Reverse osmosis - A popular method of water purification - is proving controversial amongst water purification experts and environmentalists, as it wastes vast amounts of water and produces sterile water which contains none of the required salts or minerals usually found in healthy water.

The process of water purification through reverse osmosis uses a membrane that acts as a molecular filter to remove up to 97% of all dissolved constituents – good and bad, with the end product being sterile water, which contains very little dissolved salts or minerals.

During the process of reverse osmosis, water passes through a reverse osmosis (RO) filter membrane, but in the process not all the water passes through the membrane and much is wasted.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems are designed to waste water. Pure water is forced, under pressure, through the membrane and the concentrated salts that remain are continuously washed away to waste. Most domestic RO systems waste 4-5 times more water than the pure water produced.
This wastewater contains all the dissolved constituents that have been removed from the RO product water.

According to Gordon Reid, a well-known water scientist and owner of Reid Line Services, for every litre of product water produced through a domestic reverse osmosis system in household applications, as much as three litres of water are wasted.

“And this water wastage factor only gets worse as the membrane gets dirty and fouls up over time. I have encountered old systems that have been found to waste up to 20 liters of water for every 1 liter of reverse osmosis water produced," states Reid.

“If one considers that if only 1000 reverse osmosis units were active in a given area, this would equate to 30 million litres of wasted water per year. In a water poor country this seems like an unacceptable loss,” comments Reid.

Tony Marchesini, director of water purification company H2O International SA, further explains that in addition to this water wastage, there is also a large health risk in drinking de-mineralised water as reverse osmosis systems remove almost practically all of the Total Dissolved Salts (TDS) from water.

“Low TDS RO water leeches nutrients and essential elements like calcium, magnesium and iron from your body. These elements, which are needed by the body, are lost because mineral free RO water absorbs leaches them from the relatively mineral rich cells of the body as it passes though the digestive system, and are then excreted from the body via the normal processes.

When you drink low TDS water your body fluids are diluted as the cells in your body have a relatively higher concentration of minerals in them than the diluted body fluids surrounding them passing through it, so therefore the minerals (toxins and nutrients) pass from the cells into the water, and then out of your body.
This is good when you want to get rid of toxins, but if this is continued for too long (over two weeks of continuous use); you will drain your body of nutrients and minerals as well. Your cells may well become starved and the rate of uptake of both minerals and nutrients are decreased steadily.

RO systems also pose a serious health risk when routine maintenance is neglected. The dangers are greatest in RO systems installed in holiday homes where they stand idle for long periods at a time. International recommendations are to change cartridges and sanitise all components every 13 weeks. To do effective maintenance, some specialist equipment is required, and it is advisable to have an experienced water purification technician take care of the routine maintenance. Simply changing the pre-sediment cartridges is not sufficient.

However, Reid states that there are applications where reverse osmosis units are necessary. “The golden rule for reverse osmosis is that if desalination (reducing the TDS level) is not required, and then do not use RO systems.
It is irresponsible to install a reverse osmosis unit if it is not for the purposes of desalination due to the huge amount of water wasted.”

“For places on the West Coast of South Africa who have very high salt content in their water and no other water supply available as well as farmers relying on boreholes, reverse osmosis systems for desalination purposes are unavoidable.”

However in those applications the user then has to ensure that they are replacing the minerals that they are losing from drinking de-mineralized water, by means of daily mineral supplements.

For people who have already had reverse osmosis systems installed on their municipal lines and no longer want to waste water, there is some goods news as these systems can easily and affordably be converted into non-wasteful water purification systems.

“An experienced water purification technician can easily convert an existing reverse osmosis system into the correct type of municipal water purification system that will not waste water and will retain the beneficial, naturally occurring minerals in the water,” explains Marchesini.

South African Municipalities, in general, do a good job treating our water so that we do not suffer from water born diseases and our tap water is safe to drink. However chemicals like chlorine and aluminium sulphate are left in the water after treating it, which are extremely harmful to our health in the long run.

Municipalities also don't remove pesticides and herbicides and other industrial pollutants. It is vital to remove these chemicals and contaminants before you drink your tap water and it is in this light that it is recommended that you invest in a water purification system that takes out the harmful constituents in your drinking water but leaves behind retains the naturally occurring mineral salts.

