According to recent government studies, as many as 19 million Americans become ill each year from drinking contaminated water. Furthermore, over 286 million Americans get their tap water from community water systems, of which received more than 12,000 health-based violations just last year!
Our Picks for the Best Purified Water Filters
Removes up to 99-percent of chemicals, heavy metals, sediment, and other contaminants then adds healthy minerals back
Modular all-in-one filter design for easy maintenance
Comes with a complete DIY-friendly installation kit
NSF-Certified, EPA approved
Requires basic plumbing tools like wrenches and teflon tape
Light-weight, portable, and easily moved around the counter top
Removes viruses, protozoa, TMHs, drugs and other chemicals
Safe to use, durable and long lasting
The system has been tested countless times to produce brilliant results
Needs to be broken in properly to ensure filtering correctly
Filters an astounding one million gallon of water and is expected to last a decade
The UV filter protects against viruses and bacteria from festering and growing
Multiple filtration systems provide your whole house with clean water for all needs
Easy to install and easy to function
More expensive than smaller systems but lasts much longer
May need professional assistance depending on current plumbing system
Long lasting and durable, this system can pump around 3,000 gallons of water
No cumbersome maintenance required
Filters out heavy chemicals, metals and chlorine compounds with its 4-filtration systems
One of the cheapest water filtration systems for homes and offices
May run into minor leaking issues
Easy installation unless your fridge is over 20 years old
Why Trust Waterful.org?
Our water scientists and engineers spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers .
What is Purified Water?
The simple definition of purified water is that it is the water that is processed and filtered to remove impurities and contaminants. In this process, toxic metal ions, bacteria, algae, and chemical compounds are removed from the water. This makes the water suitable to drink and use.
There are several common methods to purify water. Reverse osmosis, carbon filtering, electro-deionization, and micro-filtration are the most common methods.
Our Waterful.org scientists recommend you should at a minimum be using a reverse osmosis water purifier in order to remove harmful toxins that are deliberately and unintentionally added to tap water.
Keith Martin, Waterful.org President
Processing can remove chemicals like fluoride and chlorine and distilled solids, like magnesium, from the water.
Purifying the water is when you remove all potential contaminants to make the water pure, clean, and healthy.
Bottled Water is NOT Safer
Companies that sell bottled water process it through a treatment plant, but the regulations are very minimal and studies have shown that many brands of bottled water contain toxic chemicals.
For example, last year New Hampshire shut down several water bottlers because they found high levels of PFAS (a man made, highly toxic, tasteless contaminant that has shown to cause cancer) in their products. More and more governments are looking at bottled water as sources for other contaminants as well
Benefits of Purified Tap Water
Purified water provides your body with the vital minerals that it needs to function. It is also pure of harmful bacteria that can cause a lot of health problems, such as nausea and stomach cramps. Here are the top five benefits of drinking purified water:
Removes Chemicals like Chlorine
The tap water contains chlorine to disinfect our drinking water. This is usually the reason why tap water has an unsavory taste and has a slight smell of chlorine. Excess amounts of chlorine can be harmful to our health. Purification of water uses a carbon filter to reduce the chlorine content by 99%.
Removes Harmful Bacteria
The worst of all impurities in the water can be the harmful microorganism, hidden from the naked eye. It can cause a lot of diseases, especially in children. The use of purified water for babies helps prevent various health conditions among infants. Ultraviolet purification kills these harmful bacteria and terminates their breeding cycle. It is also important to avoid storing water in open bottles or any open container. This is because, without chlorine, you cannot store water for too long as the bacteria will grow again.
Filters Dirt from Water
The water supply that reaches our taps flows through pipelines. It might be free of dirt in the beginning but when it travels a long distance it brings with it dirt. Rusty and old pipes can add more dirt to your tap water. Purification of water filters dirt, sand and other impurities from the water so it is clean and healthy to drink.
Contains Essential Minerals
Tap water contains toxic metal ions, but it also contains essential minerals at the same time. Your body absorbs most of these important minerals more from water than food. Our body needs minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium for bodily functions. So, high quality purification water filters remove the harmful compounds from water but leave the essential minerals.
