A Primer on Water

Water is basic to life. We cannot survive long without some form of it. Great water promotes health. Poor water promotes disease. Most of the water (over 97%) that exists in the world is not drinkable in its present state. Many believe that water will someday be a rare necessity. Today, tap water is available to just about everyone for pennies a gallon. High quality bottled water costs more than gasoline, and gasoline is expensive!

There are many misconceptions about water. There are many arguments about what type of drinking water is preferable. The truth is that there are pros and cons about each source of drinking water. Below are just some of the controversial topics related to drinking water.

Fluoride: The establishment wants us to believe that fluoride is a great ingredient to add to drinking water. They claim it strengthens teeth and bones. Dentists push fluoride to help prevent cavities. They are even trying to suggest that fluoride be given to infants.

Hitler used fluoride to help control the prisoners. Fluoride is often the main ingredient in pest control or in pesticide. It is definitely a toxin. It lowers the intelligence level of the victims who drink small dosages of it. We view it as unsafe in any form or concentration other than in its natural form as a colloidal mineral in very low parts per million (ppm). Could it be that the establishment is putting toxic fluoride in the water and foods to harm us? Could fluoride have something to do with the fact that while Americans spend so much for healthcare, they are some of the most disease ridden humans on the planet? We feel it is healthy to question the establishment and to get fluoride out of all drinking water. The only exception would be when it is found in very small amounts as a natural colloidal mineral. The fluoride added to municipal drinking water is not natural and is usually industrial toxic waste from aluminum processing.

Most states add fluoride to their water supply. Fifty percent of the communities in Mississippi unfortunately add fluoride to their water. If a person lives in Mississippi, they have a 50/50 chance of drinking toxic fluoride. Individuals who live in a community that has fluoridated water should obtain a filter that takes fluoride out of the water before they drink it.

Minerals: Minerals in water are generally good for you. They make the water taste better. Minerals are naturally found in underground sources of water. Every underground water source has its own unique qualities and some can be toxic to humans. When anyone drills for well water they should get the well water tested to see if it is drinkable or not.

In other words, some minerals in water are good for the body. Some minerals in the water are bad for the body. Distilled water has no minerals in it and reverse osmosis water has much of the minerals taken out. The mineral content of water is certainly a consideration when evaluating various sources of drinkable water. Minerals are usually measured by parts per million (ppm). A laboratory test can identify the minerals and their levels of concentration within the water.

Water with excessive amounts of minerals is called hard water. Water softeners are a method to take out many of the minerals from the water. Water without excessive minerals is called soft water.

Exposure to Contaminates: In addition to minerals, water also has contaminates. These include pesticides, other chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and living organisms. Many large city water supplies have been found to be contaminated with pharmaceutical drugs and hormones. People have the habit of throwing their unused prescriptions down the toilet. Also the body filters medications and some of the by-products exit the body with the human wastes into the sewer. These contaminates may eventually find their way into the drinking water supply. Some underground aquifers have been contaminated by industrial wastes, human wastes and agricultural wastes. In addition to the minerals in the water there are also contaminates.

Ph: Alkaline or Acid is another point to fine drinking water. It is recommended that the drinking water be alkaline. Some argue that the body does better with alkaline and a too acidic blood can be harmful to the body and invite diseases and infections reportedly. Some feel that the blood does not get its acidity or Ph from water. Others may argue the point. Many times distilled water and atmospheric water will be too low in PH (acid). Also the source of the water does not guarantee the acidity. Fortunately, water Ph is relatively easy to measure. It is often a good thing to measure and be aware of the Ph of the water that you are drinking.

Bacteria and other pests in drinkable water: It is easy for bacteria and other pests to get into water. That is why municipalities put chlorine in their drinking water. Chlorine is toxic to bacteria and other water pests and it is toxic to humans. Some people can taste the chlorine in their drinking water. A simple carbon filter can get rid of most of the chlorine taste in drinking water.

Water filters that store water to drink have problems with bacteria and other pests getting into the water. Some filter systems use colloidal silver to kill living organisms commonly found in water. Other systems use ultra-violate light. These systems are deadly to bacteria and others pets yet offer no known risks to humans. Humans should not look at ultra-violate light and all filter systems that use ultra-violate light to kill bacteria and other pests will have the light sealed off to prevent accidental exposure. Ultra-violate light bulbs have to be changed at least every other year because their bacterial killing potential diminishes over time.

Molecular Composition: While water is simply two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen, the way the water molecules line up is considered an important feature of healthy water, according to some experts of fine drinking water. Accordingly, the molecules of the best drinking water line up in natural hexagonal shapes. When it freezes, it makes nice crystals with unique shapes. This type of water is often referred to as "living water". Most tap water or is considered to be "dead water" and the molecules do not line up into hexagons. The hexagonal shape allows the water to fully hydrate the cells of the body and carry important nutrients to the cells. Thus, the water's molecular composition is another consideration in finding the best drinking water.

