Alisa Meredith

In Water Filtration

The Best 3 Water Filters for An Emergency

November 25, 2021 No Comments

Did you know that an estimated 775,000 people die on an annual basis due to dirty drinking water? Think about it, that’s nearly 1 ½ people every single minute. This isn’t a detail considered much throughout the United States, as the majority of our water sources are clean enough to drink. In fact, tap water is quite the luxury when you consider most people around the world cannot enjoy the same utility as a more developed country.

However, regardless of where you live, it never hurts to have a trustworthy water filter system for when the worst takes place. When your drinking source is out of your control, having a way to obtain clean drinking water is one of the first rules of preparation. Let’s take a look at the best emergency water filter options currently available, and consider which style best suits your situation.

Risk of Contaminants in Untreated Water Sources

Contaminants are no stranger to untreated water sources. It’s for this reason that water treatment facilities exist, in order to provide the safest tap water throughout the US. However, once the water reaches your property, the responsibility stops there. If you don’t currently know the current condition of your pipes and home, you could be putting your family at risk of any number of contaminants, including viruses and bacteria, heavy metals, and even sediment.

Illnesses & Infection

When consumed through food or water, bacteria and viruses can lead to life-threatening infections and illnesses. Individuals may be infected with cholera, typhoid fever, Legionnaire’s disease, hepatitis, E. Coli, polio, and more, simply by drinking water from an untreated source. Although most of these issues cause mere system upset, others may be serious enough to call for a visit to the hospital.

Affected Organs

Viruses and bacteria aren’t the only dangerous aspects of drinking untreated water. Heavy metals flow through natural water, especially lead, aluminum, and more. Through filtration, heavy metals are decreased to an amount generally regarded as safe. However, in an emergency situation, the natural amount present in lakes, streams, or rivers, could pose a danger to your overall health. Organs and the immune system aren’t typically considered, but they are affected by heavy metals, especially the liver, kidneys, and skin. Over time of high levels of exposure, your liver may fail to properly detox your body, and lead to worsening conditions.

Emergency Preparedness Water Treatment Methods

Have you considered preparing your household for emergency situations? On average, any adult needs more than 32 ounces of water per day to maintain proper urine output levels. Taking this figure into consideration, are you prepared to provide enough safe drinking water if the power is shut off? There are a few ways you can ensure the availability of healthy drinking water for your entire family.

Water Filtration System

Available in a variety of models, styles, and methods, a water filtration system is a widely available, common form of water treatment. Whatever your needs, you can bet there is a water filtration system to suit them. From electric units, to gravity fed, water filtration systems may be used within the home, in a camper or RV, or in an off-grid location such as a yurt.

If you are looking to purchase one for your home, a water test will help you decide exactly what type of water filter to purchase. The type of water filter cartridge you utilize is highly dependent upon the contaminants present in your tap water. This is where a simple mail-in water test serves an invaluable purpose. Alternatively, you might contact your local water facility to request their annual water report.

UV Sterilization

While a UV sterilization unit is one of the most effective methods of water purification, it has it’s own pros and cons. With your average water filter, there is an inherent risk of the odd contaminant slipping through – which is impossible with UV sterilization. This type of system uses a UV light to kill microorganisms on a consistent basis, and is a great option in tandem with water filtration, as well as a stand-alone unit. One downside, however, is the UV’s inability to neutralize chlorine and heavy metals.

Boiling Water

It’s important to note, the act of boiling water should only be used in a true emergency. This method does neutralize harmful pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, but it cannot remove other forms of contaminants. The heat works to damage the impurity’s overall structure, but cannot remove heavy metal, and more. Boiling is also not to be compared to distillation, which we discuss in another article.

Best 3 Survival Water Filters

Now that we have discussed the methods and styles of emergency water purification, let’s explore a brief overview of the top 3 water filters for a survival situation. These were chosen according to overall effectiveness, affordability, and usability.

Waterdrop Filter Straw For Camping

Water Filter Straw for Camping, Hiking, Travel, Survival and Emergency Preparedness by Waterdrop

Waterdrop’s Filter Straw serves as a compact water filtration option, in order to fit into a day bag, on campers, and even in a restaurant. Utilizing a 0.1-micron hollow fiber membrane, this straw filter is capable of removing harmful substances from untreated water sources. High-grade coconut shell activated carbon fiber improves overall taste and odor, in order to provide safe drinking water. Wherever life takes you, the Waterdrop Filter Straw enables you to drink adequate amounts of water, sourced from streams, lakes, rivers, glaciers, and ponds.

Epic Nalgene OG

Epic Nalgene OG | Water Bottle with Filter | USA Made Bottle and Filter | Dishwasher Safe | Filtered Water Bottle | Travel Water Bottle | BPA Free Water Bottle | Removes 99.99% Tap Water Impurities

Comprised of 100% BPA-free tritan material, the Epic Nalgene OG Woodsman features a 1-liter water bottle design, housing its own filter. Nalgene’s bottle is the perfect choice for everyday use, as well as survival scenarios. This water bottle filter eliminates up to 99% of all contaminants commonly found in untreated water sources of the great outdoors. Additionally, the integrated filter is rated to last up to 300 liters, for up to 300 refills before replacement. The Epic Nalgene OG poises outdoorsmen to eliminate bacteria and viruses while they explore, and stay hydrated at the same time.

Waterdrop King Tank Gravity-Fed Water Filter

Waterdrop Gravity-fed Water Filter System, Metal Water Level Spigot and Stand

Waterdrop’s King Tank Gravity-Fed water filter is our most favored choice for survival situations. Not only does it not require electricity for operation, but it offers optimal effectiveness for the removal of contaminants, solids, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and more. This water filtration system is the ideal choice for water purification, regardless of whether you need something for day-to-day use, or stored for emergency use. Ultimately, you won’t be disappointed in the King Tank Gravity-Fed Water Filter from Waterdrop.