It is also important to choose the right filtration process for purification. For example, reverse osmosis removes the essential minerals along with harmful substances from the water, but the good ones put back all the right minerals at ideal concentrations for your health.
Removes Unpleasant Taste
Another great benefit of purified water is that it removes the unpleasant taste of chemical treatments. Our tap water supply contains chlorine and other chemicals to disinfect the water. This gives the water an unpleasant and unsavory taste. Organic matter, metal plumbing, and dirt also affect the taste of pure drinking water. Purification removes all the impurities and contaminants from the water, leaving a refreshing taste of pure water.
Is Purified Water the Same as Distilled Water?
Distilled water is the most common form of purified water. But it is important to understand the difference between distilled and purified water. The major difference between the two is the process that the water went through for purification.
Distilled water goes through the process of distillation to remove impurities from the water. In this process, pure water is boiled out of its contaminants. Most of the contaminants in water are inorganic and have a high boiling point, even higher than water. When water boils and turns into steam, it is captured and cooled, leaving out the impurities behind. On the other hand, water that goes through extensive filtration processes, like reverse osmosis, becomes purified water.
So, can you drink distilled water? There is essentially no difference between distilled and purified water, except for the purification process. Both purified and distilled water are pure, in fact, the purest form of water that you can find.
Why Should You Buy a Water Purifier for Your Home?
Given the benefits of drinking purified water, it is safe to say that buying a water purifier is a wise investment. Apart from the health benefits, there are various other reasons for you to buy a water purifier for home. The most important reasons to buy a water purifier are listed as under:
- A water purifier ensures safety from dangerous waterborne diseases, caused as a result of drinking contaminated water.
- It makes your food and coffee taste better by removing the unpleasant taste from tap water.
- It protects your kitchen utensils from scratching, spotting, scaling, and other signs of corrosion.
- It is a convenient and reasonable long-term investment.
Our Picks for the Best Purified Water Filters
Removes up to 99-percent of chemicals, heavy metals, sediment, and other contaminants then adds healthy minerals back
Modular all-in-one filter design for easy maintenance
Comes with a complete DIY-friendly installation kit
NSF-Certified, EPA approved
Requires basic plumbing tools like wrenches and teflon tape
Light-weight, portable, and easily moved around the counter top
Removes viruses, protozoa, TMHs, drugs and other chemicals
Safe to use, durable and long lasting
The system has been tested countless times to produce brilliant results
Needs to be broken in properly to ensure filtering correctly
Filters an astounding one million gallon of water and is expected to last a decade
The UV filter protects against viruses and bacteria from festering and growing
Multiple filtration systems provide your whole house with clean water for all needs
Easy to install and easy to function
More expensive than smaller systems but lasts much longer
May need professional assistance depending on current plumbing system
Long lasting and durable, this system can pump around 3,000 gallons of water
No cumbersome maintenance required
Filters out heavy chemicals, metals and chlorine compounds with its 4-filtration systems
One of the cheapest water filtration systems for homes and offices
May run into minor leaking issues
Easy installation unless your fridge is over 20 years old
Why Trust Waterful.org?
Our water scientists and engineers spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers .
Conclusion
Drinking clean and pure drinking water is vital for our health. The water travels a long distance before it reaches our taps and carries dirt and other contaminants as it flows. Purified water not only removes harmful impurities from the water but also contains essential minerals.
Therefore, investing in a water purifier for home is a wise decision that you should make for a healthy lifestyle. Apart from buying a water purifier, you can also find guides on how to make distilled water. With a few steps, you can turn your tap water into purified water with essential minerals.
What Is Soft Water – Everything You Need to Know About It
Water is just water, right? Not really!
There are actually two types of water – hard and soft water. Hard water is water that has a large amount of calcium and magnesium in it, which it absorbs when it repeatedly runs through deposits of chalk, limestone, or gypsum. So, what is soft water, then?
Our Picks for the Best Water Softeners
Super-efficient filtering system with double backwash mode
Made from fiberglass-lined polyethylene to prevent corrosion
Multiple cleaning and regeneration options for flexibility
5 year warranty
The programming guide should be more comprehensive
More expensive than GE brand but features higher grain count
Adjustable settings help control water consumption rate
Consistent water flow rate of 12 GPM
Metered filtration system enhances its accuracy
The installation process is tedious
It doesn’t come with a complete kit
Keeps the water pressure regulated while cleansing the water
95% purification guaranteed
Tackles minerals, rust, and sediment
Provides the whole house with odorless and tasteless water
Bulkier than most units
Not suitable for all city water sources
Why Trust Waterful.org?
