| Water is a crucial resource which many of us living in | | | | compounds in the water to form by-products like |
| the cities have come to take for granted. Our | | | | trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids that can lead to |
| survival and health depend on the water we drink, | | | | cancer and reproductive disorders. |
| but yet we hardly give a thought to the water we | | | | 5. Killing with Ozone |
| use each day. | | | | Ozone is another popular disinfectant that is used |
| Here are ten reasons why we should not take our | | | | standalone or in addition to chlorine to kill germs in |
| water at face value, and why a water filter could be | | | | the water. However, ozone can react with natural |
| the best investment we can make for our health: | | | | occurring bromide in the water to form bromate, |
| 1. The Water Myth | | | | which is a known carcinogen. |
| Pure natural water is a myth. In nature, water picks | | | | 6. Chloramine: Deadlier than Chlorine? |
| up minerals as well as contaminants like arsenic, | | | | Chloramine is an increasingly common disinfectant |
| viruses and bacteria as it flows through streams, sits | | | | used as an alternative to chlorine as it is more stable |
| in lakes, and sips through soil and rock in the ground. | | | | and does not dissipate from the water before it |
| It is the amount of these substances that | | | | reaches consumers. It also does not have the distinct |
| determines whether the water is safe or unsafe for | | | | smell and taste which is characteristic to |
| consumption. | | | | chlorine-treated water. However, chloramine has been |
| 2. Great Polluted Lakes | | | | found to create more disinfection by-products than |
| The five Great Lakes -- Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, | | | | chlorination and increases the leaching of lead from |
| and Superior -- make up more than 80 percent of | | | | pipes. |
| the U.S.'s freshwater supply and more than 20 | | | | 7. Mouth Wash or Drinking Water? |
| percent of the world's. But they have been | | | | Fluoride is often added to drinking water by water |
| increasingly polluted by agricultural, industrial and | | | | suppliers to prevent tooth decay. But this |
| recreational activities that take place around and | | | | controversial additive has also been linked to bone |
| within the lakes. Pollutants, such as discharged waste | | | | disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones, in |
| water from factories, untreated sewage and toxic | | | | some studies. |
| contaminants, enter and get trapped in the lakes, | | | | 8. The Convoluted Journey of Water |
| increasing in concentration over time. | | | | Treated water from public water suppliers can be |
| 3. Massive Contamination Power of Oil | | | | further contaminated as it makes its way to our |
| Used oil is a major source of oil contamination of | | | | homes -- by dissolving unwanted chemicals and |
| waterways and result in pollution of drinking water | | | | substances such as asbestos, bacteria, viruses, lead |
| sources. Spilled or inappropriately disposed used oil | | | | and PVC from corroded pipes. |
| from one oil change can contaminate up to 1 million | | | | 9. Drink to Even Weaker Immune Health |
| gallons of fresh water, or a year's supply for 50 | | | | Seniors and young children, as well as people with |
| people. | | | | immune systems compromised by chemotherapy, |
| 4. Chlorine: The Double-Edged Sword | | | | AIDS and other chronic diseases are more vulnerable |
| Chlorine is a commonly used disinfectant to remove | | | | to microbial and toxic contaminants in drinking water, |
| viruses and bacteria from water. But chlorine is also | | | | even at levels determined safe by the authority. |
| toxic to humans and it reacts with organic | | | | |