In Water Filtration

Different Water Filtration Methods Comparison

November 18, 2021 No Comments

A fine strainer or activated carbon was used to filter the water. Filters are ineffective at removing many common contaminants such as arsenic, bacteria, copper, lead, nitrates, parasites, sodium, and viruses, although they do reduce unpleasant tastes and odors. As the organic material left in the filter begins to decompose, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria.

Another disadvantage is that it is difficult to determine when the filter should be replaced. When a bad taste or smell returns, some manufacturers recommend replacing the filters. In reality, a filter can continue to control taste and odor long after it has lost its ability to remove tasteless and odorless organics such as THM, which are byproducts of chlorination.

Difference between Physical and Chemical Filtration

Physical or chemical filtration are the most common methods of water filtration.

To remove larger impurities, physical filtration uses a strainer or filter. This filtration method works like a sieve and removes heavier impurities.

Water is chemically filtered by passing it through an active material. The adsorption properties of this material can remove a wide range of contaminants. Both types of filtrations are covered by the various filtration methods we discuss below.

Types of Water Filtration Methods

Many different types of sediment, taste, and odor are removed by various water filtration methods.

Depending on the type of contaminant, these methods can result in better tasting and purer drinking water or prevent scale buildup by providing soft water.

Take a look at our list of the six most common water filtration methods to get a better idea.

Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation

Water has long been treated with ultraviolet radiation as a germicidal agent. Low-pressure mercury lamps emitting UV light with a wavelength of 254 nm are effective in killing bacteria and viruses and disinfecting water. Inactivation of the microorganism occurs when the UV light is absorbed by the DNA and proteins in the microbial cell.

UV lamp technology has recently advanced so that special lamps can be made that emit both 185 nm and 254 nm UV light. Organic compounds need to be photo oxidized, so this wavelength combination is required. The total organic carbon (TOC) content in high purity water can be reduced to 5 ppb with these special lamps.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is the most cost-effective method of removing 90 percent to 99 percent of all contaminants (RO). The pore structure of RO membranes is much more compact than that of UF membranes. Almost all particles, bacteria, and organics with a molecular weight greater than 300 Daltons can be rejected by RO membranes (including pyrogens). In fact, reverse osmosis technology is used by the majority of major water bottling plants. Natural osmosis occurs when two different concentrations of solutions are separated by a semi-permeable membrane. Osmotic pressure forces water through the membrane, diluting the more concentrated solution and resulting in equilibrium.

In water purification systems, hydraulic pressure is used to counteract the osmotic pressure of the concentrated solution. The concentrated solution is pushed downstream of the membrane, where it is collected by pure water. Because RO membranes are very restrictive, they have a low flow rate. Storage tank capacity must be sufficient in a reasonable amount of time.

Reverse osmosis effectively removes total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, asbestos, lead and other toxic heavy metals, radium, and many dissolved organics from water. Chlorinated pesticides and the majority of VOCs with a higher molecular weight will also be removed. When reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration are combined, they provide the most effective treatment for a wide range of water impurities and contaminants.

Activated Carbon

In many homes, carbon filtration is a popular method of water filtration. It entails removing impurities as well as any unpleasant odors or tastes by utilizing carbon's active absorption capabilities. It works best against chemicals and gases, but it can also kill bacteria.

The activated carbon used is a porous charcoal-based carbon. Because of the reduced oxygen supply during its formation, it acts like a sponge with a large internal surface area. It also causes many gaps in the molecules. Adsorption, as a result, can be used to trap a wide range of impurities. Rather than solids dissolving into liquids, this process involves solids or liquids capturing liquids or gases.

With activated carbon filtration, impurities such as chlorine-based pollutants, certain insecticides, and industrial solvents are easily removed. It is ineffective, however, at removing hardness from water or treating heavy metals such as sodium, fluorine, or nitrates. There are carbon filters that are specifically designed to treat certain heavy metals, but they may be more expensive.

The type of carbon used has a significant impact on the effectiveness of this system. The diameter of the pores formed in the carbon filter and the rate of impurity diffusion also have an effect on the adsorption process. As a result, people usually combine this method with other treatment methods for maximum efficiency.

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What Is The Difference Between Purified Water and Spring Water?

November 16, 2021 No Comments

Day by day in America, the importance of clean, pure water keeps increasing. Water manufacturers know that people are constantly looking for the best solution for their health and their families.

Navigating between bottled water and water treatment solutions can be pretty confusing. Usually, manufacturers throw around the words "pure" and "spring" a lot to create beautiful images of fresh and clear waterfalls, blue skies, and hydrating water in people's heads.

What do the words mean? Which water is best between purified and spring water? This post debunks the myths behind marketing and discusses everything you need to know.

Read on for more information!

What Is Spring Water

Spring water is a type of bottled water that is widely available in supermarkets. There are high chances that you must have taken spring water so many times, except you avoid bottled water completely.

Although spring water may come from a spring, the name can be quite deceiving. Usually, the water goes through numerous processes before bottling. Also, it's not like the water is collected from a spring waterfall in an empty water bottle before being sealed and sold to you.

As a matter of fact, spring water may not be from a spring source.

Usually, manufacturers label water from underground aquifers as spring water. However, the underground aquifers could be well water, groundwater, or artesian water. Therefore, spring water may not fit the picture you probably had in mind.

What Is the Process for Making Spring Water?

Natural water sources that do not contain man-made impurities and pollutants are sources of spring water. Usually, the water flows along mountain paths, hill and valley sides, and sometimes underground. Consequently, the water comes in contact with rocks that filter it to a certain extent. These rocks can affect water's mineral makeup.

Drinking spring water is unsafe because there are high chances of getting ill, primarily because of the manual filtration process. Fortunately, a man-made and man-powered treatment center treats the water to remove dangerous pathogens and preserve the water's mineral content.

