Given that the human body is approximately 70 percent water, it should surprise no one that getting healthy water and a sufficient amount of it, through home water treatment if necessary, is an absolute essential. Depending on where you live, this may require going beyond water from a tap.
Water and Your Health
It is difficult to think of any body systems that are not affected by the water we consume. If the water level drops in the body, the blood volume drops as well causing other changes in the body. Drinking good quality water can mitigate many bodily ills such as problems with the bladder and bowels. A simple glass of water often can relieve acidic stomach conditions, decrease “hot flashes” and relieve anxiety. Drinking an adequate of amount of water may help with chronic fatigue syndrome. Without water to flush out toxins and metabolic wastes, we would die. The Centers for Disease Control reports on how many people get sick from polluted water each year not only from drinking but from recreational activities such as swimming as well. Getting good quality water, even if it means using home water treatment, is vital.
Tap Water
About half the drinking water in the U.S. comes from the surface of the earth—lakes, rivers, streams, etc. The other half is underground, that is, rainwater that filters down to the water table and is retrieved by some form of well. Before treatment, both water sources may be contaminated with substances such as radon, fluoride, arsenic and heavy metals as well as man-made pollutants, fertilizers, asbestos, herbicide, chemicals and even prescription drugs. Water treatment can remove some of these things but not all. Water treatment can also add unnecessarily high concentrations of such chemicals as chlorine used to kill bacteria. Although local water plants are required to furnish consumers reports of water quality, the Environmental Protection Agency’s allowed contaminant levels in some cases may be higher than what is actually an acceptable risk level over a long period of time. In addition, a 2-1/2 year study by the Environmental Working Group found “More than 140 contaminants with no enforceable safety limits found in the nation's drinking water” [1]. Anyone concerned about these issues might well consider having a commercial or state university lab test your tap water. If there are problems, perhaps consider home water treatment.
Filter Devices
Three basic kinds of filters are available for home use: Absorbent, which uses chemicals such as carbon to trap impurities; microfiltration, which uses filters with many tiny openings to catch contaminants; and ion-exchange devices to take out heavy metals in the water. Consumer Reports rates filtration systems and is worth checking if you are considering this approach [2]. Some authorities recommend only steam-distilled or reverse-osmosis filtered water should be used not only for drinking but cooking as well. If distilled water is too tasteless, one to two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar to a gallon of distilled water will help [3].
Bottled Water
While many consider this an adequate alternative to tap water, the Environmental Working Group found that “ten popular bottled water brands contained 38 chemical pollutants and, in four cases, bacteria, some with contaminant levels no better than tap water” [4]. Bottled water is not only expensive, but may offer no more protection than tap water. In addition some bottled water is simply water from a city’s water treatment plant.
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