Our water scientists and engineers spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers .
Read on to find out!
What Is Soft Water?
Water in its natural, unadulterated form is soft water. It is surface water that contains a low amount of ions, especially ions of calcium and magnesium. It naturally occurs in areas where rain falls into drainage basins of rivers that are formed of impervious rocks, which have a poor calcium ratio.
Additionally, hard water can also be turned into soft water or rather softened water by using a water softener. In the US, most states have ancient sea beds with high concentrations of limestone. This is why as much as 85% of water is hard, and many people need water softening treatment.
With that said, have you ever wondered why exactly you need to soften hard water?
Why You Need to Buy a Water Softener for Your Home
If you happen to have dry hair, scaly skin, scale-ridden pipes, rough laundry, kitchenware with scale buildup, soap scum in your washroom and kitchen, and endless broken appliances, then you definitely have a hard water problem on your hands.
Without a good water softener, your appliances will inevitably breakdown sooner than their usual lifespan. Additionally, the scale buildup in pipes will affect the water flow and pressure throughout your house. If you continue to use hard water, you will inevitably incur home management and repair costs upon yourself, which you can simply avoid by using a water softener.
Using a water softener to turn your hard water into softened water will change your life around. It will ensure that you have clog-free pipes, spotless kitchenware, well-functioning appliances, and cleaner hair and skin. It will also save you a lot of your time, money, and energy.
Now, let’s see how to soften water for home use.
How to Soften Water
The best way to soften water is to invest in a water softener. It’s a filtration system that will remove the calcium and magnesium minerals from your water via the ion exchange process. It’s usually a tank that you can attach to your home’s water supply line. The tank has special resin beads that are charged with the negative sodium ion. Water enters the tank and infiltrates the beads. The negative ions attract the positively charged minerals in the hard water. The minerals cling to the beads, leaving softened water to make its way into your home.
Is Softened Water Safe to Drink?
The water softening process requires the use of sodium. This means that the resultant softened water has a small amount of sodium in it. Consumption of too much sodium, aka salt, is not good for the human body. So, is softened water safe to drink?
The salt content usually present in soft water is too little to cause any damage to your body, which makes it pretty safe to drink. However, in areas where water is excessively hard, the resultant softened water has higher sodium content in it. This is because more sodium is used to soften the water. Rest assured, there is a limit set on the recommended level of sodium in drinking water at 200 mg/l. This is far below the recommended daily intake of sodium, which is 2,300mg.
Even though it is generally safe to drink soft water, it’s not ideal for someone who’s on a low sodium diet. Additionally, don’t use softened water to prepare your baby’s food, especially if they are under six weeks old. This is because the sodium in the water can have an adverse effect on their kidneys.
For someone who’s watching their sodium intake, it’s better to simply invest in a potassium water softener. This is because potassium chloride is virtually sodium-free. You can simply add potassium chloride pellets in your tank rather than the usual sodium pellets.
Even though they are more expensive and harder to find than salt pellets, they are a safer alternative for infants and heart patients on a low-sodium diet. However, potassium chloride is not as effective as sodium at softening the water, so when using it make sure to set the water hardness on your softener at least 20% higher for the same results.
Benefits of Soft Water
Let’s take a look at the major water softener benefits.
Clog-Free Pipes
Hard water contains a high amount of calcium and magnesium minerals that tend to cause unsightly buildup on your pipes over time. If left untreated, the buildup is pretty dangerous as it clogs your pipes. Clogged pipes lead to a decrease in the water flow and pressure through your entire home.
However, this decrease usually goes unnoticed until you find a leaky or burst pipe. This then leads to you spending a lot of money on replacing the broken pipes. If you simply invest in a water softener, you won’t have to worry about clogged pipes. This is because soft water has a significantly lower mineral content, which doesn’t lead to any buildup.
