Contaminants in Your Water and How To Keep Your Water Safe

Clean Safe Water is the True Staff of Life

By Janice Nath | Livinggreenmag.com

Push aside bread:  Water is the true “staff of life.”

Water, which carries oxygen to our body’s cells, makes up more than half of our body weight and we can’t live for more than a few days without it.  Our bodies don’t get water just from drinking water alone as any fluids we drink contain water as well as certain foods (think juicy peaches or ripe tomatoes).  Consuming pure, fresh, clean water is vital for our good health.

How can we ensure that our drinking water is safe?

In America, we have scientists and government regulators committed to detecting, observing and regulating potential contaminants in our water.  However, the toll of time can result in a system that may wear out as well as inadvertent mistakes that can happen.  When the system breaks down, we run the risk of toxic chemicals that can find their way into the ground’s surface and into our tap water.

To ensure our best health, we do need to find out if there are any contaminates in our water and what their concentration levels are and if they are contaminants that potentially pose health risks.   The United States Environmental Protection Agency, http://water.epa.gov/drink/index.cfm, is a great resource to learn more about the safety of the ground water and drinking water in your region.

Central North Pacific Ocean’s Pacific Trash Vortex, also known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, hosts plastics, sludge and other debris trapped by currents.  The vulnerability of the world’s water to contamination and pollution is part of our 21s t century reality and we must all play the first line of defense in ensuring our water is clean and contaminant free.  As a working mother and a concerned San Diego citizen, here are my tips on health and drinking water safety:

• Avoid Plastic Water Bottles – Besides taking a toll on the environment by adding to our landfills, the plastic from plastic water bottles, particularly when warmed up, can leak into our drinking water.  A study published in the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry” by Dr. X.L. Cao noted “significant migration of BPA, or bisphenol-A, especially in hot conditions.”

• Ditch the Office Water Cooler – In addition to the physical strength needed to hoist up a new water cooler bottle into the tank, there is also a major health hazard for offices that fail to regularly clean and disinfect the tank.  A Tufts University research study on water coolers found that, “organisms from each new bottle of water adhere to a cooler’s reservoir–the ‘well’ in which the bottle sits – and also to its hot and cold water spigots, accumulating over time and thereby boosting the bacterial count of any water that passes through on the way to a cup or glass.”

• Investigate Faucet Filters – If the tap water doesn’t taste appealing and there are concerns about heavy metals, chlorine or other contaminants in the water supply, water filters used in a pitcher or attached to the faucet can be a viable option.  Not every filter type eliminates every type of contaminant.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that community water systems provide customers with an annual water quality report.  These Consumer Confidence Reports provide information about the quality of the drinking water supply.  Once your review this report, you can assess what contaminants may be in play and which filter works best to address it.

The City of San Diego issues a Drinking Water Quality Report every year on July 1^st. This report, which generally arrives with your water invoice, includes important information about the water we drink.  For San Diego and other cities nationwide, you can also request a copy of your area water quality report from your water company or visit the Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov.  Invest in a testing kit and test your water both at home and in the office.  These samples can be submitted to laboratories for analysis. The safety of our drinking water should never be taken for granted and we should do everything we can to ensure our liquid “staff of life” is clean and fresh from bio-contaminants.

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RainSoft drinking water systems are a simple, cost-effective solution to providing cleaner, better tasting water right from the tap. And don't forget environmentally friendly! With home water filtration systems from RainSoft, you can get bottled-water quality water, without the bottle. Our premium drinking water systems include: 

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Hydrefiner Water Filtration Systems - a compressed carbon block filters out bad tastes and odors and reduces harmful contaminants.

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115 Westpark Rd
Centerville, OH 45459

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Filtered Tap Water For Sale at Cafe

Molecule, Water-Only Cafe, Sells Filtered NYC Tap Water In East Village Store

By Serena Solomon, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

EAST VILLAGE — A new café recently opened up on East 10th Street — but don't expect to find customers sipping on lattes.

