Water & Air – Filter Systems News

Generally speaking, there are two ways people get their drinking water: through city water and well water. But what are they and what is the difference between them?

City Water

City water is typically river water. While this type of water has a lot of pollutants and contaminants to begin with, it is put through an assortment of cleaning processes and purity tests before entering your home. By law, city water is treated on a daily basis and often has chemicals added to it such as chlorine and fluoride. Bringing in city water requires changing the pipes in and around your home. Also, you have the added cost of a monthly water bill. Despite daily testing, there is the risk of contamination from old pipe lines that need upgrading. If you doubt the safety of your water, you can do research and find various water test kits that have been done to ensure water quality. Oftentimes, the biggest problem with city water is that just because the water is safe does not mean it tastes or smells very good. City water often contains minerals that will give the water an unpleasant look, taste, smell and may have undesired effects on your dishes, laundry and your hair. Fortunately, there are filters and additives you can get for your water that will make it look and taste better.

If you want to personally test your water supply, the Watersafe All-In-One Drinking Water Test Kit is highly recommended. This test kit is for city water only and contains everything you will need to find out simply and accurately if your water contains unsafe or undesirable levels of one or more of eight common contaminants.

Another way of ensuring water quality is through the use of purifier tablets such as the Aquamira Purifier Tablets. These tablets are used by dropping one tablet into one liter of water and waiting the required time. These tablets will not discolor the water and will improve the taste of treated water.

Well Water

Well water comes directly from the ground, and while it does not go through the same cleaning process, the water is filtered to a degree as it slowly trickles from the surface into underground reservoirs. Unlike city water, there is no monthly water bill that you will be required to pay. However, as a well water owner, it is up to you to test the safety and quality of your water. Generally, well water can be clean or dirty, depending on where you live.  Just like safe water might smell or taste bad, unsafe water may taste, smell and look perfectly fine. There can be many dangerous chemicals found in well water that have no taste, smell and do not change the look of the water. Well water can often contain agricultural runoff such as fertilizers and pesticides. It can also contain jet fuel and other chemicals from “fracking” (a process used in drilling for natural gas). Unless you have your water tested, there is no way to guarantee well water is safe, free of bacteria and other dangerous chemicals.

One way to get your water treated is through the Complete Home Water Quality Test Kit which tests your water for over 13 contaminants, allowing you to identify the issues in your water quality so you will know how to correctly and appropriately treat your water.

Once you test your water, you may find it handy to invest in a whole house water filter system such as the 3M Aqua-Pure Whole House Water Filter System. This whole house water filter has a 100,000 gallon capacity or up to one year cartridge life which reduces the multi-year cartridge replacement required with most water filter cartridges. This whole house water filter system will extend the life of all your household appliances that are connected to the water line.

Which do you prefer? City water or well water? Sound off in the comments below.

Searching for the perfect gift for your dad on Father’s Day? Have you considered ZeroWater as the perfect choice for your dad on this special occasion? The filtered water from ZeroWater filtration pitchers is the only filtered water that meets the FDA definition for purified bottled water.  That means that you will get clean, pure water every time you drink from these products. What is the added benefit of drinking purified water? Drinking pure water that has removed the harmful contaminants and bacteria in it will ensure that your health can stay intact longer.  Yet, there is another reason to choose ZeroWater Filtration pitchers. According to Robert Roney Vice President of Sales for ZeroWater:

“…all our pitchers and dispensers are BPA Free. We also have a recycle program for our filters.  Consumers can send in their exhausted/used filters and ZeroWater recycles the plastic and regenerates the resins in the filter. In return for sending the filter back to be recycled ZeroWater sends the consumer a coupon worth $10.00 off their next filter purchase.”

Clearly, buying ZeroWater has its benefits not just for your health, but for your wallet as well. To make things even better, ZeroWater is offering a free replacement filter with the purchase of selected ZeroWater pitchers. This Father’s Day promotion runs from June 1^st- June 15^th only or while supplies last. Now extended through June 22nd or while supplies last. That’s more bang for your buck. Read below for more details on some exciting ZeroWater products and offers.

