Water & Air – Filter Systems News

For $100, you can provide clean water to one family in need, for a lifetime, through Give Clean Water (GCW) – a California-based, non-profit organization that partners with local community organizations in Fiji to install water filters for families in need of clean water.

The filter – called the “Point One Filter” – attaches to a 5-gallon bucket and removes more than 99.99 percent of bacteria and protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium. It comes with a lifetime, “one-million gallon” guarantee. Prior to each installation, GCW team members gather biographical and demographic information from the families, take photos, and mark each home with a GPS address. They also educate each family on basic hygiene and the importance of drinking and cooking with clean water. Once the filter is installed, GCW sends a follow up team to the homes to answer questions about the proper use and maintenance of the filter. Each home is also given contact information for the local community organization partnered with GCW, in case there are any problems.

Give Clean Water currently works in Fiji, but hopes to expand it’s reach in the coming years. Contrary to popular belief, not all ares of the Fiji Islands are vacation spots. Though the bottled water industry continues to make a profit on Fiji Water, sadly, there are many local residents who die from lack of access to clean water, every day.

Anyone can get involved by spreading the word through social media, sponsoring or participating in upcoming trips, hosting a unique fundraiser, or donating directly through the website.

Help us celebrate #charitytuesday by spreading the word about this unique water charity!

Humans shed their entire layer of skin every 2-4 weeks. Skin flakes contain skin oils – cholesterol and “squalene” – which are major components of household dust. Recent research shows that dust, though often a nuisance and the source of allergies and respiratory problems, may actually be beneficial at reducing indoor air pollution.

It sounds contradictory, but it’s true. Squalene actually reduces ozone levels from 2 to 15 percent.

So… to dust, or not to dust? That is the question. Previous research shows the mere presence of humans in a room can reduce ozone levels. Ozone is a major component of smog, and exposure to it may increase one’s risk of lung irritation, asthma, heart attacks and death. The removal of ozone from indoor spaces seems to be a good thing. However, other studies show that the reaction between skin flakes and squalene produces byproducts which are known to be lung irritants and may be just as or even more harmful to your health.

Until more research is done, we are going to recommend dusting and using an air purifier to remove dust and other allergens from your indoor spaces. Just make sure the air purifier does not emit ozone.

From dust we came, and to dust we shall return…

Consumer Reports recently stated that refrigerator manufacturers, including GE, LG and Whirlpool, are adding new technological features that will help keep your food fresh longer. If you’re in the market for a new refrigerator, this may be something worth considering before you buy. Here are some highlights of the new features being added:

Whirlpool’s Freshflow Produce Preserver

This technology will be in select models, starting this year, and consists of ethylene absorption packets located in crisper drawers. These packets contain potassium permanganate, which neutralizes ethylene – a naturally occurring, odorless, harmless, tasteless gas, given off by fruits and veggies, causing them to ripen more quickly. Whirlpool claims that FreshFlow will make your produce last 25 percent longer, but the packets must be changed every six months.

GE ClimateKeeper Dual Evaporator System

As the old saying goes, “two heads are better than one.” The same goes for evaporators in your refrigerator. Older fridge models have one evaporator in the freezer, so that all of the cold air for the fresh food section in the refrigerator comes from the freezer. This causes the airflow from the fresh food section to mix with the air in the freezer. If you notice that your ice cubes taste like onion or broccoli, this may very well be why. (That, or you need to change your fridge filter.) With a dual evaporator system like GE’s ClimateKeeper, there are two evaporators, rather than one, so that the fresh food section and the freezer cool independently from one another. The humidity inside your fresh food drawers is also significantly higher, allowing fresh produce and unsealed foods to retain moisture and stay fresh longer.

Bosch VitaFresh Technology

With Bosch’s VitaFresh system, a high-tech lining inside your fresh food drawers works with climate sensors to maintain ideal temperature, humidity and air circulation, so that your food stays fresher longer. Bosch also claims that this technology also preserves vitamins and nutrients.

Viking’s Plasmacluster Ion Air Purifier

Similar to room air purifiers for the home, a Plasmacluster Ion air purifier inside your refrigerator helps eliminate odors associated with airborne pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, mold and fungi, helping your food to stay fresher, longer.

LG Push ‘N Seal Crisper Drawer

This drawer uses a vacuum to seal your produce inside, apparently keeping it crisp and fresh for longer.

Despite freshness claims from various refrigerator manufacturers, Consumer Reports recommends that you first look for a fridge that has excellent temperature performance. You can keep your produce fresh through proper food storage, eliminating the need for advanced refrigeration technology. And, of course, remember to replace your refrigerator water filter every six months.

