Tap water in Malta

Data from 2005 to 2018:

“the second-highest amount of THMs in the EU – 49.4 μg/L”

(THMs, or trihalomethanes, are chemical compounds that can form when chlorine used for disinfecting drinking water reacts with natural organic matter present in the water. They are considered potential carcinogens. (bladder cancer))

Brita Filter Reduction Percentages

High Reduction (90%+)

• Chlorine: 99% +
• Lead: 99% +
• Nickel: 50-99% +
• Chromium: 97% +
• Zinc: 40-97%
• THMs: 25-100%??? 49.4ug/L
  • Chloroform (CHCl3): ~25%
  • Bromodichloromethane (CHBrCl2): ~20%
  • Dibromochloromethane (CHBr2Cl): ~15%
  • Bromoform (CHBr3): ~10%
• PBDEs: 90-99%
  • BDE-47: 95%
  • BDE-99: 95%
  • BDE-100: 95%
  • BDE-153: 95%
  • BDE-209: 95%

Moderate Reduction (50-90%)

• Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH): 70-95% +
• Fluoranthene: 70-90% +
• DEHP: 85% +

Low Reduction (below 50%)

• Nitrates: 0-30%
  • MN limit: 10 mg/L
  • EU limit: 50 mg/L
  • 1991: 72 mg/L in Qala
• Ammonia: 0-30% (generally not a concern?)
  • (EU limit: 0.5mg/L)
• Chlorides: 0-50%
  • 2023: 350mg/l in Malta tap water
  • (EU limit: 250mg/L +)

Still concerning post-brita-filtration

Nitrates
Chlorides
THMs

Exhaustive (?) list of contaminants

Chlorine, Lead, Nickel, Chromium, Zinc, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-209, Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH), Fluoranthene, DEHP, Nitrates, Ammonia, Chlorides, Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Bromoform, PBDEs