Beneficial Minerals in Tap Water

We’ve been covering the many harmful contaminants that can exist in Hong Kong tap water, but we also want to share some of the beneficial minerals that can exist in our public drinking water.

From a Drinking Water Quality report by the Hong Kong Water Services Department dated October 2017 – September 2017, it is reported that the following beneficial minerals are found in our tap water: Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, Iron, and Manganese.

How Minerals in Water Help Our Body

These are all helpful minerals to our body if consumed in the right amounts. Although they can also be found in foods, consuming them through water help to balance out our body’s needs for these minerals.

  • Calcium – beneficial for bone health, may also help prevent cancer
  • Magnesium – for heart health, digestion, relieves tension in muscles and nerves
  • Chloride – helps with body’s nutrient absorption and maintains blood pressure
  • Iron – increases hemoglobin production (for healthy blood) , improves brain functions, can cure chronic diseases
  • Manganese – for healthy bones, prevents osteoperosis, fights diabetes, contributes to lung & repiratory health

How to keep these minerals in your water

Distillation and reverse osmosis filtration processes deplete beneficial minerals from water and can also make the water acidic. Moreover, these filtration methods produce a lot of water waste.

Some bottled waters found in stores do add minerals back into their distilled water, however, drinking bottled water is hugely damaging to our environment as it leaves behind a trail of plastic waste.

However, our WaterChef carbon block filtration systems allow beneficial minerals to remain in your drinking water while simultaneously removing harmful contaminants like chlorine, chloramines, lead, pesticides, herbicide, cysts, petroleum byproducts and more.

To find out more about our water filters, browse our shop.

Sources:

https://www.livestrong.com/article/550898-what-minerals-should-you-add-to-distilled-water-before-drinking/

http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health/article/1250684/tap-water-may-be-better-bottled-variety

Filtering Cysts from Drinking Water

Water is a vital source of life to many organisms, some good, some bad. The water that we drink can harbour harmful microorganisms like microbial cysts, which can cause us to become ill. Find out a bit more about cysts and how to filter them out of your drinking water.

What are microbial cysts?

Microbial cysts are parasites, bacteria or viruses that exist in a specific, almost egg-like, state. The most common ones that are of concern when it comes to drinking water is Cryptosporidum and Giardia lamblia. These microbes can enter into our water supply from run off of contaminated organic material like animal feces.

The major problem is that these two waterborne parasites are highly resistant to the chlorine typically used by public water treatment facilities to treat our drinking water.

Public water treatment uses chlorine to disinfect our drinking water. However, chlorine has proven to be ineffective to removing certain cysts like Cryptosporidum and Giardia lamblia as these particular organisms have developed a hard outer layer that allows them to survive in tough conditions.

Effects of Cysts in our Water

If you drink water that contains cysts, your stomach acids break down their hard shell and they release their protozoa into your gastrointestinal track. There, they have the ability to reproduce, sometimes to the millions.

Consumption of water contaminated with these microbes can cause gastrointestinal complications, such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, dehydration, fever and weight loss. For people with wearker immune systems, such as children or the elderly, these infections could lead to larger issues.

How to filter Cysts out of Water?

WaterChef filters are proven to be effective in removing cysts such as Cryptosporidum and Giardia lamblia from our drinking water, as the public water treatment facilities are unable to fully do so.

Find out more about our drinking water filters here.

Sources:

http://blog.waterfilters.net/blog/what-are-cysts/

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/gen_info/filters.html

VOCs – Hazardous Compounds in Your Air & Water

There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of VOCs. And yet, they’re found in the air you breathe and the water you drink.

What are VOCs?

VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are chemicals that occur as vapors at ordinary air temperatures. That means they are floating in the air you breathe as you read this article. Though they are mostly found in air, the chemicals that VOCs are associated with can soak into the ground and thus find its way into the city water supply.

Where do VOCs come from?

Some VOCs come from natural sources like plants. However, other non-natural products like paints, ink, cleaning & disinfencting supplies, pesticides, cosmetics, petrol, and more, can release VOCs.