The dead body of an Indonesian maid was found in the rooftop water tank of a residential building in Singapore, a few days ago. A Bangladeshi man has been arrested in connection with the case; he was seen choking her. It is believed that they were in an intimate relationship, and both were seen arguing on the morning her body was found. The case has been classified as a murder by the police, but the exact cause of death has not been determined.

All of those details seem trivial, however, in light of this significance: her corpse may have tainted the drinking water of 700 residents. One resident reported seeing white bubbles in her water while bathing her children. Doctors recommended boiling the water prior to consumption, in order to kill any bacteria or other pathogens present from the corpse, but I’m not sure that I could stomach the thought of drinking water tainted by a dead body, boiled or not.

Incidents like these are few and far between, so I don’t think that a mass manufacture of water filters designed to remove rotting corpse particles would be necessary. (We already have filters that will remove radioactive particles – perhaps they will filter dead body remnants as well…) I’m curious, though, as to what our readers would do in this situation. Boil the water and drink it? Purchase bottled water until the tank is cleaned and sterilized? Buy a Katadyn emergency water filter? Or move out of the building altogether?

With news of more frequent natural disasters, dead bodies found in residential water tanks, and reports of a potential zombie apocalypse from the CDC, now might be a good time to get prepared for the days ahead. We suggest you start by reviewing our post on “How to Survive the Apocalypse with Filters Fast,” as well as our article on Emergency Water Purification.

The Reef Check Foundation is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs. Our coral reefs are in danger due to over-fishing, illegal fishing and pollution. Virtually no reef in the world remains untouched by human impact. Founded in 1996 by marine ecologist Dr. Gregor Hodgson, Reef Check strives to educate the public about this  crisis and the value of reef ecosystems. The organization is headquartered in Los Angeles and has volunteer teams in over 90 countries who monitor and report on reef health, and produce ecologically and economically sustainable solutions to the problem of damaged reefs, while stimulating local community action to protect any remaining pristine reefs, worldwide.

There are several ways to get involved, from making a donation on the website or becoming a Reef Check member, to volunteering and participating in educational projects hosted by Reef Check. These include a “What Do Reefs Mean to You?” Photo Contest, an Artists for Reefs Gallery where artists can display their marine-themed art, and even a Singing Contest aimed at helping young people learn more about the marine environment.

This #charitytuesday, spread the word about a different kind of water charity! Visit Reef Check’s website to learn more about ways you can help restore this natural and beautiful part of creation.

Despite improvements in outdoor air quality, and despite the elimination of  secondhand smoke via indoor smoking bans in some cities across the U.S., a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the number of people diagnosed with asthma in the U.S. increased by 4.3 million between 2001 and 2009. The increase occurred among all demographics, though a higher percentage of children reported having asthma than adults. The numbers were especially high among boys and the highest increase in asthma rates was among black children.

Interestingly, the CDC stated that, “While we don’t know the cause of the increase, our top priority is getting people to manage their symptoms better.”

Is it just me, or is the entire problem evident in that one statement? I think the CDC may need to reorganize its priorities. After all, they are the Centers for Disease Control AND PREVENTION. And, as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…

Symptom management typically means more prescription drugs and more money spent on unhealthy corticosteroid medications that both insured and uninsured people with asthma already can’t afford. It means putting a band-aid on the symptoms of the disease rather than addressing the root cause and helping to prevent even more increases in asthma rates in the coming years. Essentially, we are merely sweeping the problem under the rug. How about, instead of managing symptoms, we get to the root of the problem? How about, instead of simply assessing the (strange) fact that asthma rates have indeed gone up in the last eight years, we assess WHY they have gone up and try to fix that so that the rates go down in the years to come? That would really save on health care costs in the long run, wouldn’t it?

The first recommendation made by the CDC for reducing asthma rates is improving indoor air quality. Simple actions like regularly changing your air filters, having a few indoor plants, keeping the inside of your house clean, minimizing or eliminating the use of fragrances and products with toxic chemicals indoors, and using a shower filter to rid toxic chlorine from your shower water, can drastically reduce the amount of harmful pollutants that trigger asthma attacks, within the home. Schools and workplaces may be a little more difficult. Lower-income schools may not be able to afford the types of renovations needed to reduce asthma triggers. However, money spent on educating asthma patients on how to improve their quality of life naturally, rather than on prescription drugs and healthcare, will go a lot farther in the long run.

Do you agree?

May is Asthma Awareness Month. Spread the word by re-tweeting and sharing this post!

We just wanted to post a quick update on the status of the OasisPlaces iPhone App. Two days ago, we wrote about WeTap – an upcoming Android App that maps water fountains. In that post, I mentioned the OasisPlaces app – another application that maps water fountains – for the iPhone. I had tried to find the app on my iPhone that morning but didn’t see it in the App Store, and wrongly assumed that iPhone users would not have access to this sort of feature until WeTap expanded its reach to other mobile devices.