Cost: Some sources of good drinking water costs much in terms of money. High quality bottled water with "living water" are usually more expensive than gasoline per gallon. Water from Artesian wells may be just as good as expensive drinking water but the cost in money is free. The cost in convenience is high in that one usually has to travel to the well and put the water into containers. Some filter systems are economical in terms of filter replacement. Some have filters that are expensive to replace. It is usually a good idea to know how much the filter system will cost in terms of money since most filters need to be replaced every six months

Maintenance: This is our last factor when considering which source of drinking water is best for you. Tap water and bottled water are considered to be low maintenance. Others do the maintenance for you. Artesian wells can be considered low maintenance as well and usually supply high quality drinking water 24 hours a day with no or little maintenance. Atmospheric water filters are probably one of the highest in terms of maintenance. Not only do they require frequent changing of the filters, they also require monthly cleaning. Some parts of the system should be cleaned weekly. All filter systems require maintenance in terms of filter replacement and cleaning.

Sources of Drinking Water

The most common source of drinking water today is tap water. Tap water varies dramatically in quality throughout the United States and the World. Some swear that New York City tap water is really high quality and people in New York drink water right out of the tap. Other cities in the United States have water so bad that very few people will drink it out of the tap. One concern people have with tap water is that it is usually "dead water" and not from an artesian source. Another concern is that the municipal water for many communities have harmful additives such as chlorine and fluoride. Some large cities' water supply have been found to be contaminated with prescription drug residue (e.g., Las Vegas, Nevada) and industrial wastes. Municipal water supplies may have too low of a Ph, (too acidy) or be too hard (needs water softening) . Almost all tap water distributed in the United States is considered by the government to be safe as drinking water. Because of additives and contamination, many would disagree with the term "safe".

This brings us to our next most common source of drinking water: bottled water. Some consider bottled water much safer than drinking tap water. Others disagree. They state that most bottled water is dead tap water that has been filtered. Some tested bottle waters were found to have the same residues as the city tap water, but not as much of it. Most containers of the bottled water bottles are made with Bisphenol A (BPA) which can leak out and overtime cause damage to the body (e.g., mimics estrogen, effects the brain) and is outlawed in many European Countries, but not in the United States. There is a great bottled water called Fiji Water. The water source is an underground aquifer, no air touches the water because it is bottled underwater and stored in containers that have no BPAs or other harmful chemicals known to leach out of the plastic bottles. It is considered to be "contaminate free". It is also more expensive per gallon than gasoline.

Artesian wells are often considered the best source of drinking water. Artesian wells are from underground aquifers but the water naturally flows to the surface. They are often found beside a road with a pipe coming out of the ground. There are Artesian wells though out the country. People usually obtain a container and gather the drinking water. Not all artesian water is considered the same. Some have too many harmful minerals to be able to drink. However, most of the popular artesian wells are considered to be fit to drink and very healthy. Fiji Water and deep underground water can also be considered to have similar properties as Artesian Wells. Some communities get their municipal drinking water from water deep under the ground. However, many of these communities put additives in the water such as chlorine and fluoride.

In rural areas, many people get their drinking water from deep water wells. Hopefully the water has a good mineral content without harmful minerals in the water. Even deep underground aquifers can become contaminated with industrial or agricultural wastes. Usually when people drill a well, they will get the water tested to determine if it is safe to drink and what kinds of properties the water has.

Probably the best alternative to healthy artesian well water is filtered water. There are many different types of filters and each has their strengths and weaknesses. The next section will talk about the major categories of filters for filtered drinking water.

Distilled water is probably one of the least common sources for drinking water. Distilled water is very pure. It involves vaporizing water which separates it from the minerals and other impurities and then using a cooling process to turn the vapor or steam back into water. The Ph of distilled water is usually low (within the acid range). Fresh distilled water has a Ph of 7, overtime, carbon molecules get into the water driving the Ph lower. Distilled water tends to have a flat taste. Some people put minerals into distilled water and reverse osmosis filtered water to raise the Ph and to improve the taste.

Filtered Water

There is a saying that goes: "If you do not have a filter for your water, your body becomes the filter". If one ponders on this sentence, it usually provides the motivation to consider the benefits of having a filter for drinking and cooking water. There are a wide range of methods to filter water. This section will cover some common techniques and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.

Tap filters: These are filters that hook up to the end of the faucet in a kitchen sink. They usually have a method to bypass the water so the faucet will continue to work when the water is not being filtered. They are usually relatively inexpensive and low in maintenance. Every six months or so (depending on the amount of water impurity), the filters in these systems should be replaced. Because they have such a high pressure going through them, they are not the best at removing toxins and lowering the water's impurities as measured in ppm. Most of them will remove the chlorine taste from the water. Some companies make sophisticated tap filters that can take out many impurities, but as a class, they are usually inexpensive and not too good at reducing impurities. They do help the water to taste better.

