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Many Americans use bottled water as their primary drinking water with the belief that it is the purest and safest water. When the government gives boil alerts due to contaminants found in tap water, bottled water flies off the store shelves! But what if your bottled water wasn’t as pure as you thought it to be? A recent Consumer Reports study found that 11 of the 130 water bottle brands tested had levels of arsenic that exceeded the federally mandated limit.
What is Arsenic?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance that is found in rocks and soil and is used regularly in pesticides. This element enters the water supply through agricultural run-off when minerals erode. Arsenic can quickly become a contaminant in water supply to rice crops, which grow in water, and water used by bottled water companies.
Arsenic is a tasteless and odorless contaminant that can cause a plethora of health risks. The Environmental Protection Agency has issued ten parts per billion (ppb) or less federal standard for arsenic in water. However, just because an amount is legal, does not mean the number is safe. Arsenic is known to cause:
- Headaches
- Stomach Aches
- Blindness
- Numbness of Hands and Feet
- Diarrhea
- Skin Discoloring
- Partial Paralysis
- Cancer (long-term exposure)
Due to these health risks and more several independent research companies have been fighting to get the federally mandated limit to 3 parts per billion, rather than ten parts per billion.
How Is Bottled Water Purified?
When a consumer purchases bottled water, there are many options to choose. Brand-name, store brand, distilled, purified, and spring. But what makes these types of water “pure”?
Spring Water – Spring water comes from an underground aquifer (spring) and filtered to remove unwanted contaminants. This process is generally a carbon filtration, which is thought to improve the taste and color of drinking water. Springwater will contain natural minerals and other natural contaminants that are unable to be filtered out.
Distilled and Purified Water – These two water types are tap water. The water is then distilled and deionized through a purification process. The treatment of the water is left unknown to the consumer due to unclear labeling by bottled water brands.
However, as the report from Consumer Reports has shown, the “purified” bottled water is still unsafe with high levels of contaminants. In fact, since 2016, several brands, including “health” brand Whole Foods, have had to recall thousands of water bottles due to unacceptable levels of arsenic.
How to Ensure You Have Safe Drinking Water
With the knowledge of contaminants that are in the water bottles which society has deemed “safe drinking water,” how do you ensure you stay hydrated with pure water? Reverse Osmosis.
Reverse Osmosis is a pressure system that utilizes a charged semi-permeable membrane to filter out contaminants, leaving you pure water.
On the outside of the membrane, a high-pressure system pushes the water molecules through the semi-permeable membrane. The holes in this membrane are not large enough for anything other than water molecules. This system means contaminants such as pesticides, lead, fluoride, nitrates & nitrites, pharmaceuticals, bacteria and, more are unable to permeate. The water then begins traveling through the membrane into the lower pressure system that gives you access to pure, clean water. The contaminants left in the high-pressure system are then sent down the drain and away from your home. Removing nearly all contaminants from the water in your home, you will notice an improved taste, color, and odor.
Whether your water is well or city water, Reverse Osmosis is the most efficient way to ensure you have safe water running through your home. Not only will your drinking water be more reliable, but also the water that runs in any plumbing. Your bathwater and cleaning water are all positively affected by the Reverse Osmosis system. No more mineral build-up on your plumbing and appliances. This benefit is good news for your wallet, as you will save money on cleaning supplies and appliance maintenance.
At Crystal Clear Water, we offer in-home water testing. Contact us by filling out the contact submission on our water testing page or by giving us a call today. Let our experienced professionals help you make an appointment!
Our lab can perform the “Complete Water Test”, a comprehensive test to give you a full-spectrum analysis of your water system.
We can test for:
- Alkalinity
- Bacteria
- Clarity
- Chlorine
- Color
- Copper
- Hardness
- Iron
- Lead
- Nitrate
- Nitrite
- PH Levels
And more!
Our facility is a one-stop-shop for testing and solutions. After receiving your test results, we will explore the best options for your home from our product line, including the Whole House Reverse Osmosis System mentioned in this blog. We stand by our product and offer a money-back guarantee!
Call us today and start your clean water journey!