The ZeroWater 23-Cup Water Filtration Pitcher is a patented 5-Stage Dual-Ion Exchange filtration system that includes a filter, has a 23-cup capacity dispenser and a TDS meter. The TDS Meter (which stands for Total Dissolved Solids) will show you anything that is dissolved in your water and can also be used to let you know when it is time to change your filter.  This water filtration pitcher will remove virtually all dissolved solids from your water, providing you with great tasting drinking water. With the purchase of this pitcher you will receive a FREE ZeroWater Replacement Filter Cartridge that is easy to install, meets FDA requirements and reduces mercury, lead, chlorine taste and unpleasant odors. This offer is only good through June 22nd or while supplies last so act quickly.

The ZeroWater 8-Cup Water Filtration Pitcher is the only water filter pitcher to achieve the required FDA TDS level in purified bottled water to reach 000-010 ppm. To ensure that water passes through the filter and not around the filter, the filter assembly is located underneath the water pitcher. This ZeroWater Filtration Pitcher is a cost-effective alternative with high contaminant removal. Through June 15th, with the purchase of this filter you will also receive a FREE ZeroWater Replacement Filter Cartridge. This water filter was recently named a “Filter that really works” in Good Housekeeping Magazine and appeared on the Today Show. Through testing done by the GH Research Institute, this ZeroWater 8-Cup Filtration pitcher was found to remove at least 95% of estrone, PFOA, PFOS and ibuprofren.

The ZeroWater Cooler Bottle Filtration System is a water filter pitcher that fits most standard coolers and eliminates the need for expensive bottled water deliveries. It includes an independent TDS meter for measuring clean water quality. With the purchase of this filtration system you will receive a FREE ZeroWater Replacement Filter Cartridges- 2pack. This offer ends June 22nd or while supplies last.

Remember, in an effort to prevent water bottles from being thrown into the trash or landfills, ZeroWater offers a recycling program that recycles their filter cartridges from U.S. customers. This Father’s Day why not give your dad the gift of clean, pure water? This Father’s Day, give the gift of ZeroWater.

Every day around the world, there is a cycle that is continuously going. It happens all the time, yet most of us aren’t aware of it. It’s the water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle and it is very vital to life here on Earth. The water cycle describes the movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. At various stages in the cycle, water can change states from a solid to a liquid and even to a gas. But what exactly are the stages of the water cycle? What do these stages do? 

Generally, there are 10 stages to the water cycle that range from evaporation to precipitation. They are as follows:

1. Evaporation: This is the change of water from a liquid to a gas. On average, around 47 inches is evaporated into the atmosphere from the ocean each year.

2. Transpiration: This is the evaporation of liquid water from plants and trees into the Earth’s atmosphere. Nearly all water that enters the roots transpires into the atmosphere.
3. Sublimation: This is the process where ice and snow (a solid) changes into a gas without moving through the liquid phase.
4. Condensation: This is the process where water changes back into a liquid. This is when we begin to first see clouds.
5. Transportation: This is the movement of solid, liquid and gaseous water throughout the atmosphere. Without this movement, all of the water evaporated over the ocean would not precipitate over land.
6. Precipitation: This is water that falls to the earth. Most precipitation falls as rain but includes snow, sleet, drizzle and hail. On average, about 39 inches of rain, snow and sleet fall each year around the world.
7. Deposition: This is the reverse of stage 3. Water vapor (a gas) changes into ice (a solid) without going through the liquid phase. This is most often seen on clear and cold nights when frost forms on the ground.
8. Infiltration: This is the movement of water into the ground from the surface. Percolation is movement of water past the soil going deep into the groundwater.
9. Surface flow : This is the river, lake, and stream transport of water to the oceans. The water may return to the surface in springs or eventually seep into the oceans.
10. Plant uptake: This is water taken from the groundwater flow and soil moisture. Only 1% of water that a plant draws up is used by the plant. The remaining 99% is passed back into the atmosphere.

Water is a vital part here on Earth, and on World Water Day this Thursday, let’s not forget the importance of clean drinking water for you and your loved ones. At Filters Fast, we offer a variety of water products to help ensure you of clean drinking water. From the Zero Water Cooler Bottle Filtration System to the Everpure Water Filtration System, Filters Fast knows the importance of clean, drinking water for you and your family.