Tony Marchesini of H2O International SA explains that when you drink water that contains natural minerals, the concentration of minerals in the blood is optimally and naturally maintained at the desired and required levels. Nutrients, vitamins and electrolytes can then move freely and are easily absorbed into the cells and your body can now use the food consumed.

“Before investing in a water purification system, find out and consider the finer details such as the source water supply (municipal water, borehole water, rain water etc), source water quality, flow rate required and water capacity required, and then speak to an experienced, reliable water purification company to recommend the correct system for your particular needs,” concludes Marchesini.

If you would like to receive a FREE copy of the “Healthy Water” booklet which reveals 5 secrets about water that will improve your health, cut your medical expenses, give you enviable energy, boost your performance, add years to your life and give you total peace of mind - SMS WATER followed by your email address to 34057 as shown below:

WATER<space>email address

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Much has been said recently on the possible dangers of using water purifiers to filter out impurities in drinking water. Durban Municipal water experts have been quoted as saying that some water purifiers become breeding grounds for bacteria with the unintended result that clean tap water is turned into water that is not even fit for recreational purposes.
Most home water-purifying systems use activated carbon as the filtering media. Such filters remove harmful chlorine from our drinking water but they can also lead to an explosion in the growth of bacteria inside the actual filters if they are not replaced regularly or maintained properly. Remove the chlorine from the water and you can potentially create a situation in which these bacteria can breed freely.

Chlorine is a chemical used in municipal water supplies and has been enormously effective at reducing water borne illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and hepatitis.
It is necessary for water treatment works to add chlorine to drinking water in order to kill disease-causing bacteria, however drinking chlorinated water has been found to have long-term negative health effects.

Nearly all water supplies also contain dissolved organic matter from leaves and twigs that fall into the water. This is where serious problems can really start as the chlorine reacts with these organic materials to produce disinfection by-products more commonly referred to as DBPs.

Chlorine and the DBPs have been linked to various forms of cancer, such as bladder cancer, rectal cancer and cancer of the intestines.
It is widely accepted that carbon is a proven and effective way to remove these and other hazardous contaminants found in tap water.

Mike Jackson, National Sales & Franchise Manager of H20 International SA, a South African company that supplies water purifiers locally and internationally, says that H2O have been cautioning prospective buyers on the potential dangers associated with poorly maintained water filters for years and are very happy to see that municipalities are also beginning to caution the public.

Jackson explains that although it is true that carbon removes chlorine and traps organic matter, thus potentially creating a breading ground for bacteria, however, this only happens in water filters that are neglected and not serviced according to the manufacturers instructions, or in badly designed systems that are not bacteriostatic (prevent bacteria from growing in the carbon).

Bacteria multiply over time and this is why it is imperative to change carbon filters regularly according to the manufacturers instructions!

Jackson says that in his experience most water filter cartridges are not changed regularly, for various reasons such as forgetting the exact date it was installed, not being able to afford the replacement cartridge when a change is required, or not being able to find the original supplier.

“Another source of contamination is the spout. Cross contamination occurs when the spout is wiped with the same cloth used to wipe the counter and when a child or pet places their mouth over the spout when drinking water. In most kitchens, the spout is over the sink where the dishes are washed and this results in contamination of the spout. As a precaution the spout should be sanitised regularly (once or twice a month) with a disinfectant or preferably a hydrogen peroxide solution as a precaution.”

”There are significant differences between water purifiers,” cautions Jackson. “Some have been developed through years of research and include the very best technology, whilst others have been manufactured with the cheapest components available. In the water purifier arena you really do get what you pay for and nobody should compromise their family’s health by choosing a water purifier purely on price. Usually the price of water purifiers is a reasonable indicator of their quality and effectiveness in reducing the most hazardous contaminants in tap water.”

Jackson advises on some of the differences between available purifiers:

“Most purifiers contain Activated Carbon (AC) but not all AC is created equal. Each form of AC differs in its effectiveness in removing specific contaminants. Heat activated carbon made from coconut shells has a very high proportion of micropores and this makes it up to 40% more effective in removing DBPs and other micro-toxins than AC made from acid washed bituminous coal.”

”Water purifiers which have both Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) and KDF (a patented copper/zinc media) are very effective in removing chlorine, DBPs, pesticides, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupters and dissolved organic compounds. They have long service lives because the KDF produces an electrochemical Redox reaction that destroys the bacteria’s DNA, preventing them from colonizing the carbon. It also removes any heavy metals that may be in the water.”

