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Do You Know What Your Tap Water Tastes Like?

Water systems can be intricate and finding the cause of the water’s taste can be even more difficult. Bad tasting or smelly water can affect you every single day. If you are brushing your teeth, drinking a glass of water, or cooking, you just can’t get away from the taste and smell. Finding the source of the taste or smell is the first step in getting the right water filter for you. Once you find the right filter, you will discover why your tap water smells or tastes so bad!

Why Water Tastes This Way

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 15% of people in the United States use well water. That means their water is not from a municipal source but from their well. The rest of the populations (around 85%) get their water from municipal systems. Because most well water is groundwater, municipal water comes from surface sources including rivers and lakes or a combination of sources. This water faces a long journey going from the treatment plant, through underground pipes, usually below city streets, then finally through pipes into homes.
The condition and makeup of the pipes along with the source of the water will have an effect on the taste of the water coming out of the tap. Usually, the taste of the water is not the issue. Most tastes are coming from the odor of the water.
Water that smells like rotten eggs can be caused by a variety of bacteria in the system or from hydrogen sulfide which takes place naturally in water systems due to the decay of organic material. Most water agencies do not consider this a dangerous issue but hydrogen sulfide can cause the corrosion of plumbing and lead to blackened water, Bet that’s a big issue with you!
Sulfur causes the taste and smell of water. Even though sulfur is well below dangerous levels, the taste and smell is well beyond offensive. In most cases, this is usually caused by sulfates or hydrogen sulfide gas.
According to England’s Southern Water, this is a unique taste that comes with difficult solutions. The taste comes from anti-oxidants found in plastic pipes. The only thing to do is replace the plumbing.
During the summer months or the fall, you might notice a musty or earthy taste in your water supply. This is caused naturally by algae along with higher water temperatures in lakes. As an example, Lake Ontario can cause this to happen due to temperatures. Even though it’s not dangerous to drink the water, it doesn’t taste very good during that time of year.
Chlorine is added during the water treatment phase to ensure tap water is safe to drink. Chlorine is regulated by the various agency including the Province of Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act. The water is continually monitored but some people might be very sensitive to the taste. You can try placing a pitcher of water in your refrigerator and let it stand overnight.
Algal Bloom is an alga the leaves a moldy taste to your tap water. Blooms are most common during the spring months. You will probably experience a musty or moldy taste during that time of year. Municipal water is treated with a disinfectant to eliminate the algae before it reaches your tap but the taste can linger if it gets into your line.
A bitter taste in water is usually caused by copper in the water from corrosion of copper plumbing. Iron, zinc, and manganese can all lead to a metallic taste in your water. When the level of iron and manganese rises it can cause aesthetic issues such as staining laundry, or fixtures. It can build up in water heaters which will have to be drained to get rid of the mineral deposit.
In some cases, this can be complicated but most likely it’s caused by high levels of chloride ions. In case you don’t know, sodium chloride is common table salt (NaCl ). Other chlorides include potassium chloride (KCI) or calcium chloride (CaC1). Reasons for this rise of chloride could be due to:
Seawater entering your water supply
Industrial waste entering the water supply
Melting snow and rain carrying road salt into local reservoirs.
Even though chloride ions are the most logical culprit for salty-tasting water, sulfates may also play a part. Many sulfates happen naturally in some soils and rocks. As groundwater moves through the earth, sulfates can make their way into local water supplies.
Also, if sewage enters the water supply, sodium and chloride levels will spike causing tap water to taste salty.
Salty-tasting water is not just miserable to drink but can damage your pipes. Although it’s not hazardous to people, it can cause diarrhea. If you are someone who is on a reduced-sodium diet, you might want to be careful.
This is sometimes caused by high levels of naturally occurring minerals including calcium or iron. Sweetness may be attributed to an imbalance in your water’s alkaline or pH levels. All waters have a taste but not the same taste. The taste is subjective and influenced by your own biology and the water source.

I Don’t Like To Drink Water

There are many people who do not like to drink enough needed water because they do not like the taste. There are ways to make water taste better:
Squeeze in some orange, lemon, or lime to add flavor and a good level of vitamin C.
Add some fruits such as strawberries, mint, or raspberries. Crush them up for a better taste.
Use sparkling water instead of tap water if carbonation is something you prefer.
Create flavored ice cubes with fruit juice.
Try some sugarless flavor packets if you want to flavor up your water
Better yet, buy a water filter to eliminate all tastes and orders we have gone over.
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Why Fresh Water Is Essential To Life On Our Planet

Please read on to find out why fresh, clean water is critical for life and how to protect it for many years to come.

Protecting Fresh Water Is Critical for Life

Deepwater underground layers of water-bearing rocks, springs, lakes, streams, and springs are all sources of fresh water that we need in order to survive. Drinking water helps our bodies flush out toxins we accumulate and provides many needed benefits. Fresh water refurbishes us after physical activities as well as washing our clothes and cleaning ourselves.
The human is not the only living creature who relies on the needs of fresh water. Other animals, fish, plants, trees, and insects must have water to survive as well. In other words, water is life!
As of late, American rivers have not caught on fire caused by pollution like Ohio’s Cuyahoga River did in 1969. This was before the enactment of the Clean Water Act. The county sits in the northeastern area of Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie. The river was polluted by industrial pollution and caught on fire at least 13 times. Our waterways, rivers, and lakes are constantly facing threats because there is not enough surface water to go around to all.
Groundwater is taken and used unjustifiably.
The wetlands are being destroyed.
Industrial operations such as fossil fuel extraction, mining, logging, factory farms, and pharmaceuticals have ruined our water’s quality.
The increase of the human population has drained our supplies of water.
Due to a change in our climate, sea levels are on the rise and saltwater is taking over. There has been a major reduction of snowpacks that are essential for spring runoff.
Only 2.5 percent of our planet’s water is fresh and mostly sits inside glaciers. Protecting fresh water has become critical.

