DRINKING WATER

Top 11 compounds in drinking water

2011-07-13T23:47:00.000-07:00

A comprehensive survey of the drinking water for more than 28 million Americans has detected the widespread but low-level presence of pharmaceuticals and hormonally active chemicals.

Little was known about people's exposure to such compounds from drinking water, so Shane Snyder and colleagues at the Southern Nevada Water Authority in Las Vegas screened tap water from 19 US water utilities for 51 different compounds. The surveys were carried out between 2006 and 2007.

The 11 most frequently detected compounds - all found at extremely low

concentrations - were:

• Atenolol, a beta-blocker used to treat cardiovascular disease

• Atrazine, an organic herbicide banned in the European Union, but still used in the US, which has been implicated in the decline of fish stocks and in changes in animal behaviour

• Carbamazepine, a mood-stabilising drug used to treat bipolar disorder, amongst other things

• Estrone, an oestrogen hormone secreted by the ovaries and blamed for causing gender-bending changes in fish

• Gemfibrozil, an anti-cholesterol drug

• Meprobamate, a tranquiliser widely used in psychiatric treatment

• Naproxen, a painkiller and anti-inflammatory linked to increases in asthma incidence

• Phenytoin, an anticonvulsant that has been used to treat epilepsy

• Sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic used against the Streptococcus bacteria, which is responsible for tonsillitis and other diseases

• TCEP, a reducing agent used in molecular biology

• Trimethoprim, another antibiotic

The concentrations of pharmaceuticals in drinking water were millions of times lower than in a medical dose, and Snyder emphasises that they pose no public health threat. He cautions, though, that "if a person has a unique health condition, or is concerned about particular contaminants in public water systems, I strongly recommend they consult their physician".

The Importance of Drinking Water

2011-05-26T23:23:00.000-07:00

When you were a kid in school, you learned that each molecule of water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. You may also have learned that it was great fun to fill up your squirt guns with water, at least until the principal caught you. What you may not have learned, however, was that you need water to be a healthy human being.

Why You Need to Drink Water

Your body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. Blood is mostly water, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Your body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs.

Signs of Dehydration

You lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating, and if you are very active, you lose more water than if you are sedentary. Diuretics, such as caffeine pills and alcohol, result in the need to drink more water because they induce fluid loss.

Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color, indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Certain medications can change the color of urine as well. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration, and in fact, you need water before you feel thirsty.

How Much Water do You Need to Drink?

Some experts believe you can estimate the amount of water you need by taking your weight in pounds and dividing that number in half. That give you the number of ounces you may want to drink each day. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you might want to drink at least 80 ounces of water or other fluids per day.

If you exercise, you should drink another eight ounce glass of water for every 20 minutes you are active. If you drink alcohol, you should drink at least an equal amount of water. When you are traveling on an airplane, it may be good to drink eight ounces of water for every hour you are on board the plane. If you live in an arid climate, you should add another two servings per day. As you can see, your daily need for water can can change from day to day.

At least twenty percent of the water you need will come from the foods you eat. The rest will come from the beverages you drink. Water is probably the best choice; sweetened soft drinks and sodas have added sugar that adds extra calories. Sports drinks contain electrolytes and may be beneficial; just look out for added sugar and calories that you may not want. Fruit and vegetable juice are good because they have vitamins and nutrients (read labels, however -- vegetable juices may be high in sodium).

Caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee count too, but too much caffeine can make you feel jittery.

How To Drink Enough Water

It may be difficult to drink enough water on a busy day. Be sure you have water handy at all times by keeping a bottle for water with you when you are working, traveling, or exercising. If you get bored with plain water, add a bit of lemon or lime for a touch of flavor. There are some brands of flavored water available, but watch for extra calories.

WATER AND STOMACH PROBLEMS

2011-03-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

People in third world countries sadly often only have access to water that is highly contaminated, and as a result, people die every day from the effects of diseases that target their digestive tracts. E.coli, salmonella, and other intestinal parasites, bacteria and viruses can overtake our stomach and other connected organs necessary for digestion.

While our water in our civilized country is regulated, we still have to protect ourselves. Contaminated water supplies are responsible for stomach problems, from small upsets to severe disorders. But, making sure water is filtered within the home as an added safety measure can prevent that. A few contaminants to watch out for are lead, mercury, copper, arsenic, atrazine and cadmium. These can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and other stomach problems. Most times if water contaminates are found in a local water supply, it is public knowledge, and there will be a boiling alert put out by the local water companies until the problem is under control. Of course, this does not happen all too often and for the most part our water is safe. Still, extra measure can be taken: a small price to pay in exchange a feeling of discomfort.

But, while contaminated water may be the cause of stomach problems, safe drinking water can be a cure for others!

There are many ailments that can arise within and around the stomach, nausea, diarrhea, gas, constipation and heartburn being a few. Drinking water can be of help in several of those cases, and even aid in their prevention. Diarrhea, watery stool, can cause severe dehydration, so it is important to maintain body fluid if suffering from that. On the flipside, constipation can also use water to help break down the otherwise dry stool. (This subject can be read about in more depth on another section of this site.) Since vomiting and diarrhea go hand in hand with the nausea feeling, this ailment also contributes greatly to dehydration. Replacing fluids while nauseated is very important. Heartburn has also been said to be caused by lack of water, as water could have aided in neutralizing the acid (pH level) that caused the burning sensation.

Water is also a necessary element to just plain make sure our digestive tract works properly, which is sure to prevent stomach problems from occurring in the first place. Drinking water at mealtime aids in the digestive process, as it helps move the food through the system. More importantly, the solid food we eat cannot be properly digested if it is not broken down. This is where water comes into play, once again. Water than acts as the transportation system to bring the nutrients found in foods to where they are needed within the body during digestion. And, it also helps moved the waste product through the rest of the digestive tract, and ultimately out of our bodies. Remember that lots of acids are found within the stomach that mix with the water to break down our foods, so plenty of water will help keep things balanced!

