Uranium is a silvery metal that is weakly radioactive and toxic when ingested. It is bioaccumulative, which means levels can build up over time in the body. The insoluble form of uranium is particularly concerning. It often settles and builds up in the bones, due to its chemical affinity for phosphates. It also affects the liver, kidney, and reproductive tissues.

How Does Uranium Get into Parker’s Water Supply?

Uranium makes its way into the water supply the same way barium does: the erosion of natural deposits over time by wind and rain.

How Much Uranium Contaminants in Parker Water?

0.06 ppb, under the max allowed concentration of 30 ppb set by the EPA.

Fluoride has been intentionally added to water sources in the US since the 1940s. By 1962, the US Public Health Service recommended that drinking water contain between 0.7 and 1.2 mg/L of water to help prevent tooth decay. The EPA’s maximum allowable amount of fluoride in water sources is 4 mg/L.

Is Fluoride in Water Dangerous?

In small amounts, fluoride is not, theoretically, dangerous. However, long-term exposure to levels higher than the recommended amount can cause a condition known as skeletal fluorosis.

In this condition, fluoride builds up in the bones, causing joint pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, and a risk of fractures in older adults.

Furthermore, the EPA actually has a secondary limit for fluoride in water where children are concerned. At 2 mg/L, this is half the recommended maximum for adults and it is merely a guideline, not a requirement. Too much fluoride exposure in children can, ironically, impede proper tooth enamel formation and cause permanent pitting and staining.

How Else Does Fluoride Become a Parker Water Contaminant?

In addition to being purposefully added to the water supply, fluoride can become a Parker water contaminant via erosion of natural deposits and runoff from fertilizer and aluminum factories.

How Much Fluoride is in Parker Water?

Fluoride is a top Parker water contaminant; however, samples in 2023 still found it was within the maximum allowable limits for fluoride. 0.9 ppm were found in the water, which is well under the max of 4 ppm (ppm is equivalent to mg/L).

Selenium is similar to barium in that it rarely occurs in its pure elemental form. Rather, this metalloid can be found in compounds, such as selenium sulfide. Among other applications, it is used in glass production and in selenium-lithium batteries.

Adverse Health Effects of Selenium Contaminants in Parker Water

Selenium is actually an essential nutrient within the human body. It is particularly important in the regulation of thyroid activity and can inhibit mercury toxicity. However, large doses of selenium can have a negative effect on the body’s systems.

This has been seen in fish that have bio-accumulated dangerous levels of selenium, resulting in an array of physiological problems: swelling of the gills and reduced oxygen capacity; liver damage, cataracts, heart inflammation, and damage to the ovaries. Many species of fish have been killed in water supply systems due to selenium poisoning.

How Does Selenium Get into Parker Water?

Selenium becomes a Parker water contaminant in three ways:

● Erosion from natural deposits in rock and earth

● Runoff from petroleum and metal refineries

● Runoff from mines

Level of Selenium Contaminants in Parker Water?

Finally, we have nitrates on the list of contaminants in Parker’s water supply. Nitrates are composed of a salt, such as magnesium or potassium, and a polyatomic nitrate group. The primary applications of these compounds have historically been in agriculture and explosives. They are highly soluble in water, even in their inorganic form, which poses a risk to water sources and aquatic life.

Dangers of Nitrate as a Parker Water Contaminant

Nitrate forms a natural part of the human diet, with common sources being found in arugula, spinach, and beetroot. However, higher levels of exposure have been shown to cause irreversible damage to aquatic life, especially fish. Most contamination in these cases has been from wastewater and fertilizer, leading to algae blooms that suffocate the fish. High concentrations of nitrates have also caused poor growth, immune system deficiency, and stress in certain species.

Despite its known effects on aquatic life, nitrate toxicity in humans continues to be a source of debate. Growing evidence suggests it can have a negative effect on both children and adults, leading to poor oxygen absorption, low blood pressure, cramping, nausea, and vomiting.

How Much Nitrate Contaminant in Parker Water?

The 2023 Parker Water Quality report found an average of 0.08 ppm of nitrates in their sample, which is under the EPA max of 10. Much of this comes from fertilizer runoff and leaching from septic tanks. No thanks.