These days there are many powerful entities intent upon convincing the world population that it’s not safe to drink the water unless it comes from a bottle. Is this true? Is tap-water safe? Should tap water be filtered? In this article, we will explore these questions and provide good advice for sourcing clean, healthy, affordable water. Read on to learn more.
There Are Three Different Kinds Of Water
When you are looking for drinking water, your choices are typically:
1. Plain tap water
2. Filtered tap water
3. Bottled water
It may surprise you to know that there is not a lot of difference between these choices, other than the price. Although bottled water is often advertised as being sparkling clear spring water, it is actually usually just filtered tap water put into plastic bottles, which leach carcinogens into it.
Tap Water vs. Bottled Water
People in the United States buy about fifty-million bottles of water a year, but the fact is that in most places in the US, tap water is perfectly safe to drink. Filtering it makes it of higher quality than most bottled water. Bottled water is not a very regulated commodity, but tap water is highly regulated, clean, affordable water, fresh from the tap has a lot of advantages over stale, costly water in a plastic bottle. If your tap water is good tasting and you like it, keep drinking it.
People with health complications may be better off drinking bottled water or tap water that has been both filtered and boiled. If you test HIV positive, if you have been diagnosed with cancer and are receiving chemotherapy or if you are pregnant, you should discuss your drinking water options with your doctor.
In terms of general health, bottled water really does not offer any advantages and may be detrimental because of the carcinogens found in plastics. Depending upon where you stand on the fluoride controversy, you may believe bottled water is better or worse than tap water. Most bottled water has less fluoride in it than tap water.
In some rare instances, tap water may be contaminated and can be hazardous to your health. One infamous example is the tap water in Flynn Michigan, which became contaminated with lead after city officials made unwise decisions regarding where water should be sourced.
For the most part, tap water is safe to drink and choosing to support your local public water utility is a smart, thrifty choice. Filtering tap water will remove any chemicals that are used to kill bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungus.
How Can You Improve The Taste Of Tap Water?
Filtration is a good way to improve the taste of tap water. Removing the chemicals, such as chlorine, along with pesticide residues improves the flavor greatly. The type of filtration system you choose will impact the taste of your water. Not all filtration systems are created equal, but most are quite good. A simple, inexpensive activated carbon pitcher filtration system will remove over 95% of chemicals, heavy metals and impurities.
Many people really like reverse osmosis filters, and these do filter out the greatest amount of impurities. You may initially balk at the cost of the unit, but when you compare the price per gallon of reverse osmosis filtered water with the cost of bottled water, it’s easy to see that these filters are a thrifty choice. Furthermore, the quality of fresh, filtered tap water you’ll enjoy greatly exceeds the quality of stale bottled water.
Carbon activated and reverse osmosis systems are not designed to remove bacteria, viruses and parasites, but these should be absent from treated tap water for the most part. If you are filtering well water or spring water, you must boil it for at least five minutes to deal with this kind of contamination. Boiled water tastes flat, so if you must boil your water to kill of these contaminants, allow it to cool thoroughly, filter it and then pour it from one clean container to another from a height of a couple of feet to aerate it and refresh the taste.
Stay Hydrated!
No matter what kind of water you choose, be sure to drink plenty of it. Water is the source of all life. Our bodies are mostly water. When you are dehydrated, every aspect of your being, from your hair to your toenails suffers. Making fresh, clean water your beverage of choice is an inexpensive and effective way to improve your health.
I am pretty sure you are referring to Flint, Michigan.
Filtered is a great choice, way better than tap, but the best thing ever to drink is spring water. We’re in Toronto & get ours from Cedar Springs and we totally love it.
Can be true, can be very untrue.
Beautiful.springs in the state of Virginia produce apparently clean, healthy drinking water, whereas others produce really high concentrations of nitrogen and nitrates. Such sources are often down grade from barnyard, outhouse, and even leaking fertilizer dumps that may have been leaching for decades.
I know, I’ve done lots of on-site water testing from springs, wells, reservoirs, etc. 35 years as a field hydrologist and chemist has taught me a lot about water chemistry, and how assumptions can be misleading.
Though, I expect you have analytical data for the spring you like.
Test before you drink.
Growing up in the wilds of California redwoods I fully understand how deceptive “natural ” water sources ca be. Talking to seasoned back packers I learned one of the most important pieces of gear to carry was extremely good water filtration pump no matter how far back in the wilds you were. After filtration, boil the water if u can. I’ve seen signs along the beach stating, ” Do Not enter water. Contaminated” thank u for the work u do. May we humans find a way and begin living lifestyles that embrace nature and reverse our current situation