What are the effects of breathing air or drinking water contaminated with VOCs?

The Environmental Protection Agency believes that VOCs can cause various negative health effects such as eye, nose and respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea and potentially damage to organs like your kidneys, liver and central nervous system. It is also a possible cause of cancer.

What can I do to reduce VOCs?

In a city like Hong Kong where there tend to be high levels of air pollution, it is especially important to protect your home from hazardous VOCs. The best way to reduce these contaminants is to use air and water filters.

We carry a wide range of products that reduce contaminants in the air. Find out more on our website.

Sources:

Volatile Organic Compounds. American Water Works Association: http://www.drinktap.org/home/water-information/water-quality/ucmr3/volatile-organic-compounds.aspx

An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). EPA: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html

Indoor Environmental Quality, Chemicals and Odors. CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/ChemicalsOdors.html

Protect Your Family from Harmful Toxins in Your Water

Many of us are unaware of the hazards in the tap water that comes from our kitchen sinks and bathroom faucets. We think that just because the government regulates water, it is safe for us to drink and use. However, there are many toxins that do not get filtered out and can still make their way into your home.

“Filtering your tap water is the first step to protecting your family from toxins on a daily basis, whether it’s for drinking, showering or cooking,” said Amy Myers, MD, an Austin-based physician specializing in functional medicine. “Government regulations focus on protecting us from the big health risks like waterborne bacterial diseases. The long-term health effects of chronic exposures to trace elements of contaminants in our drinking water are something we all need to take personal responsibility for.”

These are some of the common contaminants found in tap water, all of which are filtered by our water filters:

Lead

Corrosion of pipes often lead to lead being in the water.

Chlorine

Municipal water systems are known to add chlorine to control other contaminants. However it can be damaging to your hair and skin.

Chloramines

Used as a secondary disinfectant, chloramine is created from ammonia and chlorine together. It has been shown in laboratory testing to potentially cause cancer.

Pesticides & Herbicides

These contaminants enter the water system through run off from pesticide & herbicide treated soil. The consumption of these chemicals are untested and could pose serious health threats.

Cysts

A parasite found in lakes and rivers, cysts enter the water system and are often resistant to water disinfection.

Petroleum Contaminants

An example of petroleum contaminants is MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) which is used for cars to reduce carbon monoxide. However, the run-off can contaminate public water and be hazardous to our health.

To protect yourself and your family, make sure to invest in a premium water filtration solution. To find out more about the drinking water and shower filter products we distribute in Hong Kong, shop on our website or contact us.

Source: http://livehealthy.aquasana.com/2014/01/top-ten-worst-contaminants-found-in-tap-water/

Easy Tips to Stay Hydrated and Drink more Water

As the humidity in the air gets lower, it is important to drink at least 10 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Does 10 glasses of water sound like a lot to you? Even knowing about the many benefits of drinking water—increased fat burning, healthier skin, more energy, better digestion, fewer cravings—doesn’t make drinking it any less of a struggle for many of us.

If you feel like you’re barely treading water when it comes to drinking your water, don’t despair. There are lots of little secrets to transform yourself into an H2O-guzzling machine.

  1. Spice up plain old water by adding fresh mint leaves.
  2. Every time you pass a water cooler stop and take a sip.
  3. If you’re feeling hungry and you’ve eaten recently, drink a cold glass of water, and wait a minute or two. You could just be dehydrated.
  4. Make your water more interesting by infusing your water with fruits, vegetables, or herbs.
  5. Add ice cubes to your water – this helps to burn calories when your body brings the water temperature up.
  6. Make it a morning ritual. Start your day by drinking one or two glasses of water. Start early, feel better, set the trend for the day.
  7. Have a big glass of water at every transitional point of the day: When you first get up, before you leave the house, when you sit down to work, when you go to lunch.
  8. Invest in a water bottle that you’ll actually use and keep it close. Ideally one that is made of glass as glass is not reactive unlike plastic or aluminum.
  9. After each trip to the restroom, drink some water to replenish your system.
  10. Track it. Make a chart and tick it off each time you drink a glass. Do a chart for 30 days and you will have made drinking water a part of your routine.
  11. Instead of spending a fortune on bottled water. Save your money and the environment by investing in a quality filter for your home. Make sure it is efficient in filtering out nasty contaminants whilst healthy minerals are maintained to achieve maximum hydration.
  12. Freeze little bits of peeled lemons, limes and oranges and use them in place of ice cubes — it’s refreshing and helps get in a serving of fruit.

