Antimony in Drinking Water: Health Risks, Sources, and How to Remove It
Antimony is an inorganic contaminant that can occasionally be found in drinking water supplies. It is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has established a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 6 μg/L to protect public health. Monitoring for this substance is essential to ensure that tap water meets safety standards.
Health Effects
Consuming water with elevated levels of antimony can lead to specific health concerns. Exposure to this contaminant has been associated with an increase in blood cholesterol. Additionally, it may cause a decrease in blood sugar levels.
How Antimony Gets Into Tap Water
Antimony enters drinking water sources through both natural processes and industrial activities. It can leach from natural deposits in the earth or be discharged from petroleum refineries. Furthermore, its use in fire retardants and ceramics manufacturing can also lead to water contamination.
How to Remove Antimony From Your Water
Several treatment methods are available to effectively remove antimony from drinking water. Water systems can utilize coagulation/filtration to reduce contaminant concentrations. For residential or point-of-use application, reverse osmosis systems are also effective at treating this inorganic substance.
Should You Test Your Water?
To determine if antimony is present in your tap water, you can review your local water utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report or use the WaterQ search tool. Private well owners may also consider testing their water through a certified laboratory to verify its safety. You can also look up your local water system on WaterQ or check the Antimony data page for reported levels in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antimony dangerous in drinking water?
Yes, antimony can pose health risks if consumed in water levels that exceed the EPA standard. Long-term exposure has been linked to increased blood cholesterol and decreased blood sugar. Ensuring levels remain below the 6 μg/L limit is important for maintaining health.
How does Antimony get into tap water?
Antimony can enter tap water from the erosion of natural mineral deposits, discharge from petroleum refineries, or runoff from fire retardants and ceramics.
How can I remove Antimony from my water?
Antimony can be removed from your water supply using treatment technologies such as coagulation/filtration or reverse osmosis systems.
Source: EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and WaterQ National Database. For more contaminants, visit our contaminant library.
What actually removes heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, barium and others)
Reverse osmosis handles the whole group reliably, which makes it the simple answer when several metals show up at once. Some NSF/ANSI 53 carbon filters carry claims for specific metals such as mercury and cadmium — check the claim names on the performance data sheet rather than assuming a lead-rated filter covers the rest. A softener is a partial exception: ion exchange does capture barium reasonably well, though it does nothing for most of the others.
Works
- Reverse osmosis (NSF 58)The broadest removal available at home: arsenic, nitrate, fluoride, PFAS, TDS.
- Carbon certified for lead (NSF 53)The cheapest thing that genuinely removes lead, cysts and many VOCs.
Will not fix this
- Basic activated carbon (NSF 42)
- UV disinfection (NSF 55)
- Boiling Makes it worse — evaporation concentrates what's left behind.
Test before you buy.Heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, barium and others) can't be seen, tasted or smelled, and the right hardware depends on the concentration you actually have. A certified lab test costs a fraction of the wrong filtration system. Start with your local water quality report, and get a mail-in lab test if you're on a private well.
Options that carry the right certification
Ordered cheapest-adequate first. Prices are indicative bands and move often.
| Product | Certification | Upfront | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APEC ROES-50 EssenceUnder-sink | Built with WQA-certified components to NSF/ANSI 58.Catch:Needs an under-sink drain connection and a spare hole for the dedicated faucet. Strips minerals — some people dislike the flat taste. | $180–240 | $50–80 | Check price |
| AquaTru Countertop Reverse OsmosisCountertop | NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 58, 401 and P473 certified.Catch:Takes counter space and you refill a tank by hand. Wastes some water as brine, like all RO. | $400–500 | $80–130 | Check price |
| Brita Elite Pitcher FilterPitcher | NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 certified, including a lead reduction claim.Catch:No fluoride, nitrate or arsenic reduction. Not PFAS-rated. | $25–40 | $50–70 | Check price |
| iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage ROUnder-sink | WQA Gold Seal certified to NSF/ANSI 58.Catch:The alkaline remineralization stage adds minerals back, which slightly raises TDS readings — expected, not a fault. | $200–280 | $60–90 | Check price |
Certification listings change. Before buying, confirm the current listing for the exact model in the NSF certified products database — a manufacturer's marketing page is not a certification. WaterQ earns a commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you; see our affiliate disclosure. This is general information, not medical or engineering advice.
For a full breakdown of certifications, running costs and the models worth considering, see our buying guide for heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, barium and others).