Molecule, aka the Water Café, is filtering New York City tap water down to its purest form and serving it for $2.50 to thirsty local patrons using a custom-made device worth more than $20,000.

"It's about treating water a little more consciously, mindfully and respectfully," said co-owner Adam Ruhf, 32, who has a background in music and activism.

But the store is not only planning to peddle its gallons for in-home use, as passersby can stop in for a quick gulp — complete with an option to add vitamin supplements to their H2O cocktails.

The store has been in the works for 18 months, with Ruhf taking the concept of self-service water shops in Los Angeles and building on the theme.

"This is like a water store 2.0," he said of the opening, which was first reported on EV Grieve.

Ruhf knows first hand the healing properties of purified water, claiming that drinking it regularly helped eased the pain caused brought on by two serious car accidents that left him without a spleen and a leg held together with metal pins.

"It's more of an intuitive thing about cleanliness," he explained of how water helped him recover. "Not wanting toxins [from unfiltered water] to further inhibit my recovery."

His store, located between First Avenue and Avenue A, first takes city water heavy with chlorine, fluoride and compound metals and sends it through its towering 8-foot filter behind the counter.

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Drinking Water from RainSoft

Discover the benefits of RainSoft drinking water systems, and taste the difference in your drinking water today.

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• Delivers clean, delicious water at the push of a button

• Takes out impurities that faucet-mounted filters can't

• Saves money compared to bottled water

• No more lifting or storing heavy 5 gallon bottles

• Better for the environment

"When my son's friends play at our house, they ask for water instead of soft drinks. Our RainSoft water is that good!"

The RainSoft Difference

RainSoft drinking water systems are a simple, cost-effective solution to providing cleaner, better tasting water right from the tap. And don't forget environmentally friendly! With home water filtration systems from RainSoft, you can get bottled-water quality water, without the bottle.

RainSoft of Dayton

115 Westpark Rd
Centerville, OH 45459

(937) 435-9060

www.rainsoftofdayton.com

Summer Increases Air Pollution and Health Risks

Hazy days of summer can boost air pollution, health risks for many

Ground-level ozone and forest fire smoke are common in summer

OLYMPIA - In Washington, we welcome warm sunny weather, ready to spend more time outdoors in the garden and on hiking trails. Summer is also wildfire season and a time when ozone levels rise, making it more difficult to breathe for people with heart and lung diseases.

“It’s important for people who have conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and heart disease to pay attention to air quality reports,” said State Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes. “Air pollution makes it hard for everybody to breathe. And poor air quality affects people with heart and lung diseases earlier than others. If you live in an area that has forest fires, make sure to protect yourself from smoky conditions.”

Older adults are vulnerable because they often don’t know they have these diseases. New research suggests that breathing air that has high “particulate” matter, or fine particles, can also be risky for people who are obese or have diabetes. Children are vulnerable to polluted air because their lungs are still growing and they spend more time outdoors.

Different things cause summer air pollution. Several consecutive days of sunny, hot weather will increase ozone. Wildfires like the ones that have broken out in central Washington recently produce smoky air that contains fine particles and toxic chemicals. Cars and trucks generate exhaust. On calm days when the air is still, air pollutants build up. Ongoing climate changes are projected to cause additional bad air quality by increasing wildfires and ozone pollution.

Everyone can lower their exposure to air pollution by checking air quality conditions before taking part in outdoor activities, especially people in high risk groups. When air pollution is high, people should limit outdoor activity and choose less strenuous things to do — such as going for a walk instead of a run. Pollution levels are often highest at midday or in the afternoon, so exercising earlier or later may be wise. Indoor exercise is another option.
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Visit our website for information about air filters for your home.
www.rainsoftofdayton.com

Wildfires Impact Quality of Water Supply

'Chocolate Milk Shake-Like' Debris Mixture Overwhelms Treatment Plants, School Of Mines Study Says

Alan Gathright, New Media Producer | TheDenverChannel.com

GOLDEN, Colo. -- Rain runoff following a wildfire can compromise drinking water quality and overwhelm water treatment plants with a "chocolate milk shake-like mix" of debris, according to a new study by the Colorado School of Mines.