“Over the past 15 years H2O International has witnessed many individuals with questionable practices set themselves up to take advantage of the emotive water quality issue and the general ignorance of the public about water, hence the prevalence of water scams throughout SA!”

“If you have done your research and installed a top class purification system from a reputable company and you replace the filter regularly, you will not be putting your families’ health at risk. If you are still concerned about bacteria getting through, H2O International SA have a range of effective water purification solutions, including UV sanitisers that can be fitted between the purifier and the tap, which will give you total peace of mind,” concludes Jackson.

“Knowledge is power” and knowing what healthy water is and which water purifiers will give you pure safe water will give you and your family total peace of mind.

To help you unravel this complicated subject Jackson recommends you get a copy of the Healthy Water booklet by Martin Fox PhD.” To get a copy SMS
H2O SG <First Name><email> to 34007.

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Next to oxygen, water is the most important of our body’s physiological needs.  But with water borne diseases and pollutants forcing us to reconsider what we swallow and where we get it, so the developed world has turned to bottled water as an alternative source. As millions of bottles of  designer water flood the market, we have to wonder what environmental price we are paying to protect ourselves and what alternatives we have?

Tap water can be full of all types of hidden contaminants invisible to the naked eye. Even if your water looks and tastes fine, many contaminants are tasteless, odourless and colourless and can potentially interrupt the balance of your body's natural functions. Tap water contains as many as 750 different chemicals, of which only a fraction are checked during routine analytical tests.

Growing awareness regarding the high levels of contaminants in water has driven up sales of bottled water internationally.  Unfortunately, this trend is creating a secondary environmental issue, as millions of plastic bottles are adding to the waste challenge in landfill sites.
The sale of bottled water exceeds that of alcohol, juice and soft drinks, therefore making it the fastest selling and most profitable item in the beverage industry. Over the last two decades, consumption has more than doubled, drastically increasing the amount of plastic waste in need of disposal.

Each person who buys one bottle of water per day, is not only contributing 365 bottles of waste to the environment per year, but is also spending a small fortune on a product that they could source  in a far more environmentally friendly manner  with the use of a purification system.

Consider the strain placed on the environment through the production and distribution of these bottles of water on a worldwide scale – an estimated 50 billion plastic bottles are produced every year. These bottles, once discarded, end up on landfills and further contribute to the deterioration of our environment.

 What many people do not realise is that there are far more cost-effective filtration systems and technologies available which are able to treat water at the point of use, ensuring a 100% confidence in the safety of the water.

Tony Marchesini, MD of H2O International, says, South Africa is fortunate to have  reasonably high quality of drinking water piped into our homes, but tap water is still chemically treated  and plastic  bottled water poses all sorts of environmental and health problems -  but water purifiers ensure that the water you are drinking is absolutely pure and tastes great with no environmental side effects.

The chemicals used to treat water are necessary but have proven to have long-term negative effects on the body , says Marchesini: It is like buying bread, says Marchesini, When you buy bread at the supermarket, it is protected by a plastic bag. This plastic bag keeps the bread fresh. But as soon as you want to eat the bread you remove the plastic bag. It is the same with water. The chlorine is the plastic bag. At your home you can remove the plastic bag by using a simple, cost effective water purifier.

There are many water filtration systems available on the market, varying in complexity, quality and price.
H2O recommends you consider the following key criteria when buying your water filter:

Green tips for supporting environmentally friendly drinking water:

For more information on water purification systems visit : www.h2o.co.za

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Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right, but as South Africa faces the current Cholera outbreak which to date has seen more than 8971 cases reported for treatment, the cleanliness of our water can no longer be taken for granted.

In South Africa, Cholera has been found in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and most recently in the Western Cape. In the current situation, more than 50 people in South Africa have already died from the disease. The worst affected provinces, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, account for more than 96% of the Cholera cases within the country.

Is our tap water safe? According to Pam Yako, Director General of the Department of Water Affairs, “South Africans can with confidence drink and use for domestic purposes the water that pours through their taps at home and in their workplaces.

However with the infrastructural challenges South Africa is confronted with, water quality cannot always be guaranteed in rural areas and smaller municipalities, especially after heavy rains. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 94% of Cholera cases are preventable through modifications to the unsanitary conditions of water distribution and the poverty-stricken areas within which they are the most prevalent.