What Is Purified Water?

Purified water contains ten parts per million of dissolved solids or even less after processing and treatment. Several viable water purification methods are employed in purifying water to this level—the water purification techniques include reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation. Water purification strips the water of contaminants, including chemicals, sediment, bacteria, minerals, and metals. Furthermore, purification leaves water empty and bland because it loses some minerals that give it its flavor.

How Can You Purify Water?

There are several water purification methods. However, the two most popular and acceptable purification methods are distillation and reverse osmosis. An RO system performs reverse osmosis. Usually, the system is installed under a sink, and it delivers purified water through its dedicated faucet. An RO system has several filters, including reverse osmosis membranes that strip water of all impurities. Nevertheless, there's a special filter in the last stage of filtration that reinstates essential minerals.

When using a water distiller, the distiller boils the water and catches released steam to leave contaminants behind. A condenser captures the steam and cools it till it turns back to water. Afterward, the water passes through a carbon filter as the final filtration stage. The water is then collected as pure distilled water. The water distillation process produces a gallon of distilled water within four to six hours.

Which Is Better Between Purified Water and Spring Water?

Drinking clean, pure water gives some people confidence. Therefore, you're probably wondering the best water to drink between spring and purified water. Both water sources have tradeoffs that are good or bad for your health.

Purified water is completely stripped of contaminants and all substances. Therefore, there is no sickness-causing bacteria, chemicals that can poison you slowly, or sediments that you may feel in your mouth. There are no minerals as well. Although your diet should provide you with plenty of minerals, removing a mineral source will likely cause deficiencies. Fortunately, some water purification systems solve this problem. Reverse osmosis reintroduces essential minerals in the water, making it the healthiest choice for drinking water.

Spring water contains essential minerals vital for your health while giving the water its taste. Nevertheless, it may still contain contaminants like metals, chlorine, and nitrates. Although water transportation and processing may use some contaminants, some are present from the original spring source. Nevertheless, the water contains some unwanted contaminants and desirable minerals, and there is no way of separating them.

Conclusion:

Spring water and purified water sound similar, but they are different. Although spring water is processed and treated, it is not purified. Spring water still contains minerals that improve water taste and are essential to your health. However, impurities like nitrates and metals are still present.

On the other hand, purified water is processed and treated till it contains about ten parts per million dissolved solids or less. Therefore, although purified water is free of unwanted contaminants like chemicals, bacteria, and sediments, it has been stripped of essential minerals. Furthermore, purified water tastes flat because there are no minerals to give it taste. Fortunately, some water purification methods like reverse osmosis reintroduce essential minerals into the water. Therefore, the water purified using RO systems is the healthiest for drinking.

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Is Tap Water Superior to Bottled Water?

November 16, 2021 No Comments

Bottled water consumption as been observed growing significantly over the last few years, because people typically consider it to be a far safer product compared to other forms of water. When compared to the rate of individual consumption in the US alone, though, it’s easy to see how we have landed in hot water in regard to plastic waste. The truth is, each person drinks somewhere around 30 gallons of bottled water on an annual basis – that’s a lot of plastic bottles. In our current climate crisis, we can’t afford to ignore the facts and scientific data surrounding disposable living. Let’s end this once and for all, is bottled water superior to tap water?

Thoughts on Tap Water VS Bottled Water

Tap water is commonly referred to as municipal water, and is derived from lakes, rivers, reservoirs, or even large wells. Typically, this water passes through a water treatment facility long before it’s piped into your home and place of business. Although some regions of the world struggle with drinking contaminated water sources, the tap water utilized throughout the United States is generally regarded as safe (not to mention environmentally friendly and convenient).

Safety Concerns

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has rated the tap water of the United States to be one of the world’s safest drinking water supplies. This public tap water is also closely regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who is responsible for identifying and setting legal limits for potential contaminants of drinking water. There are currently legal limits set on heavy metals, and microbes, on a list of over 90 dangerous contaminants. While facilities put forth their best efforts, contaminated drinking water still takes place. Even certain global regions, for example, have a greater risk of exposure to certain toxins, including bacteria from agricultural runoff, and industrial pollutants.

Contaminants can also be presented by old plumbing, while natural disasters such as heavy rains and flooding temporarily overwhelm and pollute surrounding public water systems. Recently, several public health organizations have criticized the EPA’s current limits, claiming the set limits aren’t stringent enough for particular toxins.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) announced that the water regulations of the US haven’t even been updated in 20 years! This has resulted in populations of vulnerable individuals, including pregnant women and the elderly, are being put into harm’s way due to negligence. It is true that the EPA currently requires a water utility company to provide quality reports on an annual basis, individuals are poised to view contamination reports via EWG's Tap Water Database.

Homeowners may take control of their own drinking water supply, by purchasing and utilizing water filters in order to improve the safety of their home’s tap water. While the EPA oversees public water sources, individuals are in charge of wells, springs, and more. If you are utilizing a well or natural water source, it is important to take advantage of testing on a regular basis.

Taste

Tap water generally tastes the same as bottled. This is because bottled water is often filled with tap water! In fact, mineral content, additives, piping and more all play a role in overall taste. Blind taste testing has revealed that the majority of people are incapable of tasting the difference between either type of water.

Is Bottled Water Better?

Safety

US standards in terms of bottled water are set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source. Manufacturers are required to to process and transport bottled water according to sanitary condition standards, processing it appropriately to ensure overall water safety. In generally, bottled water is safe to consume. However, in rare cases, bottled water contamination recalls commonly occur.

The presence of plastic in bottled water is another cause for concern, with research indicating that the majority of bottled water is found to contain microplastics. Inherently, microplastics pose various health risks that are especially risky to those of a compromised immune system. They should take special precautions in regard to their drinking water sources. If you must drinking bottled water, choose a bottled water manufacturer that has treated their source to protect against the parasite Cryptosporidium.