We Must Protect Fresh Water

Freshwater has been totally mismanaged which has led to pollution including rivers drying up and damaged habitats. Over the last century, we have lost many of the world’s wetlands and wildlife is being destroyed.
That said, all is not lost. We can manage water intelligently to meet the needs of people and nature.
Citizens and communities can take active roles to protect drinking water sources from contamination. We have provided valuable information to protect water sources and take steps to protect drinking water.
About your drinking water includes information about the water source in an annual report provided by the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). This report informs you how to get a copy of the source water assessment for your drinking water. You can find your local CCR online and learn more about source water assessments or ask your water provider if there are any water protection projects or groups you can support. Here is a report from Texas.
Do not dispose of hazardous waste on the ground, into storm sewers, or down drains. You will contaminate the soil, groundwater, or surface water. We use many household products that contain hazardous or toxic material that will contaminate ground or surface water including:
  • Motor oil
  • Leftover paint or paint cans
  • Pesticides
  • Household cleaners
  • Mothballs
  • Flea collars
  • Various Medicines
Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly and always follow the label’s directions. Many of these chemicals have harmful toxins which can move through the soil and contaminate groundwater or run off into the stormwater that streams to rivers and lakes. The EPA evaluates pesticides to ensure they are used according to label directions so they will not harm people, other living creatures, or the environment.
Groundwater can be easily contaminated by untreated household wastewater which is very dangerous to drinking water and the environment. If you have a malfunctioning septic system, it will release bacteria, viruses, and chemicals into local groundwater layers and waterways. Your home’s septic systems must be examined by a professional septic service at least every 3 years and should be pumped every 3 – 5 years. Systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components should be inspected every year.
If you have a septic tank, you should never flush prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs down the toilet or drain. They will filter into the ground and seep into groundwater. In cities and towns where people are connected to wastewater treatment plants, these drugs being poured down the drain or flushed down toilets will pass through the treatment system and enter rivers and lakes. Water treatment plants are not equipped to frequently remove medicines so the water sources could flow downstream into public drinking water supplies.
The EPA invites people to check out pharmaceutical take-back collection programs. These programs welcome over-the-counter drugs, and prescriptions. They offer a safe and environmentally conscious way to get rid of unwanted medicines.
Water utilities offer the public valuable information, safety monitoring, and emergency response. They play a critical role in promoting the protection of water sources:
  • Advocate for source water protection
  • Provide drinking water quality reports or consumer confidence reports.
  • Create opportunities for public participation including water board meetings and other public forums.
  • Education for consumers
  • Identifying potential sources of contamination
  • Identify and organize with other colleagues
  • Utilities work with owners and managers of potential sources of pollution.
Clean, fresh drinking water is essential to every living thing on this planet in order to survive. Do your part and look into every place you can to help out!
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Reasons You Should Have a Reverse Osmosis System

If you live in a home without a filtering system, you probably know your water is not good on your palate and certainly not good for your health. Over the past few years, people have become more conscious about the food they eat but it stops there. No one seems to realize the incredible significance of clean, fresh water for drinking! You would probably be shocked to discover how many contaminants are in the water coming out of your taps. Even though there are many filtering systems on the market, only a few will actually prevent toxins from remaining in the water you cook with or drink!
Probably the most popular is the Reverse Osmosis System for removing impurities from water and providing you with healthier water to quench your thirst. Here are some of the reasons you should install this filtering system in your home:

What Is a Reverse Osmosis System?

Reverse Osmosis is a process in which water pressure pushes the water through a semipermeable membrane that allows small molecules to pass through but not larger molecules such as salts or dissolved minerals. Due to the system’s process, pure tap water will be separated from all other substances that are commonly found in water.
The RO purifier includes membrane technology that cleans TDS or total dissolved minerals in water. Some purifiers offer a TDS Controller which helps to keep the essential minerals in place. The Reverse Osmosis System is perfectly safe and healthy for drinking water and is considered one of the very best options for today’s lifestyle.

Why You Want the RO System to Remove Contaminants

This excellent system removes contaminants in water such as nitrates, sulfates, fluoride, arsenic (yes, I said arsenic), and many other toxins. This system removes hundreds of elements from tap water with an efficiency of 99% or higher in your tap water. The Activated Carbon in the system helps to remove 70 Plus other contaminants including pesticides, chlorine, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, bi-products, and many more. The contaminants in water make it unsuitable for drinking and can lead to water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and even typhoid. Experts highly recommend using a RO water purifier to protect you and your family from these diseases by removing all life-threatening contaminants.
The taste of your water is affected by impurities in the water. The Reverse Osmosis System is highly recommended when the taste of your water is salty or high in Total Dissolved Solids or TDS including sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and other elements.
When TDS levels are higher than 200 ppm, the RO purification system will decrease the excess TDS, and then soften and sweeten the taste of water by keeping only pure drinking water.
There are contaminants in your water that you are not even aware of. Some will cause a smell like rotten eggs and leave a bad taste in your mouth while others are seriously harmful to your health. Not only will Reverse Osmosis water be better and safer, but it will also reduce your exposure to these contaminants. On top of that, it’s better than bottled water even though that water is filtered. The bottom line, some bottled water will contain certain minerals and contaminants as well.
Studies have been performed in many cities to check the water quality. It’s been decided that the water is not safe for drinking as it has higher levels of contaminants. Heavy metals include nitrates, pesticides, and other heavy metals that are not permitted. These contaminants can cause kidney issues, liver issues, nervous systems, and even lead to many diseases. The RO purification system is the most effective way to get rid of these heavy metals and chemicals including iron, lead, mercury, arsenic, chlorine, and fluoride. All physical contaminants and micro-organisms are filtered by the RO purifier making your water 100% pure and safe.
Using the RO purification system will give you better health from clean, fresh drinking water. Purified water from the RO system will improve your health and support kidney function, while hydrating and energizing your body, improving your skin and hair health along with other positive benefits. In today’s world, the contamination of spreading germs, bacteria, and viruses has become quite serious. Using a RO water purifier will keep your concerns under control and give you great peace of mind.
Most people, at one time or another, have bought bottled water as a quick fix and easy way to get filtered water. There are pros and cons and in some cases, the cons are outweighing the pros. The leading problem, the empty bottles have a negative impact on the environment. More than 8 million tons of plastic trash will end up in our oceans each year. A substantial amount of this plastic is coming from water bottles. Even though most plastic is recyclable, only 80% of plastic bottles are properly recycled. The RO system will provide great benefits for the planet.
With The RO System, you will receive endless supplies of filtered water whenever you want it.
Decrease the use of plastic bottles being circulated in landfills.
Reduce your carbon footprints
The Reverse Osmosis System is environmentally-friendly and more useful for all your water requirements.
When you install the Reverse Osmosis System in your home, you will have access to clean, fresh water year-round. You will have fewer trips to the store for bottled water and filters for your pitcher. When you invest in this system you are saving money and your valuable time. Simply turn on your tap for clean fresh water for drinking, cooking, and even cleaning. The RO System is something you can trust!