What is Cholera? Cholera is classified as an acute infectious disease of the small intestine, caused by water born bacteria, characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, muscle cramps, severe dehydration, and the excessive depletion of electrolytes within a rapid period and which can be life threatening.

How can we safeguard ourselves against this disease in our homes and offices?  Here are seven helpful tips that can be followed:

H20 International SA, a South African company that supplies water purifiers locally and internationally, specifically recommends using Gravity Feed Filters with silver impregnated ceramic candles, which are cost effective, portable and easy to use anytime and anywhere. Utilising high quality ceramic water filters, they guarantee the removal of 99.99% of all pathogenic bacteria.

These water filter systems use very simple technology and offer a simple solution to counteract the current Cholera epidemic, It's suprising that they are not being used on a more widespread basis, says H2O director, Tony Marchesini.

Major relief organizations have relied on the Gravity Water Filter and ceramic candles. We have been inundated with request for these filters by Zimbabweans. Ceramic candles have been used extensively worldwide for many years, and offer the most efficient and cost effective way to produce pure, filtered water by removing sediments, colloids and other non-dissolvable substances such as bacteria,  concludes Marchesini.

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Do you know what is potentially lurking in your tap water?  Do you take it for granted that the air you breathe is life sustaining and clean as opposed to harmful and polluted?

Sadly, in today's modern society, clean air and water are hard to come by – thanks to environmental pollution, insufficient and unsuitable infrastructure in populated areas and contamination from surrounding developments.

Air and water play such an obviously essential role in all of our lives and when pure and clean, have fantastic and far-reaching effects for our health, physical well-being and longevity

An international company that offers the most extensive range of products to purify the two most important elements in life air and water feel that it is essential that one can turn on a tap for a drink of water, have a shower or just breathe without having to worry about the harmful effects!

Tony Marchesini, the CEO of H2O International in South Africa feels very strongly about the importance of ensuring that exposure to good, clean, healthy water and air is standard practice.  In this light he has spent the nearly two decades researching, developing and importing the worlds top products that offer healthy purification solutions.

These days there are far too many health scars taking place with water borne diseases such as cholera appearing all over South Africa and recent studies have shown that long term exposure to the chemicals found in chlorine, used in municipal water to reduce water borne illnesses , may significantly increase the risks of developing cancer. Further to this, from your tap you could be filling your glass with the potential hazards of fluoride, bacteria, pesticides, disinfection by products, discarded potent pharmaceutical drugs and much more.

Additionally, the air we breathe is often extremelly polluted and a carrier of contaminants, which have short term affects such as bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, headaches, nauseau and allergic reactions such as hayfever and asthma as well as other bronchial problems.  Long term affects include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, even damage to the brain, nerves, liver and kidneys.

What many people do not realize is that the air we breathe indoors can be as much as five times more polluted that the air outdoors – and more hazardous when trapped in confined spaces within the home.  This is due to common household products such as deodorizer aerosols, cleaning agents, glue from carpets and upholstery, insulation, animal dust, cooking and heating appliances as well as cigarette smoke, to name a few, which all contribute to the dangerously high pollution levels found within the home.

Marchesini advises that during winter people close up their homes to guard against the winter chill, which further increases their exposure to these indoor air pollutants and may have a direct correlation to the increase in colds and flu seen during this season.

These factors make it essential for people to invest in water and air purification solutions.

H2O International offers a wide range of water purifiers to suite any situation and we also offer an innovative range of shower filter heads, thereby further reducing your exposure to unfiltered municipal water, says Marchesini.

All our products are designed to filter out 99% of the harmful chlorine contained in our water.  In fact – we are so adamant that one should not have to be exposed to chlorinated water that H2O International have developed a complete home purification system which ensures that every drop of water in your home is purified!

H2O also offer a range of innovative air purifiers that represent the future of air purification technology and range from a purifier for the car, to a complete home air purification system.  Laboratory tests have proven that the range of air filters reduce airborne allergens, bacteria and germs, asthma triggering irritants, mould and mildew, dust mites, pet dander, foul odours and tobacco smoke.

According to Marchesini, H2O International is the company with the longest proven track record as favorite suppliers of innovative and tailored solutions to purify the two most important elements in life - air and water.

The company offers the most extensive product range to cater for the different needs of people living in diverse communities where air and water qualities vary. The H2O products are tried, tested and trusted and have a brilliant track record, not only locally but in 54 countries world-wide.
 
