Push aside bread: Water is the true “staff of life.”
Water,
which carries oxygen to our body’s cells, makes up more than half of
our body weight and we can’t live for more than a few days without it.
Our bodies don’t get water just from drinking water alone as any fluids
we drink contain water as well as certain foods (think juicy peaches or
ripe tomatoes). Consuming pure, fresh, clean water is vital for our
good health.
How can we ensure that our drinking water is safe?
In
America, we have scientists and government regulators committed to
detecting, observing and regulating potential contaminants in our
water. However, the toll of time can result in a system that may wear
out as well as inadvertent mistakes that can happen. When the system
breaks down, we run the risk of toxic chemicals that can find their way
into the ground’s surface and into our tap water.
To
ensure our best health, we do need to find out if there are any
contaminates in our water and what their concentration levels are and if
they are contaminants that potentially pose health risks. The United
States Environmental Protection Agency,
http://water.epa.gov/drink/index.cfm, is a great resource to learn more about the safety of the ground water and drinking water in your region.
Central
North Pacific Ocean’s Pacific Trash Vortex, also known as the Great
Pacific Garbage Patch, hosts plastics, sludge and other debris trapped
by currents. The vulnerability of the world’s water to contamination
and pollution is part of our 21s t century reality and we must all play
the first line of defense in ensuring our water is clean and contaminant
free. As a working mother and a concerned San Diego citizen, here are
my tips on health and drinking water safety:
- Avoid Plastic Water Bottles –
Besides taking a toll on the environment by adding to our landfills,
the plastic from plastic water bottles, particularly when warmed up, can
leak into our drinking water. A study published in the “Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry” by Dr. X.L. Cao noted “significant
migration of BPA, or bisphenol-A, especially in hot conditions.”
- Ditch the Office Water Cooler –
In addition to the physical strength needed to hoist up a new water
cooler bottle into the tank, there is also a major health hazard for
offices that fail to regularly clean and disinfect the tank. A Tufts
University research study on water coolers found that, “organisms from
each new bottle of water adhere to a cooler’s reservoir–the ‘well’ in
which the bottle sits – and also to its hot and cold water spigots,
accumulating over time and thereby boosting the bacterial count of any
water that passes through on the way to a cup or glass.”
- Investigate Faucet Filters –
If the tap water doesn’t taste appealing and there are concerns about
heavy metals, chlorine or other contaminants in the water supply, water
filters used in a pitcher or attached to the faucet can be a viable
option. Not every filter type eliminates every type of contaminant.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that community water
systems provide customers with an annual water quality report. These
Consumer Confidence Reports provide information about the quality of the
drinking water supply. Once your review this report, you can assess
what contaminants may be in play and which filter works best to address
it.
The City of San Diego issues a Drinking Water Quality Report every year on July 1
st.
This report, which generally arrives with your water invoice, includes
important information about the water we drink. For San Diego and other
cities nationwide, you can also request a copy of your area water
quality report from your water company or visit the Environmental
Protection Agency at
www.epa.gov.
Invest in a testing kit and test your water both at home and in the
office. These samples can be submitted to laboratories for analysis.
The safety of our drinking water should never be taken for granted and
we should do everything we can to ensure our liquid “staff of life” is
clean and fresh from bio-contaminants.
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