All About Water

Chlorine in Water

Chlorine is commonly used to disinfect our water. However, chlorine in water can also harm us. Because of this, we need to learn how to remove the chlorine in water, or how to entirely replace chlorine usage in our water treatment.

Why Chlorine Is Added into Our Water Supply

Chlorine is well-known and widely used to disinfect our water. Chlorine in water deactivates various pathogenic microorganisms (like bacteria or viruses), which cause illness. Authorities chlorinate public water supplies in order to kill the hazardous bacteria present in our water or water pipes. In addition to disinfecting water, chlorine is also used to disinfect various home and hospital areas and to bleach fabrics. We have used chlorine in water as a disinfectant for over two hundred years.

How Chlorine in Water Can Hurt Us

Although chlorine can disinfect our water, it can also hurt us if ingested. Chlorine in water can form into toxins called trihalomethanes (THMs); THMs correlate with diseases like asthma, eczema, bladder cancer, and heart diseases. Studies have shown that drinking large amounts of chlorinated tap water dramatically increases pregnant women’s risk of miscarriages and birth defects.

How We Can Remove Chlorine from Water

Carbon filters remove chlorine, THMs, and other harmful contaminants from our water. Additionally, while they produce the same excellent water quality that electronic filters produce, carbon filters are much cheaper. You can also remove chlorine and other contaminants from water without a home filtration system by placing water in an uncovered container and leaving it inside your refrigerator for twenty-four hours.

Water Treatment Alternatives to Chlorine in Water

Although we need to disinfect our water, we don’t need to use chlorine to do so. Several Canadian and European cities are disinfecting their water using the ozone instead of chlorine. Some cities in the United States, like Las Vegas and Santa Clara, are also switching to this alternative. However, the easiest way to get rid of the chlorine in water is simply to filter it out.

People rely on water everyday, including tap water. While drinking from the tap is preferable to bottled water, no one wants to drink water that is dirty . Cloudy water, also known as, white water, can cause headaches to many people. There are many reasons why your tap water may be cloudy, and ways to fix it.

Temperature is Usually the Reason

If the temperature in the pipes is lower than the room temperature, it may cause trapped air bubbles that make it look like cloudy water. You don’t need to fix this problem. It is something that will solve itself. Fill the cup up with the water, let it sit, and the bubbles will disappear from the bottom up in a few minutes.

Dirt in the Water

Dirt can be a reason for your cloudy water. You should consult with your city about the possible reason for your cloudy water if it is not air bubbles. If dirt is the reason for your cloudy water, you could try using a water filter .

Rust in the Water

If your cloudy water is brown, red, orange, or yellow in color then rust or iron can be the cause of it. The rust sediments could have been disturbed in your house or apartment building, causing it to be suspended in the water. While you should not drink the water, it is not particularly a health threat to wash clothes. If you do decide to wash clothes with rust in the water, make sure to use a rust stain remover. Do not use bleach because it will mix with the rust and cause permanent stains.

If you are a homeowner it is important to know if the rust is coming from your pipes or the city. If it is coming from the city, the rust will show up at every faucet in the house, it only shows up in cold water, and the water was clear earlier, but is now distorted. If it is the city, they will fix it.

Bacteria in the Water

If your drain becomes blocked up with hair, soap, or food waste, you may smell a rotten odor like sewage or rotten eggs. Fill a glass of water and let it sit. If it does not have a smell, then there is nothing wrong with the water; you simply need to disinfect the drain. If the smells do come from the water, make sure to contact your city immediately as there may be harmful bacteria in the water.

These are the most common causes of cloudy water. Remember to always check with your city if you are not sure about the causes of the cloudy water. Hopefully this has helped you become more aware of your water and how to treat it.

A growing number of people have turned to steam distillation as an effective method of securing clean drinking water. Distilled water can be purchased in large plastic jugs from retail stores, but some researchers have expressed concern about chemicals leaching over time from the plastic into the water, with unknown effects on human health. An increasingly popular option is installing a home distiller unit, which will kill pathogenic viruses and bacteria, plus remove most volatile organic compounds and nearly all inorganic minerals and heavy metals from tap water, producing very pure water.