(IMAGE CREDIT: http://www.srh.weather.gov)

Many animals are habitable in the cold and blustery winter months. A lot of pet owners do not keep their animals in their homes and unfortunately just like humans, some outdoor pets can experience severe dehydration or injury if certain precautions are not taken to protect them. Outdoor animals could be susceptible to a certain amount of stress if they are exposed to severe weather conditions. Just as you prepare for your outdoor pets to have sufficient food and water during the hot summer months, you have to make preparations for them during the harsh winter months as well.

Quite often we witness rescues of some domestic and wild animals getting trapped in freezing cold water while they were walking on an ice laden pond or lake, as the ice gave way under them. Even if you have certain breeds of pets that are suited for enduring the cold weather (like sled dogs for example), they still need proper protection from the freezing cold elements.

Dehydration occurs when animals may have adequate outdoor shelter, but the low temperatures will cause their drinking water to freeze, leaving them with no water to drink. By frequently checking their drinking water or placing it in an insulated container, this could help to significantly reduce the possibility for dehydration, whether they are indoors or outside.

Hypothermia or frostbite occurs when a dangerous drop in body temperature can leave animals vulnerable to conditions such as pneumonia and infection. Ultimately, extended periods of exposure to the frigid elements could cause irreparable damage to the tissue in areas such as the ears, paws, tail and nose, or even worse, death. Just as you would protect yourself from exposure to extremely cold temperatures, be sure to do the same for your horse, dog, cat or even your iguana.

 Do you know what’s in your family’s drinking water?  Asbestos, antimony, copper and even chromium can be found in  in your home’s drinking water. According to the Drinking Water Contaminants Chart produced by the Environmental Protection Agency, there are microorganisms, disinfectants, organic chemicals and even radionuclides found in your primary drinking water. While there are regulations preventing too many contaminants or particles from being in your water, there are ways that you can personally protect both you and your family.

What can be most unnerving about contaminants being in your drinking water is the possibility that it can make you sick. To prevent this, consider using a whole house filtration system. These systems will filter things like sediment, chlorine and cysts not only from your drinking water, but your entire water system.  The Culligan HF-360 is a whole house water filter housing that can be attached to your main water line at the point of entry. The clear housing makes it easy for you to see when to change your filter, and to view all of the contaminants that you are no longer drinking!

Another easy way to filter the water  you drink is to use a water pitcher. Rather than drinking directly from the tap, put your water through a Brita Pitcher to ensure that contaminants are filtered out. If you, like me, are guilty of buying a bottle of water at the store which is harmful not only to the environment, but your wallet as well, consider the Filtrete Water Station. This water station features 4 portable bottles of water that are easy to take with you everywhere.

With the cold, drying winter months just around the corner, you are no doubt feeling the effects of dry, cracked skin. Most people don’t know that much of this can be attributed to contaminants and particulates in the water that you bathe with. To combat this, consider a Sprite Shower Falls shower head filter. This shower head comes in a stylish chrome finish and has a 5-way massaging spray. Beat the need for expensive moisturizers and skin treatments with this stylish shower head.

While there are contaminants and particulates in your water, there are ways to protect yourself and your family. By taking a few simple steps and installing a whole house water filtration system, or purchasing a filtering shower head, you can combat the effects of contaminants in your water.

An ancient technique for purifying water may offer new hope for the over 1 billion people who have no access to clean drinking water.  The Moringa oleifera tree has been used for hundreds of years by people in Sudan to purify water, as well as for food.  The method has never been widely disseminated, but in 2010 a publication by Michael Lea revealed the Moringa tree’s properties.  According to Lea, when the seeds of this tree are crushed into powder and mixed with surface water, a reduction of bacteria by 90-99 percent can be achieved.

This news provides great hope for those living in areas where the tree is widely grown, including Africa, Central and South America, India, and Southeast Asia. In Ghana, the Moringa tree is grown on plantations, and its leaves are used for food and the seeds used as a spice. According to the UN site IRIN, the tree grows quickly and resists drought, and can be grown in many areas.  The seeds are soft and can be easily crushed, the IRIN site further states.  The fact that the tree is already widely grown, and the ease with which the seeds can be crushed, make this method ideal for those without other sources of water purification.