No Extra Expenditure
Soft water also preserves your cleaning supplies, such as bleach or detergent. This is because less soap is required to clean things with soft water. Additionally, less scale buildup also leads to lesser time spent cleaning kitchenware and washroom floors.
Long-Lasting Appliances
Hard water also has a negative impact on the lifespan of your appliances. The mineral deposits affect the functionality of dishwashers, washing machines, coffee makers, water heaters, etc., and cause them to breakdown sooner than their expected lifespan. If you have soft water running through these appliances, you will increase the likelihood of them surviving till the end of their lifespan.
Healthier Skin and Hair
Soft water feels much cleaner on the skin as compared to hard water. This is because it is easier to form soap lather with soft water than it is with hard water. Additionally, soft water is also gentler on your skin. Plus, it even revitalizes lifeless and dull hair by balancing its natural pH level.
The Difference between Hard and Soft Water
The major difference between hard and soft water is that hard water has excessive amounts of calcium and magnesium in it, while soft water only has trace amounts of these minerals. The higher the content of calcium and mineral in water, the harder it’s going to rank on the water hardness range.
The Bottom Line
Soft water is free from minerals that can cause damage to your pipes, appliances, and skin. It can save you a lot of cleaning, time, energy, and money by simply cutting down on the damages caused by using hard water. To enjoy soft water at home, you can invest in a water softener. It will be worth it!
What is Acidic Drinking Water?
A lot of brands of bottled water center their marketing on the pH level of water. As a result, it is pretty hard to believe what kind of water is best for drinking. Read on to unlearn the most common myths about the water’s pH level.
What is Acidic Drinking Water?
Water has a pH of 7 in its purest form. The particles in the water affect the pH of the water and, therefore, the pH of the drinking water is often between 6.5 and 8.5. Water with a pH value less than 6.5 is acidic, corrosive, and soft. It is also known as electrolyzed water and contains metal ions such as iron, zinc, copper, lead, and manganese. The presence of these metal ions suggests that acidic water has elevated levels of toxic metals.
How Does Drinking Water Become Acidic?
The sediments in the soil, as well as the sedimentary rocks, are natural water filters that neutralize the acidity of the water. This is the reason why water that’s deep underground is pure and suitable for drinking. On the other hand, water from a shallow water body is acidic, since metamorphic and igneous rocks cannot neutralize the pH of acidic water.
Other natural causes of acidic water include acidic rain and emission of CO2 from trees and roots. The rain which is mildly acidic affects the pH level of water. Trees and soil microbes produce carbon dioxide and acids that can also cause the acidic content in water.
The artificial causes of acidic water include be acidic mine drainage and spills or chemical dumps from factories. These human activities lower the water’s pH level further.
Effects of Drinking Acidic Water
Drinking acidic water can be a cause of many health problems including vomiting , diarrhea, nausea, kidney, and liver diseases to name a few. There can be other adverse effects of acidic water in our lives. Let’s find out how drinking acidic can be a problem for your health and lifestyle:
Exposure to Toxic Metals
Drinking acidic water exposes us to heavy metals and toxic compounds in the water. Acidic water often damages the pipes as it can be highly corrosive. With that kind of effect on the pipes, you can imagine the damage it can do to our bodies. Metal ions like iron, copper, zinc, etc. can be toxic for our bodies. Long exposure to these toxic compounds can result in diseases and even poisoning. The metal ions also affect the taste of drinking water. As a result, you might notice unsavory and metallic tasting water.
Prevents the Body from Retaining Calcium
Acidic drinking water lowers the body’s ability to absorb calcium. This effect of drinking acidic water for a long time can lead to rapid bone loss in our bodies. Our body absorbs some of the minerals like calcium more from water than food. So, while alkaline water encourages calcium retention, acidic water prevents it.
Harmful for Children
Acidic drinking water is especially harmful to young children. It contains metals and contaminants that can lead to several health issues. Since the bodies of young children grow and develop very rapidly, they are more at risk than adults. Their body is readily absorbing nutrients from food and water for growth. This also makes their body absorb contaminants at a faster rate as well. The contaminants in acidic water are a major cause of diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, etc. in children. Many health problems that arise a result of drinking acidic water can be fatal or debilitating for children.
