurring compounds found in fertilizers. Harmful in high concentrations, especially for infants. | Agricultural Runoff, Septic Systems, Well Water | Single Faucet: Reverse Osmosis System Whole Home: Nitrate-specific ion-exchange media |
| Bacteria (E. coli / Coliform) | Microorganisms that can cause gastrointestinal illness and infection. | Contaminated Surface Water, Septic Leakage, Well Water | Single Faucet: UV Disinfection + Sediment Filtration Whole Home: Whole Home UV System w Sediment Filtration |
| Viruses | Microscopic pathogens smaller than bacteria that can cause illness. | Human/Animal Waste in Water, Poorly Maintained Wells | Single Faucet**:** Reverse Osmosis System Whole Home**:** Whole Home UV System |
| Arsenic | A toxic heavy metal that can accumulate in the body over time. | Natural Deposits in Bedrock, Mining, Industrial Waste | Single Faucet:Reverse Osmosis System, Whole Home: Specialized Whole Home Media |
| Fluoride | Added to municipal water to prevent tooth decay, but some may worry about fluoride toxicity. | Municipal Water Treatment | Single Faucet**:** Reverse Osmosis System |
| Lead | A highly toxic metal harmful to brain and organ development. | Corroded Plumbing, Old Solder, Lead Service Lines | Single Faucet: Activated Carbon Block (NSF 53 certified), Reverse Osmosis System Whole Home: Whole Home Lead Reduction Filter |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant added to municipal water, but may cause taste/odor issues. | Municipal Water Treatment | Single Faucet**:** Activated Carbon Filter Whole Home**:** Whole House Carbon Filter |
| Chloramine | Disinfectant added to municipal water but a more stable disinfectant than chlorine, harder to remove. | Municipal Water Treatment | Single Faucet: Catalytic Carbon Filter Whole Home: Catalytic Carbon Whole Home System |
| PFAS (Forever Chemicals) | Synthetic chemicals linked to health risks and very persistent in the environment. | Industrial Waste, Firefighting Foam, Non-Stick Coatings | Single Faucet**:** Reverse Osmosis System |
| Iron | Metallic taste, orange/brown staining on fixtures and laundry. Can support bacterial growth. | Natural in Groundwater, Rusting Pipes | Whole Home: Air Injection Oxidation (AIO) Filtration System |
| Manganese | Can cause black staining and metallic taste. Often found with iron. | Naturally in Groundwater | Whole Home**:** Air Injection Oxidation (AIO) Filtration System |
| Hydrogen Sulfide | Rotten egg smell. Can corrode pipes. | Naturally Occurring in Wells, Groundwater | Whole Home: Air Injection Oxidation (AIO) Filtration System |
Residential water treatment by contaminant chart
Not all water contaminants are easy to detect—many have no taste, no smell, and can’t be seen with the naked eye. Yet, they can pose serious health risks or affect the quality of your home’s water over time —like arsenic, lead, nitrates, and fluoride.