Conclusion

Reverse Osmosis water is a great deal more than just filtered water, it gives you many benefits for you and your home. Installing the RO System means limitless supplies of fresh, safe water for the whole family. You will be making a strong stance on protecting the environment.
Learn how the RO System can give you a positive impact within your household. Click Here to read more.
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How to Boost Your Water Pressure

We’ve all had blocked pipes and drains severe enough to necessitate the services of a plumber. However, what if the problem is really with your water amount coming out and not with the draining of water?
The average American family uses three hundred gallons of fresh water every day between using the flush in toilet, using dishwasher, and showering. We don’t often consider where the water is coming from and how it gets to our taps. When the pressure of water drops, many of us don’t understand where to check, and what needs to be done.

Identifying Whether Your Water Have a Low Pressure or Not

You may be feeling the symptoms of inadequate pressure of water if you have weak shower heads and water dribbles from taps, and your washer takes an eternity to fill.
This very frequent plumbing issue can develop for a variety of causes, but thankfully, it can usually be fixed with little effort or money. Nevertheless, before you go any further, make sure water pressure in your home is actually low or not.
Any value of less than roughly 40 pounds per square inch is deemed low. Water pressure in most houses should be around 40 to 60 PSI, while 50 PSI is considered as optimal. Here’s a simple and accurate technique to figure out your home’s water pressure:
Invest in a basic pressure gauge, this would set you back around $10. Connect the female threaded pipe fitting of the gauge to a hose faucet of outdoor garden. Ensure all of the valves nearest water meter remain totally open. check the pressure of the water through needle dial on the gauge after opening hose faucet to its full capacity. Your house has poor water pressure, If the pressure is lower than 40 PSI.
Flow rate of the water is yet another crucial component that might lead to a drop in pressure. The flow rate of the water simply is the volume of water supplied via the pipes within a given length of time, measured in GPM (Gallons per minute). Whenever the consumption of water surpasses the system’s capacity, it may appear that your household has poor water pressure even when it actually does not.
Begin by turning off all of the house’s faucets including water-using machines. Then to a faucet outdoor, attach a garden hose and arrange three vacant five-gallon containers in a row. Turn on the water to its highest setting and fill the containers fully. After 1 min, come to a halt and measure the amount of water collected in the container. Flow rate of the water in your home is roughly twelve and a half GPM if 2 1/2 containers got filled.
The average family utilizes 100-120 gallons of fresh water per each person each day, which is why a flow rate of water is 6-12 GPM will be perfect. Let us just explore few techniques to boost water pressure knowing that you’ve learned about water flow rate and pressure.

Fixing Techniques

Solve low pressure of water with these simple adjustments that improve flow and increases force, allowing you as well as your family to go about their daily lives without interruption.
Firstly: Check with all your neighbors so you can determine if they ‘re having the same issue. If this is the case, the problem might be with municipal water supply of the whole city. These installations, like the pipes in your home, are prone to corrosion, buildup, clogs, and leaks.
Mineral deposits may accumulate in the pipes throughout time in severe situations, the pipe’s diameter shrinks to the point that they get blocked, stopping water from flowing freely resulting in a dismal drip within shower or perhaps a paltry drip from the tap While severe cases may necessitate pipe replacement, you could at least prevent blockages at the exit points of your system by neutralizing unwanted minerals clogging the works within your shower heads and faucet fixtures.
Simply cover the faucet or the shower head with vinegar filled zip-lock bag, and fix it with a string, let it to soak overnight. The very next morning, wash the cleaned fittings then reassemble your bathroom. If this method fails and you suspect a more serious mineral clog within the pipes, get a plumber for inspection and fixing.
This solution is simple and just takes a couple minutes to figure out. The water flow entering pipes in your house is controlled by a primary water valve, which is normally positioned close to the meter. Look for the valve then make sure it’s fully open.
Sometime without the knowledge of homeowner the valve may be mistakenly turned, throughout routine maintenance and repairs. if this pressure drop corresponds with recent house improvements, your contractor might just have cut off the primary supply of water and at when the job was completed, the valve must have remained partially reopened.
As a result, reduced pressure and restricted flow. Luckily, the valve can be adjusted easily, so you won’t need to hire a plumber.
It’s possible that the issue isn’t with you, but with the area. That comes as no shock: Water pressure gets influenced by two basic factors: distance and gravity. The pressure of water supply in your house may be affected if it has to travel upwards or a long range from the city’s municipal water supply. Consider adding a booster pump water pressure to improve the water flow rate when it enters your house.
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What Factors Influence Water Quality?