Corrosion of Teeth
Our mouth contains many natural acids that help in breaking down food and bacteria in the mouth. So, when you brush your teeth or clean your mouth with acidic water, it only intensifies the effect. This means that the acid in your mouth works harder and, as a result, corrodes your teeth. Drinking acidic water for a long time can lead to the damage of both the teeth and gums.
Causes Gastrointestinal Sickness
The metal ions in acidic drinking water can cause gastrointestinal sickness. The zinc residue from pipes along with the zinc content in acidic water can cause overexposure to zinc. The overexposure leads to an stomach upset and causes nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Overexposure to copper also results in the same health problems.
Other Effects of Acidic Water
Other common effects of using acidic water are corrosion of the plumbing system and damage to aquatic life. The high acidic content in water damages and corrodes the pipes and dissolves the copper from pipes into drinking water. Copper is important for our bodies but overexposure can lead to serious health problems. Kidney and liver damage are the most serious health issues related to overexposure to copper.
If the water’s pH level falls down to 4.5, it can be fatal for fish. The contaminants in acidic water increase the levels of ammonia, bacteria, and parasites. This can be the major cause of fish death in an acidic water body.
Should Drinking Water be Acidic or Alkaline?
It’s no surprise that people today are confused about what the pH of drinking water should actually be. It is important to understand that the most suitable drinking water has a pH between the ranges of 6.5 and 8.5. The drinking water with a pH less than 6.5 is acidic and harmful for health. Similarly, water with a pH greater than 8.5 is alkaline and can also cause other problems.
Bottom Line
Most of the public supply of drinking water comes from shallow sources of water. Water from these sources is likely to be acidic, which means most of us have had acidic water at some point in life. It is best to check your pipes for any signs of acidic water. The blue-green stains on copper pipes, red stains on galvanized iron, and corrosion problems all suggest that your water might be acidic. Like alkaline water filters, you can also find acid-neutralizing filters in the market. They help in neutralizing the acid in water to provide pure and healthy drinking water.
Alkaline Water vs Acidic Water: Which One Should You Drink?
Water is essential for life. Every cell, tissue, and organ in our body needs water to survive. This is why you should always stay hydrated throughout the day. Here, the question arises, what is the best water to drink? Many research studies have shown that high alkaline water is much better than the acidic water you get from your tap.
The Case for Ionized Alkaline Water
Water molecules are a combination of hydrogen and oxygen. This is why water is called H2O. Drinking water depends on the pH level of the water to determine its acidity and water meant for human consumption typically ranges from 0 to 14 pH. 7 pH is considered to be completely neutral.
In other words, it is the pH of balanced water that will ensure that you may drink it without any adverse side effects. However, any rating below 7 on the pH scale will mean that water is too acidic. On the other hand, a rating higher than 7, will mean that your water supply is alkaline.
The environment protection agency (EPA) guidelines state that your drinking water should be between 6.5 and 8.5. The higher rating is more important because it means that the water has a higher alkalinity level. This can help to deactivate pepsin, the enzyme that is the causative factor for acidity and heartburn.[1]
Another study concluded that there is evidence linking the consumption of ionized alkaline water with decreasing cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes.[2]
How to Make Alkaline Water
In order to make alkaline water, you will have to determine the pH level of your water supply. If it is above 7 and below 8.5 you don’t need to do anything. However, water below 6 needs to have its alkalinity improved.
You can easily get plenty of fresh and clean alkaline water by using a small water ionizer that you can attach to your water faucet. This is a user-friendly electronic device that runs your drinking water over positive and negative electrodes in order to ensure ionized alkaline water.
You can also make high alkaline water by using baking soda. Adding 600 mg of baking soda to a glass of water (about 250ml) can get the job done. Baking soda has a very high alkaline content that also increases the alkalinity of your drinking water. Just make sure you shake the container vigorously so that all of the baking soda is evenly dissolved into the water.
What Does Acidic Water Do to the Body?
There are many disadvantages of consuming acidic water over an extended period of time. Some of them include the following:
o Heavy Metal Exposure
Drinking acidic water will expose your body to harmful heavy metals and minerals that are present in the water. These corrosive minerals are capable of eating through your water pipes. If they can do this much damage to the pipes, you can just imagine what they will do to your body!
