You do a lot to take care of your body, but when was the last time you stopped to think “What’s in my water”?
If you live in the United States, you assume your tap water is clean and safe, but that might always be the case. Read on to discover why you should use filtered water in your home.
If the 2014 Flint, Michigan water crisis, which exposed thousands of people to dangerous levels of lead in their drinking water, taught us anything it’s that it’s paramount to know exactly what’s in your water. While the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Act establishes protective drinking water standards for more than 90 contaminants, only 92% of the population that receives water supplied by community water systems meets all health-based standards all of the time.
Where does your water come from?
Whether you get your water from a municipal water supplier or have a private well, many drinking water contaminants can get into your water which can become a health risk. This is why it is so important to know exactly what is in your drinking water, so you know how to treat it.
According to the CDC, tap water can get contaminated with germs and chemicals that can make you sick or, over time, cause long-term health effects. This can happen by the water getting exposed at the source or after the water has left the water treatment plant. Germs like cryptosporidium, legionella, salmonella, and giardia can get into your water as well as toxic metals like lead or arsenic, copper in excess, and chemicals like nitrates and radon.
If you get your drinking water from a well, coliform, bacteria, nitrates, and local germs and chemicals can make their way into your water. That’s why it’s so important to know exactly what’s in your water by testing it. You can have your water tested by a professional or you can purchase a water test kit.
Once you know what water contaminants to avoid, you’ll be able to find the water filtration system that is best for your home.
Water Quality Matters
The quality of your water matters, not only for drinking but for cooking as well. The average person uses 3,000 gallons of water monthly. That’s why it’s so important to have the right water filtration system in your home that fits your unique needs. More importantly, changing your water filters regularly will ensure that you have clean and safe water in your home.
Water filters help capture those contaminants that you don’t want in your home. Filter change frequency can differ from filter to filter, but for many water filters, it is recommended that they be changed every 6 months. Over time, water filters can become clogged and a harbor for bacteria, that’s why it’s so important to change them!
Benefits of Filtered Water
Drinking filtered water has so many benefits, it can help support colon cleansing and detox diets. It also helps flush toxins from your body by providing essential minerals that are missing with detox diets. Plus, it can help reduce your calorie intake and can help improve your overall health.
Chlorine and chloramine are often used by water suppliers to disinfect water and if you’re using unfiltered tap water, these chemicals can seep into the food you’re making. Volatile organic compounds can even alter the flavor of the foods that you’re preparing with unfiltered tap water.
Enjoy drinking coffee or tea? If you’re using tap water in your coffee maker or teapot, it could affect the taste and quality of your favorite beverage.
Using filtered water when cooking or brewing will not only be better for your body, but it will maximize the nutritional benefits of your fruits and vegetables and will boost the taste of your food.
The quality of your water will even affect your baked goods. In addition to contaminants, water also varies in mineral content. That’s why you may experience hard or soft water depending on where you live.
The presence of minerals will determine whether or soft water can affect the quality and taste of your baked goods. For instance, when baking bread, using filtered water will result in a lighter, fluffier texture and even better flavor.
Summary
You pay attention to what goes into your body, and it all starts with water. Water is essential to life and we must consume it to survive, but not just any water will do. To have peace of mind that you’re consuming and cooking with the safest water possible, you must first know what’s in your water, invest in the treatment that will protect you from impurities, and change your water filters regularly.
If you are interested in finding out more about the water filtration system that is right for you, the experts at FiltersFast.com are here to help you find the right system and filters to help fit your unique needs.
