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Living in the Southwest, the beauty and wonder of water is made more evident by its lack. And yet, even here it is easy to believe this endless supply will last forever. Groundwater has radically decreased in Arizona and around the world in the last 100 years as pumping has increased. The problem of water shortage is compounded by worsening pollution of available supplies.
Reclaimed (treated) sewage water is used for agricultural irrigation, and in some cities for home consumption. However, these basic treatments are designed to remove microbes and industrial contaminants, not pharmaceuticals drugs. Samples heading into drinking water pipes have been found to contain all or some of the following: the painkiller codeine, an anticonvulsant drug, the remnants of a drug to reduce chest pains and caffeine.
Methamphetamines and other hormone disrupting chemicals are also not removed in this process. Discharge of this tainted water is now found to be damaging growth and development of marine life in local streams near Baltimore. Mercury from electric utilities, incinerators, dental offices and industrial manufacturing is also high in fresh water.
Microbeads, small plastic beads found in some face scrubs and body washes, escape filtration and are returned to freshwater systems and eventually to the fish we eat. The bottom line is what you flush down the toilet or sink can end up on your plate.
Flagstaff, AZ has been in a battle regarding the use of reclaimed water for snow-making at the Sunrise sky resort. This is to be done on a mountain that local natives have long considered sacred, and studies show little difference in city income between thick and thin snow years.
A deal to trade Colorado River water for reclaimed water to irrigate fields on the Gila River Indian Community has been the source of a months-long battle between the Pii Paash, who are concerned about health effects this use could have, and the larger Gila River Indian Community. Beyond the drugs and chemicals often in this water, studies now show that the high concentrations of salt or salt ions in reclaimed water can be damaging to wildlife and plants.
The media can sway our opinions in issues of this sort, and we need to keep in mind they survive only with corporate support. Their stories follow the opinion of sponsors and opposing views are not included or are put-down. Consider this well, especially if the idea of a “sacred mountain” seems silly.
Water filtration in the home is critical. A first step is to filter out chlorine to minimize risk to the
“good” bugs in our “gut”. Activated charcoal with ceramic filtration has a great record and will
Remove some drugs. Reverse osmosis systems do more, but are costlier and waste water.
Happily, our community does not receive reclaimed water.
John Huntington is a local business owner in Oracle. He is a chiropractor with many years in the community. He writes a health related article in Pinal Nugget.
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