Kebreab Ghebremichael, a water purification expert with UNESCO, states that using the seeds of Moringa tree is probably best employed at a household level.  According to him, the seeds would pose problems with odor and taste if forced to sit for extended periods of time when used on a large scale basis.  He further states that this method would work better for surface water than with underground water, and that it is best used for emergencies and where other methods of water purification are not available.

At some point in our lives we’ve heard that we should drink around six to eight glasses of water a day. It’s a recommendation that’s rarely challenged and championed by many health advocates. But where exactly do the numbers come from and why? Dr. Margaret McCartney, a general practitioner from Scotland, is challenging the 8-glasses-a-day rule and recently published her thoughts in an article entitled “Waterlogged?” in the British Medical Journal.

Dr. McCartney describes the notion that “we don’t drink enough water” as “thoroughly debunked nonsense,” and that having too much water could be unhealthy. She notes that the recommendation to drink six to eight glasses of water a day is supported by many health officials and organizations, including the NHS (National Health Service). The NHS Choices website even states on its website that we should “try to drink about six to eight glasses of water (or other fluids) a day to prevent dehydration. When the weather is warm or when we get active, we may need more.”

McCartney’s claim is bold, no doubt, but she cites two major sources as evidence. First, Heinz Valtin wrote in the American Journal of Physiology in 2002 that that there is “no scientific evidence that we need to drink that much [water]” and that the “recommendation could be harmful.” Also, a 2008 editiorial in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology stated that “there is no clear evidence of benefit from drinking increased amounts of water…there is simply a lack of evidence in general.”

Others are rushing to support Dr. McCartney’s assertions and are relieved that she’s contributing to this ongoing conversation. The Guardian notes that “we humans are pretty good at regulating our own water intake. When we need to replace fluid there’s this highly accurate mechanism called thirst that prompts us to have a drink.”

A unique idea…drink only when you’re thirsty.

“Many civilizations have been crippled or destroyed by an inability to understand water or manage it. We have a huge advantage over the generations of people who have come before us, because we can understand water and we can use it smartly.”

– Charles Fishman, The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water

Charles Fishman, bestselling author of The Wal-Mart Effect has most recently turned his attention to water. The leap from discounted mega-giant to Earth’s most essential resource may seem like a big one, but Fishman is interested in relationships-whether it’s to Wal-Mart or water.  Fishman first began his flirtation with water in a 2007 article entitled, “Message in a Bottle”, published in Fast Company magazine. In this piece Fishman lamented, “Thirty years ago, bottled water barely existed as a business in the United States. Last year, we spent more on Poland Spring, Fiji Water, Evian, Aquafina, and Dasani than we spent on iPods or movie tickets– $15 billion. It will be $16 billion this year” (Fishman, 2007).

Fast forward to 2011, and Fishman tackles both the history and future of water in our world. The Big Thirst seeks to open people’s eyes to the reality of water in the twenty-first century. Similar to what the book and film, Fast Food Nation did for revealing the atrocities of the United States fast food industry, Thirst delves into people’s water consciousness. For example, do you know where your water goes when it swirls down the drain, flushes down the toilet or leaves your washing machine? A majority of Americans have no idea.

Also consider that most Americans don’t know where the majority of their daily water usage comes from. Do you? In 1999, a group of researchers used electronic water-flow sensors in 1,888 homes for four weeks. The results showed that the primary way American’s use water daily is by flushing the toilet. About five times a day per person if you want to put a figure on it. We literally flush 5.7 billion gallons of water down the toilet a day (Fishman, 2011).

The Big Thirst’s strength stems from Fishman’s ability to storytell. He connects you to your relationship with water in a multitude of ways. Take for example, this excerpt, “Like so much of modern life, safe, reliable water and sewer service is both essential and a complete mystery. We have no idea where our water comes from, we have no idea what happens to it when the dishwasher is done with it. We have no idea what effort is required to get the water to us, and no idea what’s required to get rid of it. That ignorance doesn’t matter, until things start to go wrong.”