It is H2O's vision to make each and every South African aware of the importance of pure air and water in their daily lives.  Our ultimate goal is to improve the health, well-being and quality of the lives that are touched by H2O's quality products, concludes Marchesini.

For more information visit www.h2o.co.za or call 0800 4 92837 or email enquiries@h2o.co.za. 

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South Africa appears to be in the grip of a water crisis with alarms emanating from water specialists that all point towards a water stressed country rivers are dying and major water storage dams are highly contaminated!

Health scares through water borne diseases such as cholera have become all too prevalent in SA and to date, cholera has been found in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape.  The speed at which the epidemic spreads is cause for alarm and we have seen more than 8971 reported cases.

Cholera is a bacteria that spreads from human to human through water.  An acute infectious disease of the small intestine, cholera is characterized by extreme diarrhea, vomiting and muscle cramps, leading to severe dehydration, the excessive depletion of electrolytes and possibly death.

In addition to cholera, our dams are under siege from a scourge called blue-green algae.  Considered one of South Africa’s most critical water challenges, this algae is caused by too many phosphates and nitrates in the water, which creates the perfect environment for it to flourish.

It has been said that the toxins in blue-green algae make strychnine look like vitamin syrup!  They attack the liver and are strongly linked with cancer, skin irritations and dangerous flu like symptoms.  This deadly microbe has already killed livestock and wild animals in SA.

Hartebeespoort dam is one of the worst cases in the world.  And blue-green algae is also found in the Rietvlei dam which supplies drinking water to a large portion of Pretoria’s population.  This water is toxic and is mostly caused by raw sewage flowing into our rivers and water sources.

South Africa has seen a huge breakdown, in recent years, of our sewage treatment infrastructure, as was highlighted in a recent Carte Blanche expose, that showed how between 12 and 16 sewage works empty their effluent into the water that flows into the Hartebeespoort dam. 

Places such as Odendalsrus have not had functioning sewage works for over three years.  The raw sewage in this area is merely re-diverted into the wetlands and pans and has drastically contaminated the surrounding ground.

In Welkom the main sewage works have been out of commission for two years and sewage here is diverted into the Witpan and from there it flows into the San River and finally the Vaal River from where water is pumped for irrigation of food crops and for use as drinking water.

Also now found in South African water are chemicals called endocrine disruptors.  Not visible to the naked eye and almost unheard of by many South Africans, endocrine disruptors come from things such as pesticides, hormones and heavy metals and studies have shown these chemicals are widely found and hold high cancer risks.

 According to the Institute of Civil Engineers, the collapse of water supply and sanitation infrastructure is well into crisis mode in rural areas and a recent Water Research Commission study says that about 50% of small treatment plants are not producing the desired quantity or quality of water and 78% of operators don't have the knowledge to do their jobs.

So the question to ask is whether our water is safe?  Is it time to panic?
Thankfully, H20 International SA, a South African company that supplies water purifiers locally and internationally, now offers an automated plug-and-play whole house ultra-filtration water treatment plant which is designed for use by the layman.

The ultra fine filter membrane eliminates all biological contents including macro-biological entities, such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Amoeba, protozoa, and the spawn or offspring, which are produced by some macro-organisms such as cysts.  Also filtered out are microbiological entities such as common bacteria, cholera, all coliforms and waterborne viruses.

Suspended matter including silicate (sand) material, metal oxides, bio-solids and organic acids are also filtered out.

The Ultra-Filtration membrane incorporated in the UF200 is essentially the finest filtration process technically available, filtering down to 0.02 microns,  which leaves by nature and design, dissolved minerals in place that are required from a health point of view, explains H2O Director, Tony Marchesini.

These water filter systems offer a simple and effective solution to counteract the current water crisis.  These ultra-filtration systems can be designed and sized according to specific environmental needs to supply pure water to schools, retirement facilities, restaurants, small industry and factories, agricultural applications and so much more.

Access to clean water is a basic human right, unfortunately in many parts of the world and in South Africa currently, we cannot take it for granted that this right is being met.   The onus has shifted to the individual to ensure available water is safe to drink.  A water filtration system will  protect you, your family and your employees from hidden contaminants, concludes Marchesini.

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What is lurking in your tap water?

Drinking the right amount of water every day is an essential part of staying healthy.  However, these days there are far too many health scars taking place with water borne diseases such as cholera appearing all over South Africa, as well as general pollution and contamination of many major water sources.

