Most city tap water contains a chemical called chloramine. ItÔÇÖs replacing the regular use of chlorine in most cities. I called my city in 2016 and, yes, discovered they are using chloramine.
Chloramine contains both chlorine and ammonia.
Unless properly filtered, we are drinking it from city tap water and bathing in it!
Chloramine cannot be filtered using a basic charcoal filter.
Think of Water as a Nutrient
Water serves a number of essential functions to keep us all going (as posted by USGS)
- A vital nutrient to the life of every cell, acts first as a building material.
- It regulates our internal body temperature by sweating and respiration
- The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolized and transported by water in the bloodstream;
- It assists in flushing waste mainly through urination
- acts as a shock absorber for brain, spinal cord, and fetus
- forms saliva
- lubricates joints
Considering this list of how water functions in the human body, I’d say that it’s an important nutrient for sure. And, surely you want to get the cleanest source possible to help the body function at its best.
What About Tap Water and Bottled Water Labeled Purified (Drinking or Filtered)?
Purified water, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is “produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes” and also may be called “demineralized water, deionized water, distilled water or reverse osmosis water.”
ItÔÇÖs highly likely that even if you drink bottled water labeled “Purified” water (also labeled “drinking” and “filtered”)ÔǪyou are still drinking chloramine. All water with these labels are most likely to just be city tap water that has gone through some type of filtration system. And, the filtration process that is used usually doesnÔÇÖt remove chloramine. Chloramine cannot be removed through reverse osmosis* and regular carbon filtration processes. If you choose to buy “drinking”, “filtered” or “purified” water, I recommend contacting the bottled water company to see if there are any water quality reports available. You can also contact the city for which the source is listed to view the city’s water quality reports. (NOTE: In many instances, the city water quality reports are a few years behind and many city water agencies allow some amounts of contaminants.) Looking at the tables available at the EPA’s website, they test for over 200 contaminants, so chloramine isn’t your only worry (just perhaps the latest that’s been added to this overwhelming list)! Many of these contaminants are from the insecticides and pharmaceutical drugs!
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are both responsible for the safety of drinking water. EPA regulates public drinking water (tap water), while FDA regulates bottled drinking water.
Better Bottled Water Choices?
Spring water, “derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth at an identified location, may be collected at the spring or through a bore hole, tapping the underground formation that feeds the spring,” according to FDA guidelines.
While reviewing documentation that was sent to me by one popular bottled water company, I noticed that they treat their spring water with chlorine during shipment from the source and then filter it out prior to bottling. This doesnÔÇÖt seem like a good idea to me, so itÔÇÖs not one of my choices either. In addition, the pH of that same water is 5.6 which is too low. (Water should be at minimum a bit above 7 pH and you regularly do not want to go much higher than 9 pH.)
Therefore, one choice you can make for a better drinking water is to choose spring water that has not been treated using chlorine or one that has not been treated by reverse osmosis (which is excellent at filtration, but it also removes good minerals from the water)
Choose spring water that is pure and perhaps has only undergone the following processes: ÔÇ£filtered with carbon, carbon block, or a sand filter, ozonating water or passing water by an ultraviolet light.ÔÇØ (Ultraviolet light can eliminate chloramine.)
Artesian water is water produced from an artesian well. To be an artesian well the water in the aquifer (a subsurface rock unit that holds and transmits water) must be under enough pressure to force it up the well to a level that is higher than the top of the aquifer. Artesian water is mostly rain water that has seeped underground and is naturally filtered by the earth’s rock formations.
My favorite artesian drinking water is Evamor. Yes, I know itÔÇÖs quite expensive, but so are doctor visits and hospitals. I enjoy this water because of its high alkalinity due to the naturally occurring mineral content. ItÔÇÖs not treated by reverse osmosis! Evamor water is bottled right at the source and it taste great!
Be Aware of Many Alkaline Water Claims: DonÔÇÖt be fooled by water just because it claims to be alkaline. Many water companies that use the label “Alkaline” water are companies whose source is a city tap water that is treated using reverse osmosis* and then minerals are added to the water to increase its pH (alkalinity).
Remember, water is an important nutrient. It’s a liquid “food” and just like our goal is to eat REAL FOOD, likewise, we should want to drink REAL and “unprocessed” water too.
RECOMMENDED Bottled Natural Artesian and Spring Waters (that I found at my local grocery store):
- Evamor Water 8.8 -9.1 pH
- Mountain Valley Spring Water 7.68 pH
- Crystal Geyser (least expensive) 7.3 pH
- Evian 7.2 pH
- Fiji
- Just Water
*Additional Notes/Comments:
Berkey has an article about removing chlorine and chloramine from water.
Reverse osmosis is probably not a good source of drinking waterespecially for long term. It DOES NOT hydrate the cells of our bodies well and it NO LONGER CONTAINS the necessary minerals that our cells require. In fact, it is void of all minerals and, as a result, has a lower pH than is ideal. Yes, it can remove bacteria and even viruses (if the systems are well-maintained), but we should not depend on it for daily drinking water.
To find out whatÔÇÖs in your water, you should have an independent company test it. These companies usually provide whole house water filtration services and/or water delivery services.
I know many may be concerned about drinking water from plastic bottles. If this is your concern, but you want Artesian or Spring water, you will need to find a water service that can deliver in glass bottles. Yet, if youwant to filter your city tap water, I recommend something similar to a Berkey filtration system. (Or perhaps just use these types of filtration systems to filter plastic bottled Artesian or Spring water…which would be my personal choice.)
I do not receive compensation for referring you to any of these waters or websites, I just think they are the best choices and the websites provide some valuable information that can benefit us all. Please read the links, they include some really interesting facts about things such as cholesterol, skin and stomach problems, and other various health issues that can be linked to drinking (and bathing) water.
Read more about Artesian Water and Artesian Wells (USGS)
Related Podcast:
Podcast Episode 4 ÔÇô Immunity ÔÇô Water (Drinking and Bathing)