Water is an essential resource in our daily lives- and most of us do not understand how much we rely on it, how much goes into getting it to our faucet, and what we would do if it were to stop flowing freely. Charles Fishman explores these questions through fascinating stories intertwining his personal travels to the water bottling plants of San Pellegrino, Italy and Poland Spring, Maine.  The main question being, why don’t we value our most essential resource the way we should?

What if your drinking water could induce a sex change?

In some parts of the country, it can. According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, atrazine, an agricultural weedkiller has been found at high levels in drinking water during growing season in several Midwest farming states. Studies on the chemical have shown that exposure to small amounts can turn male frogs into female frogs.  It’s frightening to imagine what long-term exposure might do to humans.

This is not the first time sex-changing chemicals in water have raised concerns. In 2003, the Potomac River was found to contain large numbers of fish with intersex – a condition in which male fish develop premature egg cells. Further study attributed the condition to the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals which mimic or block the production of hormones – chemicals found in pharmaceuticals, pesticides and herbicides like atrazine.

The degree to which these chemicals are harmful to humans is currently in debate. Manufacturers of atrazine maintain that their studies say the product is safe (not surprisingly.)  Outside studies, however, have raised enough alarm to move the Obama administration to further review the substance, which may lead to tighter restrictions.

Meanwhile, you continue to drink water polluted with atrazine (and who knows what else?). And by the time the government decides to take action you’ve developed…

Well, I won’t even go there.

Bottled water may seem like the answer, but the toxic BPA in many plastic bottles has been said to mimic estrogen, and is therefore also labeled a “gender bender.” Not to mention, bottled water is expensive. Looking for a solution that will save you money along with your sex organs?

Move to Europe, where they don’t spray atrazine. Or, better yet, just filter your water. (I bet you knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?) Jokes aside, Filters Fast carries several brands of refrigerator filters, undersink water filters and water faucet filters that remove large amounts of atrizine, as well as other pesticides and harmful chemicals, from your water. Before you buy, use this Watersafe All-in-One Drinking Water Test Kit to determine how much of these pollutants your water contains.

Parents, here are some filters to protect your kids from air and water pollutants.

You know what they say: “A filter a day keeps the doctor away.”

Okay, so maybe that’s not how the original saying goes, but there is still some truth to it. If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then parents should, no doubt, be concerned about what their children are eating. What parents may not know is that the quality of what their children are drinking, bathing in and breathing is just as important.  Here are some ways to ensure your kids have access to pure, uncontaminated sources of air and water.

Filters for Kids, Part One: The Stuff We Drink

National Geographic recently published an article discussing the dangers of contaminated water that runs through school fountains and sinks. Water contaminated with lead and other toxic substances is a particular concern for urban schools that have old pipelines, as lead is known to affect the physical and mental development of children. Clearly, lead belongs in the pencils children use at school, not in their drinking water.

The obvious solution to this problem is – you guessed it – bottle water.  But, before you send your child off to school with an apple and a bottle of water in his lunchbox, consider the risks. Bottled water is 1,000 times more costly than tap and is bad for the environment. There is also a chance that if your child is drinking water from a bottle, he may be exposed to bisphenol-A (BPA), a harmful substance found in a variety of plastic containers and other consumer products, including baby bottles.

It looks like we have a true dilemma on our hands. If tap water is bad, and bottled water is bad, then what can your child drink?

Well, not all bottles are bad. A lot of plastic bottle manufacturers have switched to BPA-free bottles, since consumers and the FDA expressed concerns about the health risks of this toxic substance. Rather than buying bottled water, (which is likely bottled tap water anyway), parents can instead buy reusable water bottles for kids and refill them with filtered tap water. Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles come in various sizes and are BPA-free, as are Klean Kanteen Sippy Cups for smaller children.  Certain models of the Brita filter pitcher also come with a BPA-free Nalgene bottle.  Another solution is to purchase a bottle that has an attachable filter cartridge. The Filters Fast 16 oz. water filter bottle removes significant amounts of lead and other toxic contaminants every time you refill it.

To be continued…