The presence of bacteria and viruses in water can pose major health risks. Some of the contaminants that can be in your home’s water supply cannot be detected through sight, smell or taste. In fact, water that looks clear may not be as clean as you think. Tiny microscopic bacteria and viruses can contaminate the water you drink every day and can cause any number of adverse health effects.
There are many ways bacteria can enter the water supply such as leaking septic tanks, feedlot runoff, aging water distribution pipes, flood or surface water entering a well or contamination from animals, plants or insects. Bacteria and viruses are more common in well water, but they can also be found in city water. Municipalities do a great job providing you with safe water, but things can happen to water once it leaves the treatment plant that can contaminate your home’s water.
EXAMPLES OF BACTERIA AND VIRUSES THAT CAN BE FOUND IN WATER
- Bacteria
- E. coli
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Giardia
- Viruses
- Norovirus
- Hepatitis A & E
- Caliciviruses
SYMPTOMS OF BACTERIA OR VIRUSES IN WATER
It is difficult to determine if contaminated water is the reason you feel ill, or if there is another source. The symptoms of bacterial and viral infections can vary and are similar to symptoms caused by other forms of illness. In general, bacterial infections can cause gastrointestinal illness with symptoms such as fever, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea whereas viral infection symptoms can include tiredness, fever, vomiting, headaches, muscle aches and cramps. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and believe it is related to the water you drink, it is important to seek medical advice and stop drinking the potentially contaminated water. If contaminated water is continually ingested, it could lead to dehydration, weight loss and possibly death.
The Kinetico Purefecta® Guard is certified by the WQA to remove more than 99.99 percent of viruses and 99.99999 percent of bacteria.
The Kinetico K5 drinking water station has been carefully designed and crafted to deal with the toughest water problems. The Kinetico K5 is certified to remove more contaminants than any other reverse osmosis system, making your water the cleanest and safest for your family.
Now you can improve your protection against waterborne viruses, bacteria, and protozoa/cysts with the Purefecta Virus/Bacteria Guard which is tested and Certified by the WQA. This medical-grade virus and bacteria K5 filter guard generates Biopure Drinking Water*.
Eliminates the following:
- 99.99% of Viruses
- 99.99999% of Bacteria
- 99.999% of Protozoa/Cysts
REMOVES 99.99% of VIRUSES
- Coronavirus (SARS)
- Enteroviruses
– Poliovirus
– Coxsackievirus - Rotavirus
- Norwalk virus, SRSV, calicivirus
- Reovirus
- Adenovirus
- Hepatitis E virus
- Hepatitis A virus
- Smallpox
- Astrovirus
REMOVES 99.999% of PROTOZOA/CYSTS
- Giardia lamblia
- Cryptosporidium parvum
- Entamoeba histolitica
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Naegleria fowleri
- Acanthamoeba spp
- Cyclospora
- Cayetanensis
- Isospora belli
- Microsporidia
- Balantidium coli
REMOVES 99.99999% of BACTERIA
- Klebsiella terigena
- Vibrio cholerae
- Salmonella spp.
- Shigella spp.
- Toxigenic Escherichia
– Coli (E coli) - Campylobacter spp.
- Leptospira spp.
- Francisella tularenis
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- Aeromonas spp.
- Helicobacter pylori
- Legionella pneumophila
- Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
- Mycobacterium avium
HOW TO TREAT CONTAMINATED WATER
Whether your water is supplied by a well or municipal treatment center, there is no guarantee that the water supply in your home is entirely free of bacteria, viruses or other contaminants. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), boiling is a highly effective method to reduce or eliminate bacteria and viruses in water. The water should be heated to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute to be most effective.
Another way to protect the water you drink is to use a drinking water filtration system. If bacteria and viruses are of particular concern, consider installing Kinetico’s K5 Drinking Water Station with a Purefecta® Guard filter cartridge. Using Purefecta® Guard and the air-charge storage tank, the K5 is certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) to greatly reduce bacteria and viruses in your water. Depending on the other cartridges you choose to customize your system, the K5 can also significantly reduce such contaminants as arsenic, nitrates and lead.
