It's no secret that many things within the infrastructure of the United States are antiquated and worn out.
We've seen bridges collapse, levees fail, and our public education system deteriorate almost to the point of no return, and the funding to refurbish and rebuild just isn't there.
Even though our government has ignored the plight so many of us are forced to deal with, the funding still isn't available.
Another resource that is being severely taxed by the lack of adequate financial support is our municipal water.
Facilities have not kept pace with either the times or the increasing population, and people are worried about the quality of the water they are being supplied with, as well they should be.
The problem isn't that municipal water treatment facilities aren't trying to give their customers pure water.
They are being forced to desperate measures, such as adding increasingly large amounts of toxic chlorine, just to keep the water at minimum standards.
The truth is that more synthetic chemicals and denser populations are taxing the out-dated systems to the limit.
In addition, many cities are still utilizing old lead pipes to move their product to homes, a practice that we now know to be unsafe.
The pressure being placed on municipal water resources has grown tremendously without the financial backing necessary to help the treatment facilities keep pace.
Due to what people are hearing about the lack of sufficient cleanliness of city water, many are choosing to take matters into their own hands.
They are still using municipal water, but they are taking steps to further filter out the impurities.
They are using filtered cups and pitchers, under-sink units, and even whole-house filtration devices in order to ensure that their families are having access to the clean, fresh water that will keep them healthy.
They are selecting filters that remove the excess chlorine, the unregulated chemicals, the heavy metals, and the toxins that continue to plague the water coming from their taps.
It shouldn't be hard to find out what's in the water you are using.
Every water treatment facility is required to make an annual report available to customers that describes the condition of the water they are providing.
By getting a copy of this report and comparing it with the recommendations for safe water you can find online, you'll be able to determine just how contaminated your drinking water is and then be able to make educated decisions as to what you want to do about the problems.
It's also possible to purchase a test kit so that you can garner your own statistics about the water your family is drinking.