Photo by Dragisa Braunovic
What's in your water?
It's no secret contaminants and pollutants have compromised our water supply. While the chemical composition is the same, H2O, the properties of the water are not. So what are your choices? Tap water, bottled water, reverse osmosis? Let's take a closer look at each.
Tap water. Since 2004, there have been 315 pollutants found in America's tap water. Over half of these pollutants are not regulated and are legal to exist in any amount. To put things into perspective, here's the data from my water utility in Orange County, CA. In 2021, Irvine Ranch Water District detected a total of 42 contaminants. 18 of those exceed the Environmental Working Group health guidelines. The most common, known potential effect of these 18 contaminants is cancer. This water utility is in compliance with federal drinking water standards. Legal does not mean safe, though. Of note, Irvine Ranch Water District serves 370,000 people. Watch this short video in which the NY Times reports on tainted tap water in the U.S.
Bottled water. Which is not guaranteed safer or healthier, but costlier. In 1999, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) conducted a four-year review. The scope was on the bottled water industry and its safety standards. "The NRDC concluded that there is no assurance that bottled water is safer or cleaner than tap. In fact, an estimated 25 percent or more of bottled water is just tap water in a bottle. Sometimes further treated, sometimes not." About 22 percent of the brands tested contained chemicals. At least one sample exceeded state health limits. Some of those contaminants cause cancer or other health problems. The latter is particularly true for people with weakened immune systems. Watch this short video in which MSNBC reports on bottled water.
Another point to consider is the chemicals contained in the plastic bottles. These contaminants leach into the water compromising its nutritional value, if any. These contaminants can also have an impact on your health.
Reverse osmosis is a process that separates pure water from a less pure solution. Using a membrane under pressure, pure and tap water passes through the membrane. First, pressure forces pure water through the membrane an interacts with tap water. Then, counter pressure forces water back through the membrane. That second pass through the membrane sieves out most organic substances.
But, contaminants with smaller molecular composition pass through. Contaminants such as:
Pesticides
Herbicides
Chlorine
Chlorate
Manganese
Vanadium
The last three come from the last water quality report from Irvine Ranch Water District. Reverse osmosis does not filter out chlorate, manganese, and vanadium. Here are some details about these three contaminants:
Chlorate forms in drinking water as a byproduct of disinfection. It impairs thyroid function, making exposure more harmful during pregnancy and childhood. There is no legal limit for this contaminant in your water.
Manganese is a mineral common in food and drinking water. Excessive manganese exposures may impair children's attention, memory, and intellectual capacity. There is no legal limit for this contaminant in your water.
Vanadium is a metal used in steels and other alloys. Excessive exposure can be toxic during pregnancy and childhood. There is no legal limit for this contaminant in your water.
Water is essential to me and my health. Thus, the type of water I drink is critical. That's why I turned to a water ionizer that produces alkaline ionized water. It's clean, alkaline, antioxidant-rich, and super hydrating.
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References:
Environmental Working Group (EWG); https://www.ewg.org/tapwater; Last updated in 2019; Last accessed 7 November 2020; Source descriptor: EWG is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to human health and the environment. With breakthrough research and education, they drive consumer choice and civic action.
EWG; Irvine Ranch Water District; https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=CA3010092; Last updated March 2021; Last accessed 3 February 2022.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Reverse Osmosis; www.fda.gov; https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/inspection-technical-guides/reverse-osmosis; Last updated 26 August 2014; Last accessed 3 February 2022.
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