Five Things to be Cautious of Regarding Your Tap Water and the Safer Alternatives

Five Things to be Cautious of Regarding Your Tap Water and the Safer Alternatives
by www.SixWise.com

The water that flows into your home, which you use to drink, bathe in, do laundry, wash dishes, and cook with, may contain numerous impurities and contaminants. These come not only from organic matter, such as dirt and leaves, but also from pesticides and other pollutants that have entered the water supply.

Your water, whether it comes from a river, lake or reservoir, then moves to a water treatment plant where it is disinfected, using even more potentially dangerous chemicals such as chlorine.

tap water

You can reduce the amount of chlorine and chlorine byproducts in your drinking water instantly with The Wellness Wand.

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set standards for more than 80 contaminants in drinking water, these limits are not always met.

For instance, according to the EPA, in 2002 11 percent or more of the water systems in 12 states violated maximum contaminant levels or treatment standards. And in another 15 states, 6 percent to 11 percent of water systems were in violation.

Of course, when levels of toxins exceed these standards your health may be at risk.

What happens if you and your family drink water that is contaminated?

According to the EPA, consuming contaminated tap water over time that contains excessive levels of chemicals (such as disinfection by-products, solvents, and pesticides), radionuclides (such as radium), and minerals (such as arsenic) can lead to chronic health effects such as cancer, liver or kidney problems, or reproductive difficulties.

Meanwhile, here are some other things you should know about your tap water:

1. It May Contain Radon

Radon -- a radioactive, cancer-causing gas that cannot be seen, smelled or tasted -- in household water causes 30 to 1,800 deaths per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Radon gas is easily released into the air when water is agitated, so even turning on a tap could release the toxic gas into your home's air if the concentrations are high enough. The radon in this form becomes part of the radon load in your home's air, and does most of its damage to your lungs.

You can also be exposed by actually ingesting the radon in the water. Because radon does evaporate readily into the air, surface waters, such as those from lakes and rivers, are less likely to contain high levels of the substance.

However, groundwater, which is used in wells, has not been exposed to much air, and therefore may contain much higher levels of radon. Wells filled by ground water supply about half the drinking water in the United States.

2. It Could be Exposing You to Toxic Chlorine, and Chlorine Byproducts, When You Shower

There are numerous studies that link drinking chlorinated water to increased risks of cancer, birth defects, miscarriages, and more. But what you may not realize is that showering or bathing in chlorinated water can be just as dangerous as drinking it, and even more so.

By taking a hot shower you end up absorbing over 600 percent more chlorine and other chemicals than you would from drinking the same un-filtered water all day!

This is because, when you shower, the warm water opens up your skin's pores, making it like a sponge for chlorine. Meanwhile, the steam in your shower, which you readily inhale, is full of chlorine and its byproducts as well. Since your skin is the largest organ of your body, some estimates say that steam can transport into your body up to 100 times the toxic chemicals as you would get from drinking tap water.

3. It May Contain Carcinogenic Trichloroethylene, or TCE

Trichloroethylene, or TCE, a solvent with a fairly sweet odor and taste used in adhesives, paint and spot removers, and also to remove grease from metal airplane parts and clean fuel lines at missile sites, is a widespread pollutant of U.S. drinking water supplies.

shower water

Showering 10 minutes a day for 10 years in manganese-contaminated water could cause damage to your brain.

TCE is often described as the most pervasive industrial contaminant in drinking water. It has been linked to numerous health risks, such as kidney cancer, reproductive and developmental damage, impaired neurological function, and autoimmune disease.

4. It is Being Threatened by Pharmaceutical Pollution

Prescription drugs, along with medications given to livestock, are increasingly showing up in our ground water, soil, waterways and even our drinking water. That's because our conventional sewage treatments may not be looking for drugs, and certainly don't always remove them.

Adding to the problem are prescription drugs that aren't used, then are flushed down the toilet or deposited in landfills -- ultimately ending up in the environment.

This so-called "pharmaceutical pollution" could have major implications on wildlife, agriculture and humans -- yet is only beginning to be studied.

5. Showering in Manganese-Contaminated Water Can be Toxic

Aside from the chlorine and chlorine byproducts, manganese, a naturally occurring substance in our air, soil, water and food, can also exist in your tap water.

