Most people know that water is good for you to drink. The body is over 60% water. Water keeps your skin looking fresh and healthy, which has anti-aging visual effects. Staying hydrated makes your digestive tract run more efficiently and reduces the risk of constipation. These are just a small handful of the benefits association with drinking water. Dehydration is a significant risk and can lead to a wide range of health problems and ultimately death.
People get approximately 20% of their water intake naturally from food. Many foods such as fruits and vegetables are naturally high in water. Some prepared foods are also high in water dependant on how they are prepared. The average men requires 13 cups of water a day to stay hydrated, and the average woman needs nine cups of water a day to stay hydrated.
Despite the clear need to drink lots of water, tap water is not always the answer. In many situations tap water can create more problems in our bodies than it solves. Most tap water contains fluoride which reduces the risk of cavities and promotes dental health. However, it also strips the body of vital nutrients needed to promote bone density. This has led to a decrease in bone strength and an increase in diseases like osteoporosis.
Old water pipes may contain lead, which can leach into the water. This is a particularly high risk in older areas where the pipes have not been replaced in decades. Lead poisoning has led to over 400,00 children developing learning disabilities each year. The recent cases of lead poisoning in the Detroit area is one example of the problem.
Aside from fluoride and lead, there are over 2000 other known water contaminants that have been found in drinking water in different regions of the country. Drinking contaminated water is the leading cause of global epidemic diseases.
These leads to questioning what the solution is. How can people get enough water to be healthy without all the risks of contaminates. Starting in the 90s, drinking bottled water became the go-to solution as leading beverage companies came out with their own versions of bottled water. However relying solely on bottled water is expensive, it is bad for the environment, and research showed that many of these companies were essentially bottling tap water.
The solution can be found in water filtration systems. Point-of-use systems filter out pollutants, sediment, and other contaminants prior to drinking. It does this at the point-of-use because you can not control where your drinking water comes from, so you can?t choose to have contaminant free water otherwise.
Water filtration systems can be installed to filter all the water coming into a house. They can be installed on individual facets to filter the water as it comes out, or they can be used in pitchers nad water bottles. There are water filtration systems available for on-the-go water bottles that allow you to filter water coming from facets, hoses, water fountains, or even creeks or rivers.
Household water softener systems can help by reducing the minerals and sediment found in the water. In addition to not being good for your health, they can also break down your pipes and cause build up and corrosion on your plumbing fixtures. Water that is filled with minerals and sediment is often referred to as hard water. Water softener systems for homes will treat all the water coming into your home regardless of the water source.
In home water purification systems will ensure that the water your drink and cook with is properly filtered, along with the water you use to bath, wash your clothes, and dishes. The benefits to water filtration systems are complex and far-reaching.