From your tap you could be filling your glass with the potential hazards of chlorine, fluoride, bacteria, pesticides, disinfection by products, discarded potent pharmaceutical drugs and much more...

Tap water can be full of all types of hidden contaminants you can't see with the naked eye. Even if your water looks and tastes fine, bear in mind many contaminants are tasteless, odourless, and colourless and they can potentially interrupt the balance of your body's natural functions.

Some contaminants can be so harmful they're measured in "parts per million" or "parts per billion". Only one drop of one of these harmful toxins in a gallon of water can be extremely harmful to your well-being.

The bottled water myth

Many people have realised the essential importance of clean, safe water in their daily diet and have therefore started drinking bottled water.  However, what a lot of consumers don’t realise is that bottled water is often just bottled tap water that may or may not receive additional treatment and filtering.

There are no regulations governing bottled water and not any specific requirements regarding proximity of bottled water sources to industrial facilities or waste dumps etc.

Because of this it can also contain chlorine and fluoride and studies have shown that many kinds of bottled water contain synthetic organic chemicals and bacteria.

In addition to this, the typical plastic used for bottled water is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - a material that can potentially leach toxic chemicals into your water a scary thought!

Also consider the strain placed on the environment through the production and distribution of these bottles of water on a worldwide scale an estimated 50 billion plastic bottles are produced every year.  These bottles, once discarded, end up on landfills and further contribute to the deterioration of our environment.

Finally, think of the cost of bottled water.  In these challenging economic times, it makes more sense to find a more cost effective and environmentally sustainable option than bottled water.

Fluoride - from friend to foe

In an attempt to reduce cavities, many countries began adding fluoride to their municipal drinking water supplies.  (Many people still believe that fluoride is a beneficial additive.)

However, it didn't take long for some countries to realise the harmful effects of fluoride, which is why Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, France, and the Netherlands ban fluoride from their drinking water.

Here are just some of the concerns with fluoride...

• Accumulates in your bones, causing them to be brittle and easily fractured

• Inactivates some of your enzyme systems

• Disrupts your immune system, causing it to attack normal working tissues in your body

• Accelerates your aging process

• Causes cellular and genetic damage

• Damages your tooth enamel by hardening the outer surface

The truth about Chlorine

Chlorine is a chemical used in municipal water supplies and has been enormously effective at reducing water borne illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and hepatitis.

By itself, chlorine is relatively non-toxic to you and your family.  However most all water supplies have dissolved organic matter in the water from leaves and twigs that fall into the water.  This is where the problem starts as chlorine interacts with these organic materials to produce disinfection by-products more commonly referred to as DBPs.

These DBPs have been linked to potential...

• Damaging effects to your cardiovascular system

• Harmful impacts to your respiratory system

• Unhealthy functioning of your renal system

• Disruptions to your central nervous system

• Weakening of your immune system

Alternate sources of water

If you are lucky enough to have a well point or borehole from which you draw your water then you will be able to avoid most of the problems with tap water.

However, ground water pollutants can also seep into this water source.

Potential sources of contamination are from fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides sprayed on lawns and farmlands, septic fields also contaminate ground water and scarily, fecal bacteria like E. coli are the most common contaminants potentially found in well water!

So, if you have a well point or bore hole, you're not out of the woods from potential drinking water contaminants.

The Solution

So, what source of clean, safe and refreshing water remains? What can you do to ensure healthy drinking water for you and your family?

The good news is that there are ways to remove and filter out contaminants right from your tap. So, it doesn't matter whether you have a municipal source of water or a well - the best option would be to filter your water at home with a high quality filter.

There are a number of crucial issues to assess in order to select the best filter but it is all round the safest, most practical and most cost effective way of ensuring that you have removed all the chemical and contaminants from your water before you drink it.

Water travels hundreds of kilometres before it reaches your home. For total peace of mind that your water is 100% safe by the time it reaches your glass, install a point-of-use water purifier.

One of the key components in a home filter system is that it should remove fluoride for the reasons discussed above.  Unfortunately most all carbon based filters do not remove fluoride.

Here are other recommendations that should be on your checklist:

• Filter out chlorine as well as fluoride - Absolutely no exceptions on these!

