Emerging Compounds

The sources of drinking water — both tap and bottled water — include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances including the emerging compounds resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Compounds that may be present in source water include:

• Microbial compounds, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife;
• Inorganic compounds, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming;
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agricultural, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses.
• Organic chemical compounds, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products, byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, including the emerging compounds, can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
• Radioactive compounds, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some of these compounds. Their presence does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.

A trace amount is measured in parts per trillion.  The ability to test compounds at these minute levels is relatively new.