What makes manganese so dangerous is that the current safety levels may not be adequate, and in excessive quantities it can cause a variety of health problems, including permanent nervous system damage.

Exposure can occur via many routes, drinking water, foods, manganese-containing pesticides, air, and more, but the most concerning source may come from something most of us do daily: shower.

A study by John Spangler, M.D., an associate professor of family medicine, and other researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine found that after showering 10 minutes a day for 10 years in manganese-contaminated water:

Children would be exposed to doses of manganese three times higher than doses that resulted in manganese deposits in the brains of rats.
Adults would be exposed to doses 50 percent higher than the rats.

According to the EPA, 0.5 milligrams/liter is the upper limit of manganese in water supplies, based on odor and taste of the water. However, the amount of manganese accumulated by breathing in shower vapors has not been considered, and even at 0.5 milligrams/liter researchers say manganese could cause brain injury.

"Inhaling manganese, rather than eating or drinking it, is far more efficient at delivering manganese to the brain," Spangler said. "The nerve cells involved in smell are a direct pathway for toxins to enter the brain. Once inside these small nerves, manganese can travel throughout the brain."

How Can You Help Keep Your Tap Water Safe?

Your local water supplier is required to provide you with a report of your tap water safety once each year, but rather than waiting for this report, many consumers are deciding to take matters into their own hands.

You have numerous strategies at your fingertips to ensure your water supplies are safe. First, you can have your tap water independently tested to find out what, if any, contaminants exist.

Next, you can use a high-quality water filter for your home, and The Wellness Wand when you're on the go. The Wellness Wand is a pen-sized water purifier that reduces harmful free radicals like chlorine and chloramines. Simply swirl the wand in your glass for 15 seconds, and you can have peace of mind that it is free of harmful levels of chlorine.

Next, do not overlook one of the primary routes of exposure to tap water contaminants: your shower.

"Taking long hot showers is a health risk," a study in New Scientist reported. "Showers, and to a lesser extent baths, lead to a greater exposure to toxic chemicals contained in water supplies than does drinking it."

Fortunately, chlorine and other chemicals can be easily removed from your family's shower with The Wellness Shower Filter.

The Wellness Shower effectively reduces up to 99 percent of chlorine from your shower's water for up to 24 months, which is two or three times longer than any other shower filtration system available. But that's not all.

The Wellness Filter concept was developed in the 1980s by Harusuke Naito, a renowned Japanese sports physiologist and Olympic swimming coach who wanted to produce "perfect water" for his professional athletic clients.

Shower in the Luxury of PURE Water

The Wellness Shower increases hydration of your skin and hair by 115 percent. You'll notice the difference in your skin and hair after just one bath or shower.

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Haru believed that even subtle differences in water purity, surface tension and mineral content could affect body hydration, cellular function, and athletic performance. After extensive field research and study he began experimenting with various natural filtering media in an effort to produce the world's best water.

Taking Water to Another Level

The Wellness Filter is now widely known for its ability to enhance water beyond the reach of conventional water purification systems.

At the heart of its enhancement ability is an array of permanent, exotic media that until recently have not been seen outside of Japan. After the water is purified, these media induce into the water a unique combination of water-soluble trace minerals and ions that Japanese researchers believe aid the body's biochemical functions and cellular health.

In addition, the filter also contains a special far-infrared emitting ceramic media, which imparts reduced ions into the water. These ions provide a mild antioxidant effect in the body when consumed and on the skin when bathing. This aids your body in neutralizing free radicals, which are believed to be a primary factor in aging and in the development of cancer.

You owe it to yourself, and your family, to shower in the luxury of pure water. With The Wellness Shower you'll notice the difference in your skin and hair after just one bath or shower. It's like bringing a spa into your home.

Effectively reduces up to 99% of chlorine for 24 months
Increases hydration of skin and hair by 115%
Used by the #1 Health Spa in the world
Antioxidant effect assists your body in repairing damaged skin and hair
Helps eliminate bad hair days
Supports your body's ability to resist undesirable bacteria & fungus
Helps promote a healthier, sanitized shower

Recommended Reading

Bottled Water: Which City's Tap Water System is Making a Flood of Cash off of You?

The Water Shortage Crisis in America & the World: A Quick Overview of One of the Most Dangerous Crises Humankind has Ever Faced

Sources

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Ground Water & Drinking Water