Water is a life sustaining liquid, but if you drink water directly from the tap, it may not only contain H2O. According to the comprehensive tap water database of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which collects the results of water utilities testing in the United States, water in some communities may contain potentially dangerous chemicals. Here are my thoughts on how to ensure that your water does not harm your health.
Why your tap water may not be as clean as you think.
Even the “clean” drinking water from the tap is not what most of us think of as clean water. It passes through miles of pipes, collecting pollutants and runoff along the way. It may also have been disinfected with chemicals, which may leave a potential carcinogenic byproduct1. (One important thing to note: disinfection is indispensable. Without it, waterborne diseases will become a persistent problem.)
According to the survey of EWG, at the time of writing this paper, about 85% of the population drank tap water containing more than 300 pollutants, more than half of which were not regulated by EPA 2. Add in the growing list of new compounds that appear almost daily, and the water may only become more turbid over time.
What to drink instead.
Just because your faucet may have problems doesn’t mean you should buy bottled water instead. The bottled water market is almost unregulated, and even the EPA says it is not necessarily safer than a faucet. 3. In addition, bottled water is very harmful to the environment: according to the Pacific Research Institute, about 17 million barrels of oil go into plastic bottles a year. What’s worse, due to the low recycling rate in the United States, about two-thirds of these bottles will be buried or eventually enter the sea, polluting the waters and harming wildlife.
I suggest not going this way, but filtering water at home. Ideally, you can buy whole house filtration systems – but they can be very expensive. If this is not on the card, invest in separate units for your kitchen faucet and shower. (If you are really worried about your shower, I also suggest you take a cold bath, so that your pores will not be open to potential pollutants.)
What to look for in the water filter.
First of all, you need to ensure that any filter you buy has been verified by NSF International, an independent non-profit organization responsible for testing and verifying the filter’s ability to remove certain pollutants. From there, you can decide which filter is most suitable for your family and lifestyle: under the table, table top or water tank.
Under-the-counter filters are great, because they are hidden out of sight, and they are highly rated in terms of filtering. However, the initial purchase price plus the cost per gallon may be higher than other options and involve some installation.
· Countertop filters uses water pressure to make the water pass through the filtering process, which helps to make the water healthier and more delicious, and remove more pollutants than the standard water tank system. The countertop system requires minimal installation (a small hose, but no permanent fixtures) and takes up only a few inches of counter space.
· Water pitchers are very suitable for people with limited space, because they are easy to carry, need not be installed, can be easily put into the refrigerator, and can be bought almost every street corner. They do a good job of filtering out some of the major pollutants, but usually not as much as the versions under the counter and on the table. Although the initial investment is small, the filter needs to be replaced frequently, which will increase the cost per gallon compared with other methods. My favorite water tank (also the one we use in the office) is Aquasana Powered Water Filtration System.
Water filtration is a simple way to support your health, and there are many ways to do it. I’ll drink!
Post time: Nov-30-2022