Fluoride

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally and is released from rocks into the soil, water, and air. Almost all water contains some fluoride, but usually not enough to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride can also be added to drinking water supplies as a public health measure for reducing cavities.

Chromium 6

A recognized, confirmed carcinogen present in almost all tap water within the United States may trigger allergic reactions on the flesh, rashes, or various other disturbances and risks to human health and wellness.

Chlorine

Most faucet water is treated with this. It induces irritated, itchy, red skin, disintegrates the natural acid mantle present on the scalp and skin, dries the hair, causes significant follicle erosion, strips color, and several other potential adverse effects.

Hard water

The acid mantle is broken down by lime, calcium, and some other heavy minerals. Accumulation on hair promotes damage and dryness, and therefore can trigger redness, irritation, and causing eczema.

The Risks of Drinking Tap Water

The followings are some kinds of pollutants commonly found in tap water:
Barium, zinc, chromium, copper, mercury, and arsenic are heavy metals that are relatively safe in tiny doses and become contaminants once concentrated within the water. Contamination might be caused by waste disposal leaching, excessive human activity, and industrial mishaps. This type of pollution, particularly at greater concentrations, may cause serious health issues, even death, in people and other species. Being exposed to these sorts of water contaminants in our surroundings and our daily water supply has become a severe health concern. Early intervention and studying what is beneath the surface enable issues to be detected and treated before creating extensive pollution.
Bacteria, protozoa, and viruses are all examples of pathogens. Bacteria, as an instance, may be discovered in the water. Water pollution happens once they begin to rise over acceptable limits. E. coli, Cryptosporidium parvum, Norovirus, Giardia lamblia, Salmonella are a few examples of bacteria discovered within water that lead to illnesses. Defective sewage collection facilities in old towns with outdated infrastructure could lead to sanitary sewer overflows. The prevalence of E. coli within water typically implies being polluted with animal or human feces.
prescription drugs, disinfecting cleaners, detergents, insecticides & herbicides, Petroleum, and are examples of such substances., lymphoma, leukemia, and cancer of the kidneys, thyroid glands, and testicles, can all be caused by drinking water contaminated by these organic chemicals.

Allergies Are Caused by Tap Water

Chlorine’s concern is how it begins to break down within water-producing dichlorophenols, which are proven to disrupt your immune system, rendering people more susceptible to allergic reactions. The chlorine & other pollutants within tap water are likewise poisonous to the body. Chlorinated water stimulates the aging effects in the very same way that prolonged sun exposure does. It can decrease the skin’s natural oils, which help keep moisture locked in, resulting in dry, irritated skin. Not only it eliminates the harmful bacteria that may cause sickness, but also it destroys the healthy bacteria that our skin needs to function correctly. Dichlorophenols could also infiltrate the body through pesticide deposits on vegetables and fruits, resulting in allergies. Several of these chemicals found in faucet water impact the immune system, including your body’s capacity to repair itself. If either one of these chemicals is present within your house’s water, then symptoms of your allergy may become more intense and persist longer than average.

The Value of Drinking Filtered Water

Drinking clean water is the most excellent approach to relieve and defend the body against allergies. Water treated using fluoride, chlorine, and chloramines could be abrasively inducing allergic responses in susceptible individuals. Clean, filtered water helps dilute allergens and flush toxins from the body, especially those who already have food allergies. On the other end, consuming polluted water would aggravate the complaints and may lead to much more severe health problems in the future. Eat a well-balanced meal and drink chemical-free filtered water for overall health. This contaminated water poses a significant risk to our wellbeing frequently, in addition to disturbing the equilibrium of the skin, scalp, & hair, because some of these chemicals build in human bodies. All houses should ideally have high-quality water filters. Though it might be costly, carbon filtration with a combination of reverse osmosis seems to be excellent. Carbon filters would eliminate chlorine, pesticides, and herbicides, but they will not eliminate nitrates and fluoride, which RO will stop.

Suggested Reverse Osmosis System

It is wonderful. Suitable both for non-chlorinated and chlorinated municipal or even well systems. There is no need for energy because the system gets driven via residential line pressure. The design enables a convenient and straightforward filter change. Pre-filtering using activated carbon helps preserve the membrane
This filter is also compatible with refrigerators and RO water filtration. You may even place it immediately beneath your sink. The Frizzlife RO water filtering system includes a reverse osmosis membrane with an accuracy of about 0.0001 micron that removes over 1000 different types of pollutants. It is simple to set up by oneself! An installation process video & detailed instructional user guide are available. Life monitor for the filter is built in the control panel, and it would beep whenever it’s time to switch the filter. Furthermore, the system generates minimal wastewater than a RO system. By producing one and a half cups of clean water, just one cup of the wastewater is made, sparing you water and money.
Like an independent filtration system, this Reverse osmosis remineralization filter may link with most RO water systems available in the industry or under-sink filtration systems, allowing you to drink “spring water” through your faucet. Consuming this Reverse Osmosis mineral water can help you avert chronic diseases, slow down aging, and enhance digestion and immunity with an extensive scheme of things. It could save more than 8,300 disposable bottles plus $12600 wasted on bottled water in the long term. You don’t need any equipment to connect or disconnect the tubing! This remineralization filter might be used in a variety of ways.
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Which Is Healthier: Soft Water or Hard Water?

The words “soft water” and “hard water” may seem familiar to you. You may be wondering what causes water to be soft or hard, and also which one of these waters is safer or healthier to drink. Even though the water appears transparent, it includes chemicals and minerals. Water’s “hardness” is determined by certain minerals’ concentration. You would be able to make the distinction between the two kinds of water, and their benefits and drawbacks.

