It's recommended that we consume 8 glasses of water each day but just how safe is the water we drink? Find out here.
Drink more water! That message is constantly being thrust upon us. Water is truly a vital factor to a healthy life-style. Yet, each year some ten million people die as a direct result of drinking water. Admittedly, the vast majority of these deaths occur in under-developed nations, but even developed nations are coming to realise that their drinking water is not as safe as they may have thought. Why is this? For one thing, modern farming and industry are introducing new and harmful chemicals into our drinking water. In fact, a United States senator was recently heard to remark that "everything that makes our lives easier, seems to make our water dirtier."
Water is very rarely pure of chemicals, due to the gases and minerals that are dissolved in it. It is not necessary to remove all impurities to make our water safe to drink. Water treatment usually involves the following four steps:
(1) Aeration: Water is sprayed, cascaded or has air bubbled through it in order to absorb as much purifying oxygen as possible.
(2) Coagulation: Chemicals are added that encourage the impurities and bacteria in the water to clump together.
(3) Filtration: The impurities are filtered out through sand filters.
(4) Disinfection; Any remaining live organisms are killed with the addition of chlorine.
Despite this process, it is clear that some chemicals are getting into the tap water supply. Ironically, the very chlorine added to remove impurities is responsible for some of these potentially cancer causing chemicals. Chlorine is also believed to be a factor predisposing a person to heart attack and stroke. It's not surprising, then, that many cities around the world are looking to alternatives to chlorine treatment of their water supply. The majority of them have turned to ozone treatment. Ozone is an unstable form of oxygen that reacts in a chemical frenzy with water, oxidizing impurities quickly and leaving no ozone residue.
Many cities add fluoride to their water supply in an attempt to achieve mass medical treatment of teeth. Children who drink fluoride treated water reportedly have only a half to a third as many dental cavities. Opponents, however, state that those who drink a lot of water - as we all should - are put at danger by the fluoride, claiming that it could lead to mongolism, cancer and a shortened life span. Besides, they say, the dental benefits only apply to children.
So, where does that leave us? We need to drink more water, yet our water is potentially unsafe. Having a balanced view here is vital. It is impossible, and unnecessary, to avoid all impurities. On the other hand, a water purifier is a wise investment, one that will make the water you drink taste a lot better as well as removing concerns over chemical impurities.
The debate over chlorine and fluoride in our water looks set to continue for some time. In the meantime, lets get the most out of the water we've got - and continue to enjoy the health benefits of this amazing liquid.
