How You Can Drink Better Water!

September 4, 2008 – 6:00 pm

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Water is an absolutely marvelous substance. It is vital to almost every aspect of our existence. And yet, like electricity we take it for granted. Every day we use water to quench our thirst, prepare our meals, keep our bodies clean and to irrigate plants and vegetables, and for a whole bunch of other activities.

We rely on tap water to meet many of these needs. But how much do you really know about the water that comes into your home? If you are like most people, your water travels through many, many miles of aging pipes and earth. As it travels, it picks up thousands of microscopic impurities like pesticides, industrial chemicals, and toxins. Some tap water includes harmful substances such as chlorine and fluoride, which can destroy the friendly bacteria in your body.

But what are the alternatives to tap water? Bottled water has become increasingly popular. In 2003, Americans spent over 7 billion dollars for bottled water. Two of the other more popular water purification methods are Reverse Osmosis systems and filtration systems. Let’s look briefly at each of these.

Bottled Water Myth
Do you drink bottled water? In the last two decades, the fitness craze has prompted people to increase their intake of water. Bottled water companies have expanded their product line to meet this growing demand by promising water that is purer and healthier than tap water. But evidence suggests that some of the major brands of water on the market are really reconstituted tap water. In 1999, researchers for the National Resources Defense Council concluded that “An estimated 25% or more of bottled water is really just tap water – sometimes further treated, sometimes not.” If bottled water doesn’t offer purer, safer water, then what’s the answer? Here are two of the common water systems in use today.

Reverse Osmosis
Reverse Osmosis provides a good source of mineral-free water. Reverse Osmosis systems do a fairly good job of removing contaminants. But some contaminants such as chlorine remain in the water. Reverse Osmosis systems also remove many of the alkaline minerals which can cause the water to be acidic. Too much acidic water can be dangerous to the body. Also, RO systems are wasteful, they typically use four gallons of tap water to produce one gallon of purified water.

Water Filtration
Primitive water filters were used as early as 4,000 years ago. Today, the complex multi-media filters available provide one of the best and most economical methods for removing contaminants. Typically, water passes through several different types of filtration materials to allow each media to remove different contaminants, through chemical absorption, physical obstruction, or a combination of both processes. The most effective filtration media are constructed with carbon or a combination of other elements and carbon. The water passes through the filter by the force of gravity, at a rather slow speed to ensure proper absorption. The pure water that emerges is free from most, if not all, contaminants. Most water filters can remove more contaminants, including chlorine and chloride by-products, than any other purification device. And, they allow healthy trace minerals to remain in the water. Water filters are relatively inexpensive compared with other methods of water purification and waste very little water in the process.

Eight Benefits of Using a Water Filter

1) Clean, filtered water helps protect the body from disease and can help to maintain good health and vitality.
2) Removes harmful contaminants like chlorine and bacteria, which can reduce the risk of health problems.
3) Generally, filtered water tastes and smells better than tap water.
4) Removes lead from drinking water, which is especially important for pregnant women and the developing immune system of children.
5) Provides water that costs much less than bottled water.
6) Provides safe, healthy water for cooking.
7) Removes harmful contaminants without removing healthy minerals and changing the PH balance of the water.
8) Helps protect the body from the 2100 toxins that may be present in tap water.