Long term exposure to these metals can also lead to disease and in some cases metal poisoning. Apart from that, acidic water also has a typically unsavory taste which makes it even more difficult to drink.
o It Can Seriously Damage Your Teeth
The human mouth is filled with natural acids as it is, and they help to break down food and bacteria. Adding even more acid to the mix will prove to be counterproductive and can lead to the corrosion of the enamel on your teeth. In the long run, it can also lead to soft gums and Periodontal Disease.
o It Can Give You an Upset Stomach
Constant exposure to the metals present in acidic water leads to illnesses in the gastrointestinal tract and the stomach. If you are overexposed to zinc or copper (for instance) you will start feeling nauseous and might suffer from sustained bouts of diarrhea and vomiting.
Key Benefits of Drinking Alkaline Water
Alkaline water has a very large number of benefits that can help you to fight disease and remain hydrated all day long. Some of them include the following:
o Rapid Hydration
Alkaline water can hydrate you much faster in comparison to acidic water. If you work out a lot every day, you will definitely need alkaline water to ensure that you don’t become dehydrated. This is due to the fact that alkaline water molecules are much smaller than their acidic water counterparts. I.e., they can be absorbed more easily by your body, which will allow you to rehydrate much faster.
o It Boosts Your Auto-Immune System
Alkaline water has been known to boost the body’s natural immunity against many common ailments. If your body is producing more acid because of environmental toxins, stress or poor diet, your alkaline drinking water will neutralize it.
o Makes Sure That Your Bones Stay Strong and Healthy
Alkaline water usually contains trace elements of important minerals such as magnesium and calcium that are crucial for maintaining healthy bones.
o Fights Esophagus Reflux
This is one of the most important benefits of drinking alkaline water. It can act to neutralize the excess acid in your stomach and the gastrointestinal tract.
o It Contains Antioxidants
Alkaline or ionized water has many highly potent antioxidants that can actively help prevent the growth of cell-damaging free radicals in your body. If left unchecked, they can speed up the aging process. However, drinking alkaline water will ensure that you remain younger for a longer period of time.
Conclusion
The above alkaline water benefits show that this type of water is always much better than acidic or normal tap water for drinking purposes. Check the pH level of your water supply and if it is below 6 you should switch to alkaline water to derive all of these great benefits.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22844861
[2] http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-SHYI200112005.htm
Should You Drink Distilled Water?
Many people associate distilled water with the water used in research labs or the water you put in your car’s batteries. However, that does not mean the water is unfit for human consumption. On the contrary, the distillation process effectively removes 99.9% of dissolved inorganic material from the water. Apart from that, it also gets rid of bacteria, germs, and chemicals from the water.
In spite of its high purity, there is a lot of ongoing research to determine if is it safe to drink distilled water. This is because some essential minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and sodium are also removed from distilled water along with the many harmful contaminants that might be present in it.
How to Make Distilled Water?
The process of making distilled water is quite simple. A water distillation machine converts water into steam so that various contaminants, microbes, and minerals are removed from it. Once the steam cools to room temperature, it condenses back into its liquid form. It is so simple that you can easily figure out how to how to distill water at home.
Basically, distillation mimics mother nature’s own process of recycling water that is known as the hydrologic cycle. Most home water distillers have a chamber for water evaporation purposes and one to collect the steam. As the distilled water condenses, it is collected in a glass jar.
Is Distilled Water Good for You?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set very specific regulations regarding the maximum level of contaminants allowed in drinking water. If your water supply exceeds this level, it won’t be safe for drinking purposes.[1]
In short, water that contains contaminants over the recommended levels will definitely need some method of treatment, otherwise, it can make you very ill. In this case, your home water distiller will be able to provide you with fresh and clean drinking water all the time.
Can You Drink Distilled Water?
While it does not contain any harmful chemicals, the distillation process can nevertheless lead to a change in taste. The demineralization process takes away the natural flavor of the water. Apart from that, calcium, magnesium and other important minerals are removed from the water during the distillation process. However, this is not an issue since the amounts are too small to make a difference because we get most of our minerals from our daily diet.
Still, it would be a good idea to eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits if you plan on using demineralized water at home.
If you think that the water supply in your town or area may not be reliable and might contain harmful chemicals you will definitely be better off drinking distilled water.
