Seriously? That's what's in my water?

Is our tap water safe to drink? Is well water safe to drink?

This is the question I asked myself as I sat down to research this topic which seemed to be creeping into conversations I've had with my health-coach peers. Many have installed water filtration systems and I knew they had to have good reason for it.

The Flint water crisis had brought even more concerns to the front of my mind. What is in the water our family is drinking every day?

First--I'm shocked at what we've had to do to kill waterborne disease in our water supply.

In fact, in the United States, a number of chemicals are being added to our tap water to ensure safety from our faucets. These chemicals include chlorine, chloramines and fluoride. Some of these create byproducts with the elements already in water and pose some health risks of their own.

Further, things like the Flint water crisis are beginning to expose the danger of aging lead pipes across America. I'm not talking about lead pipes in our homes--I'm talking about your cities pipe infrastructure. If installed before 1986 (when a federal law banned lead pipes and solder), then your water likely runs through lead pipes before even reaching your home.

Tap water is likely to contain traces of prescription drugs.

These drugs get into our water supply through urine and the flushing of expired medications. Eventually this water is cleansed and recycled back into our tap water supply.

Most city water treatment centers don't remove all traces of drug residue. An investigation by the Associated Press revealed that drugs such as antibiotics, anti-convulsants, sex hormones and mood stabilizers were found in the drinking water supply of at minimum 41 million Americans throughout 24 major metropolitan areas across the country.

A four year scientific study recently made public by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) indicated that many bottled water brands were contaminated. It is estimated that 25-40% of bottled water is actually just bottled tap water.

We are fortunate in the United States to have a reliable supply of clean water. However, many of us struggle with what is done to the water to make it safe. Our Nation is undergoing a health crisis and you have to question if the chemicals & additives in the water might be contributing to some of the health challenges we face?

The answer is a personal one.

For our family, we chose to invest in an affordable Reverse Osmosis system for under our kitchen sink. We use this water for drinking and cooking.

We also went a step further and installed a whole house filtration system and a non-salt water softening system.

Everyone in the family immediately noticed a difference in the taste of our water. The chlorine smell is completely gone along with the funky taste we had even after our water had gone through a standard carbon filter we had in our refrigerator. We are very pleased with our decision.

I urge you to research your water quality in your area and make the best decision for you and your family. A reverse osmosis system is a great place to start.

We purchased our Whole House System through FreeDrinkingWater.com. They carry a number of affordable options for your family including counter-top Reverse Osmosis systems for those of you who may not be in your forever home or are living in an apartment.

Sources:

The Wall Street Journal. Flint Water Crisis Shines Light on Lead Pipes Across U.S. Jan 28, 2016 http://www.wsj.com/articles/flint-water-crisis-shines-light-on-lead-pipes-crisscrossing-the-u-s-1453977180

FreeDrinkingWater.com is a website that has a lot of great information and links about water quality.