Sources :

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1014
http://www.canadianliving.com/health/nutrition/34_tips_for_drinking_more_water.php

What is in your Bottled Water?

The common and convenient practice of drinking water and other beverages from plastic bottles comes with downsides. You already know that buying a bottle of water costs more than filling a glass or reusable bottle at the tap. Using plastic drinking bottles also produces negative effects on health and the environment.

Harmful Chemicals

Many studies show that polycarbonate plastic, a type of plastic used in many household and food products, gradually leaches a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) into foods and liquids that are stored in containers made from this material.

According to healthnews.org, the chemical compounds released by these plastics can alter hormones and have other potential human health effects. Animals, including more than 180 species of which have been documented to ingest plastic debris, are also affected by the chemicals and can be permanently injured or die as a result of the poison.

Environmental Impact

Bottled water is destructive to the environment. It is a fact that 67 million water bottles are thrown away each day.

That’s a staggering amount of waste considering only 10 percent of these water bottles are ever recycled. Despite the good reputation recycling has, this practice is not always best for the ecosystem as it is labor-intensive, costly and burns natural resources. Also, just because you are throwing your used water bottles into the recycling bin, it does not necessarily mean they are able to be recycled.

During the production most bottled water is packaged in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles which are derived from crude oil. It can take up to 3L of water to produce 1L of water.

Another problem with bottled water is the incredible amount of fuel needed to transport these heavy loads of plastic (and sometimes glass) bottles to your local supermarket, home or office.

Who regulates it?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water, which is considered a public utility, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water, which is deemed a food product.

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires FDA regulations for bottled water to be at least as stringent as those imposed by the EPA for tap water, and bottled water must be tested for the same contaminants as tap water. The bottled water industry touts bottled water as one of the most regulated food products in the country. Bottlers must adhere to the FDA’s Quality Standards, Standards of Identity (Labeling Regulations) and Good Manufacturing Practices.

The Natural Resources Defense Council asserts that bottled water regulations are inadequate to assure consumers of purity or safety. The NRDC claims that bottled water is subject to less rigorous testing and purity standards than those required of city tap water. The NRDC notes that bottled water is required to be tested less frequently than city tap water for bacteria and chemical contaminants, and that bottled water rules allow for some contamination by E. coli or fecal coliform while tap water rules prohibit any contamination with these bacteria.

Bottled water is expensive

Americans spent $10.6 billion on bottled water in 2013 and paid up to 1,000 times the cost of tap water. And almost half of all bottled water (48.7 percent) came from municipal tap water supplies in 2013. A growing share of bottled water is now coming from tap water.

Alternatives

When you’re on the go, carry water with you in metal bottles, which are safer than plastic, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Metal drinking bottles can be filled—and refilled—with tap water; the metal won’t leach chemicals into your water. If you dislike the taste of your tap water, use a filter to remove bad-tasting minerals. Although water filters cost money, you will save in the long run if you filter water at home rather than purchasing bottled water as your main source of drinking water.

Sources :
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bolivia/waterbottle.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/15/dangers-of-drinking-water-from-a-plastic-bottle.aspx

http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/Whatelsewesupport/avoid-bottled-water.html

https://www.banthebottle.net/articles/plastic-water-bottles-impose-health-and-environmental-risks/

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled/bottled-water-bad-for-people-and-the-environment/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/norm-schriever/post_5218_b_3613577.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/183101-the-negative-effects-of-using-plastic-drinking-bottles/

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/dangers-of-plastic