However, it is important to understand that storing distilled water can be a bit of a problem. Since distilled water has no minerals of its own, it can pull in the same from any material it comes in contact with.
Does Distilled Water Go Bad?
No, that does not happen, however, it is not a good idea to store it in a nonfood grade material. This is because it will automatically absorb trace amounts of the plastic/ iron or whatever substance is in the vessel that’s holding it.
Reverse Osmosis vs. Distilled Water
In reverse osmosis, the water crosses a semi-permeable membrane that has been designed to let in water molecules but nothing else. This will remove the impurities easily enough. However, RO processing does leave a few impurities behind. That is, a few microbes may be left in the water and if you want to remove them you will have to boil the water first. This does not apply to distilled water because it is already boiled, to begin with.
The pH of distilled water is close to 7. This makes it ideal for drinking purposes since the EPA recommends ph levels from 6 to 8.5.
Major Advantages of Drinking Distilled Water
Distilled water is considered to be one of the best types of drinking water available today due to the following reasons comes:
o It Is Possible to Cleanse Your Body with Pure Water
There are no additives in distilled water and that makes it as pure as possible. This can help cleanse the body and detoxify it from harmful chemicals.
o It Can Help Reduce the Risk of Many Dangerous Diseases
The process of distillation helps to remove many types of harmful waterborne pathogens. Most waterborne bacteria that are the causative factor for deadly illnesses such as gastroenteritis, Hepatitis, and other dangerous diseases won’t be able to survive the process of distillation.
o It Will Reduce the Risk of Consuming Chemicals Detrimental to Your Health
Using distilled water will protect you from many potentially harmful chemicals in tap water including nitrates, pesticides, fertilizer, as well as contamination from copper and lead pipes. If left untreated, these impurities in your tap water supply can also cause a lot of harm to the human body. This is you should try and ensure that you restrict their intake as much as possible.
o It Prevents Kidney Stones
Normal tap water contains phosphate and other oxalates that can contribute to the creation of uric crystals, that are causative factors of kidney stones and other issues. However, distilled water is completely free of these minerals and in the long run, it will help you to avoid these risks.
Conclusion
Distilled water is one of the best types of drinking water available today. If you are worried about the contamination of your water supply, you should definitely start distilling your water supply as soon as possible.
[1] https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulations#Inorganic
What Is Hard Water – Everything You Need to Know
Our Picks for the Best Water Softeners
Super-efficient filtering system with double backwash mode
Made from fiberglass-lined polyethylene to prevent corrosion
Multiple cleaning and regeneration options for flexibility
5 year warranty
The programming guide should be more comprehensive
More expensive than GE brand but features higher grain count
Adjustable settings help control water consumption rate
Consistent water flow rate of 12 GPM
Metered filtration system enhances its accuracy
The installation process is tedious
It doesn’t come with a complete kit
Keeps the water pressure regulated while cleansing the water
95% purification guaranteed
Tackles minerals, rust, and sediment
Provides the whole house with odorless and tasteless water
Bulkier than most units
Not suitable for all city water sources
Why Trust Waterful.org?
Our water scientists and engineers spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers .
What is hard water and how does it affect you?
Simply put, hard water is water that is high in minerals. It contains calcium, magnesium, and trace amounts of other minerals. It is formed when water gets repeatedly filtered through deposits of chalk, limestone, or gypsum, which are mainly made up of magnesium and calcium bicarbonates, carbonates, and sulfates. The higher the amount of magnesium and calcium in water, the harder it becomes.
The Differences between Hard and Soft Water
Hard water is water that is high in minerals, while soft water has a higher concentration of sodium. Here are the main differences between hard and soft water:
- Mineral Content – Rainwater is naturally soft; however, when it runs through the ground, it ends up picking deposits of calcium and magnesium, which makes it hard. This is the main difference between hard and soft water. Soft water is water that is treated to reduce the concentration of these minerals.
- Drinking – Soft water lacks the beneficial minerals that hard water has. Additionally, at times, soft water has a salty taste to it, which makes it unsuitable for drinking.
- Household Chores/Cleaning – While hard water is beneficial for drinking due to the natural minerals, it’s not ideal for cleaning. It tends to leave spots on cookware and dishes, soap and mineral residue in the shower and tap, and also dulls the appearance of the clothes washed with it. Soft water leaves no such residue behind.