Home Steam Distillation Features

Home water distillation is an attractive proposition for people who are reliant on drinking contaminated water such or substandard municipal water supplies. A good distiller unit will provide the purest water of all methods, at a reasonable cost. A typical high-quality steam distiller costing about $200 can produce up to four gallons of distilled water per day, and last for years. No supplies are needed other than the source tap or well water, and inexpensive white vinegar for occasional removal of mineral buildup from the distiller chamber and other components.

How Steam Distillation Works

A steam distiller uses electricity to heat elements concealed within the protective outer shell of the unit. The hot elements heat the distiller chamber, which boils the source water. This results in hot steam, which rises. Light gases are vented away from the water steam, then the purified water steam is piped through a hollow coil made of stainless steel. The coil conducts heat away from the steam, which condenses into liquid water. Depending on the design of the unit, this water will either drip through an activated carbon filter for further removal of residual organic material, or be deposited directly into a carafe or other container.

Caring for a Steam Distiller

Boiling away all of the source water will likely shorten the life of the unit, and leave a stubborn residue in the chamber which can cause future batches of distilled water to acquire a bad taste. It is best to allow some concentrated water to remain in the chamber after the boiling process, which should then be discarded. Occasional applications of a mix of vinegar and water inside the chamber will dissolve encrusted minerals, which can be washed out.

Health Effects of Distillation-Purified Water

Distilled water can be very clean and safe, with virtually no chlorine or other contaminants. However, the distilled water should be treated further with an activated charcoal filter if the source water was contaminated with some organic materials such as pesticides and herbicides. Care should also be taken by consumers to provide any necessary minerals in their diets that have been discarded with the concentrated leftover water. Steam distillation removes minerals that are usually present to varying degrees in untreated water, such as magnesium, calcium and sodium. Fluoride may have been present in the tap water provided by municipalities that fluoridate their drinking water supplies. Consumers who drink a great deal of distilled water should exercise vigilance about using fluoridated toothpaste. Distillation can make your water–and you–healthier.

Are you wondering what to do when you see black flecks in your filtered water? Are they harmful to you or your family? Here are some answers.

What are the black flecks that I see in my water?

The black flecks are bits of carbon from your filter. They are non-toxic as well as tasteless. In fact, activated carbon has been used as an antidote to poison in hospitals. However, it is still advisable to keep the filter out of reach of children.

How can I get rid of the black flecks?

The accompanying instructions for most filters advise that you first soak the filter itself in water before use. Then, after putting the filter to use two times, the flecks should disappear. You can also take the added step of shaking the filter under water to encourage the release of the flecks using it for your daily filtration.

Though the home filtration systems on the market require little maintenance, you should properly maintain your water filter to ensure good quality water. Wash the top portion of your filter out once in a while or more often if you use it heavily, so that the activated carbon specks do not collect. Don’t forget to wash the pitcher itself.

Replace your filter regularly

Generally you should notice only a few blackflecks coming out after thoroughly soaking the water filter. If large amounts are being discharged, the filter might have a slight defect in its seal, and you should consider replacing it. Certainly if the filter is past its prime, you will see a higher than normal concentration of black flecks, and you should simply replace it. Follow the suggested replacement schedule in the instruction booklet.

What is the function of the black flecks?

Most home-based water filter systems use an activated carbon water filter method. Activated carbon is the most powerful and simple way to eliminate the variety of impurities, such as odors, chlorine, and chemicals in the water supply, such as pesticides and herbicides. Activated carbon–the black flecks that you see–both absorbs the impurities and makes your water more alkaline.

Reverse osmosis is a sort of pressurized filtration process. Unlike filtration, however, the items which are removed as the water passes through the membrane are not all solid particles. Even ions and dissolved salts are removed. The process effectively removes protozoa, bacteria and even many viruses from water, and has been in use as a purification process for more than 40 years. It is a highly effective and relatively inexpensive process for purifying drinking water.

What Is Reverse Osmosis?

