From GMOScience.org
As per the EPA, studies show that glyphosate is effectively removed with activated-carbon methods, as well as chlorine and ozone. There are more than 750 glyphosate-based herbicides on the market, (Roundup being the most renowned), so this is a commonly used and ubiquitous herbicide.
How does glyphosate get into your water, Kathryn? Run-off and erosion from farms, roadways and public spaces are one of the most common ways it gets into the soil, finding its way into the water supply. It’s water-soluble and in certain conditions can last up to 22 years!
What makes the issue difficult is that acceptable amounts of glyphosate (there are none!) vary from state-to-state under the Safe Drinking Water Act via the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. The EPA established the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 700 ppb for glyphosate. Hmm. Researchers found that levels of .1 ppb in rats caused fatty liver disease. Maybe we should have another look at those levels?
But let’s get back to Kathryn’s question and do a deeper dive into those carbon-based systems. Carbon-based filters are an effective way to eliminate glyphosate as well as other unwanted chemicals. The method of action is via the process of adsorption where toxicants bind to the surface of the carbon filter. To expand the binding capacity of carbon, pores are created that increase the surface area, thus “activating” the carbon in the filter. The sources of the carbon are from coconut, coal and activated carbon modified through the addition of iron hydroxide.
