Quality Water Sources

“It is estimated that in 99 percent of the US population, their fatty tissue contains one or more of the toxic chemicals found in water.” – Dr. Ronald Klatz, MD, Pres. American Academy of Anti Aging Medicine

In a previous article I mention how water can play an important role in the prevention of cancer. This article delves a little deeper into the types of water or better yet the best filtration systems in delivering quality water / hydration.

First, let’s revisit the purpose of water in our diet. Of course we all know we cannot live without it. Water is so important; that it’s presence on another planet is the single most exciting clue to the existence of life. The average adult contains 40-50 quarts / 10-13 gallons of water! Blood is 83% water, muscle 75%, brain 75%, heart 75%, bones 22%, lungs 86%, kidney 83%, and eyes 95%. [2]

All cells contain some form of nutrient fluid composed of water. These cells are floating in a sea of saline water. The extracellular (saline) fluid carries electric charges that enable the cells to communicate with each other. It transports nutrients, deliver oxygen, and removes toxic waste. They regulate temperature and prevent sticking. On a larger scale this extracellular fluid acts as a lubricant and even a cushion for joints and bones. It acts as a shock absorber for organs and glands. It quenches free radicals by binding to them and is crucial to the body’s overall capacity to repair, restore, and heal. [1]

Problems with our drinking water

Today, due to our water municipalities and use of chemicals such as chlorine, we’re rarely concerned about bacteria and parasite contamination. The use of chlorine which comes with its own set of problems (produces harmful THMs) is in part responsible for making our water safer from a biological standpoint. Trihalomethanes (THMs) a known carcinogen, are formed as a by-product predominately when chlorine is used to disinfect water for drinking. Bacteria and parasites are still an issue but much less as compared to 100 years ago. However, bacteria represent only a fraction of our modern day hazards present in our water supply.  You see our current aging water municipalities are unable to filter out all the new ever expanding chemicals entering our environment. There are more than 75,000 chemical compounds in our water with more being added daily. They come from industry, agriculture, and consumers/homes. Small doses of them in drinking water are ingested every day and no one knows what their long term effects will be. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly one million people get sick from drinking contaminated water each year with about 1,000 of those cases ending in fatalities.

Toxic Threats in our Water:

Unfortunately, our water is subject to nearly every kind of pollutant in our society. As if contamination from gasoline, parasites, chlorine, fluoride, and aging pipes were not enough, pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, lead, asbestos, nitrates, and even radioactive waste all have an impact on our water.[1]

Water testing has shown a high level of Prozac, Ritalin, and antibiotics in our drinking water. Because people had dumped their excess prescription drugs into those body of water or had flushed them directly or through bodily waste into sewer and septic systems, where chemicals then leeched into groundwater.[3] Municipal sewage treatment plants are not engineered to remove Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) pollutants from the nations water supply. When a United States Geological Survey report was issued in 2004 documenting how prescription drugs, steroids, antibiotics, pesticides, and other synthetic chemicals are being found at alarming levels everywhere during stream and groundwater testing, federal and state environment officials made this revealing admission: Our nation’s waste water treatment plants are simply too unsophisticated to remove synthetic chemicals before water is recycled back into the environment. Nor can our municipal water treatment plants, despite the use of chlorine, neutralize all of these synthetic chemicals before we drink the tap water or bathe ourselves in it. Not only that, but most of the nation’s soft drinks and beers are made with municipal tap water, which means we are slowly and cumulatively drugging ourselves in multiple ways. [4]

Which Water is Right for You?

Some choices have been made for us such as the chlorination and fluoridation of our water supplies. However, we have options based on the level of purity, convenience, and cost. Some alternatives to tap water include:

• Bottled Water
• Charcoal / Carbon Filtered Water
• Distiller Water
• Ozone & Ultraviolet Treated Water
• Reverse Osmosis Water

Let’s take a look at some ways you can provide yourself and your family with safe and healthy water.

Bottled water comes from municipal water sources, underground springs, or artesian wells. Natural spring, especially mineral water is best known for their healing properties. Mineral water’s healing properties are associated with their high content of dissolved solids such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, silica, and bicarbonates. Some spring water is subject to ultraviolet light and a one micron filtration process to screen out giardiasis and cryptosporidium. According to the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), there is a one in four chance that your bottled water has been drawn from municipal taps. America’s best selling bottled water is Aquafina, which is treated tap water packaged by Pepsi. Typically the water is treated with ozone, de-ionization, carbon and micron filtration, and ultraviolet light to improve quality and maintain a level of safety.

