What’s In Your Water?

Regardless of your favorite water source, take time to visit the Environmental Working Group’s website: www.ewg.org/tap-water/home. What you learn may be jaw dropping!

The group’s National Drinking Water Database reviews 173 different bottled waters in terms of the water source, the purification process, product testing, and advanced treatment following testing. There were no “A” grades, and only 3 varieties received a “B” grade. That’s 3 out of 173 different brands! While I was happy to find the brand that I primarily use was one of those three, I was shocked to read about the products that received a “D” or “F” grade. Products that are sold in expensive restaurants and markets, as well as brands sold in health-oriented stores were on the list. You can click through the name of each product and learn about differences between information listed on the product label and the supplier’s website. You can also find information about the product’s water source, the purification method, additional information, and the water quality reports associated with the product. The information is so specific that frequently several different samples of the same brand (often purchased in different states) were compared.

If you think that your water is pure because you have a filtration system installed on your tap or through your refrigerator, think again! First search the EWG’s database for the test results of your local water supplier. You can read first-hand about contaminants found in the water between 2004 and 2009, the concentration level of the contaminants, as well as the number of times that the water was tested. Then, take the time to learn what the particular filter you are using actually promises to minimize or remove. If your filter does not address the particular threats found in your local water system, your future health may be impacted. The EWG’s site also has a handy search tool for finding a filter that addresses your needs. If you have not been tested for the presence of heavy metals in your body, it might be an educational experience to learn about the water sources of where you lived in the past. The contaminants found in the water source of my home town were drastically different from those where I live now.

If you know of any other good sources of information about the water that we drink, please contact me at susan@uncommoncourtesy.com.