Water + Health (Part Two)

Last time, we talked a lot about water. This week, we’re diving back in! No pun intended. Well, maybe a bit…

If you haven’t read Water + Health (Part One) you can do so here! We covered why most water sources in the US are contaminated, including expensive bottled water. This time, we’re going to talk about what your options are for a clean water source.

First up, we know that drinking straight from a tap is never a good idea. But what if it’s filtered?

In Part 1, we differentiated between filtered and purified. Filtered water means the water has passed through some kind of filtration system--that’s it. Purified water, however, has to go through a much more rigorous process, to the point where it becomes pure H’s and O’s. In the water world, we call this “RO” water, short for “reverse osmosis” water. This means it’s totally clean, with no minerals added back in.

Contrary to what you might believe, purified water is not good drinking water. Water naturally likes to attach to minerals, which means that if the only available minerals are already inside your body, it will actually draw minerals out, potentially dehydrating you and leading to deficiencies. Weird, right? Instead, you want to opt for remineralized reverse osmosis water. This means the water has been purified, but minerals have been added back in. Essentially, you’re getting balanced and drinkable water designed for maximum cellular absorption and hydration. Properly remineralized water is so perfect for the body, many people find they drink less water, because each sip counts for so much more. But how do you get this gold-star liquid?

One of the easiest and most sustainable ways is to purchase water from a local store. Now, this doesn’t work for everyone, since some cities don’t have local water stores. However, if you do happen to live near a water store, definitely go in and check it out. More than likely the staff will be happy to show you their purification system (most likely twelve-step reverse osmosis) and can answer any questions you may have. Look for bonuses like UV light purification, too!

Some places will also let you try samples of the water. Generally, prices are inexpensive. In California, reverse osmosis water is about fifty cents per gallon, while remineralized water is about a dollar per gallon. If you drink eight cups of water every day, that equals one gallon every two days, or three-and-a-half gallons per week. In total? You’re paying under four dollars a week for your drinking water, plus it’s clean and designed for max hydration!

Now, what to do if a water store isn’t an option? Here’s where there’s a slightly bigger investment: you’ll need to purchase a high-quality filtration system. Unless you’re willing to have a massively expensive twelve-step purification system installed in your home, the best you can do is buy a good filter. This is still a great option! You won’t be guaranteed absolutely purified water, but there are several filtration systems on the market that do a fabulous job, and will give you clean, fresh-tasting water with almost all contaminants removed. Do your research, read reviews, and, if possible, try to be somewhat flexible with your budget. Although the initial investment can be a little cringeworthy, you won’t be spending money on bottled water, trips to a water store, or--most importantly--the cost to your health. 

If you’re looking for a system that can be installed under your sink, APEC Water Systems has several different good-quality filtration systems. If you’d prefer something countertop-style, Berkey filters have a great reputation. The only catch: you have to buy these filters from a third-party seller, as they can’t be sold directly by the company in California, due to a law signed in 2009. 

In essence, this law, known as AB 1953 / SB 1334 & 1395 / HSC Section 116875, is a “no lead-law”. In theory, that sounds great--except the strict, overarching certification process contains criteria that is difficult to adequately satisfy as a small business. Basically, the law benefits large corporations that sell water processing systems and countertop filters, such as Britta--a fairly ineffective option--while neglecting smaller businesses. Although Berkey filters and other small, independent water filtration companies have been proven by independent testing to be incredibly effective at reducing lead via their filtration system, and in no way do their products contain lead themselves, the certification process would require these companies to reveal proprietary information, which means their technology and design information would be freely available to competitors, and the business would have no recourse.

Furthermore, although California signed law AB 1953 / SB 1334 & 1395 / HSC Section 116875 into effect, the actual certification standards according to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) are incredibly vague, and as such, companies run the risk of selling their product in California and being fined or shut down if they don’t meet the proper criteria--even though specific criteria has never been formally outlined. This is a huge problem, especially considering California has such poor water quality and its residents need all of the clean water resources they can get. Law AB 1953 / SB 1334 & 1395 / HSC Section 116875 prevents smaller, sustainable water filtration companies from selling their product, due to the difficult certification standards, when public water supplies have contained for a decade--and still contain--illegal levels of toxic substances, including herbicides, petroleum byproducts, and even--wait for it--lead. 

In case you’re worried you didn’t read that right, you did! Only as of July 1st, 2019, did a new state law pass in California that required public schools to test their water for lead. Although water sources themselves are rarely contaminated with lead in California, many homes and public systems still use lead piping, which means the water becomes contaminated just running through the tap, or in this case, the water fountain.

Over 10,600 schools have been tested in California, and quite a few were contaminated enough that the schools were required by law to completely replace piping and notify parents. The catch? Health advocates say that lead levels under 1 ppb are considered safe. However, action is only required--replacing pipes, and notifying parents--if the lead exceeds 15 ppb. This means that unhealthy lead levels between 2-15 ppb are completely unreported, and children are drinking from these contaminated water sources eight hours a day, five days a week, nine months a year. Plus, it has to be stressed that there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Under 1 ppb is considered “acceptable” by health advocates, which means as of right now, it’s considered unlikely that drinking lead at that level will cause severe health issues. However, even this level of contamination isn’t being adhered to. If you’d like to take a look at an interactive map showing different schools that have been tested, and where they fall in terms of contamination, you can do so here.

In the meantime, try visiting a local water store, or investing in a water filtration system. If you have kids, you can give them a personal water bottle to drink from, so they have clean water throughout the school day. You also have the option of purchasing distilled water in the store, and remineralizing it yourself, but remember: you should never directly drink distilled water, as it can create deficiencies in your body. 

Here’s the good news: we know that it’s an option to go buy clean, remineralized H2O from a water store. We know you can buy an at-home system, although some are difficult to come by, and must be purchased from a third-party seller, due to complex and potentially harmful California laws. Most importantly, we now know why knowledge surrounding water quality is so important. The more informed California residents are, the more we’ll take a closer look at candidates who mention access to clean water, and the better we’ll know what to do when it comes time to vote for local and statewide policies regarding water. 

Next time, we’re going to talk about the beauty of water--including all of the fun, weird, and fabulous things you can do to incorporate water as a ritual. Stay tuned!

The author of this blog, Layla Hanson, is a writer and project manager for Infinity Aesthetics, specializing in holistic media production. You can see her popping in and out of the office from time to time to snap photos for our Instagram and website. Feel free to say hi and offer to pose for a picture!