What Is Soft Water and Hard Water?

When water includes a high concentration of the cations which are, positively charged ions, like Mg2+, Fe3+, and Ca2+, it is said to be hard. Whenever water drips thru a mineral, these ions get usually delivered into the supply of water. Limestone is the best instance of a calcium-containing mineral. The criterion for determining if the water sample is hard or not is set at 150 ppm. The sample of water is termed soft whereas if the solution includes less than the 150 ppm ions of hard water. The sample of water is termed hard whereas if the solution includes 150 ppm or more ions of hard water.
Whenever water percolates via layers of gypsum, chalk, or limestone, which are mostly composed of sulfates, bicarbonates, magnesium carbonates, and calcium, hard water is created.
Water Examples: Rainwater is typically gentle when it falls. Nevertheless, when water moves through the earth and then into the waterways, it uses up minerals such as lime, chalk, and, most notably, magnesium and calcium, resulting in hard water. Because hard water includes important minerals, it’s often recommended for drinking, not just for the health advantages, but also because of the taste. Soft water can be obtained from filtered bottled water or rainwater.
These substances are termed soft since they include extremely low levels of ions which lead towards hard water whenever tested experimentally.

How Can You Tell Them Apart?

You can’t generally determine if water is soft or hard by a glance. The water feels, and how it affects your washing machine or dishwasher can be somewhat of an indication.
  • After washing your hands, the sensation of a residue on them is an indication of hard water. This is due to soap scum forming as a result of the soap interacting with calcium. If indeed it is hard water, you might have to wash your hands for a longer period.
  • Spots: These might form on glassware and cutlery after they have been washed. These are often calcium carbonate deposits.
  • Mineral stains: they appear on garments after being washed. Due to the obvious abrasiveness of the water that is hard, clothing might wear out sooner.
  • There is reduced water pressure inside your house. Mineral deposits could build inside the pipes, limiting water flow & diminishing the internal diameter of said pipes.
  • a good lather while washing clothing, utensils, and perhaps even your body and hands; cleaner clothes without any mineral staining and much reduced Wear and tear damages.
  • your house has good water pressure.
  • A little sodium aftertaste when drinking water, albeit the change in flavor is sometimes unnoticeable.

Soft Water Hard and Water: Benefits and Drawbacks

Both kinds of water have distinct hazards and advantages because the quality of water might differ between soft and hard water. It mainly boils depending on personal choice and the purpose of the water. There seems to be a great deal of information regarding soft and hard water available, but a great deal of this information is simply misunderstandings or myths.
We cannot say that hard water is contaminated just because it has more amount of minerals in it. Contamination, as opposed to mineral content, refers to bacteria and germs. Minerals are important minerals for the body, but too many can be harmful. Hard water drinking may even help you achieve your required daily dose of calcium and magnesium since it includes high amounts of these vital minerals. Although there is considerable suspicion that hard water drinking could have cardiovascular perks, there is no conclusive evidence to support that idea.
Calcium deposits could occur if you heat hard water. If this accumulates, it can seriously impair the durability and performance of appliances in your house. This involves pipes as well as a coffee maker within your home. To complicate things further, your heating expenses will increase & your appliance performance will decrease. If the water that you use has larger scales of water hardness, you may notice consequences on your basic hygiene. After bathing, hard water could leave a film on your hair, hands, and skin. As a consequence, your skin and hair may become more brittle and drier.
If you consume food high in magnesium and calcium, drinking water containing lower quantities of such minerals is unlikely to present a problem. But if your diet is insufficient, using magnesium, calcium, or multivitamin supplements would be sufficient to satisfy your everyday requirements. But for some people, there is a great concern when it comes to water, especially those who have hypertension. Because after drinking water that contains a high amount of sodium their blood pressure could raise dangerously. Just like people with hypertension are recommended not to put salt in their meals, they would also be told not to soften the water that they drink. Soft water seems to be much more prone to collect lead from old pipes of water that have not been fixed to prevent lead from leaching.
Soft water, contrary to hard water, is devoid of abrasive minerals that really can harm your property and health. To put it another way, it is kinder to both your home and your body. Soft water, which lacks magnesium and calcium, can help avoid scale accumulation in your home and your pipes and appliances. Hard water could deactivate the chemicals in soap, but contrary to that soft water can boost soap’s efficiency. Soft water may battle the stickiness and dryness induced by winter conditions, hard water, or low humidity in terms of health. What does all this imply for your physical well-being? After each wash, your skin and hair will be softer and smoother.
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Why You Should Have A Life Straw When You Are on Travel

You are planning a trip abroad so you need to include a water filter bottle or a purifier bottle. This is a “Must” item you should have on your list of items for traveling internationally.
Unless you have traveled to a specific country many times, you will not know what water sources you should use and those you should avoid at all costs. You can prevent any number of problems if you have a good water filter along for the ride.

Why Would I Need A Water Filter or Purifier on My Trip?

If you are traveling to underdeveloped countries, chances are you will run into untreated water with waterborne microorganisms which could be a serious threat to your health. Some of these countries might have sanitation issues leading to untreated sewage entering into drinking water supplies. Contaminated water can lead to various diseases including diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, making you very ill.
Diarrhea is the most common illness caused by drinking non purified water. There is a really good solution, bring a portable water purifier with you when traveling. These water purifiers will easily filter out water that is contaminated that’s horrible for your health.
The fact is, many natural water sources are not safe for drinking. Whether in underdeveloped countries or highly developed countries, like the US, millions of people die each year from waterborne diseases caused by contaminated water. If you drink water from the wrong place, you could suffer from bacteria and parasites found in these waters.
Bacteria, viruses, and protozoan parasites thrive in contaminated water and can lead to nasty, if not lethal, infections. Contaminated water can often contain particles of toxic metals or industrial pollution. Therefore, it’s essential you carry purified water with you all the time.
There are some methods to ensure you have safe, clean water. Using sterilizing tablets or boiling water are the two best water purification approaches out there to make sure you have safe drinking water. Although these two methods are good, they are not perfect. Both methods will kill microorganisms but will not remove suspended particles and the water is not exactly great tasting. Boiling water leaves water flat due to a lack of oxygen while tablets will leave behind an aftertaste of chlorine or iodine.
Fortunately, you now have several options for safe water including filters, a portable water filter, or filtration systems that will remove almost all contamination from water. Not only are they safer than boiling or tablets, but they are also a lot faster and in most cases, they do not affect the taste of your water.

Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles Are Not The Best Choice

While bottled drinking water is safe to drink, they have their own problems Every minute of each day, one million single-use plastic bottles are purchased around the world. That comes out to 1.3 billion bottles each day or 481.6 billion bottles each year. While many single-use plastic bottles are recyclable, most are not. In turn, these bottles end up in landfills that will take at least 450 years to degrade!
Look at it this way. You are on a week vacation internationally, you drink the recommended two liters of water each day. You purchase two single-use bottles containing one litre of water. By the end of the week, you have used up to 14 single-use plastic bottles.
Imagine if you will be there for two weeks or even a month! Your environmental impact will grow in leaps and bounds!
Traveling with a water purifier is a practical economic choice. If you expect to spend $2 USD per day on bottled water, you will discover you will come out even after just two weeks or one week if you are traveling in pairs.
The best news, with a water purifier, you can use it on every trip in the future. These purifiers are environmentally sound and budget-conscious for needed items in your travel equipment.
This Waterdrop life straw can reduces 99% of harmful substances effectively. You can use with water bags or connect to water bottles to filtrate water for drinking. Both ends of it can be disassembled and connected with water bags and water bottles to offer you clean drinking water anywhere, anytime. It has a smaller frame but bigger capacity, can provide safe drinking water up to 100,000 gallons.
Ideal for outdoor recreation, hiking, camping, scouting, domestic and International travel, and emergency preparedness.
Attaches to included drinking pouch, standard disposable water bottles, hydration packs, or use the straw to drink directly from your water source.
Removes 99.99999% of all bacteria (salmonella, cholera, and E. coli); removes 99.9999% of all protozoa (such as giardia and cryptosporidium); also removes 100% of microplastics.
Filter rated up to 100,000 gallons; includes two Sawyer MINI filters, two 16-ounce reusable squeeze pouches, two 7-inch drinking straws, and two cleaning plungers
This water filter has an electric pumping, one-key operation, simple and convenient, free hands. It’s portable, compact and practical, and truly solve your outdoor water needs. It can reduce heavy metals, peculiar smell, fishy smell, truly meet drinking water standards. Built-in 2800mAh lithium battery,Continuous work 4h, Has a super fast flow rate of 700ml(23 oz.) per minute,it can filter 168L (5681 oz.) drinking water once charged.
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Resources For Tap Water

Before beginning the topic of tap water filtration, it’s time to take a quick step back to Geology. Geology is the science that deals with planet Earth, its physical structure, and the many activities going on.

A Little Geology

Earth is covered with approximately 71% water and only 3% of that water is fresh, the rest is found in oceans. During the water cycle, water moves from one reservoir to another in continuous motion. If you don’t know where clouds come from, the sun heats bodies of water causing the water to evaporate. As water evaporates, it rises in the atmosphere where cold temperatures turn water vapor into clouds. But that’s not the entire cycle:
Cloud particles bond to each other which condenses the vapor and causes it to fall back as bodies of water in the form of rain, sleet, or snow. (ergo it’s cloudy before it rains).
Then, the entire process starts all over again with the sun warming the water and causing evaporation. The water we drink comes from two leading sources, public sources are water treatment facilities and private sources are wells.

Resources For Tap Water

Water comes from rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Depending on where you live, you might be in a location that gets water from all three sources. There is great diversity in the U.S regarding water sources. There are many locations that rely on rivers and lakes while other places like Boston and Los Angeles rely on reservoirs.
  • Washington DC gets 100% of its water from the Potomac River
  • Chicago from Lake Michigan
  • 50% of Los Angeles’ water comes from the Owens River
  • 90% of New York City’s water comes from the Catskill/Delaware Aqueduct

How Water Is Treated

From whatever source, water is sent to a treatment facility for processing and sanitizing before being sent to your faucet. There are four steps involved in the treatment process.
  • Coagulation and Flocculation
  • Sedimentation
  • Filtration
  • Disinfection
Coagulation and Flocculation is the first step when chemicals are added to water in order to lump small particles together. Added substances or compounds during this process include aluminum sales, activated carbons, talcum, and activated silica.
Water is filtered to remove any fine particles of dust, parasites, microorganisms, bacterial, and chemicals.
Water is completely disinfected to make sure any remaining microbial contaminants are destroyed. One such chemical process is chlorinating.
Water distribution systems are designed to carry water to your tap. In the United States, these systems cover nearly one million miles. The systems are made up of pipes, valves, storage facilities, and components that transport the water to the public. The main distribution system lines carry water from:
  • A treatment plant to the tap
  • The point of supply to the tap when water is untreated
If you don’t know, water tanks and pipes including pipes that carry water to a home and pipes inside homes can all contaminate your drinking water from lead, copper, and plastic.
When plumbing materials such as lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures start to erode, lead will easily enter your water supply. On top of that, water that has high acidity or low mineral content can be even worse because both conditions erode pipes and fixtures. Lead lines that are connected in your home and to the main water line are a major source of lead contamination. These lines are usually found in older cities and homes built before 1996. In homes that do not have lead service lines, the leading offender of contamination is from brass or chrome-plated brass faucets along with lead solder used in plumbing. Also, as systems start to age, deterioration will take place due to corrosion, material erosion, and external pressures.
It’s understandable there are several variables to take into consideration before deciding on a specific water source for your daily drinking water. Clean, mineral-rich water is an important part for our lives, well-being, and households with developing children. Without a doubt, drinking tap water exposes us to chemicals and contaminants. It’s only regulated for relative safety markers but for some families, it’s simply the most affordable option. Some households may choose to have a water filtration system to remove contaminants from their tap water. One such system is reverse osmosis which is a very strong filtration system but it’s also very powerful. It will remove all minerals from water, both good and bad.

