{"id":32393,"date":"2021-03-01T01:50:56","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T01:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greenschoolsgreenfuture.org\/?p=32393"},"modified":"2025-08-23T02:37:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T02:37:09","slug":"is-tap-water-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greenschoolsgreenfuture.org\/fr\/is-tap-water-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Tap Water Safe to Drink? What’s In It & Other Options"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Many of us drink water straight from the tap at home and at restaurants. We know that it\u2019s safe to drink tap water in most regions of America. Some of us may wonder where it comes from or what is in it but never bothered to dig for more information. Here, we will discuss tap water, what’s in it, and other options for water.\u00a0<\/p>

Where Does Tap Water Come From?<\/strong><\/h2>

Tap water in Canada usually comes from three sources: lakes, rivers, and groundwater. The specific source depends on where you are in the country. For example, Toronto\u2019s drinking water comes from Lake Ontario<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>

How is it Treated?<\/strong><\/h2>

Before water gets to your faucet, it is treated at a treatment facility. There it will go through a testing and filtration process, making it potable. The process may differ in different locations, but the treatment process usually involves four steps: coagulation and flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>

1. Coagulation and flocculation<\/strong><\/h3>

This refers to a process where chemicals are added to the water to remove large debris. This process helps stick small particles together and form larger particles that can be filtered out easily. The common reagents added include aluminum salts, polymers, iron, activated carbons, talcum, and activated silica. When they bind together, they form a jelly-like substance that sticks larger particles together called \u201cfloc.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

2. Sedimentation<\/strong><\/h3>

This process occurs when water passes through settling basins and the floc settles to the bottom.\u00a0<\/p>

3. Filtration<\/strong><\/h3>

Once the floc has settled, the clear water at the top is then filtered to remove any fine particles, impurities, microorganisms, and bacteria.\u00a0<\/p>

4. Disinfection<\/strong><\/h3>

Before water is distributed, it is disinfected using chemicals such as chlorine to get rid of any remaining bacteria, algae, and viruses. Some cities (ex. Toronto) add fluoride to prevent tooth decay.<\/p>

In addition to this standard process, some cities test drinking water samples every day to make sure the water quality is good. Toronto tests samples every 6 hours<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>

What’s in Your Tap Water? And is it Really Safe?<\/b><\/h2>

After all the processing, tap water should be relatively safe as most of the impurities are filtered out. However, since water usually goes through the same pipe, it\u2019s almost impossible for it to be 100% pure. Drinking water is becoming increasingly toxic worldwide because of ageing water pipes and chemical pollution. Not all of the toxins in the water get filtered out by treatment plants.<\/p>

Some of the most common contaminants you can find in tap water, even after treatment, include: <\/a><\/p>