What Constitutes "Good" Water?
May 04, 2010 by Bill Rawls, M.D.
The question of what constitutes healthy water is a matter of opinion. All water from ground sources, be it well or natural spring, contains dissolved minerals and is considered mineral water.
The presence of minerals defines water as being “hard.” Removing minerals from water can be achieved through a water softener that substitutes sodium for minerals found in the water. While soft water is less likely to leave undesirable stains on the tub, the health benefits are questionable and it can add sodium to the diet. In 2004, a World Health Organization expert consensus on water suggested that the healthiest water is hard water that is filtered of any microbial and organic chemical contaminants but still contains essential minerals (especially calcium and magnesium!). Evidence cited in the consensus strongly suggests that incidences of heart attacks, cancer and other disease are decreased with increased magnesium and calcium content in water supplies.
The composition of the water spilling from the tap in your home is highly dependent on the source. For your home, whether the water source is municipal or well, having the water source checked for mineral content, pH and contaminants is a worthwhile endeavor. This can be done through any local health department. “Good water” would be defined as having moderate to high levels of calcium and especially magnesium with a slightly alkaline pH of 7.4. Excess iron and sulfur can be removed by special filtration systems. To decrease bathroom stains and scale, having a water softener for the main house and a separate hard-water line for drinking water may be worthwhile. Drinking water can be filtered with simple carbon and particulate filters to remove any contaminants (without removing minerals!).
The latest trend in water treatment is ionization. When mineral-containing water is exposed to an electrical current, the minerals within the water form negative ions and shift the pH towards alkaline. Alkaline mineral water is desirable, but before going out and spending money on an expensive device, have your water checked. If calcium and magnesium are not present (or if you have a water softener), the ionizer will not do you any good. Also don’t forget that a tea kettle makes a wonderful water ionizer! Water can be ionized by simply bringing it to a boil, as you would do for making tea. Mineral water that has been alkalized by ionization or boiling is the tastiest water you can drink and possibly the healthiest. Alkalized water may be beneficial for decreasing the risk of osteoporosis, kidney stones and possibly gallstones.
If your best source of drinking water ends up being bottled water, take the time to research its origins (www.mineralwaters.org), as the mineral content of commercially-sold bottled water is highly variable. Also remember that chemicals from plastic bottles can gradually leach into the liquid stored in them. This is especially true if the container is exposed to heat. Whenever possible, store your water bottles in a cool place and opt for glass containers whenever possible.
Beyond filtration, please do your part to keep our water supplies clean and our landfills lighter. Using fewer disposable products, buying organic, and eating lower on the food chain translates into less pollution contaminating our streams, lakes and estuaries. Paper products are a significant source of water contamination. Toilet paper, napkins and paper towels are usually bleached with dioxins. Non-bleached and recycled paper products are becoming more widely available. The extra cost of these products is balanced by better health and a cleaner environment.
www.realgoods.com One of the oldest retailers of environmentally-sound products.
www.seventhgeneration.com Resource for safe cleaning products and non-bleached paper products.
Categories:
Tags(s): Detoxification, Toxins, Microbes,
Previous Comments
Kathy Sawyer- May 28, 2010
I had no idea that "hard" water was healthier than "soft" water! Thanks as always for keeping me in the know!
