Water is the foundation of our lives, and many people rely on tap water being clean and free of contaminants. But did you know that pharmaceutical residues, microplastics, and other trace substances are often not completely removed by wastewater treatment plants? This can have long-term consequences for our health. In this blog post, you'll learn why conventional water treatment methods aren't enough and how you can best protect yourself with a high-quality water filter.
How do sewage treatment plants work and what are their limitations?
Wastewater treatment plants specialize in removing organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended solids from wastewater. They typically consist of several treatment stages:
- Mechanical cleaning: This involves removing coarse contaminants such as sand, plastic and other solids.
- Biological purification: Microorganisms decompose organic substances and convert them into harmless compounds.
- Dry cleaning: Additives such as flocculants bind phosphorus and other chemicals.
But even after these purification steps , residues of pharmaceuticals, microplastics, hormones, and industrial chemicals remain in the water. These can enter our drinking water via rivers and lakes.
What pollutants can be contained in your drinking water?
1. Drug residues
Studies show that many pharmaceutical residues are found in water bodies and even in tap water. Particularly common are:
- Painkillers such as diclofenac and ibuprofen [Source: NDR]
- Antibiotics that can contribute to the formation of resistant germs
- Hormones from the contraceptive pill , which can disrupt the ecological balance of water bodies
2. Microplastics
Microplastics are created by the abrasion of synthetic fibers, cosmetics, car tires, and packaging materials . They are now detectable in tap water samples worldwide. A WHO study indicates that the health consequences of microplastics in drinking water have not yet been fully investigated. (Source: WHO)
3. Heavy metals and industrial chemicals
Old pipes can leach lead and copper into drinking water, while chemical compounds such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are often present in very small quantities but pose a health hazard as "forever chemicals."
4. Chlorine and disinfection by-products
In many regions, tap water is chlorinated to kill germs. However, this process produces byproducts such as trihalomethanes (THMs) , which can be harmful to health in high quantities.
How can you protect yourself?
Since conventional sewage treatment plants do not completely filter out many of these pollutants, experts recommend the use of a high-quality water filter .
The best solutions for clean drinking water:
✅ Activated carbon filters: Binds drug residues, chlorine, and microplastics ✅ Reverse osmosis systems: Remove almost all contaminants from the water ✅ Distillation: Evaporates water to leave pollutants behind (energy-intensive)
Why a water filter from Reinkristall?
A Reinkristall water filter offers an effective solution for removing pharmaceutical residues, microplastics, chlorine, and other contaminants from your drinking water. Our filters use high-quality activated carbon technology that specifically binds contaminants while preserving all valuable minerals in the water.
Unlike expensive reverse osmosis systems , which filter out not only contaminants but also healthy minerals, our filters offer a natural and cost-effective alternative for clean and healthy drinking water. So you can be sure you're enjoying pure water every day – free of unwanted chemicals but full of valuable nutrients!