A representative from Thermos came across that post and saw fit to contact us with an update on the status of OasisPlaces. I received the following e-mail today:

Hello Selwa,

I hope all is well. I represent Thermos and saw your post today about not being able to find the OasisPlaces water fountain finder app they launched last year:

I wanted to let you know that OasisPlaces is only down from iTunes temporarily for some app upgrades, and will be reposted to iTunes very shortly. I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s back up and running, as we have some exciting things planned for this summer.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks,

Betsi

So, as you can see, Android phones are not the only devices that will enable you to locate the nearest water fountain. iPhone users, don’t forget your reusable water bottles when you leave the house!

Abundant Water (AW) is a non-profit organization founded by Australian engineer, and AW project manager, Sunny Forsyth. He realized the need for clean drinking water in rural communities in Laos, a developing country, while working as an Australian Government Youth Ambassador in 2007. He sought advice from Dr. Tony Flynn at the Australian National University, whose research demonstrated that clay-pot filters, made from sustainable materials found everywhere, are a low-cost, innovative and effective way to remove over 95 percent of the pathogens found in unsafe drinking water. In August of 2008, Abundant Water was born. Through the website, Sunny generated support for the project and began the process of making clay-pot filters with local potters.

Donations can be made from within or outside of Australia and they go toward training indigenous potters in Laos and elsewhere to make their own clay-pot water filters. Patrons can donate any amount, but the website suggests purchasing a 2011 Abundant Water Calendar (pictured above) for $15. This can provide training for one potter in Laos, and the calendar will serve as a daily reminder of the people your gift will help.

This #charitytuesday, we call attention to Abundant Water – a non-profit organization based in Australia, helping to bring clean drinking water to the people of Laos, through innovative, long-lasting methods.

Thirsty? There’s a map for that.

Smartphones are a growing trend, and these days, there’s an app for just about anything you can think of – even clean water. Last year, we wrote about “FLOW” – an Android smartphone app that lets people snap photos of broken water pumps in developing countries, ensuring faster repair. We also mentioned, in an older post, an iPhone app called “Oasis Places,” created by Thermos, which allows users to track the locations of drinking fountains in the U.S., add new fountains, comments and pictures, and rate the water on criteria such as coldness, location, cleanliness and flavor. When it comes to helping other people kick their bottled water habit, “Oasis Places” sounds promising. However, when I checked the app store on my iPhone this morning, it was nowhere to be found. I even tried searching phrases like “water fountains” and “clean water,” with no luck.

Not to worry. The Pacific Institute is working with Google Application developers to launch a new app for Android-based smartphones called “WeTap.” Just like “Oasis Places,” WeTap allows users to map drinking water fountains with comments, pictures and water quality ratings. The disappearance of public drinking fountains has led to an increase in plastic bottled water sales, resulting in an overall negative environmental impact. Crowdsourcing apps like “WeTap” are meant to reverse this trend by encouraging users to carry a refillable, reusable water bottle while on-the-go. At first, only Android users will be able to use this app to map fountains, but they hope to make it available to any smartphone eventually. In the meantime, anyone with access to a computer or smartphone with a browser can still go online to see the water fountain maps. For more information, visit WeTap.org.

Pure Delight recently announced the release of their new product – Aqua Delight – a bottled water that is free from the metallic, acidic, bitter, or otherwise bad taste associated with chemotherapy treatments. Metallic taste in the mouth is a common side effect of chemotherapy drugs, often making it difficult for cancer patients to eat or drink, leading to dehydration ranging from mild to life-threatening. Aqua Delight provides relief from this, making it easy for patients to drink water, thus optimizing their recovery.

So, how does it work? We don’t know. It’s a secret. The company has signed non-disclosure agreements that keep the technology behind this water confidential. However, there is a 100 percent money-back guarantee, and several testimonials on Pure Delight’s website indicate that most people are happy with the results this water provides.

The bottles are made from PETE 1 plastic, which exceeds FDA standards for safety, and there are no known issues with chemicals leaching into the water. However, it seems ironic that the company would choose to manufacture bottled water, rather than a specialized water filter that improves metallic taste instead. In general, bottled water is not sustainable, even though the plastic is recyclable. Non-sustainable living may contribute to the growth of disease – such as cancer. In the interest of sustaining life, you’d think Pure Delight would opt for a more sustainable product that lines up, thematically, with the company’s ultimate goal.

Metallic taste has also been reported as a side effect of pregnancy, allergies, dental disease and kidney disease, making the market for Aqua Delight even wider. What about you? Would you try it?