Drinking water is giving in to temptation. And you will go to hell if you drink water. Drinking water wells may be shallow (50 feet or less) or deep (more than 1,000 feet). More water systems have ground water than surface water as a source (approx. Drinking, watering the lawn, taking a bath, or swimming in the pool; water is needed each and every day. Much of the water that we use comes from Northern California.
Drinking chlorinated tap water has been linked to increased rates of cancer. With appropriate treatment most tap water can be made to be of equal or higher quality than any of the spring waters and certainly than any of the ?highly purified? bottle waters available in the marketplace today.
Drinking enough water to replace whatever is lost through bodily functions is important. But surveys indicate that most of us might not be drinking enough. Drinking water in two-thirds of communities remains at risk. Seventy-six First Nations communities are currently under boil water advisories.
Drinking water (both bottled and tap) can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. For example, minerals such as magnesium and calcium give water a distinctive flavor, and are essential to the body. Drinking bottled water is essentially a part of our culture today. We can look at any local, national or international sporting event and see the prevalence of bottled water.
Private wells should be tested annually for nitrate and coliform bacteria to detect contamination problems early. Test more frequently and for other contaminants, such as radon or pesticides, if you suspect a problem. Private wells bring ground water to the surface for use in homes and businesses that aren't connected to public water supplies. About one-third of Idaho's citizens get their water from private wells. Privatization led to increased prices and lack of access, rather than increased access.
Bottlers may voluntarily put expiration dates on their labels. Bottled water is undeniably more fashionable and portable than tap water. The practice of carrying a small bottle, pioneered by supermodels, has become commonplace. Bottled water generally is no cleaner, or safer, or healthier than tap water. In fact, the federal government requires far more rigorous and frequent safety testing and monitoring of municipal drinking water.
Bottled water can be used indefinitely if stored properly. Bottled water sometimes is contaminated, and we don't use it to bathe, shower, etc. A major shift to bottled water could undermine funding for tap water protection, raising serious equity issues for the poor.
Yet the Guidelines also state that some substances are more difficult to manage in bottled water than in tap water. The WHO notes that bottled water is stored for longer periods and at higher temperatures than tap water, allowing some microorganisms to grow to higher levels.
Yet when safe water is available, entire village economies change and the lives of the inhabitants are transformed from disease and malnutrition to hope and success. This transformation is most dramatic for women and girls, who are often relied upon for hauling water from miles away.
Many, but not all available filtered drinking water systems remove Cryptosporidium. Some filter designs are more suitable for removal of Cryptosporidium than others.
Why is it so important to remove Cryptosporidium ?
Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite affecting the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. It is shed in the feces in the form of an ?oocyst,? which has a hard shell to protect it from the environment. Infections may be asymptomatic or may cause watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps. The organism is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Outbreaks have most commonly been associated with person-to person (day care center) and waterborne (drinking and recreational water) modes of spread. Foodborne and animal-(especially calves) to-person spread has also been documented.
Filtered drinking water systems that have the words "reverse osmosis" on the label protect against Cryptosporidium. Many other types of filters that work by micro-straining also work. Look for a filter that will remove particles that are less than or equal to 1 micron in diameter. There are two types of these : "absolute 1 micron" filters and "nominal 1 micron" filters. The absolute 1 micron filter will more consistently remove Cryptosporidium than a nominal filter. Some nominal 1 micron filters will allow 20% to 30% of 1 micron particles to pass through.
NSF-International (NSF) does independent testing of filtered drinking water systems to determine if they remove Cryptosporidium. To find out if a particular filter is certified to remove Cryptosporidium, you can look for the NSF trademark plus the words "cyst reduction" or "cyst removal" on the product label information. You can also contact the NSF at 789 N. Dixboro Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 USA, toll free1-877-867-3435, fax 313-769-0109, email info@nsf.org, or visit their Web site at www.nsf.org/certified/DWTU/. At their Web site, you can enter the model number of the unit you intend to buy to see if it is on their certified list, or you can look under the section entitled "Reduction claims for drinking water treatment units - Health Effects" and check the box in front of the words "Cyst Reduction." This will display a list of filters tested for their ability to remove Cryptosporidium.
Because NSF testing is expensive and voluntary, some filtered drinking water systems that may work against Cryptosporidium have not been NSF-tested. If you chose to use a product not NSF-certified, select those technologies more likely to reduce Cryptosporidium, this includes filters with reverse osmosis and those that have an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller.
Filtered drinking water systems collect germs from water, so someone who is not HIV infected or immune impaired should change the filter cartridges. Anyone changing the cartridges should wear gloves and wash hands afterwards. Filters may not remove Cryptosporidium as well as boiling does because even good brands of filters may sometimes have manufacturing flaws that allow small numbers of Cryptosporidium to get in past the filter. Selection of NSF-Certified filters provides additional assurance against such flaws. Also, poor filter maintenance or failure to replace the filter cartridges as recommended by the manufacturer can cause a filter to fail.
Both Alisha Dhamani & Marc Deschamps are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Alisha Dhamani has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Careers and Job Hunting and Health. Jigfo.com is a global platform for sharing and learning knowledge. For more information on this article topics visit:. Alisha Dhamani's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.
Marc Deschamps has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Food And Drink and Pets. Marc Deschamps is the editor of Health Longevity Magazine, a free online publication, featuring articles full of information on various health topics such as common diseases, immune support, cardiac, mental & sexual health plus appropriate solutions to he. Marc Deschamps's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.