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.