When two salt solutions are separated by a membrane, water passes from the lower salt concentration into the higher one. This process, called osmosis, continues until the salt concentrations on both sides of the membrane are equal. Osmosis is a biological process, and occurs constantly in living organisms as material on one side of a cell membrane passes in or out of the cell, according to solute concentrations. Reverse osmosis is essentially the opposite of osmosis. Water passes through a membrane migrating from higher concentrations to lower concentrations of salt. Reverse osmosis requires that the high-salt solution be under pressure, and it also requires a special type of membrane.

Why Is Reverse Osmosis A Good Choice?

The US Center for Disease Control reports that reverse osmosis purification systems have “a very high effectiveness” in removing protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, bacteria such as Shigella and E. coli, and viruses such as Hepatitis A and Norovirus. The CDC also reports that reverse osmosis is effective at removing non-biological contaminants such as copper and lead, and may reduce the amount of nitrates found in water. Although the CDC does not endorse any particular product or technology, the same site reports the top five causes of waterborne illness outbreaks from drinking contaminated water to be Giardia, Shigella, Norovirus, Hepatitis A, and copper. Reverse osmosis is highly effective at removing all of these contaminants. Three of the top five causes of waterborne illness from recreational surface waters are Cryptosporidium, Shigella, and Norovirus. These contaminants are also removed by reverse osmosis with high efficiency. According to the EPA, water utilities treat almost 34 billion gallons of water per day. Reverse osmosis is not practical for municipal purposes, but residential systems are available and are widely used throughout the country.

Limitations of Reverse Osmosis

The membrane used in reverse osmosis is constructed of a semi-permeable polymer, which essentially blocks the passage of anything larger than a water molecule. Salt ions, protozoa and bacteria are blocked effectively, but chlorine and volatile organic chemicals are smaller than water molecules and are not blocked. Chlorine, which is in every municipal and rural water system, is also damaging to the polymer membrane and must be trapped by an activated carbon filter before it reaches the membrane.

As the trend of drinking bottled water diminishes, in favor of more environmentally friendly and less chemical-laden means, using different water filters is becoming an increasingly popular method of ensuring that drinking water is safe and still tastes great. UV filter water purification is an advanced yet natural method of purifying water. UV light rapidly disinfects water by inactivating bacteria without the use of heat or chemical additives, possibly altering the composition of water. As such, UV filters are an excellent way to produce high quality drinking water.

Features of UV Filters

Destroying harmful biological contaminants using UV light is both safe and effective. UV water purification systems are a non-chemical method designed to sterilize water by eliminating harmful bacteria, virus, molds, algae, yeast, and cysts. Leading bottled water manufacturers use UV filters and UV light for water.

How UV Filter Water Purification Works

Ultraviolet light produces an output that is concentrated in the 254 nanometers region in order to make the most use of the germicidal properties of this particular wavelength. Microbes are able to reproduce quickly and overwhelm the body’s immune system. As water passes through the ultraviolet energy emitted by a UV light source, microbes are exposed and rendered sterile and completely unable to reproduce. UV light destroys over 99.9 percent of harmful microorganisms found in water from sources such as rivers, lakes, and streams.

Benefits of UV Filter Water Purification

Purifying water with UV light has many benefits. When using ultraviolet light for water purification, there are no toxic by-products, strange smells, or foul tastes in the treated water. The pH level and properties are not altered in any way. No chemicals are introduced into the water. UV filters and the use of ultraviolet light are perhaps the most cost effective and efficient technologies available to those who want to eliminate a vast range of biological contaminants from a water supply. Additionally, UV water purification is in no way harmful to plumbing and septic systems. It is both easy to install and maintain and requires no special training.

Go Green with UV Filters

Besides drastically reducing the amount of plastic bottles that take up landfill space, UV light is energy efficient, utilizing roughly the same amount of energy as a 60-watt light bulb. The maintenance for a UV water purification system is relatively simple and does not produce much waste. UV light bulbs require yearly replacement, but the quartz sleeve that encases the UV light does not need to be replaced unless it breaks. It should, however, be cleaned several times a year.

Lead is a heavy metal found in natural deposits and for many years it was used in homes for plumbing lines or water service lines. Today, it is widely known that lead exposure can be toxic, and at times corroded pipes may allow the entrance of lead in water, allowing lead to enter the tap water that many people drink every day. This can have many negative side effects, especially in children. It may also contribute to negative health effects for adults, including high blood pressure or kidney problems.