Even though the FDA has regulations which require bottled water to be processed, packaged, transported, and stored under safe and sanitary conditions; problems do arise. In 1998, the National Resource Defense Council completed a 4 year test of 103 bottled waters and found that 1/3 of them had bacteria and other chemicals exceeding industry standards. My main issue with bottled water in plastic bottles is the imparting of plastic taste. This means that some of the plastic is leaching into the product. PET / PETE a clear strong plastic is considered the most inert (not imparting taste or color). Look for a triangle under the bottle with either the number 1(PET) or 7 (polycarbonate). The quality of plastic is important.

Some Criteria for Choosing Quality Bottled Water

• Choose water that has a stable assay statistics over years.
• Buy water in glass, polycarbonate, or PET bottles.
• Know the difference between spring, mineral, and purified waters.

Pros & Cons of Charcoal Filtration

Activated charcoal is one of the best methods for extracting toxic gases, odors, and taste. Has the ability to extract all organic, hydrocarbon based pollutants such as pesticides, chlorine, THMs, and PCBs. Charcoal filtration is the most economical filtration method, which is why it is the most widely used personal filtration system.

A disadvantage is its propensity to provide a breeding ground for bacteria, and therefore the filter must be replaced regularly. This method does not remove inorganic mineral salts such as sodium, fluoride, and nitrates.

Criteria for Purchasing a Charcoal Filter

• Large amounts of densely packed charcoal
• Long filter life, preferably 400 – 1000 gallons
• Pre- filter to extend filter’s life
• Maximum contact time & reasonable flow rate
• A counter top unit that connects directly to faucet or under the sink to save space

Ultraviolet Light

Ultraviolet light purifies the water of microbes by emitting germicidal UV rays. These devices have the same dilemma of contact time and effectiveness as charcoal filtration. The longer the exposure to radiation, the more effective.

Ozone

Ozone is naturally formed when the oxygen molecule is agitated and split. Most people are familiar with ozone in our upper atmosphere. This molecule is a powerful germicide used to purify water of microbes.  It removes odors, off taste, and colors. Also oxidizes THMs, chlorine, and pesticides.

Pros & Cons of Reverse Osmosis

This method is a mechanical process by which water diffuses through a semipermeable membrane that restricts the passage of certain contaminants.

Reverse osmosis removes most pollutants including particulates, lead, mercury, radium, and uranium. It also removes off taste, odor, and colors.

However it cannot remove toxic gases, chloroform, THMs, phenol, microbes, some pesticides, and organic compounds with low molecular weight.

Typically, the unit must be installed by a plumber and requires a pre & post carbon filter. Also membrane replacement is costly.

Pros & Cons of Home Distiller

Distillation is the process of boiling water into steam and then condensing back to liquid water. This process produces the purest form of water. Distillation removes all:

• Bacteria and viruses
• Soluble inorganic salts such as fluoride, sodium, nitrates
• Organic chemicals like pesticides, PCBs, THMs
• Radionuclide’s
• Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium
• Soluble minerals such as calcium phosphorous, and magnesium

Ultimately, the water has no minerals, taste, odors, or colors after it undergoes the distillation process. The main disadvantages of such a system is the long time needed to complete the distillation process, amount of electricity used (cost), and the removal of beneficial minerals.

Criteria for Purchasing a Home Distiller

So when purchasing, consider the price and the rate (speed) of distillation.

One last point about distilled water. Avoid purchasing distilled water in plastic bottles due to its nature to leach potentially toxic compounds out of the plastic.

References:

[1] Water the Ultimate Cure by Steve Meyerowitz and Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, MD, p13

[2] For Lifelong Gains, Just Add Water. Repeat. Brody, Jane E. New York Times, July 11, 2000.

[3] The Hundred Year Lie, Randall Fitzgerald, A Plume Book, July 2007′ p4

[4] The Hundred Year Lie, Randall Fitzgerald, A Plume Book, July 2007′ p117

by Kendall Haynesworth on March 31, 2014