• Remove inorganic contaminants like lead, aluminum, mercury, iron, sulfur, and lime scale

• Remove organic contaminants like herbicides, pesticides, THMs (disinfection byproducts), and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that may effect the quality, odor, and taste of your drinking water

• Create a bacteriostatic environment -- Must remove bacteria from the water

• Be environmentally smart and help conserve water and energy

• Deliver a low cost/gallon filter ratio (inexpensive) and be very easy to install -- No drilling, cutting, or need to call your plumber to get up and running.

A warning on carbon filters

Most people do not understand that there is an enormous difference in the quality of the carbon or charcoal that is used in filters.  Many carbon filters are actually heavily contaminated with aluminum and are leaching aluminum into the water you filter.

Fortunately if you know a few facts you can easily choose a filter that is not contaminated.

It turns out the best charcoal media to use is from coconut shells. It is the highest quality and the one with the least amount of aluminum.

The second key is to make sure that the charcoal is acid washed as this will remove most of the aluminum in the charcoal. Ideally your filter should be both acid washed and made from coconut shells but make sure it has at least one of these features to avoid the aluminum issue.

A warning on filter speed and DBP's

Most carbon filters do NOT do a good job of filtering dangerous DBPs from the water UNLESS you filter very slowly. The filter's ability to remove DBPs from the water is directly related to the rate at which the water has time to contact the media. The longer the exposure, the more you will remove.

If you run the water full force through your filter you will simply let these dangerous DBPs pass right through the filter into your drinking water.

So the trick is to turn the tap on as slow as you can tolerate - trickling the water in as slowly as possible is simply your best choice for using a carbon filter.

The three best ways of filtering water

Number 1 – Carbon filter system

Pros:

• Removes chlorine, inorganic, and organic contaminants

• Generally easy to install yourself without the need for a plumber

• Wide range of prices from under $40 to over $400

Cons:

• Ineffective in removing fluoride

• Most carbon filters contain aluminum

• Can be a breeding ground for bacteria and affect water taste

• Limited life on filter cartridges

Number 2 - Reverse Osmosis System

This system is one better than a carbon filter system

Pros:

• Superior to standard carbon filter as RO actually integrates carbon filter as part of its total filtration system

• Most systems remove chlorine, inorganic, and organic contaminants.

• Effective in removing fluoride and DBPs

Cons:

• Requires costly and extensive installation -- drilling into your sink area, cutting into pipes, and hiring a plumber to get you up and running. Most people require a plumber to install.

• Often needs up to 3-5 gallons of water to produce a single clean gallon -- very inefficient

• Makes water acidic -- You can add a high quality salt like Himalayan sea salt to compensate for this.  The dose is about 1/4 teaspoon per gallon.

• Can be breeding ground for bacteria -- storage tank issue

• Tends to de-structure the water. Can restructure the water by placing in a glass container in the sunshine or with the proper use of magnets.

Number 3 – Copper Zinc and Carbon filter system

This is the best way to filter water

Pros:

• Combines with carbon system for extended life

• Efficiently removes fluoride, chlorine, inorganic and organic contaminants

• Maximizes DBP removal when filtration rate slowed to 1-2 gallons/minute

• Creates bacteriostatic environment to prevent bacteria from thriving in the overall system

• Installs easily in minutes to your sink faucet -- no plumber needed

• Delivers the lowest cost over the long term and the best value for you and your family in challenging economic times.

Cons:

• Initial cost typically higher than standard carbon system

Why choose an H2O International filter

H2O systems meet all the criteria outlined in the above information. 

In addition H2O systems offer the following benefits:

• With cool, crisp, purified water from H20, it will be easy to drink the recommended 2 litres of water per day!

• Unwanted chemicals and metals like chlorine, lead and aluminum sulphate, pesticides, herbicides, industrial pollutants and impure leakages into the system are removed from the water.

• This will substantially reduce your risk of conditions and illnesses linked to dehydration and those chemicals.

• It is about 20 times cheaper than buying bottled water. (It comes out at about 10c per liter if you purify your tap water.)

• It is MUCH more environmentally friendly to purify tap water as you are using already established water systems, the municipality, and not adding tons of plastic bottles to our landfill waste sites.

• They’re easy to install so don't require expensive plumbers to fit the systems.

• A value for money investment, that more than pays for itself over time and gives you immediate peace of mind.

• H2O International SA has been trading and steadily growing in the South African water purification industry since 1994, so when you buy from H2O International you get a partner who ensures you will have pure, safe water, for life.

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