We all know that water is essential for life. But we don’t often stop to think about everything that this fact entails. Water is everywhere, within us, and around us. It is one of the basic ingredients of everyday existence. Water is troublesome, however, as it acts as a powerful solvent on nearly every substance on the planet, meaning that it could be carrying around trace elements of anything in our physical world. In this article we will cover some basics of water chemistry, consider some of the risks posed by waterborne contaminants, and present some of the ways that we can work to improve the quality of the water in our lives.
The Importance of Clean Water for
Health and Well-Being
There are a few basic necessities for carbon-based life forms
like us: caloric intake, sunlight, and water. Water is involved in every
important bodily and cellular process, and without it, none of our physical
systems would exist in the first place, let alone be able to function well.
Without water, we die, so it is of the utmost importance that whatever water we
are putting into our bodies be as clean and pure as possible, because any
contaminants in the water will become intertwined with our cellular make-up
when we drink that
water, corrupting many healthy biological functions, and doing a wide
range of potential harms.
Statistics on Global Water
Quality and Access Issues
Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, access to clean
drinking water is a sporadic occurrence, or is entirely unavailable. According
to the World Health Organization, at least 1.7 billion people used a drinking
water source that was contaminated with human waste in 2022. Human and animal
fecal matter poses some of the gravest waterborne safety concerns, and often
leads to illness and death. In the same year, around 73% of the world’s
population had access to a safely-managed drinking water service.[1]
That number is far higher than it has ever been in human history, but there are
still many people left without access to safe, potable water for drinking,
bathing, and cleaning.
Health Benefits of Clean Water
From having more energy, to avoiding toxins, heavy metals, and microorganisms in your body, clean water is one of the single most important health considerations for any living thing, human, animal, or plant. Water is one of the primary tools that our physical systems use in processes of cell growth, repair, regeneration, and apoptosis. When alien contaminants get mixed up in that process, the results can be devastating, as in the case of lead and other heavy metals, or it can lead to milder symptoms, but either way, such contaminants should be removed.
Practical Tips for Maintaining
Clean Water at Home
One of the best things you can do to ensure you are getting high
quality water in your house is to educate yourself on the current state of your
water. You can’t fix a problem you don’t understand, so educate yourself on
your regional water conditions. A quick Google search will yield the most
recent federally-mandated annual water quality report for your city or
municipality. For more robust testing, you can ship a sample of your water to a
laboratory for exhaustive lab testing. The more you know about the starting
conditions of your water, the better your chances of effectively filtering the
water become.
Regularly Clean Faucets and
Aerators
Your water comes into contact with many surfaces before you
drink it, most recently your pipes, faucets, and aerators (small mesh screens
on some faucet heads). To ensure that your delivery system isn’t imparting bad
elements into your water, take the time to routinely remove limescale, organic
crud, or anything else that may be caked onto your faucets. White vinegar is a
simple and effective cleanser that will even get rid of unsightly calcium
deposits.
Use Water Filters and Change Them
as Recommended
One of the most important things you can do to improve your
water quality at home is to invest in a water filtration system. After
determining what is in your water that shouldn’t be there, you will be in a
better position to determine what type of filter system will suit your needs.
Regardless of the specifics, however,
there are a few basic elements that any filtration system needs. First
comes sediment filters. There is a quality range of sediment
filters available on the market, from depth-gradient
polypropylene filters to pleated polyester. They differ in construction, but
their purpose is to remove physical particulates from water.
Sediment filters get out the big stuff, but most of the really
damaging elements are unseen, and in dissolved form. That’s where activated
carbon enters, as it does an excellent job of stripping out chlorine and other
dissolved chemicals in water, through a process called “adsorption.” The
chemically active carbon, which is made from ground-up coconut husk charcoal,
chemically attracts free-floating contaminants, binding them to itself, and
taking them out of the water.
Avoid Pouring Chemicals Down
Drains
An easy way to avoid exacerbating any problems in your water is
to properly dispose of all chemicals and automotive fluids at a waste treatment
plant, rather than pouring them into your sink, or even into the storm drain.
Paint, solvents, dyes, glues, lacquers, nail polish, and certain harsh cleaning
supplies all may be harmful to breathe or be around, and can get into your
water and piping if you don’t dispose of it properly.
Check for and Fix Leaks Promptly
A leak is a huge problem in and of itself, as water damages wood
very quickly, and can even do damage to serious damage to the structural
integrity of your home or apartment if left unchecked. Leaks also allow
contaminants to get into the water stream, so it’s imperative to keep an eye on
your plumbing, and ensure you stay drip-free.
Store Water in Clean, Covered
Containers
If you store water in the fridge or on the countertop for
drinking throughout the day, be sure to only use clean containers, and keep
them covered. Sitting water will stagnate, and exposure to the open air speeds
up that process. Use a covered carafe or pitcher, and make sure to wash it at
least once a week.
How to Choose the Right Water
Filter for Your Home
If you are considering bringing water filtration into your home,
then as we stated above, you need to start by educating yourself about the
water in your home and region. After getting a sense of what’s there, speak to
a local plumber or water dealer about the best options for your situation. Most
everyone will benefit from
sediment and carbon filters, and in cases of high TDS, an ultrafilter
or reverse osmosis system may be called for as well. Just remember that
there is no one “right way to do it;”
there are rather a variety of tools that you can choose from to get the water
you want to drink.
Conclusion
Water is a source of anxiety and concern for many people around
the world, as it is so precious, yet can contain so many hidden dangers. Even
for those fortunate enough to live in an area with good water treatment
infrastructure, things can go wrong, and contaminants can get into our water
supply in unexpected ways. The most important thing to do is educate yourself
about the risks, and the solutions on hand to combat them.