Convenience Over Cost

Did you realize that, according to some estimations, bottled water is nearly 2,000 times the price of tap water? Utilizing single-serve water bottles, bottled water costs about three times the national average for a single gallon of milk. What is perhaps the most bizarre fact, is that more often than not, bottled water is often filled with filtered tap water.

The need to bottle small proportions of drinking water into an individual serving causes the price to inflate to a ridiculous level. This is especially true when you weigh the cost of owning your own water filtration unit, verses the money spent on bottled water – not to mention the waste! By taking advantage of your own water faucet, you can create your own level of convenience, through the use of metal water bottles that can be utilized over and over again.

Environmental Impact

The transportation process, refrigeration, and bottling associated with commercially produced bottled water is a cause of a wide range of environmental effects. Compared to tap water, scientific research indicates that bottled water does more harm than good, not only in terms of the environment but our own bodies as well.

The Container Recycling Institute says, on average, citizens of the United States dispose of more than 60 million plastic water bottles on a daily basis. Rather than being properly recycled, these used water bottles end up in landfills, waterways, or even streets as litter. As they degrade, these plastic bottles begin to release toxins into the environment. The long-term implications of these toxins is evident in bacterial growth as elements are leached into the dirt.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, it’s easy to see how tap water would be the superior choice over bottled water. Not only is the use of your own tap easier on your wallet, it is more accessible and convenient for your friends and family. A filtration pitcher or reverse osmosis unit makes it easier than ever to fill bottles with water at home. Regardless of your water filtration system choice, you can rest assured that you are providing your family with the safest drinking water possible.

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Lawn Watering Tips – When Is the Best Time to Water Your Lawn

November 15, 2021 No Comments

A lush, green grass demands regular watering. However, make sure that you water it correctly. Using a sprinkler at night, for example, creates ideal circumstances for disease. Your lawn will suffer if you water it too sparingly, as the roots of your grass will not be able to develop deep enough to withstand the heat of the hot weather.

It might be difficult to maintain and care for a green and lush lawn. It can be difficult to figure out why your grass isn't growing as green or as thick as you would want it to be. In many cases, a lack of water or watering at the wrong time might cause grass to struggle. Even if your lawn appears to be in good shape, you may be interested in learning how long to water turfgrass or when to water your lawn to conserve water. In this article, you'll learn about the most common watering mistakes you may be doing with your lawn and how to fix them so that it grows strong and beautiful.

Healthy and hydrated lawns can be achieved by following these guidelines.

When to Water the Lawn

If your grass has a greyish cast or seems dull green, it is informing you that it needs water. You can also walk on your grass to inspect it: If your footsteps do not disappear fast, it is because the grass blades lack the moisture required to bounce back. While it may appear that you may water your lawn at any time of day, your lawn actually requires more particular maintenance. Watering your lawn in the morning (before 10 a.m.) is the greatest time since it is colder and the winds are calmer, allowing water to penetrate into the soil and be absorbed by the grass roots before it evaporates. If you must water in the evening, do so between 4 and 6 p.m., giving the grass blades enough time to dry before midnight. The later you water, the more likely disease will become rampant on your lawn. It is important to note, however, that you are not required to water your lawn. Lawns are tenacious. Lawns that are well-established and well-cared-for can tolerate weeks without water by going dormant (turning brown), then revive once the rain arrives.

Watering The Right Amount

A lot of individuals either over- or under-water their plants. You need to figure out how much water your lawn needs. Despite what you may believe, the quantity of water each grass needs is actually quite consistent. The weekly watering requirement for a healthy grass is between one and one and a half inches. One of the most common causes of illness, fungal development, and soil compaction is overwatering your lawn, which can lead to unsightly, unhealthy grass. On the other hand, your grass will turn yellow and parched if you provide it with insufficient water. Even in the winter, it's important to water your lawn at least an inch a week. It's a year-round job to water the lawn.

You may not need to use sprinklers at all if you live in a moist area, which is good news. You don’t need to water your grass if your lawn receives 1-1 1/2 inches of rain each week. Watering your grass in the winter is not needed because the snow provides the necessary weekly precipitation.

How Long to Water Your Lawn

It's common for people to worry about overwatering their lawns, or to water it too much. Now you know how much of the water your lawn needs to be hydrated but the question is: How long should you wait before you start watering your lawn in order to get that crucial 1 -1 1/2 inches of water? Depending on your lawn, it may take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to wet your grass. Every three days, only 20-30 minutes of watering is required if watering three times a week.

There is a simple test that might help you figure out just how long to water your lawn. Set up a container of some kind in your yard and run the sprinklers to water it. Time how long it takes for the container to fill up to a depth of one inch with water. This is roughly the amount of time it will take to water your grass every day for the rest of the week. As a result, the watering can be spread out over two or three visits.

How to Tell if the Grass is Watered Enough

As soon as you start watering your lawn twice or thrice a week for twenty minutes, you may want to ensure that your lawn is getting adequate water. The simplest way to tell if your lawn is healthy is to look at it. Generally speaking, if the grass is lush and green, it is receiving adequate amounts of water. You can also use a screwdriver for this matter. Stick the screwdriver into the soil, your yard is getting enough water if it sinks 6 to 7 inches. A bit extra water could be needed for your lawn if it doesn't get deep enough.

Mushrooms are a good indicator that your grass is being overwatered. Reduce the amount of water you use if you notice mushrooms sprouting from the grass.

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How You Can Improve Your Water Intake

November 15, 2021 No Comments

We all know the importance of the amount of water we should take into our bodies daily. Water makes up approximately 60% of your body as reported by Jaclyn London, RD who is the head of nutrition and wellness as well as data from the U.S and Geological Survey which is a government agency that backs up this data.

