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The Need for Water Purification
  The Need for Water Purification by Gaiam Staff If you are concerned about the degradation of our environment, you are probably also conscientious about the foods you eat. If you are conscientious about the foods you eat, then you ought to be attentive to the quality of the air that you breathe and the water that you drink. Like food, air and water can carry into your body the contaminants that saturate the natural world. That seems obvious. But you may not realize the extent to which your personal source of domestic water and the air inside your house may be polluted. We will describe here the bad stuff that may be lurking in your air and water, the conditions that contribute to potentially unhealthful levels of these contaminants in your living space, and what you can do about it. And, in the best Gaiam Real Goods tradition, we offer our recommended air and water purification products and resources. The Need for Water Purification The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently released information stating that no matter where we live in the U.S., there is likely to be some toxic substance in our groundwater. Indeed, the agency estimates that one in five Americans, supplied by one-quarter of the nation's drinking water systems, consume tap water that violates EPA safety standards under the Clean Water Act. Even some of the substances that are added to our drinking water to protect us, such as chlorine, can form toxic compounds—such as trihalomethanes, or THMs—and have been linked to certain cancers. The EPA has established enforceable standards for more than 100 contaminants. However, credible studies have identified more than 2,110 contaminants in the nation's water supplies. The most obvious solution to water pollution is a point-of-use water purification device. The tap is the end of the road for water consumed by our families, so this is the logical, and most efficient, place to focus water treatment. Different water purification technologies each have strengths and weaknesses, and are particularly effective against specific kinds of impurities or toxins. So the system you need depends first and foremost on the nature of the problem you have, which in turn requires testing and diagnosis. We will describe the options available with such systems in detail after we discuss the contaminants you might encounter. Most treatment systems are point-of-use and deal only with drinking and cooking water, which is less than 5% of typical home use. Full treatment of all household water is a very expensive undertaking, and is usually reserved for water sources with serious, health-threatening problems. About the Author: Gaiam Staff Gaiam's team of writers brings together more than 60 years of combined experience and numerous published works on healthy, eco-conscious living. Their work has included in-depth articles, research and a rich variety of other projects in mind-body fitness, health and wellness, eco-living, alternative medicine, nutrition and related topics. Each of our writers brings an insight and passion to their work rooted in a personal interest in living a healthier, more eco-sensitive lifestyle.
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