A healthful change is welcome at any time of the year. This tends to either be focussed on giving up something or committing to a healthy habit.
We are advised to drink six to eight glasses of water a day to maintain good digestion, body temperature, circulation and for the transportation of nutrients together with the disposal of body waste. This means that the quality of the water is so important for our long term health and the management of certain conditions.
A drinking water filter will provide water that is:
~ Healthier because it does not contain contaminants and impurities – this includes chlorine, heavy metals, bacteria and parasites, fluorine and fluoride and oestrogens (depending on the filter selected)
~ Has improved taste and as such any cooking with water, including steaming will have better flavour. Using filtered water for food preparation when it is being eaten raw is particularly reassuring
~ Cheaper in the long run – you will not need to be buying bottled water on a regular basis because you have your own supply at home.
~ Convenient and environmentally friendly
By fitting a drinking water filter you are ensuring that the water is healthier, purer and free from contaminants. Some of which you may not expect to find.
The truth is that water quality throughout the UK varies in quality and composition although it is considered basically safe because it is treated with chlorine to combat bacteria and other contaminants. The water companies do their best to ensure that it is safe; however there are points at which the water can become contaminated and some water boards are adding elements themselves. A good place to start is to determine what is in your water – many water companies have the facility on their website whereby you can see a report based on your postcode. Click here to see what may be in your water.
First and foremost, fitting a drinking water filter is a great move for your health. For example, inhaling chlorine can exacerbate asthma symptoms so removing this from your drinking water via a filter is a sensible step. Make sure to do any washing up in the same sink that the drinking water filter is fitted to avoid the vapours that are released. This increases as the water temperature rises.
In 2012, The Telegraph reported the results of a study that suggested that people who were exposed to high levels of dichlorophenols (produced when chlorine is added to water) tend to be more prone to food allergies too. This chemical is commonly found in ‘pesticides used by farmers and consumer insect and weed control products, as well as tap water.’ Of those the quarter with the highest level in their urine were looked at in detail. Academics found that their chance of having a food allergy was 80 per cent higher than those with lower levels of dichlorophenols. Food allergy examples included eggs, peanuts, milk or shrimp.
Interestingly within this same group, the chance of having both a food allergy and an environmental allergy was 61% higher. However it was said further studies were needed to confirm this link.
If firm evidence emerged that dichlorophenols triggered allergies, one of the academics who conducted the research pointed out that only avoiding tap water was unlikely to solve the problem. This is because other sources such as pesticide treated vegetables and fruit may play a greater role. However it is logical to conclude that eradicating the chlorine in our water and being careful about the products that we choose is part of an effective strategy to reduce exposure.
The same article notes that chlorophenols are a byproduct of chlorinating water – it reacts to phenols, organic compounds found in plants, creating chlorophenols. Interestingly the World Health Organisation has noted that there are no guidelines for dichlorophenols because data on toxicity is limited.
Other elements that may be removed, if they are present and depending on the filter(s) chosen, include lead and mercury, iodine, the Giardia parasite, fluorine and fluoride and oestrogens (a residue of the pill).
The World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology have highlighted that ‘published reports have revealed an increased risk of colorectal cancers in people exposed to chlorinated drinking water or chemical derivatives of chlorination.’ They go on to add that ‘the risk to develop tumours in the large intestines is dependent on the concentrations and frequency of exposure to the trihalomethanes in the used water for drinking. ‘
Trihalomethanes are a group of four chemicals – bromoform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and chloroform which are formed, along with other disinfection byproducts when chlorine and other disinfectants react with naturally occurring inorganic and organic matter in water.
Interestingly a further comment, which focuses on the use of chlorine within swimming pools and bathing states that ‘the risk to develop malignant tumours due to water pollution is higher amongst users of swimming pool is also dependent on the frequency of showering.’ This illustrates the importance of removing chlorine from all incoming water.
By filtering your drinking water, not only will you be reassured that the water is healthier, it will also taste better! Water purification is a key part of our business and over the years we have heard from many customers who comment that this is the first thing that is noticed, particularly when they visit another house.
Any cooking that involves water also impacts the flavour of the dish. So it makes sense that if you have good quality raw ingredients the outcome will be better – although we cannot promise you will be a better cook! Additionally, knowing that the water you are using to wash fruit and vegetables is healthier, particularly if being eaten raw, is very reassuring.
If you regularly purchase bottled water you will not need to do so because you will have your own source at home! A water filter will save you money and is very convenient! Use a glass bottle when you need to transport the water (to work etc) to avoid any potentiality of chemicals leaching from the plastics. Our water bottles hold 0.5 L. It is certainly more environmentally friendly to use a water filter at home than to continue to buy bottled water on a regular basis.
Welcome to the world of filtered drinking water!
Remember to make sure to change the filters in your drinking water as per manufacturer’s advice and the guidelines on our website to ensure that your unit is performing optimally.
Click here to view our full drinking water filter range.
World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4824718/#B3
The Groundwater Association http://wellowner.org/water-quality/trihalomethanes/