This can affect tap water that might have a smoky taste and could fail to meet federal drinking water standards, says engineering graduate students whose study suggests ways cities government can protect drinking water after a wildfire.

This is a real-time risk for communities like Colorado Springs, where the Waldo Canyon Fire has scorches 15,324 acres of hillside terrain, and the National Weather Service had issued a flash flood watch for the wildfire's "burn scar" Wednesday afternoon.

In the study, School of Mines graduate researchers worked with the city of Golden on scenarios exploring how a fire in the Golden area would adversely affect the water supply in Clear Creek, the city's source of drinking water.

"This project simulated a range of detrimental wildfire run-off conditions utilizing a surface water treatment pilot plant at the Colorado School of Mines in close collaboration with the City of Golden's drinking water treatment plant," said Professor Jörg Drewes.

The study found that rain runoff mixes leftover wildfire debris and sediment that can thwart purifying mechanisms inside downstream water treatment plants.

"While impacts of wildfires have been studied by scientists from forestry, biology and hydrology, this study is the first that combines these experiences with water treatment engineering and focuses on adverse effects on drinking water quality and appropriate response strategies," Drewes said.

Here's a link to the study: http://tinyurl.com/7lee3pa

Natural Flavor Can Add Interest to Boring Water

Cucumber-Orange Water Recipe

By Adela Jung

Not all of us like soda and flavored drinks, but plain old water can get boring after a while. Here, the clean flavors of cucumber and orange steep in water for a refreshing twist.


This recipe was featured as part chow.com Post-Holiday Recovery Menu

INGREDIENTS

• 6 cups cold water
• 6 thin slices English cucumber
• 5 thin slices orange

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Serve.
www.chow.com

Water Fluoridation - Are You For or Against?

Phoenix set to reassess fluoridation

by Lynh Bui - Jun. 10, 2012 10:55 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proclaimed it one of the 10 greatest public-health achievements of the 20th century.

Every U.S. surgeon general since the 1950s has endorsed the practice. And the American Dental Association calls it the "single most effective public-health measure to prevent tooth decay."

But despite overwhelming support from the government and medical professionals, the debate over fluoridating public water systems, which largely subsided after the Cold War, has resurfaced.

Phoenix has become the latest Valley city to reassess the controversial cavity-fighting policy as several City Council members are proposing to save money or limit government's reach by discontinuing water fluoridation in the nation's sixth-largest city.

The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee is scheduled to decide Tuesday whether the entire council should vote to suspend the city's use of fluoride in city water. A change would affect the more than 1.4 million Phoenix residents who use the city's fluoridated tap water for drinking, bathing and brushing their teeth.

Anti-fluoride activists have continued to rally against municipal fluoridation of water for decades, worried that overdoses could lead to weight gain and muscle pains from thyroid problems, discoloration of teeth and other yet-to-be-discovered side effects. They also worry that ingesting too much fluoride could damage bones the same way it has been found to eat away at tooth enamel.

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Water and Its Significant Role in Your Workout Regime

Stay Safe When Working Out in Summer Heat

Juan Villa | Visalia Time-Delta

Workouts don't need to be put aside simply because the hot weather has arrived. By making a few simple changes, those heading outdoors for their regular workouts can stay safe while doing so.

Three Central Valley natives share some tips for staying safe while working out in the hot weather.

Stay hydrated

When it comes to taking care of the body while exercising in hot weather, local experts agree that staying hydrated is foremost.

And staying hydrated doesn't mean just drinking water or Gatorade during the actual workout. Staying hydrated before working out is just as important.

"If say they only drink in the morning, then by the time their competition or workout comes around they will have lost that hydration significantly," said Janelle Myers, Redwood High School athletic trainer. "Not all of it but a lot of it will have been lost. The most important thing is to stay hydrated before and during practice."

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