The Importance of Drinking Pure Water

• Pathogens:  Bacteria, viruses, and parasites are the pathogens commonly found in drinking water.

• Toxic Minerals and Metals:  Aluminum, arsenic, asbestos, barium, chlorine, cadmium, chromium, copper, fluoride, lead, mercury, nitrate, nitrite, selenium, and silver are known toxic inorganic substances found in our drinking water.

• Organic Chemicals: Herbicides, paints, plastics, and pharmaceutical drugs are among the many kinds of organic chemicals found in our drinking water.

• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Also referred to as “forever chemicals,” PFAS are long-lasting, man-made chemicals that break down very slowly over time. There are thousands of PFAS in consumer products and the environment. These persistent chemicals can find their way into our drinking water.

• Additives: Water treatment plants add a variety of chemical agents to disinfect water. Chlorine is the most commonly used but is not properly removed. Fluoride is another common additive.

• Radioactive Substances Radioactive minerals and radioactive gas can be present in tap water.

Chronic exposure to each of these toxins increases the risk of a variety of acute and chronic health problems over time.

What Can You Do to Get Purer Tap Water?

Here are the basic strategies for filtering tap water at your home:

• Pitcher-Style Filter/Refrigerator Filters provide minimal purification. Most of these do not remove a significant amount of tap water contaminants.
• Ion Exchange Filter is highly effective at removing dissolved salts and “softening” water.
• Distillation Filter is highly effective at removing multiple contaminants; however it also removes some beneficial minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
• Granular Carbon and Carbon Block Filters are most commonly used to filter a wide range of contaminants.
• Reverse Osmosis Filter (ROF) is the gold standard of water home filtration. It is highly effective at removing multiple contaminants, including fluoride, especially when used with other above filter types. You can install one under your kitchen sink for “point of use” at your sink for drinking water or outside your house for “point of entry” to filter all the water coming into your entire home.

Wiseman Health Take-Home Advice

Here are some tips we believe are reasonable, cost effective, and address the majority of toxins in your home tap water:

• Spring water is nature’s gold standard for the water we are designed to drink. When drinking bottled water, look for spring water that’s preferably local and sold in glass rather than plastic bottles. Mountain Valley Spring Water, Poland Spring, and Ozarka Spring are examples of popular spring waters. Many companies can deliver five gallon glass water bottles straight to your house and this is a common strategy to avoid drinking tap water and to bring spring water straight to your house. Not all bottled water is spring water, though. Many of the bottled water brands on the market today are municipal tap water purified with reverse osmosis (e.g., Dasani and Aquafina) or distillation, like Glaceau Smartwater. The type of filtration or whether it’s spring water is stated on the back of all bottled water. Remember to recycle all plastic and glass and don’t store either in a hot environment, such as your car, as this increases the chance of chemicals leaching into the water. It is best to avoid the modern trend of bottled waters with added flavors, vitamins, and/or electrolytes when possible and keep the water you drink as close to how nature designed it.
• You can also use an under-the-sink (aka under-the-counter) Reverse Osmosis Filtration System at home for the majority of your purified water. This is the gold standard of water filters. It combines multiple strategies in one unit including a sediment filter, carbon filters, and a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. When looking for an RO filtration system, look for a brand that has been tested and certified to treat specific contaminants in drinking water. APEC Water Systems ROES-50 Essence Reverse Osmosis System is tested and certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) and is an example of one that is consistently a top pick with consumers.
• There are also countertop versions of Reverse Osmosis systems as well as whole house filtration systems that filter all water entering the house; however, these whole house systems are more expensive. The AquaTru™ water purification system is a compact and cost-effective four-stage Reverse Osmosis technology made to fit on your countertop and does not require installation or plumbing. The four-step filtration process includes: a mechanical pre-filter to remove sediments and rust; a carbon filter that removes chlorine and chloramine; a high-efficiency reverse osmosis membrane that removes harmful inorganic chemicals, including lead, chromium-6, arsenic, nitrates, and other heavy metals; and lastly, an activated coconut block carbon filter that reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs), prescription drug residues, and “forever chemicals” such as PFOS and PFOA. The AquaTru filtration systems are NSF-certified, third-party tested, and made of all BPA- and BPS-free plastic.
• Use a shower filter at all times. It’s simple to use and screws directly onto the showerhead. Some of the best quality and most cost effective shower filters are from a company called Aquasana. This will keep the many contaminants in tap water off your body, for healthier skin and hair.
• Remember to use filtered water or spring water not only for your drinking water but also for brewing coffee and cooking. Using regular tap water for washing clothes and dishes is generally considered low risk and not a problem.
• If you would like to know what kinds of contaminants are in your tap water, search online for a local, reputable water expert who can provide a water analysis and consultation for water purification solutions in your home or business. You can also request a local water annual report from your local municipality. A Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), or a drinking water quality report, provides information on your local drinking water quality. These annual reports can be requested and will be provided by your local community water supplier.

For more information on this subject, watch our Wiseman Health video How to Purify Our Tap Water on a Reverse Osmosis System.

Editor’s Note: This content was created by our Wiseman Health content and writing team, without the influence of artificial intelligence engines. Our goal is to be your trusted source for natural health and medical information. This article was originally published on August 16, 2023 and has since been updated.