Because water is such a major part of your body's functions as reported by Ryan Andrews, RD principal nutritionist, and advisor at Precision Nutrition in Toronto, Canada. Water moves and dissolves various substances around the body to help in metabolic reactions, lubricates tissues such as your eyes and joints, regulates your body's temperature, offers minerals, and is a building material for cells.

Due to our busy lives, the importance of water should give you more than enough motivation to drink even more water. It seems that hydration has taken a backseat to all the activities we are involved in during the course of the day. It's really easy to overlook your intake of much-needed water.

The Many Benefits In Water

The bottom line, in order to survive, your body needs water. Water takes up approximately 50% to 70% of your body's weight. All cells, tissue, and organs need water to operate properly. For Example:

Water helps you maintain a good temperature balance.
Lubricates and insulates your joints.
Protects sensitive tissues.
Removes waste through urination and perspiration

The lack of water will cause dehydration, a condition that surfaces when you do not take in enough water to perform normal activities. Mild hydration can drain your energy leaving you tired all the time.

How Much Water Do I Need to Stay Healthy?

According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has determined that men should consume 125 ounces of fluid from beverages and food and women should consume 91 ounces. These fluids come from beverages including water as well as water-rich foods found in produce. Unfortunately, we are not taking in enough water. Beverages have become a staple for liquids even though they are also loaded with sugar and caffeine. It seems water has taken a backseat because it's so bland.

For your body to operate correctly, you must take in beverages and foods containing water. Every time you breathe, perspire, urinate, and have a bowel movement, you lose water. So how much water does your body need for a healthy life in a temperate climate? According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine the right level of fluids should be:

For men, the average daily intake should be 15.5 cups or 3.7 liters of water.
For women, the average daily intake should be 11.5 cups or 2.7 liters of water.

The recommendations include fluids from water, other beverages, and food. Only 20% of this fluid comes from food while the rest comes from drinking fluids.

How Much Water Should I Take in Every Day?

Studies have shown recommendations vary from one to another. Your individual intake depends on your health, your activity level, and where you live.

One formula does not fit all. When you know more about your body's need for fluid will help you estimate how much water you should consume each day. That said, there are many innovative options to choose from. They vary in cost but can also make it more fun to consume water.

Flavoring

You can make drinking water much more fun by adding things like lemon, lime, and orange. Some people prefer to add herbs.

Fitting Your Routines

What you might not know, you should drink water every time you brush your teeth, eat food, or use the bathroom.

Eating

There are several foods such as fruits and vegetables that are high in water content including melons, cucumbers, lettuce, and celery.

Keeping Track

You can purchase a high-tech bottle that connects to your smartphone and records how much liquid you are taking in. You can also set up an alarm as a reminder and track your intake in your calendar.

Challenge Your Friends

Set up a competition with your friends or your kids to meet their drinking goals.

On The Go

Be sure to fill up your water bottle when you are leaving home.

Other Drinks

Many people cannot give up their juices or sodas. Try to alternate between water and your other liquids. Read some of these suggestions and follow some of these ideas to keep yourself properly hydrated. I'm sure you have read or heard about drinking 8 glasses of water, which is actually quite reasonable.

Should Eight Glasses Of Water Be The Set Rule?

Most people will remain hydrated by drinking water or other fluids whenever they are thirsty. There are people that require less than 8 glasses a day while others will need more. Modify your total fluid intake based on one or more of these factors:

Exercise – If you are involved in one or more activities that make you sweat, you need to drink more water to replace the loss of water. Keep in mind, it's important to drink water before, during, and after any workout.

Your Environment – The heat and humidity in your climate will make you sweat demanding more fluid. If you go to a higher elevation, you can easily become dehydrated.

Your Overall Health - Your body will lose fluids if you are running a fever, are vomiting, or have diarrhea. Drink more water or follow your doctor's recommendations. Other issues might require more liquids such as bladder infections or stones in your urinary tract.

Pregnant Or Breast Feeding – If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you will need an increase in fluids to remain hydrated.

Can You Drink Too Much Water?

Usually, drinking too much water is not an issue for healthy, nourished adults. Athletes may sometimes drink too much water to prevent dehydration during a long workout or intense exercise. If you drink too much water, your kidneys will release the excess water. In other cases, too much water will dilute the sodium content in your blood. This is known as hyponatremia which can be life-threatening. Hyponatremia happens when the level of sodium in your blood is too low. Understand, sodium is an electrolyte to help regulate the amount of water that is in and around your cells.

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Why Is Fresh Water So Important

November 1, 2021 No Comments

Water is essential to life, but it is a limited resource. Freshwater makes up only 3% of the total amount of water on the planet. Freshwater is endangered by a variety of pressures, including global warming. over-development, and polluted runoff, despite its importance to natural & human societies.

What Is Meant by Freshwater & Where Can You Find It

Water is a wonderful element. It is remarkable in that it may be found as a liquid, solid, or gas in nature. As the temperature of rivers, lakes, and oceans, and streams rises, some water could turn to gas, forming moisture clouds. Some of the liquid in these clouds falls as snow or rain as they float over land or seas that are cool. Snow and rain that falls on the ground penetrates low spots, feeding groundwater tables and aquifers, or runs downwards, forming headwaters.

After flowing into the streams, these headwaters then flow into lakes and rivers. These waters ultimately travel towards the sea, restarting the cycle. Water may be divided into two types: fresh water and saltwater. Saltwater makes up 97 percent of water and therefore is largely found in our seas and oceans. groundwater, wetlands, streams, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, lakes, and glaciers also contain freshwater. Such freshwater habitats cover less than one percent of the globe's surface area but are still home to ten percent of all recognized animals including up to forty percent of all recognized fish species.

