Unsafe water is not just a third world problem. In fact, clean water is even harder to find in industrially developed countries.

Water-related diseases are the 2nd largest killer of children worldwide, after respiratory infections. Testing labs in Philadelphia discovered 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts in treated drinking water, including medicines for pain, infection, high cholesterol, asthma, epilepsy, mental illness and heart problems. 80% of city water systems were not equipped with filters that meet EPA standards. In addition, most cities add the harmful chemical, Chlorine, to water.

Joel Schwartz, PHD, an associate professor of environmental epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, tells WebMD that a number of recent studies have linked chlorine byproducts to reproduction risks. His group, for example, has found that the substances could affect a baby's birth weight. Other research has pointed to risk of birth defects and miscarriage.

"There is potential to cause harm. But there are things we can do to reduce the risk," he says, adding that the following measures will not drop your risk to zero, but they can make things safer...

“You may want something for your shower, since these contaminants could evaporate in
the steam and be inhaled.”