How Does Lead in Water Collect?

Lead can enter into drinking water in a number of ways. Primarily, lead enters through cracks in water service lines or plumbing. Many homes built before 1986 often have lead pipes that may also contribute to the amount of lead in a water supply. To avoid this, always have your plumbing lines checked regularly for leaks or cracks.

Lead in Water Risks

The health risks associated with lead in water are most dangerous for children, especially those under six years of age. Exposure to lead in water supplies can often cause mental deficits or a shorter attention span. Lead exposure may also cause miscarriages in women who are pregnant. For adults who have experienced prolonged exposure to lead poisoning, the side effects may include kidney damage or increased blood pressure, which may also cause heart disease or heart attack later in life.

Avoid Exposure to Lead in Water

According to the EPA, the maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) for lead in the water supply is zero. This means that there is no safe level to which people should be exposed to lead. However, lead does creep into the water supply from time to time, and there are a couple of precautions to take to avoid dangerous exposure to this substance. First of all, it is recommended to purchase a water filter for tap water locations in your home. Bottled water and other sources of purified water are also acceptable alternatives to drinking contaminated tap water. If you have young children, be sure that they drink only purified, clean water in order to avoid health risks.

Read Local Reports on Lead in Water

Local water companies are required to produce yearly reports on the water supplies and to provide them to consumers. One way to avoid drinking contaminated water is to read these reports regularly and to stay updated on any changes in the quality of local water supplies. If you have any questions about lead in water in supplies near you or possible contaminants to your tap water at home, contact your local provider.

Arsenic in Water and You

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that, while toxic to humans, is still used in industry. It is possible for groundwater and well water to be contaminated by arsenic, and cases of arsenic in water contamination have been reported widely in the United States and worldwide. However, there are ways to test for, and protect yourself against, arsenic contamination. This article will help you learn about arsenic and what you can do about it.

Arsenic in Water: What Is Arsenic?

Arsenic (As) is a heavy metal, similar to lead, mercury, and cadmium. Heavy metals are generally poisonous and carcinogenic. While it was once widely used for a variety of industrial processes, arsenic use has been severely reduced in the United States, Britain, and other countries. China is the world’s top producer of arsenic.

Arsenic in Water: The Effects of Arsenic in the Body

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists a variety of effects from heavy arsenic exposure. Arsenic can cause bladder, liver, lung, prostate, kidney, and skin cancer. Arsenic buildup in the body can also cause a variety of skin conditions, including keratosis, or discolored and hardened patches. Arsenic is also harmful to the nervous and circulatory systems, and can cause birth defects.

Arsenic in Water Is a Source of Arsenic Exposure

In the past, arsenic was widely used in pesticides and to treat wood against exposure. Many countries, including the United States, have outlawed these uses, but arsenic is still a necessary part of industrial production of semiconductors and other high-tech electronic devices. Arsenic is also produced in smelting and glassmaking, as well as coal-fired power plants.

Groundwater Is a Source of Arsenic in Water

It is possible for arsenic to leach into groundwater from industrial processes, arsenic mines, arsenic-treated wood discarded in landfills, as well as natural deposits of arsenic ore. The World Health Organization first noted arsenic contamination of drinking water in Bangladesh in 1990, and since then cases have been discovered all over the world. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that arsenic in the water is most common in the Southwest and West, although cases have been reported elsewhere in the country. A 2000 survey by the Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that 56 million Americans or more may be drinking water containing unacceptable levels of arsenic.

Protect Yourself from Arsenic in Water

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates that every public or private water company that has more than 15 connections or serves more than 25 people must regularly test for arsenic contamination. If you get your water from a smaller water company or private well, you are responsible for your own arsenic testing. Your local health department will be able to help you, or you can find a private testing laboratory to do the work. If you are concerned about arsenic in your water, the best defense is to buy and use filters and/or distillation equipment certified by NSF International. If you do use filters, be sure to clean and/or replace them as regularly as recommended by the manufacturer. Otherwise, contaminants may just build up in the filter, making the arsenic in water problem worse.