Why Freshwater Is Essential

Freshwater makes up about 2.5 percent of water collectively present on Earth, and only around 1% of that is accessible - even though it is critical for human survival. power generation, industry, irrigation, agriculture, and drinking water, all require fresh water. Furthermore, freshwater habitats are home to 10% of the animal species in the world, several of which are critically endangered. Freshwater - wetlands, lakes, or rivers – are at the center of most ecosystems. Several of our distinctive taonga, like plants, fish, and birds would perish if freshwater environments were not healthy.

We can't exist without drinkable water, and the drinking water we consume must remain clean and free of disease-causing microorganisms. We also wash our homes, ourselves, and our clothes with water. Over one hundred fifty years of human growth and also land-use variations have put a strain on our rivers and lakes. In certain regions, the quality of water has degraded. This has an impact on the fish & various aquatic species, as well as our safe drinking water and also how we enjoy water activities like fishing and swimming.

Challenges And Threats

Freshwater is essential to life, as it supports human civilizations and the ecosystem. Freshwater is used in many facets of everyday life, such as sanitation, manufacturing, power generation, and food production. Nevertheless, it is in growing jeopardy. Although water covers two-thirds of the surface of the planet, just around 3% of it is pure. Pollution within the world's lakes, rivers, and streams makes water unfit for human consumption and damages local wildlife. Excessive usage, partly caused by the growing population, produces scarcity of water & dries up rivers, lakes, and streams before they approach the downstream neighbors or sea, causing conflict in certain cases.

For subsequent generations, freshwater access would be a defining problem. The quality and quantity of freshwater seem to be the two most pressing concerns.

Quantity of Water

Roughly half of the population of the world will live in water-scarce areas by 2050, and more than a quarter of towns are currently experiencing water shortages. While the hazards of water shortages are greatest in or surrounding the Middle East, it is a worldwide issue that threatens cities like cape town, Moscow, Bangalore, Miami, Tokyo, London. This emphasizes the need of safeguarding the integrity of the resources we do still have.

Quality of Water

Freshwater quality is equally as crucial as quantity. Every year, bad water quality kills more people than other types of violence combined, including wars. Inadequate water quality additionally puts over half of fish species, existing in the freshwater and thirty percent of all amphibians at danger of extinction.

Quality of water encompasses a variety of parameters such as chemical levels, nutrients, pH, and temperature. These values fluctuate naturally across various freshwater environments, however, human activity could produce dramatic changes in the quality of water that natural settings cannot consistently rebound from.

You've probably heard regarding the disastrous effects of oil spills affecting marine environments, however, are you aware that the chemicals used in our daily lives also pose a serious threat to freshwater ecosystems? This contamination originates from local farms, residences, roadways, sewage treatment plants, and some other sources.

An overwhelming nutrient inflow, particularly phosphates and nitrates, is one of the most serious risks to freshwater. phosphates and nitrates are important for the growth of the plant and exist naturally within the environment. Nutrient levels in sustainable freshwater habitats are often quite low - only enough to support the plants who dwell there.

Human activities on land, on the other hand, might produce more nutrients to enter the water. these Nutrients are typically found in industrial and household waste & sewage, and also fertilizers washing off of farmland & then into streams, rivers and lakes.

When there are far too many nutrients entering freshwater, a condition known as eutrophication develops. The additional nutrients promote the fast development of algae, resulting in toxic algal blooms that can smother other forms of life. Because of the reduction in environmental integrity, our water requires more treatment before it is considered acceptable to use and drink.

Our food may become tainted, and other functions provided by natural ecosystems, such as climate regulation and carbon storage, may be jeopardized. This has the potential to have a far-reaching impact on human life. Man-made pollution influences almost all freshwater habitats. The desire for freshwater keeps growing, and also some localities are experiencing shortages at particular periods of the year. As a result, we must actively maintain our freshwater resources.

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Reasons Why You Are Experiencing Low Water Pressure in Your Home

November 1, 2021 No Comments

I think most people realize how important water is for taking care of many duties including taking showers, doing laundry, and cleaning. It's really frustrating when one day your water pressure is somewhere around zero! You can't take a shower, wash your hair, or even clean if all you get is a thin stream of water coming out of the tap. Low water pressure happens when water comes out of the plumbing fixtures such as a showerhead or the faucets. All you get is a weak stream instead of a spray or any form of volume as it normally does.

As mentioned, when your water pressure is low, it's difficult to get anything done that involves water. You can't shower or wash your hair in a dribble of water, you can't do laundry, and it's almost impossible to wash floors. In order to repair the issue, you need to understand what causes this frustrating experience.

We will go over and explain the causes for a failure in water pressure and how you can fix the problem.

Understand Water Pressure

Your typical residential water system in your home is designed to function under a pressure of 40 to 70 psi. If the water pressure exceeds 100 psi, you would need a pressure regulator installed in the line to reduce this excessive pressure to keep it within the acceptable range. Doing so protects the equipment in your home from damage that will happen with excessive water pressure. The opposite is low water pressure ranging below 40 psi. If this happens you probably will need a pressure booster to bring the water back up to acceptable levels.

Also, high water pressure is wasting water and possibly rupturing your pipes, which will cause damage to the fixtures, and could seriously harm someone using the water. Wasted water is not a good outcome either. Municipalities are charging homeowners and businesses a small fortune for water consumption as well as charging consumers higher rates for the disposal of wastewater.

Areas Affected from Low Water Pressure

If you are investigating what areas of your home are being affected by low water pressure, you must observe the scope of the problem. In other words, you need to know how many plumbing fixtures are being affected by the decrease in water pressure. If you are lucky, you might discover it's only one fixture but in other cases, the pressure seems to be well below in several areas, in certain rooms, or throughout the entire house. If it's throughout your home, it could be a serious problem. This is important information you need to know to find out where the issue is located. Go around the interior as well as the exterior of your home to check every single plumbing fixture.

