The human body is 60% water. Each day, women and men should consume an average of nine to 13 cups of water, respectively. Your body has already lost over one percent of its total water by the time you start to feel thirsty. The importance of hydration and drinking water is no secret. From healthy skin to proper gastrointestinal processes, water is the most essential ingredient to life next to air.
Since you know this already, you probably keep a glass or bottle of water handy and sip throughout the day as the doctors recommend. The main challenge, however, isn’t consuming a healthy amount of water, but rather ensuring the water you drink is healthy.
If you’re like the majority of Americans, you get your drinking water from the tap. Did you know, though, that in any given region, there are over 2,100 known water contaminants that may be present in your tap water? It’s a scary thought. Even more alarming is learning that learn that certain of these contaminates can cause severe health problems from birth defects to learning disabilities in children and bone density problems throughout our lives. The best way to know what’s currently floating unseen in your tap water is through a water analysis test. The best way to rid yourself of whatever it is that’s contaminating your water is with at-home water filtration systems.
In case simply knowing there are contaminates in your water isn’t reason enough to invest in a home filtration system, here are the three biggest reasons to install one as soon as possible:
- Our tap water is disinfected with chlorine.
Like your swimming pool, your tap water is treated with chlorine before it ever reaches your sink. Chlorine is economical and effective at eliminating bacteria and viruses, which is a good thing. It’s also effective at causing potentially harmful byproducts that can affect your health after daily, long-term exposure. - Children need clean, healthy water for proper mental and physical development.
Every year, 480,000 children across the U.S. develop learning disabilities from exposure to lead in their drinking water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Old water pipes may still contain lead. This poisonous metal has also been linked to severe birth defects when consumed by women during pregnancy. Having a water analysis run on your home tap can determine if you and your family are being exposed to lead through your drinking water. - Too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis and decreased bone strength.
Speaking of healthy children, many cities started adding fluoride to their water for our children’s dental health. Since the practice began, it’s been discovered that too much fluoride can be a danger to our health. From decreasing bone strength to dental fluorosis, which occurs when young children consume too much fluoride during dental development, too much of a good thing in your water is certainly not a good thing.
How do you ensure your drinking water is contaminant-free?
The only way to know for sure your water is pure and free of harmful contaminants is to use point-of-use water filtration systems. A point-of-use home water treatment system purifies small amounts of water for drinking as you pour it. Small and convenient, point-of-use water filtration systems can attach to your faucet, sit on top of the counter, or be installed under the sink.
Other in home water purification systems include point-of-entry water filtration systems, which treat the water from the point of entry through your home water lines as opposed to the point of use at the sink. Water softener systems for homes are an example of a point-of-entry water treatment process.
One type of water softener you can use is the reverse osmosis water softener. These water filtration systems reverse the flow of the water so that it passes through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane captures any solid contaminates and allows only water to pass through to the other side. Many reverse osmosis water filtration systems will incorporate pre- and post-filtration systems in addition to the semi-permeable membrane.
The best water systems for your home will depend on your usage needs and budget. A water system specialist can perform a free water analysis and water treatment recommendation. Clean drinking water is only a filter away.