Recommended RO System

Here are a few great choices for Reverse Osmosis systems:
This system will save up to 300% of water vs the standard filter systems with tanks. The Waterdrop RO system has little to no noise which means it’s even quieter than your laptop! It’s the perfect choice for those who own RVs due to its very compact design. This Waterdrop filter system also flushes itself in order to keep your water pure and clean 24/7. The RO filter system comes with a sleek metal faucet and will deliver a fast thorough water flow.
This system comes without a tank and fits perfectly under your sink. It will eliminate over 1,000 kinds of contaminants from water including chlorine and fluoride along with heavy metals, lead, limescale, and other harmful elements. Frizzlife takes up much less space while removing pollution caused by the unventilated tank. This system is very easy to install by simp0ly following the step-by-step video and detailed instructions in the user manual. Frizzlife produces far less wastewater as a RO system. Across the board, this system produces 1.5 cups of pure water with only 1 cup of wastewater being drained out.
You will enjoy great-tasting water from this compact water filtration system that fits perfectly under your sink. It will give you 5-stages of incredible water purification from the AMI Reverse Osmosis water purification filters that eliminate chemicals such as metals including copper, lead, chlorine, rust, and even bad odors. Don’t just hope your water is clean and fresh, make sure it is by installing this system. AMI comes with very clear instructions and offers color-coded tubing to help you out. To learn more, click here
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How Can We Reduce Water Pollution

The pollution of fresh water is a crucial environmental problem, especially given the scarcity of fresh water in our region.
Almost 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water, but freshwater accounts for about 3% of it. Moreover, there is only about 0.5% availability of freshwater for human consumption; most of it is stored in unreachable forms such as snowpacks and glaciers. It is therefore crucial that we save the tiny usable amount of freshwater clean.
Since our freshwater supply is so limited, pollution becomes a much bigger problem. Pollution enters our water reservoirs in several ways. The first method is legal dumping from industrial facilities, while the second is illegal discharge. Water treatment plants, fracking operations, and oil pipelines all have the potential to spill pollutants. Our water supply is also contaminated by storms and floods that wash pollutants and waste into the water.
Pollution from industry is fairly strictly regulated in the United States. So, while direct pollution from industrial facilities is currently a problem, nonpoint source pollution is still the major cause of freshwater pollution. Nonpoint source pollution occurs when pollutants enter our groundwater through a series of sources, instead of being deposited by a single polluting source. This happens when pollutants enter our water reservoirs through flooding or rain. However, this kind of pollution from discharges is still harmful. Arsenic, oil, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and other harmful chemicals, as well as animal and pet feces, viruses, and bacteria can be in it. Older plumbing systems, such as lead pipes, can also leak lead into our water.
Fortunately, while water pollution is a large and complicated global problem, each individual can take measures at home to prevent the negative impacts of water pollution and ensure that water supplies remain clean.

Dispose of Toxic Chemicals Properly

Solvents, insecticides, and household cleaners may seem harmless at first glance. Ammonia, paint thinners, bleach, paints and a host of other chemicals, on the other hand, pose a great danger. With millions of individuals flushing hazardous substances down the toilet or throwing them down the drain every month, the cumulative consequences are significant. That’s why it’s so important to dispose of waste properly.
Many chemicals used in the home are mostly recyclable. There may be a recycling center in your neighborhood where you can recycle used motor oil, old paint, and other chemicals. Some places also have municipal drop-off locations and collection centers. Your city may even organize a toxic waste collection day where you can safely dispose of these dangerous old chemicals.

Use Phosphate-Free Detergent and Dish Cleaner

You can reduce water pollution even further by using only a sufficient amount of these detergents to get the job done. Phosphates are not the only dangerous compounds found in detergents. Phosphates cause algae blooms and reduce oxygen levels in the water, leading to the death of aquatic life.

Check Your Sump Pump or Cellar Drain

These devices occasionally overflow into the municipal sewage system. Cleaning chemicals, heavy metals, biological waste, and other pollutants are discharged into the system through this connection. If you do not know where your basement drain or sump pump should go, contact the City’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Dispose of Medical Waste Properly

Never flush medications down the toilet or throw them into a nearby stream or pond. Medicines accumulate in fish and other animals while accumulating in water. Various substances and hormones pollute the drinking water used by humans and livestock and cause various health issues in birds and fish.

Eat More Organic Food

Organic food may be treated with chemicals, but it is usually made with few artificial chemicals. Organic food minimizes the pollution of chemicals that enters the water supply. Among the chemicals needed to cultivate food, the gasoline used to transfer crops, and the fuel used to run the agricultural equipment on industrial farms, the food we consume has a huge impact on environmental quality.

Try to Avoid Plastic Containers

In the nation’s lakes and oceans, plastic rings and grocery bags made from six-packs of drinks are causing big problems. When submerged in water, plastic bottles can remain intact for over 10 years. Instead, invest in reusable cotton or plastic shopping bags. They could be purchased for as little as $1 each, which is really cheap. Drinks should be kept in insulated containers that are reusable, and filtered water should be made at home.