The Most Common Occurrences

We are going to talk about the most common reasons why you have low water pressure so you will know what to do or whom you need to call. Also, we will be able to lead you down the right path without trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Water Supplier

Before running around your home turning on and off valves or knocking on pipes, check with your neighbors to see if they have the same problem. If yes, there's a good chance your low water pressure is not connected to your home. You should contact your water supplier and find out if they are having issues and working on the problem. If it's something they are aware of and are in the process of fixing it, you will have to just sit back and wait. On the other hand, if they have no record of an issue or they are refusing to address it, you might have to move up a step. Little did you expect taking a shower would take a petition.

The Main House Shutoff Valve

If you are the only one in your neighborhood to have an issue with low water pressure, you will have to start going around and checking all your pipes to find the culprit. It's important you know where the main house shutoff valve is located. You need to know what happens if it isn't all the way open. Unless you have gone through an emergency involving a burst pipe or leak, or you have not altered the valve in any way, then what's up?

First, find the main house shutoff valve, it may be outside but chances are it's inside where the main city supply pipe enters your home. Before there is an issue, find someone who will show you exactly where the main house shutoff valve is located. Okay, so you have found it. If it has a handle similar to the one used to turn on your hose, turn it counterclockwise as far as you possibly can. On the other hand, if the handle looks like a lever, it must be parallel to the pipe or it will not be fully open which is probably why your water pressure is so low.

The Pipes Are Clogged up

While most people think clogs only take place in drains, that's just not true. Clogs can cause problems in piping and even small clogs can screw up normal flows reducing your water pressure. The problem with a clog like this, it can be located absolutely anywhere underneath your home. If this is the case, your best bet is call in a plumber.

The last thing you want to do is pull pipes apart and not have a clue how to put them back in place. Keep in mind, you might not have a clue what you are knocking loose or what you are contaminating your pipes with. Even though it's not advisable, people will throw chemicals down a drain to break up a clog, with pipes, this is something you seriously should not do. These are dangerous chemicals you would be placing in your pipes and the same pipes you drink water from! That's a very bad idea.

You Have Corroded Pipes

This is always a possibility especially if you live in an older home. Newer pipes in newer homes are not made from galvanized steel, the plumbing should be fine for many years to come but older houses haven't got that luxury. They have not been updated and probably need to have the piping overhauled.

Corrosion could be a problem if you have added plumbing fixtures to your home. It could be an extra bathroom or washing machine after the house was built.

When you start adding plumbing to a completed home you should enlarge the branch lines of your piping. If not, those areas of your pipes are working overtime and they will start corroding much faster.

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Maintenance Recommendations for your Reverse Osmosis System

November 1, 2021 No Comments

An RO system purifies water by removing dangerous chemicals and some other impurities using a series of RO membranes and filters, providing yourself and your family members with fresh and clean water to drink. The filtered water is kept in a closed tank and is available anytime your family requires it.

Based on your household’s water needs, RO systems come in a multitude of tank sizes and filtration levels. An excellent RO water system could survive for many decades if maintained properly.

A well-maintained device can survive for several years, maybe even a century. If you don't, though, you risk drinking tainted water. And here is what we propose for reverse osmosis maintenance to make RO system function longer.

How Frequently Should RO Filters Be Replaced?

Ro systems must be maintained regularly for maximum efficiency.

RO systems typically contain 3-5 filter stages. Not going into depth about every RO process stage (because these stages can change with the model), we'll go over some general maintenance tips that apply to most Reverse osmosis units.

Pre-filter:

Water passes via a pre-filter to safeguard the sensitive RO membranes. Some sediments, sand, silt, and dirt are filtered out by the pre-filter cartridge. This pre-filter must be replaced after six to nine months. The pre-filter may become clogged or foul if not maintained properly or replaced regularly, rendering it ineffective to safeguard the reverse osmosis membranes.

Carbon Filter:

Specifically designed to eliminate chlorine and some other odor or taste contaminants, is usually the following step. This is very critical Since chlorine may damage the reverse osmosis membrane. Furthermore, every six to nine months, the carbon filter must be replaced.

Reverse Osmosis Membrane:

It is the actual reverse osmosis step. The separation technique of reverse osmosis (RO) employs pressure to drive water across a membrane. The contamination is retained solely on a single side of the membrane while water, that is a pure solvent passes to the other side. If zero external pressure has been exerted, this mechanism is the inverse of the usual ‘process of osmosis,' which would be the natural solvent movement from a lower solute concentration area across a membrane toward a higher solute concentration area.

When Should You Replace Your Filters?

Membranes and filters must be updated on schedule as an element of an appropriate preventive maintenance plan for a RO system to provide filtered water. Clean and disinfect the storage tank and the system regularly to eradicate unwanted bacteria that might cause bad odors and tastes. It might be due to infrequent usage, outdated filters, and damaged membranes if the RO water has acquired a bad odor or taste.

These worn-out parts will need changing on a routine basis. If your RO faucet water is flowing considerably slower, or the storage tank's water pressure isn't set correctly, and also that your storage tank needs changing.

Annual Reverse Osmosis Maintenance

When replacing filters within a sanitizing system, all fresh filters must be kept in their original package unless it's time to change them. Follow the instructions below to get started:

Ensure that the servicing area is clear of any dust or dirt.
Hands should be washed with water and soap or sanitary gloves should be used.
Completely close the primary valve.
Then, using your reverse osmosis faucet, distribute all the water.
The carbon and sediment filters should be removed from the housing.
Take the Reverse osmosis membrane out of the housing.
Don't put the filters in the housings, but reassemble the housings.
Fill the stage 1 housing with around one cup of hydrogen peroxide.
All connections should be reconnected.
Turn on the primary valve.
Let the system function normally (storage tank would rapidly refill, without any filters).
Allow the system to run for at least two cycles.
Close the primary valve once again.
Replace the filters with the new ones.
Allow the tank to refill before draining it once more.
Your RO system will be good to use at this stage.
Once per year, repeat the process.

