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If the human body is a machine, water makes it go. But many people aren't getting the cleanest "fuel" to put into their bodies every day — unless, that is, you're talking about rocket fuel.
The jet-propulsion additive perchlorate is one of the contaminants recently found in the drinking water of 19 U.S. cities in a peer-reviewed study by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Also discovered were lead, pathogens, trihalomethanes (a byproduct of chlorine) and arsenic. Exposure to arsenic alone has been linked to cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder and kidney, according to the World Health Organization.
To protect yourself and your family from routinely ingesting unhealthy water, take these steps to ensure contaminant-free tap water in your home:
1. Know Your Water's Contaminant Levels
Start with a water test — the only way to identify specific quality problems. Public water systems must test their water and file the results with the EPA and your state. You can get a copy of these results by contacting your water provider or state water agency, or at www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr1.html
Private tests provide the most current and accurate information about the water in your home and can tell you about the presence of unregulated toxins. Order the Comprehensive Water Test Kit at Gaiam.com. This laboratory-certified kit tests for bacteria, lead, pesticides, arsenic, nitrates, nitrites, chlorine, iron, pH levels, copper, alkalinity and mineral concentration. You can also try a local testing lab or a national company such as Suburban Water Testing Laboratories (800-433-6595; www.h2otest.com) or National Testing Laboratories (NTL) (800-458-3330; www.ntllabs.com). For about $130, NTL will test your tap water samples for 75 kinds of bacteria, heavy metals, inorganic compounds, volatile compounds, pH levels and mineral concentration. For a small fee, they will also test for pesticides and herbicides.
2. Choose a Purification System
Whole-house filtration systems ensure clean water at every tap, while crocks and faucet filters deliver clean drinking water. Look for one that combines two or more of the following technologies.
Carbon: Best for Great-Tasting, Chlorine-Free Water
Removes tastes, odors, most hazardous chemicals, chlorine and sediments, but not heavy metals, arsenic, nitrites, bacteria or cysts.
Ceramic: Best for Microorganisms
Removes bacteria, cysts, asbestos and sediments.
KDF (copper/zinc alloy): Best for Heavy Metals
Uses a high-purity, granular copper/zinc alloy to eliminate chlorine, chloroform and heavy metals.
UV: Best for Pathogens
Uses high-intensity ultraviolet light to destroy bacteria and viruses.
Ionization: Debated Antioxidant Technology
Water ionizers Temporarily "split" the two Os and one H molecules in H20 into an OH and an HO, and usually combines this with some of the filters mentioned above.
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