What’s Really in Your Tap Water?

louise selda
Jul 14
3 min read

5 Hidden Health Risks (and What You Can Do About Them)

Your tap water might look clean but beneath the surface, it can carry hidden health risks that build up over time. While Saskatoon’s water meets legal safety standards, that doesn’t mean it’s risk-free.

Here’s what could be coming out of your faucet and how it may affect your health.

1. Hard Water Can Wreck Your Skin & Hair

Saskatoon’s tap water contains 180–220 mg/L of calcium carbonate, making it very hard by national standards.

Why it matters:

Hard water reacts with soap, leaving behind residue that clogs pores and dries skin.
It’s linked to eczema flare-ups, especially in kids.
Scalp buildup can lead to hair thinning and irritation.

**Health Fact: Kids who bathe in hard water are 87% more likely to develop eczema by age 5 (UK study).

2. Chloramine Disrupts Gut, Lungs & Skin

To disinfect your water, Saskatoon adds chloramine , which is a mix of chlorine and ammonia, with a residual level of about 1.8 mg/L.

Why it matters:

Even levels above 1.5 mg/L can start affecting sensitive individuals.
Chloramine vapors from showers can irritate lungs, triggering asthma.
It can damage your gut microbiome, leading to digestive and immune issues.
It also reacts with organic matter to form nitrosamines compounds linked to bladder cancer.

**Health Fact: The EPA has confirmed that chloramine exposure in drinking water may pose reproductive and developmental risks in animals raising concerns about long-term human exposure.

3. Pesticide Runoff Disrupts Hormones & Digestion

Saskatchewan’s heavy agricultural activity leads to seasonal pesticide runoff, especially in spring and fall. Provincial monitoring has detected glyphosate and atrazine in surface water sources.

Why it matters:

Glyphosate can kill good gut bacteria, causing bloating, fatigue, and food sensitivities.
Atrazine acts as a hormone disruptor which is linked to fertility issues and thyroid dysfunction.
Long-term exposure is also tied to ADHD, reduced IQ, and increased cancer risk.

** Health Fact: A Canadian study found measurable levels of these pesticides in drinking water across the prairie provinces, including Saskatchewan.

4. Fluoride: Good for Teeth, Bad for Hormones?

Saskatoon adds fluoride at 0.7 mg/L to prevent cavities, a practice in place since the 1950s.

Why it matters:

Fluoride competes with iodine in the thyroid, which can lead to fatigue, brain fog, and weight gain.
Studies link prenatal fluoride exposure to lower IQ scores in children.
Kids may develop dental fluorosis (white spots and weakened enamel) from overexposure.
Over decades, fluoride can build up in bones, possibly leading to skeletal fluorosis (rare but serious).

**Health Fact: In 2019, the U.S. National Toxicology Program acknowledged that fluoride is a neurotoxin at high levels, especially during fetal development.

5. Aging Asbestos Pipes = Long-Term Cancer Risk

About 30% of Saskatoon’s water mains still use asbestos-cement pipes installed decades ago. As these pipes degrade, tiny asbestos fibers can enter the water supply.

Why it matters:

Ingested asbestos has been linked to chronic inflammation in the stomach and intestines.
Some studies suggest it may increase the risk of colon and stomach cancers.
While not an immediate threat, decades of exposure may carry real risks, especially for children and pregnant women.

**Health Note: Health Canada currently does not regulate asbestos in drinking water, though many countries do.

What You Can Do

Test Your Water – Start with a basic water quality test to see what’s in your home supply.

Use the Right Filtration:

Water softener → for calcium & magnesium (hardness)
Catalytic carbon filter → for chloramine removal
Reverse osmosis → for fluoride and pesticides
Whole-house filter → to reduce asbestos fiber exposure

Take Action with Confidence

If you want clean, safe, great-tasting water for your home or family, reach out to Serenity Water. They’ll help you choose the right filtration system based on Saskatoon’s specific water profile.

Contact Serenity Water today for expert advice, testing, and customized water solutions.