Use Water Filters

A reverse osmosis filter, often called a RO filter, is the gold standard for in-house filtration, according to the Environmental Working Group, a public health advocacy organization that pushes for stricter management of PFAS. In reverse osmosis filters, water is forced through a membrane that captures impurities. These filters are considered the most efficient.
Contaminant Buildup is avoided with this product. The accumulation of viruses and bacteria is prevented by the cross filtration of the RO system.
It is a space saving device. This tankless design is only 5.68 inches wide, saving countertop or under sink space. A smart faucet is included. The condition of the filter is indicated as ‘perfect’ by the blue light on the faucet. ‘Replace soon’ is indicated by the color yellow. ‘Replace now’ is indicated by the color red. It is NSF 58 and 372 certified. NSF International has tested and approved the RO system to the NSF/ANSI standard.
With its sink water filter, this reverse osmosis system removes tap water odor, prevents scale buildup, eliminates suspended particles, and eliminates fluoride and chlorine taste. Get personalized reminders and keep track of filter usage. This Alexa-enabled smart home reverse osmosis water filter system includes a 5-stage water filtration system, including a carbon filter, to make your drinking water clean by removing unsanitary things from it. Unlike water bottles, you can filter your water to remove harmful substances.
Odor, disinfection byproducts, sand, chlorine and rust are removed in stages 1-3. Dual-Flow 4th stage Pesticide residues, heavy metals and other contaminants are removed by the RO membrane. To make the quality of drinking water better, chlorine is removed and flavors are added in the 5th stage. With a LOW WASTE 1: 1 ratio of wastewater to clean water, the advanced Dual-Flow 500GPD membrane saves 60% water. Restaurants, offices, laboratories and salons all benefit from RO water that is high quality in different ways.
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Water Contamination and Treatments

Water is one of the most critical elements for life on this planet. It moves nutrients into cells as well as throughout the entire body. We need clean, fresh water to keep our bodies in the best of health. Contamination present in water is harmful in many ways including creating long and short-term diseases.

Diseases That Are Caused by Polluted Water

Cholera is a very serious intestinal tract infection caused by the bacteria vibrio cholerae. This disease causes dehydration, diarrhea, and in some severe cases, death. People contract cholera by consuming or washing with contaminated water or eating foods irrigated or washed in contaminated water. Symptoms from cholera include vomiting, headaches, and abdominal cramping. In areas that are highly polluted, an infected person can contaminate the water with this disease, causing a rise in bacterial which will affect the entire population.
This is a very severe bacterial infection causing acute intestinal ulceration and infection. The bacteria that causes the infection is called salmonella typhosa. This disease affects people who use contaminated water to wash or eat foods washed with contaminated water. The symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, headaches, and is known to affect approximately 12 million people each year around the world.
Dysentery is another intestinal infection that causes acute diarrhea with blood and mucus. It also causes vomiting, fever, and serious abdominal pain. It’s contacted from washing with or consuming contaminated water or eating foods washed with contaminated water. It’s a bacterial disease that can be prevented by consuming clean water and practicing good hygiene.
This is a disease caused by parasitic worms that are formed in water. These worms get into the skin while people are swimming, wading, or washing in contaminated water. Once these worms enter the body, they will infect and damage the intestines, bladder, and liver. There are some freshwater snails that can carry the schistosomiasis worms and eggs. The disease has infected approximately 200 million worldwide.
This is a condition that affects the health of teeth and bones caused by consuming groundwater with high levels of fluoride chemicals. Fluoride chemicals happen naturally in groundwater and the disease affects more than 25 countries around the world. It’s estimated that many millions of people are affected by this disease around the world.
Arsenicosis is caused by the constant consumption of chemically polluted drinking water and from small amounts of arsenic. Chemical poisoning by arsenic happens over a long period of time and exposure to the chemical adds to cancer of the bladder, skin, kidneys, and lungs. In turn, complications can arise in these organs and skin, leading to cancer.

Removing Water Contamination from Tap Water

Aside from good hygiene, the best way to avoid these illnesses and protect your health is to have a water filter system at home to ensure you are drinking pure water. Introducing UV light for disinfecting water is a leading choice that is affordable and will provide cleaner water without using extensive equipment.
In areas where microorganisms are prominent in water systems, and Ultraviolet or UV water purification system uses light to remove the pollutants. Microorganisms including Giardia, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, and other viruses. The treatment of UV does not use any chemicals or physical aspects to purify water, instead, it uses electromagnetic radiation.
The Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO Water Filter System pairs the best of reverse osmosis and UV light into a convenient unit. With its RO process and the improved UV light, your family can benefit from this water filter. The Waterdrop RO system can kill bacteria and viruses every hour; it also has a countertop style that requires little storage space. With the combination of a RO membrane, carbon block, PP cotton, and UV light, the system ensures you don’t face illnesses and diseases due to poor water conditions.
With its rigorous development and testing, the NU Aqua Platinum Series is certified to provide clean, healthy, and great-tasting water consistently. The system has professional-grade, high-quality connect fittings that give the NSF 100% lead-free designer faucet an elegant design that keeps your countertop looking great. The system also uses a premium 5-stage alkaline filter to increase natural minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, copper, and selenium in water. Furthermore, the system oxygenates the water and adds antioxidants to give you healthy, mineral-balanced, alkaline drinking water.
The purifier system is a chemical-free, eco-friendly system. The system eliminates chlorine while preserving water taste, odor, and color. In addition, the system has no impact on pH levels – it does not alter water acidity or alkalinity. You can utilize this purifier system in homes, offices, RV, boats, and mobile homes.
The purifier system has a 4-stage water filtration and UV light that treats hundreds of contaminants. You can be rest assured of sparkling clean and great tasting water with this system. There is no chlorine, change of taste, color, or odor with this water purifier. Also, the system does not change the acidity or alkalinity levels of the water.