Filter Replacement: Selecting the Most Effective

Check labels to see whether it's NSF-approved. If that's the case, you could use NSF's external symbol to look for more information regarding what a specific model is approved to defend you from. Water filter labels usually list the impurities that are eliminated, which might assist you to make a decision. Because not every sales rep will be acquainted with your requirements, make sure to examine labels attentively and confirm the manufacturer's assertions with an impartial source.

Take note that most products feature a variety of filter options. Salespeople may be willing to assist you in making an ideal decision, but keep in mind that they have been occasionally paid to promote a specific brand. Whenever you buy a filter, double-check the assertions and study the small print somewhere on the box to make sure it would be perfect for your needs.

Don't presume that if any single contaminant is removed, the filter will also eliminate others. Chemical filters frequently fail to efficiently eliminate germs, & conversely. Ro, ion exchange, and distillation systems, which remove compounds from water, may also extract fluoride. children drinking water with fluoride levels below 0.6 ppm may require fluoride supplements. For particular advice, consult your child's dentist or pediatrician.

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You Can Improve Bad Tasting Tap Water

October 28, 2021 No Comments

There are people hypersensitive to the taste, smell, and flavors in tap water while others have no reaction whatsoever. Many people who have reactions to tap water will choose to purchase bottled water and be done with it. If you have issues with your tap water, there are solutions.

We are going to give you some insight into your tap water. No matter where you live, each area has its own tastes, flavors, and odors that are unique to the area. The good news, the majority of these conditions can be fixed by choosing the right water treatment system.

Bad Tasting Water

Tap water varies from one location to another and some people think it's the secret ingredient in foods such as New York bagels or pizza! That said, bad-tasting water will have people running out to buy filters to get rid of the flavors in their water. Some of these flavors include copper, dirt, and bleach. There are many reasons why water might have a bad taste but the majority can be corrected with the right choices of water treatment systems.

Chlorine

Whether you live in an apartment or a home, chances are your water is connected to the municipal water supply which is usually treated with chlorine in order to remove contaminants. Even though this process makes your water safe, it often leaves an order in the water. This taste and odor are not particularly strong but those who are sensitive to chlorine will pick up the taste and smell more strongly than others. Although you cannot totally eliminate chlorine, it is possible to minimize the effects so you will not be bothered by the taste and odor.

There are several carbon-based filters you can use to get rid of the chlorine from your water. If you prefer, you can choose to let your water sit, uncovered, before consuming it. It will evaporate some of the chlorine.

Copper

Copper in water is usually caused by corrosion of copper plumbing which will lead to tastes, according to the South Caroline Department of Health and environmental control or SCDHEC. You can taste copper at levels of 1.3 milligrams per liter and in some cases can turn light hair a greenish color. Also, if you have a fish aquarium, you should not use this water. The effects are usually stomach cramps and intestinal discomfort above 60 mg/L.

This taste can result from a higher level of total dissolved solids (TDS), which are dissolved minerals in the water. TDS will cause a medicinal taste if they are mostly sulfates including sodium sulfate (Glauber's salt) and magnesium sulfate known as Epsom's salt. These salts can cause a laxative effect especially for people who are not used to drinking this water. Elevated levels of zinc can lead to vomiting, and nausea but only at levels well above those that can cause people to taste the mineral. Many experts said they have never heard of anyone getting sick from zinc in drinking water.

Zinc, Iron, And Manganese

All three can cause a metallic taste in water. The presence of zinc is usually due to the corrosion of galvanized plumbing while iron and manganese happen naturally in water sources. Water that has both iron and manganese might notice a darker color in tea and coffee. They can also cause a stain on plumbing fixtures, appliances, and laundry. These minerals can build up in water heaters which you will have to drain regularly to prevent deposits. That said, even though they leave a taste, none of these elements should cause any health issues, according to SCDHEC.

Other Origins

If animals fall into open water supplies it may cause a taste but usually an odor, according to Southern Water. Southern Water is a company located in West Sussex, England. If the taste or order continues, it should be addressed. Should you smell gasoline, it could indicate dangerous contamination from nearby fuel sources and should be reported.

Is It Safe To Drink This Water?

Unwanted tastes such as earthy, swampy, sulfuric, chlorine, or metallic may be present. Usually, these tastes originate from algae, bacteria, disinfectants, decaying vegetation, and even wildfires. For the most part, these elements are not generally dangerous to your health.

How To Reduce The Taste Of Water?

The best solution for improving tap water taste is installing a filter or purifier to remove contaminants that cause most of these issues. Below, you will find descriptions of our recommended systems to help you make the right decision.

Reverse Osmosis System

A reverse osmosis system filters water uses a multistage process to remove total dissolved solids. This process removes total dissolved solids (TDS) by pushing water through a semipermeable membrane. The sediment filter removes dirt, rust, and dust particles while the carbon filter reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) along with chlorine and other contaminants that give your water a bad taste or odor. RO systems are considered the most complete form of filtration for removing harmful minerals but will also remove beneficial minerals including calcium or magnesium.

The Activated Carbon Filter

Activated carbon filters are carbon that has been activated to create a large surface area. Tiny pores along with surface areas allow for the absorption of chemicals as your water flows over a bed of activated carbon. These filters remove large contaminants such as chlorine but are not designed to remove inorganic material including heavy metals, minerals, and sulfates, or small microorganisms.

The Alkaline Water Filter

This filter is designed to separate acidic and alkaline components using electrolytes. By adding minerals back into the water, it can raise the pH level. The mineral taste might make the water taste worse for some people. The filter adjusts the pH level which will help the taste of your water if the pH is the cause. The Alkaline Water Filer works best with other filters.

The Ultrafiltration System

The Ultrafiltration System forces water through a single hollow filter membrane which serves as a filter for microorganisms. It will remove some bacterial viruses and parasites while keeping the beneficial minerals that a reverse osmosis system will remove.