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Robyn, selected from Intent

Improve the Quality of Your Water (Without Costing the Planet)

posted by Robyn, selected from Intent Apr 24, 2009 11:04 am
filed under: Healthy Home, Health & Safety, Healthy Neighborhood, News & Issues,
Improve the Quality of Your Water (Without Costing the Planet)
20 comments

By Norma Lehmeier Hartie, Intent

Drinking bottled water is a huge waste of finite resources, a source of pollution and a waste of money. Yet, millions of Americans continue to buy bottled water. If you are buying bottled water because you are afraid of the quality in your tap, read on.

If you have a well, have your water tested at a laboratory every two years. If you receive city water, request a copy of your water utility’s annual water-quality report, or test it yourself. To understand the water analysis, contact NSF International, a non-profit organization that certifies water-purification systems. They will direct you to a system that fits your needs. Depending upon the results of the test, you may:

  • Need to do nothing.
  • Add a water purification system.
  • Well owners: Install a UV light that kills bacteria and viruses as water passes through its beam. Add a sediment filter to remove sand, silt and other particulates. An additional carbon filter, if necessary, will remove chlorine and other chemicals.
  • Filter out chlorine and other toxins, odors and bacteria from city water with a facet-mounted or under-the-counter model filtration system. There are also a variety of shower heads to filter out chlorine and other toxins, odors and bacteria.
  • Run water from the tap several minutes in the morning (collect for plants and such) before using water for drinking and cooking.
  • Use only cold water for cooking, as hot water dissolves more metals from home plumbing.

    • Resist buying bottled water unless absolutely necessary. Treating your own water will result in water quality as good—or better—than what you purchase. It is highly wasteful to the environment to purchase water, as petrochemicals are involved in the transportation and in the plastic bottles.

    Excerpted from the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet, by Norma Lehmeier Hartie.

    Ready to save the planet? Post your intent or blog about your green successes and struggles, tagging your posts “greener life.” We may feature your post in this series!

    Intent.com provides content and community for who you aspire to be–personally, socially and globally.

    More on Health & Safety (195 articles available)
    More from Robyn, selected from Intent (42 articles available)

    20 comments

    20 comments

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    20 comments add your comment
    Cate Ridley

    A good friend of mine recently told me about Thank Water, a project that improves the taste and freshness of water simply by praying over it or putting simple notes on water containers. I have my own well which usually, this time of year, is very low and murky. Since I put a note on the well, the water is crystal clear and I have not run out of water once. I now have thank or love notes on all my water containers; tank, toliet tank, taps, etc. It may be a leap of faith but it sure works for me.
    The project is a result of studies done by a Japanese scientist. He has taken electron microscope photos of water crystals before and after the water has been blessed. The difference in the crystals is truly amazing.

    Beth Hartford-DeRoos

    Because we backpack I use a backpackers filter for water. Got mine at REI. There is a great book Bottlemania that discusses the millions of barrels of oil used each year to make the plastic bottles used for water and other beverages. Buying a reusable bottle and investing in a reusable faucet filter or pitchers. And also get the makers of the pitchers and faucet filters to recycle the filters as they do in Europe.

    ~Beth~

    Kari Dyrdahl

    I use Brittafilters & thanks to Care2 petitions, Britta is now starting a RecycleProgram here in the USA!

    Marie Tanner

    In many cases, bottled water is simply repackaged tap water. It's a shame that consumers are being duped in this fashion. They pay a premium for what essentially costs pennies. As the bottled water sits on store shelves the plastic bottle in which it's packaged contaminants leach into the water and in the end it may be more harmful to the consumer.

    Cindy L.

    Unfortunately, flouride is in many things including toothpaste! We quit using flouride 'enriched' products and my grandson has only been sick twice in the past year and a bit...and one of those times was because he was around smoking adults! Before that, he would get sick quite a bit. I must say that we also buy organic when we can and I believe that helps. Now the government is trying to pass a law stating that we cannot grow anything that can be used for medicinal purposes, including herbs.

    Lauren Weinstock

    I fill our jugs in the market...and only wish someday to take a jug and fill it with apple juice, or like the food co-op; laundry detergent. We, society has long way to go in conserving resources. Not enough to recycle plastic bottles, but USE less of them. I'm 57 (4/27/09) and been recycling, gardening, veggie-ing, reusing, using less, for long time, because what I do, I believe can make a difference.

    Lauren Weinstock

    I fill our jugs in the market...and only wish someday to take a jug and fill it with apple juice, or like the food co-op; laundry detergent. We, society has long way to go in conserving resources. Not enough to recycle plastic bottles, but USE less of them. I'm 57 (4/27/09) and been recycling, gardening, veggie-ing, reusing, using less, for long time, because what I do, I believe can make a difference.

    Lauren Weinstock

    I fill our jugs in the market...and only wish someday to take a jug and fill it with apple juice, or like the food co-op; laundry detergent. We, society has long way to go in conserving resources. Not enough to recycle plastic bottles, but USE less of them. I'm 57 (4/27/09) and been recycling, gardening, veggie-ing, reusing, using less, for long time, because what I do, I believe can make a difference.

    Lauren Weinstock

    I fill our jugs in the market...and only wish someday to take a jug and fill it with apple juice, or like the food co-op; laundry detergent. We, society has long way to go in conserving resources. Not enough to recycle plastic bottles, but USE less of them. I'm 57 (4/27/09) and been recycling, gardening, veggie-ing, reusing, using less, for long time, because what I do, I believe can make a difference.

    Friendsof W.

    To Sheila's question: First a little background: I learned about water as a tropical fish wholesaler in Boston in the 70s (including study with MIT experts & the Aquarium). 3 years ago we started a family business to share info about the threats to our water and to demonstrate one can succeed being of service and a positive influence. We spent months looking at the current options in water filtering - and we keep at it. We can sell any filters we want, but offer only the best we can find. The biggest thing is the filters actually do what they need to do. The pricing is fair, and a great value, in part because filters DO THE JOB for a year, and because all standard filter materials are recyclable.... We discount shower filters to $59.95 plus shipping, bath filters $53.95. Replacement disks cost $29.95. We also have garden filters. Kitchen filters to remove all the normal contaminants in municipal water, including fluoride, cost under $300 including shipping; replacement cartridges last a year. Filter disks for bath, shower & garden you put in your recycle bin. Kitchen cartridges you can ship to us - all parts used in normal filters are recyclable, and we will recycle them...... Please don't think that the small filters for a kitchen sink or pitcher will leave clean water. The manufacturers don't even claim that! There simply isn't enough filter material, and carbon won't remove lots of contaminants...... For lots more info, see www.friendsofwater or call 866-482-6803.

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