Many people are now relying on water filtration systems to provide them with clean and safe drinking water, and activated carbon filters are an ideal option for anyone looking to turn tap water of any quality into great tasting, chemically pure, water. Carbon filtration systems will effectively cleanse water of unnatural chemicals and harmful bacteria, ensuring that the water produced is of the highest quality.

Activated Carbon Filter Features

Activated carbon water filtration systems are great for individuals who want their filter to be self-sufficiently cleaning. These filters automatically run water through the carbon filter which helps clean the filter. This feature will help extend the life of your water filter by months, providing you and your family with clean water longer than other water filters. Buyers interested in purchasing a carbon water filter will also have the ability to choose the size of the filter. Households with lower levels of contaminates can get a smaller and cheaper filter.

How an Activated Carbon Filter Cleans Your Water

A carbon water filter uses activated carbon to filter out any undesirable contaminates that may be lurking in your drinking water. Carbon is a natural and safe element that has exceptional filtering capabilities, due to high levels of surface area. The water from your tab will be pushed through a carbon filter where any contaminates will not allowed to pass through with the water. So the water that comes out of the filter is clean on a molecular level.

Health Benefits of an Activated Carbon Filter

Avoiding dehydration is a key part of being healthy. Some families are forced to drink dirty water, or water that has an unpleasant odor. A carbon filter will remove any contaminates that could be detrimental to a person’s health, and will remove the unnatural smell from water. Providing you and your family with clean and odorless water will make it easier to drink more water and maintain a healthier level of hydration. This can provide you with numerous health benefits.

Your health could see changes for the better by changing the type of water your drink with an alkaline water ionizer. In the following paragraphs we’ll explore how acidic PH levels in your system can damage your health. You’ll also learn how an alkaline water ionizer can help balance those levels. We’ll explore ways to bring alkaline water into your system through alkaline water filtering and ionization.

Bad Dieting and Lifestyle Choices Lead to High Acid

The types of food you eat may be pushing the PH level of your body too high. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic agree our bodies operate best in pH level of 7.3 to 7.4. Studies show eating high acidic foods such as citrus can have positive health benefits for the vitamins they possess, but over time they push the pH farther away from your body’s ideal level. Stress, alcohol caffeine and smoking also create higher acidic pH levels.

An Alkaline Water Ionizer Normalizes pH Levels

The higher acid levels in the bloodstream can be countered with drinking from an alkaline water ionizer. Alkaline water is also known as ionized water. It typically has a pH level of 8 about one point more alkaline than typical water which is neutral, or seven on the pH scale. Experts say adding this type of water regularly can assist in offsetting the more acidic blood levels. The bloodstream pH levels are like a balance, acid can be offset by taking in more alkaline.

Get Alkaline Water from Your Tap

Getting Alkaline water is no longer a mystery. It is readily available via bottles. But a more convenient and environmentally sound solution in the long run comes from adding one of the many different water filtration systems to the kitchen sink. These alkaline water ionizer systems operate in a series. The first step removes particles, bacteria and viruses from the water. The next stage is ionization. Here, an electric water ionizer passes a current through the water. Molecules in the water react to this low-voltage and separate into water in acidic and alkaline. The alkaline is made available for drinking and cooking. The acidic can be used for other household chores.

What Are the Benefits of an Alkaline Water Ionizer

As our body pH levels become more acidic, it naturally looks for ways to neutralize. Researchers point out in order to bring pH levels closer to neutral, our body will take calcium from the bones. This can lead to bone weakening as well as other health issues. Researchers also point out that a better pH balance has been shown to aid in a myriad of disease prevention. Diabetes and high blood pressure can be alleviated with proper pH. Studies also indicate digestion issues such as constipation and weight gain are also diminished. Patients also report better skin elasticity and clarity.

The Alkaline Water Ionizer In Summary

Alkaline water ionizers can provide readily available water that neutralizes acidic pH levels in the bloodstream. The acidic build up occurs naturally through food and lifestyle choice. With a proper pH balance, researchers say they’ve found increased health benefits added energy and better aging among subjects questioned.