- Skin – Hard water tends to dry out the skin and might even result in dry, scaly skin over time. Soft water, on the other hand, will not cause any such harm to the skin.
How to Tell If You Have Hard Water
If you are wondering how to tell if you have hard water at home, here are some typical signs of hard water:
- White, chalky spots or residue on washed dishes – a result of calcium hardness
- Dull and rough-feeling linens and clothes
- Buildup of scale on faucets and unsightly stains on white porcelain
- Flat hair and dry skin – a result of soap residue, as it never completely washes away
- Clogged pipes, leading to low water pressure from taps and faucets
You can also test the hardness of the water in your home by checking its mineral content. According to the hardness standards set by the Water Quality Association, water is deemed as slightly hard when the mineral concentration of grains per gallon (gpg) falls between 1.0-3.5, while it is deemed as hard when the concentration falls between 7.0 and 10.5. If the concentration crosses 10.5, then the water is deemed as very hard.
You can check the concentration of minerals in water by conducting a hard water test at home. Take a clear and clean bottle with a cap, water from your tap, and a basic liquid soap. Fill one-third of the bottle with tap water and add a few drops of liquid soap. Shake it thoroughly for a few seconds. If the water does not lather and only appears to be milky or cloudy, then you have hard water in your home. Soft water tends to produce abundant bubbles on the surface, with clear water underneath.
You can also invest in a water hardness test kit. These kits are easily available online or in home improvement stores. They will allow you to test the hardness of your water, reveal the chlorine, nitrate, or iron content, and identify the level of alkalinity.
The Effects of Hard Water
When hard water is heated, it tends to form solid deposits of calcium carbonate. This scale or residue can significantly reduce the life of expensive industrial equipment as well as your cookware. Additionally, it raises the cost of heating or boiling water on an industrial scale.
The scale buildup also tends to reduce the diameter of water pipes over time, which leads to less water movement and lower water pressure. With hard water, you might end up with clogged pipes, which will add to your home improvement expenses.
With hard water, soaps also tend to leave behind a film of residue on your skin and washed dishes. Hard water tends to diminish the life of kitchenware such as porcelain and glass dishes as well; it leaves spots and scaly, soapy film on washed dishes. This is because soap reacts with calcium in the hard water to form soap scum. What’s more is that it is incredibly hard to form soap lather with hard water, which leads to increased soap usage and expense.
Hard water leaves behind brittle, white scale buildup on taps, showerheads, and water appliances. It tends to leave behind pesky white limescale marks on water heaters and kettles. It also affects the functionality of dishwashers. It reduces the efficacy of key water-using appliances over time, such as washing machines and water heaters. The stubborn and unsightly scale also builds on kitchen and bath fixtures, such as sink, toilet, shower walls, etc.
What’s more is that hard water tends to shorten the lifespan of fabrics and changes the appearance of your clothes and linen. Hard water dulls the appearance of your clothes and towels and other fabrics feel stiff and course. Hard water also tends to have an effect on your skin; it leads to excessively clean and dry skin.
Is Hard Water Bad for Hair Health?
The high concentration of minerals in hard water can cause some damage to your hair health. Hard water causes the scales in your hair to rise up, which creates a coarse, frizzy, and tangled feel and look. It roughens up the texture of your hair, which makes it easy for mineral deposits to stick to your hair and cause mineral buildup in your scalp. This buildup will eventually cause your hair to become weak and it will easily break, which will result in hard water hair loss.
To fight the damage caused by hard water, you can use a chelating or hard water shampoo. These shampoos are precisely designed to eradicate heavy hard water mineral buildup from your hair. They come with EDTA that targets these minerals and washes them away.
However, use these shampoos once a week as when used too frequently, they will dry out your hair. Also, pair them with a moisturizing shampoo to retain your hair’s natural shine and glow. Alternatively, you can use apple cider vinegar, mixed with soft water, to deal with hard water mineral buildup in your hair.
The Bottom Line
While hard water is good for drinking purposes, it can lead to a lot of expenses over time, such as clogged pipes and ruined appliances and kitchenware. It can also cause damage to your skin and hair.