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Why Your Tap Isn’t Just Water: The PVC & Glue Problem in Your Water
Most of us assume if we have a filter, our water is “safe.” But the truth is, most filters don’t catch the things we really need to worry about.
- Fridge filters → cosmetic, mostly improve taste.
- Brita pitchers → barely touch contaminants.
- ZeroWater → better, but strips out minerals (you’ll need to add them back).
- Whole-house filters → great for chlorine, but can’t protect against what happens next.
👉 The real issue? By the time water makes it to your glass, it’s not just water anymore. It’s a mixture of what came in from your city or well plus everything it picked up while traveling through your home’s pipes, joints, and glues.
And that’s where the real hidden exposures lie.
What’s Already in City or Well Water
Even before water enters your home, it often carries:
- Disinfection byproducts → linked to cancer and reproductive harm
- Agricultural runoff → pesticides, nitrates, fertilizer residues
- Heavy metals → lead, arsenic, chromium-6
- PFAS (“forever chemicals”) → almost impossible to remove with basic filters
- Pharmaceuticals → antibiotics, antidepressants, birth control, and even mifepristone (emerging concern -used in home medical abortions) have been detected in municipal supplies
- Liquid cremation byproducts → in areas where “alkaline hydrolysis” is used, liquefied remains (including medical implants and devices) are discharged into wastewater, re-entering the cycle
- Parasites → yes, lab tests often reveal them in city water
- Mold → wells and household pipes can harbor mold growth (especially if caps aren’t sealed or pipes stay damp); biofilms in city distribution pipes may also support mold and microbial colonies
👉 Want to see what’s in your water? Plug your zip code into EWG’s Tap Water Database.
What Happens on the Way to Your Tap
Once water leaves the treatment plant (or your well), it still has to travel through the infrastructure of your home.
Most modern houses use PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PEX plastic piping. Both are cheap, easy to install, and widely used in construction. But here’s what most homeowners don’t realize:
- PVC and CPVC are made from vinyl chloride — a known carcinogen.
- Solvent glues used at pipe joints are packed with chemicals that leach into water.
- Almost all of these materials carry the California Prop 65 warning: “This product is known to cause cancer and reproductive harm.”
- Over time, plastic pipes can also shed microplastics into your drinking water.
So even if your city water was perfectly clean (spoiler: it isn’t), by the time it reaches your faucet it’s carrying a new chemical cocktail.
Who’s Most at Risk?
Everyone benefits from cleaner water, but these groups feel the impact the most:
- People with autoimmune disease or chronic illness
- Families with small children (developing bodies absorb more)
- Anyone dealing with fertility challenges or hormone imbalance
- Those with high toxic load already (mold, metals, chemical sensitivity)
Copper: The Better (But Pricier) Alternative
Before plastics, homes were plumbed with copper pipes. Copper is:
- Naturally antimicrobial
- More durable, often lasting decades
- Free from vinyl chloride and glue solvents
- Not stamped with Prop 65 warnings
The downside? Cost. Copper plumbing is significantly more expensive, which is why builders rarely use it now.
But if you’re remodeling or building new, it’s the gold standard.
When Clean Water Concerns Meet Real Life
When I lived in Scotland, there was a season on our base when miscarriages seemed heartbreakingly common. No one ever got to the bottom of it, but a prayer team visiting us asked, “Have you had the water tested?” That question still lingers with me.
Fast forward: my husband spent years working in construction. One day he told me, “I can’t worry about Prop 65 warnings — they’re on everything I work with.” And he was right. Every pipe, every glue, every material he handled came stamped with cancer and reproductive harm warnings.
Instead of ignoring it, I learned to mitigate. I supported his detox pathways with gentle binders, nutrient-dense foods, extra mineral support, and tools for his migraines. Now that he’s on the design side of construction, I’ve started asking more questions about which materials homes are built with.
Locally, companies like Lamont Brothers (Portland, OR) are already equipped to work with health-concerned clients. If you’re remodeling your home or building an ADU, you can absolutely request copper plumbing instead of PVC. Yes, it’s more expensive — but it dramatically reduces the toxic burden in your home for decades to come.
And maybe this is a bigger conversation: how do we build healthier homes from the ground up? Clean water isn’t just about filters — it’s about materials, choices, and a culture that values long-term health.
What You Can Do Right Now
Most of us can’t rip out and replace our plumbing tomorrow. The practical step? Endpoint filtration — filter water right where you drink or bathe.
- Countertop or Under-Sink RO Systems →
- I use the AquaTru under-sink RO in my own home.
- If you’re avoiding plastics, the AquaTru glass carafe countertop unit is a beautiful option.
- Shower Filters → AquaTru makes an excellent one for daily exposure.
- Bath Filters for Kids → I rely on the Crystal Quest Bath Ball. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
Other simple steps:
- Run faucets for 30–60 seconds in the morning to flush stagnant water.
- Always filter cold water (hot water leaches plastics more aggressively).
- Use filtered water for cooking and coffee/tea, not just drinking.
Don’t Forget to Add Minerals Back
Reverse osmosis is powerful — but it strips everything, including beneficial minerals. That’s why I always add minerals back into my daily hydration.
This can be as simple as:
- Adding a trace mineral supplement to your water
- Mixing up a daily adrenal cocktail or cortisol mocktail (see my recipes here)
Your body needs sodium, potassium, and magnesium to balance stress, energy, and hydration. Filter the junk out, then restore what your cells actually need.
Water is foundational. It touches every cell in your body, every system in your health. And yet, most of us are drinking water that’s carrying more than just H₂O.
The problem isn’t solved with a Brita or a whole-house filter. The problem is what happens in the pipes — and the only realistic solution is endpoint filtration plus mineral support.
Protect your water. Protect your terrain.
Next Steps
- Run your zip code in the EWG Tap Water Database.
- Upgrade to an endpoint RO filter (I recommend AquaTru).
- Add minerals back in daily → this is non-negotiable after reverse osmosis. You can:
- Try one of my Adrenal Cocktail Recipes for a DIY mineral boost
- Or grab practitioner-grade electrolytes I trust (always 20% off through my Fullscript dispensary):
- Seeking Health Optimal Electrolyte – clean, well-balanced daily formula
- Needed Hydration Support – gentle, pregnancy/postpartum-friendly
- Quinton Isotonic – trace mineral powerhouse for deep replenishment
Explore all my trusted electrolyte options here: Order on Fullscript.
If you’re ready to look deeper at your exposures and build a personalized plan, I’d love to help.
Brenna May, NTP
Holistic Nutritional Therapy Practitioner • Functional Wellness
This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Please consult your qualified health provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or lifestyle.
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