How does Zinc get into your water?
Zinc in its elemental form is a blue-white metal.
Zinc is found naturally at low concentrations in many rocks and soils as Sulfide ores and to a lesser degree as carbonates.
We have dedicated a previous article on our news blog about this subject, you can find it here: How to Reduce or Remove Zinc from your Tap Water – What Products to Buy
Zinc is one of the most common contaminants found in tap water and it can lead to a range of health problems, such as intestinal, skin, kidney, diarrhea and more.
Although your local authority is supposed to treat water for Zinc it sometimes winds up in tap water so it is up to you to make sure that you eliminate it completely.
Zinc can be introduced into water naturally by erosion of minerals from rocks or soil. However, since zinc ores are only slightly soluble in water.Therefore Zinc is only dissolved at relatively low concentrations into our ground water.
High natural levels of zinc in water are usually associated with higher concentrations of other metals such as lead and cadmium.
Most zinc is introduced into water by artificial means such as the by-products of steel production or coal-fired power stations. It is also produced when burning of waste.
Zinc is also used in some fertilizers by farmers this may leach into our groundwater.
Older galvanized metal pipes in your home or business and well cribbing's were coated with Zinc that could be dissolved by soft or acidic waters.
The Health Implications of Zinc
Zinc is an essential nutrient for your body's growth and development, however drinking water containing high levels of Zinc can lead to stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.
Zinc could have an affect on brain function. Zinc can get to our brains via the water we drink. It can cause problems with learning, memory, stress and more.
Water with a Zinc in concentrations of more than 5 mg/L can become chalky in appearance with a noticeable deterioration in taste.
