Do we need to filter our water?
Water is essential to our health. We need it to keep our brains hydrated and functioning, distribute hormones and nutrients throughout our blood, keep joints and skin supple, keep digestion moving and many more functions. But, what kind of water do we need? Obviously, the cleanest, freshest water is best, but how do we achieve that?
Most Americans drink city-provided tap water and some have wells. It’s important to know what is in your water before deciding what type of filter to purchase. I will save you a few steps and say that it is essential that everyone filter their water beyond what is coming out of your tap or refrigerator. (Sorry, a filter in your fridge only removes sediment. It’s simply not enough.)
The Environmental Working Group has an extensive database where you can plug in your zip code and determine what chemicals and contaminants are in your water. For example, Fairfax 22030, has 10 cancerous chemicals and 14 other contaminants and heavy metals in the sample from Fairfax County Water Authority. Some of the chemicals include Hexavalent Chromium (remember the Erin Brockovich movie?), trihalomethanes and eight other chemicals known to cause cancer. Other contaminants included aluminum, barium, fluoride, strontium, and vanadium – to name a few.
Before you completely freak out – it’s ok. We can filter out these contaminants and drink clean water! You may think it’s ok to drink bottled water though and skip the tap. However, bottled water comes with many cons. It’s kept in plastic, which leaches chemicals and bits of microplastic. It’s simply plastic bottles filled with unknown municipal water (aka tap water). Drinking bottled water can be expensive and has detrimental effects on the environment. Plastic is polluting our oceans and wildlife exponentially. Please stop buying plastic water bottles. Get your filter and a reusable water bottle, like one from Contigo, HydroFlask or Thermoflask and fill it up when you leave the house. We even travel with ours.
If you rent, you should consider a countertop filter that you fill and keep in the fridge (if you want it cold). However, the filter type is what matters. Depending on what contaminants are in your water will determine what type of carbon block filter you need. Some great brands include Zero Water, Pur Water and Berkey.
If you own your home and can install a water filter, here are my favorite options. You can go with a simple reverse osmosis water filter that fits underneath your kitchen sink. This will remove most contaminants, including Hexavalent Chromium, but it also removes beneficial minerals, so consider one with a re-mineralizer or add trace minerals to your water. I have the one from Aquasana.
Another option is a whole house water filter. These filter everything in your home from your shower heads to your laundry water. This is a great option if you have high-end shower heads and don’t want to put individual shower heads in each shower. It’s also great for larger homes with multiple levels. I have both a reverse osmosis system and a whole house filter because I was finding my shower water was drying my skin and hair (too much chlorine) and it improved after I installed the whole house filter.
Another option is fresh spring water. If you live near an open spring, you would collect the water in large glass containers. However, they are difficult to find, could be contaminated and it’s difficult to collect. FindASpring.com is a great resource to find a spring near you.
Spend some time on https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ and learn what’s in your local water. EWG is a great resource to find filters as well. This is one crucial step you can take to improve your health – you just have to remember to drink!