Gravity filters: These are water filters that you pour water in on top, gravity takes the water through the filters and then the filtered water is collected in a container at the bottom. The filters should be changed about every six months depending on use and level of impurities in the water. Some common gravity filters can be refrigerated for extra convenience. Others are designed to sit on the counter top. Nikken makes one that will take out the chlorine taste, some other impurities, kill bacteria and other living pests, add minerals back into the water and arrange the molecules so that the water molecules resemble a hexagonal structure. Other specialty gravity filters include Pro-pure which can take out molecules such as fluoride but still leave in other minerals so that the water will not have a flat taste. Zero Water has a gravity filter that takes all the impurities out of the water. They have a counter top model as well as a model that can be set in the refrigerator. Each unit comes with a ppm measuring device so that you will know when it is time to replace the filter.

The type of filter that you need will often be determined by the source of the water. If you want to make sure you get the fluoride out of the water, then Pro-pure and Zero Water water will be good choices. If you want to leave some minerals in, then Pro-pure would be better than Zero Water. You can always add minerals back into the Zero Water, but it is less convenient. Zero water does give you the peace of mind that all the dissolved contaminants and minerals have been removed. Zero Water works best filtering tap water because Zero Water has no way to kill bacteria and other living organisms. Usually the chlorine from the tap water will have killed these pests.

In-line filters: In-line filters are very common, most are relatively inexpensive. They are usually more costly than tap filters and the instalation is usually more difficult. They require more effort in terms of maintenance because when chaning the filters, it usually involves turning off and on a water source. Some individuals will need a plumber to install the filter. Another disadvantage of an inline filter is that it filters under pressure so it is often harder to get out many of the dissolved minerals. Some filters are designed to take out specific contaminates. Most of the common in line filters purchased at hardware stores do not get out fluoride very well.

The advantage of in line filters is that the water is very easy to get to. You never have to pour water into the filter which is very convenient. Getting a glass of nice tasting water usually involves just turning a facet. There are inline filters made for refrigerators that can make the water taste much better and be better for you. There are also inline filters that can filter water for the whole house which will mean the ability to take a shower without chlorine. Some say the chlorine in the water turns to a gas when heated, which you breathe when taking a shower. Some inline filters has colloidal silver or an ultra-violate light to kill bacteria and other pests in the water. Some inline filters even have a filter to re-structure the molecules making the water ideal for hydration.

Reverse Osmosis: An inline water filter system that can get rid of almost any toxin and dissolved mineral is called a reverse osmosis system. It requires water pressure and a drain. It is estimated that it takes about 7 gallons of water to make one gallon of reverse osmosis water so there is some waste of water. Most reverse osmosis units can get a 300 ppm tap water to about 14 to 20 ppm. This is a significant improvement. The filters need to be changed about every six months and the reverse osmosis fabric or webbing usually needs to be replaced every two years. It is usually difficult to clean a reverse osmosis system. Some new reverse osmoses systems run the water through an additional filter to add good minerals to the water which will raise the Ph and have it taste better. Some reverse osmosis systems can even kill bacteria through the use of colloidal silver or an ultra-violate light. Some may even attempt to arrange the water molecules into a hexagonal structure. Reverse Osmosis systems are usually considered to be an easier alternative to drinking distilled water.

Ionizers: Ionizers take tap water, usually filter the water, but keep all or most of the dissolved minerals to raise or lower the Ph. The main objective of ionizers is to have water with multiple levels of high Ph for reported health benefits. If you have dangerous dissolved minerals such as fluoride in the water, you should not use an ionizer. Most ionizers require some water pressure and electricity to work. They are usually easy to maintain and the filters should be changed about every six months depending on use. Ionizers sit on top of the counter, usually connect to a faucet. They need water pressure in order to work. They usually have a bypass system for the faucet so that you can continue using the faucet when the ionizer is not in use.

Atmospheric Water Filters: These are usually reverse osmosis water filters that take water that is in the air and filters it into drinking water. These do not require any plumbing work because they stand alone. They do not need a water source and they do not have to drain. The reverse osmosis system drains in a tank and is reused. The tank needs to be cleaned out about once a month, depending upon use. They also use ultra-violate lights to kill bacteria and other living organisms. Compared to other filters they require a high level of maintenance. They are also expensive. New models offer hot and cold water as well as a filter that puts minerals back into the water to raise the Ph and improves the taste. They are also a great conversation piece when company comes over and most people will call it their favorite drinking water. They do not work well in dry climates. They usually have an option to be connected to a water source so that they can offer great tasting reverse osmosis water in dry climates.

In summary there is much to consider before deciding which source of drinking water will be ideal for you and your family. Possible contaminates, minerals, cost, Ph, maintenance, and molecular structure are some of the topics covered in this article. It is hoped that the information will be used when selecting the ideal drinking water system. We hope that your drinking water will be a source of energy and healing for you and your family. Quality drinking water is the best detoxification system for the body. A healthy life style includes drinking water that will help the body heal instead of causing the body harm. It will be worth the time and expense in finding and producing great drinking water.

Below are links to some of our favorite water filters and drikable water. These are sources for high quality healthy drinking water. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by E-mail.