How To Find Safe Drinking Water For Your Family

by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Executive Director/CEO, Healthy Child Healthy World

A recent study in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine got me thinking about perceptions—and misconceptions—when it comes to water.

According to the study, black and Latino parents are three times more likely than whites to give their children bottled water rather than tap; these buyers also spend 1% of their income on bottled water, versus white buyer’s 0.4%.

This, in light of an Environmental Working Group report, which found only three of the nation’s 170 brands of bottled water sold in the United States disclosed where the water came from, how it was purified and what contaminants remained in the water. An earlier study by The Natural Resources Defense Council found that 17% of bottled waters contained unsafe bacteria, and 22% were contaminated with chemicals—including arsenic.

With scary statistics like these, why would anyone drink from a bottle? The decision may come down to marketing. As a recent Forbes article pointed out, companies like Coca Cola and Nestle are heavily invested in hawking water to minority groups.

And no wonder: The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that for each $1.50 bottle of water sold, the manufacturer pockets $.50—a significant margin. Bottled water costs very little to produce, yet very much to consume: An individual’s five-year supply of bottled water can cost more than $1,000, versus $1.65 if she drank from the tap.

Yet my worry is that soon, we may have no other choice.

Official Wire disclosed last month that the House of Representatives passed a vote banning the EPA from overruling states on water quality decisions. Federal jurisdiction had most recently been used to limit mountaintop mining in West Virginia, and would have come into play as the unregulated practice of fracking—extracting natural gas by fracturing rock beneath the earth’s surface, which has been linked to groundwater pollution—becomes more widespread, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

Clearly, environmental protections like the Clean Water Act are in jeopardy, as recently reported by Fast Company.

What’s a concerned parent to do?

We've created a checklist of quick tips to providing safe drinking water for your family. Support clean water activists like our Parent Ambassador Alexandra Cousteau, who will be honored with a Care2 Impact award at the Women in Green Forum this month. And keep an eye on your legislators.

 

How To Provide Safe Drinking Water for Your Family

IMPROVE YOUR WATER SUPPLY

  • Read the label of your bottled water. "Spring" water comes from one or more underground sources and some bottled water may come from a "municipal source" or from a "community water system," and may have had additional treatment. The best option is "bottled at source spring water"
  • Avoid plastic bottles with the following recycling codes #1 PET, #3 PVC, #6 PS, and #7 Polycarbonate, which may leak suspected carcinogens and hormone disruptors.
  • Look for safer plastic bottles, such as #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, and #5 PP, but ideally glass bottles.

KNOW YOUR WATER SOURCE

  • Find out if the pipes in your home or apartment building are made of lead or contain lead solder.
  • Send tap water samples to your local EPA-certified laboratory for testing, or buy a water test kit.
  • If your water is supplied by a public system:
  • Ask your supplier what chemicals and parasites are tested for and how the water is treated.
  • Obtain a Consumer Confidence Report on your water quality from your public water authority.
  • If your water supply is a private well:
  • Test your water yearly for pesticides, metals, coliform bacteria and other possible contaminants.
  • Avoid using pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals near your well's supply source as they can pollute your groundwater.

IMPROVE YOUR WATER SUPPLY

  • Install water treatment filters or conditioning systems. Several types are available, depending on what contaminants are present. A reverse osmosis filter will remove fluoride, chlorine and many other contaminants. Learn more about what filter to use here http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/getawaterfilter
  • Flush your pipes by running cold water for at least one minute.
  • Do not use hot water from the tap for cooking or drinking, as toxins are more likely to leach into hot water.
  • Make sure formula is prepared with safe water since boiling increases the lead concentration. Infants are at particular risk of lead poisoning because of the larger amount of water they consume relative to their body size.
  • If necessary, install shower/faucet filters since babies can swallow water when bathing.
  • Immediately dispose of household chemicals like batteries, fluorescent bulbs, used motor oil, etc., at your municipal hazardous waste depot. (Do not leave them around your home where they may contaminate your water supply.)

Source: www.healthychild.org/live-healthy...
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Previous Comments

nyscof commented on 26-Sep-2011 09:32 PM5 out of 5 stars
Get active and stop the unnecessary of fluoride chemicals into your drinking water which is ineffective at reducing tooth decay, harmful to health and a huge waste of money. don't be complacent and allow the special interest groups have their way with
your legislation. Demand fluoridation be stopped wherever you live. for more info http://www.FluorideAction.Net
Patrick Robinson commented on 27-Sep-2011 12:20 AM5 out of 5 stars
One of the major reasons for my checking out a valley hidden-away in the Andes Mountains of Southern Ecuador was that it reportedly had THE purest and healthiest water in the world! Living here now for the past three years, I can attest to that being the
case. I drink the "Agua Sagrada" (Sacred Water) right out of the tap, day in and day out. The place is Vilcabamba, Ecuador,called "The Living Laboratory Of Longevity". Check it (and the water) out at: www.valleyoflongevity.com.
Andriana commented on 27-Sep-2011 01:37 AM5 out of 5 stars
I've always said that drinking tap water boosts my immunity and that's why I never get sick. Now I wonder if it's because bottled water is actually contaminated! I only believe in glass too! Love this video and will share with everyone!
Anonymous commented on 27-Sep-2011 03:40 AM5 out of 5 stars
Good info but does anyone know anything about Adya Clarity?
John Bonnett commented on 27-Sep-2011 10:55 PM5 out of 5 stars
We have a responsibility of awareness to educate the public about what the big corporations are doing in trying to maintain their stangelhold on this essential product. I have a Kangen water Ioniser and it has cured my cancer which I have had for 40 years
- without any medication - Not all water is equal!!! Let us do it - I am on a mission, with 45 billion non bio-degradeable plastic bottles discarded annually - we need to improve our carbon footprint apart from improving our health and miminising medication
for all intakes of acid nature - It takes 32 glasses of ionised water at 8.5pH to nutralise the effects of 1 glass of Coke and much more if you choose to drink DIET Coke
jon commented on 03-Oct-2011 03:45 PM5 out of 5 stars
How can I find out the quality of our tapwater in Gwinnett County Georgis
Anonymous commented on 16-Oct-2011 11:57 AM5 out of 5 stars
Manufactured problem with no solution offered by the video. The second part of the video should offer practical methods of making tap water pure. Without this second part, the video is a waste of time.
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