When it comes to your health, the quality of your drinking water is just as important as the quantity.

When it comes to your health, the quality of your drinking water is just as important as the quantity. According to recent news and reports, most tap and well water in the U.S. are not safe for drinking due to heavy industrial and environmental pollution. Toxic bacteria, chemicals and heavy metals routinely penetrate and pollute our natural water sources making people sick while exposing them to long term health consequences such as liver damage, cancer and other serious conditions. We have reached the point where all sources of our drinking water, including municipal water systems, wells, lakes, rivers, and even glaciers, contain some level of contamination. Even some brands of bottled water have been found to contain high levels of contaminants in addition to plastics chemical leaching from the bottle.

A good water filtration system installed in your home is the only way to proactively monitor and ensure the quality and safety of your drinking water. Reverse osmosis water purification systems can remove 90-99% of all contaminants from city and well water to deliver healthy drinking water for you and your family.

Drinking Enough Water

2011-02-23T21:53:00.000-08:00

Why You Need to Drink Water

Signs of Dehydration

You lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating. If you are very active, you lose more water than if you are sedentary. Diuretics, such as caffeine pills and alcohol, result in the need to drink more water because they trick your body into thinking you have more water than we need.

Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color, indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration, and in fact, you need water long before you feel thirsty.

How Much Water do You Need to Drink?

When you are traveling on an airplane, it is good to drink eight ounces of water for every hour you are on board the plane. If you live in an arid climate, you should add another two servings per day. As you can see, your daily need for water can add up to quite a lot.

This water calculator can help you determine how much water you need to drink each day.

How To Drink Enough Water

Water and Pakistan

2010-12-28T22:14:00.000-08:00

The idea that water is fit to drink or drinkable is not one that most of us routinely think about. The only types of water we distinguish are tap, spring, mineral, flavoured, or carbonated. The only time we may have had to distinguish between potable and non-potable water is on a camping trip or some other outdoor adventure. But the sad fact is that most of the people on this planet do not have access to water that is fit to drink. That begs the question: what do they drink then? The obvious answer is they drink whatever water they can get their hands on.

According to a report by the Leadership for Environment and Development, by the year 2025, 52 nations comprising half the world's population, will have a severe shortage of potable water. In the next 25 years, some 3 billion people will be facing water shortages.

In Pakistan, the vast majority of the country's 135 million inhabitants do not have access to drinkable water. Pakistan's attempt to raise the living standards of its citizens has meant that economic development has largely taken precedence over environmental issues. Unchecked use of hazardous chemicals, vehicle emissions, and industrial activity has contributed to a number of environmental and health hazards, chief among them being water pollution. Much of the country suffers from a lack of potable water due to industrial waste and agricultural runoff that contaminates drinking water supplies.

Poverty and high population growth have aggravated, and to a certain extent, caused, these environmental problems. This means that most people are forced to use unclean water not only for all their sanitation needs, farming, and livestock but for drinking as well.

For much of the population, often there is only one water source. It may be a nearby river or pond, maybe rain water from a catch basin or a creek. Typically, the water source is used by both humans and animals. People use it for bathing, washing up, doing laundry, collecting for cooking, and drinking. Needless to say, the water is anything but clean.

Drinking water that is unsafe can, and usually does, lead to all sorts of health-related problems such as dysentery which is severe, prolonged diarrhea with bloody stools, fever, and weakness; cholera and typhoid; flukes -- stagnant, polluted water, especially in tropical areas, often contains blood flukes. If you swallow flukes, they will bore into the bloodstream, live as parasites, and cause disease; and leeches. If you swallow a leech, it can hook onto the throat passage or inside the nose. It will suck blood, create a wound, and move to another area. Each bleeding wound may become infected.
Pakistan is currently in the midst of what some are saying is the worst water crisis the country has ever seen. The drought affecting the region threatens agricultural output, and levels in the country's reservoirs are dangerously low.

The lack of water is taking on political overtones with parties organizing protests over the issue. One-day strikes have been called in Karachi to protest water shortages in the province of Sindh. The protests have been met with harsh responses from local authorities.

While drought and pollution play a significant role in the lack of safe drinking water, some critics maintain that a large part of the problem is a result of poor management. By some estimates, as much as 60% of Pakistan's fresh water is allowed to go wasted, flowing back into the sea. Only 40% of the water is used.

It is imperative that Pakistan seeks out new and cheaper ways to provide safe drinking water for its people. Some experts have looked at inexpensive desalination techniques, ones that could be employed on a mass scale. To be sure, this precious commodity, the very lifeblood of humans, is getting scarcer and scarcer everyday.

Drinking water guidelines

2010-12-26T22:32:00.000-08:00

Safe drinking water is everybody's business. Managing drinking water supplies properly, from the source water to the consumer's tap, takes a great deal of knowledge and coordination among multiple stakeholders--from governments and businesses, to individuals like you and me.

A shared responsibility

In Canada, the responsibility for making sure drinking water supplies are safe is shared between the provincial, territorial, federal and municipal governments. The day-to-day responsibility of providing safe drinking water to the public generally rests with the provinces and territories, while municipalities usually oversee the day to day operations of the treatment facilities.

Health Canada's Water Quality and Health Bureau plays a leadership role in science and research. Its mandate and expertise lies in protecting the health of all Canadians by developing the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality in partnership with the provinces and territories. These guidelines are used by every jurisdiction in Canada and are the basis for establishing drinking water quality requirements for all Canadians.

Health Canada is recognized as a World Health Organisation/Pan American Health Organisation (WHO/PAHO) Collaborating Centre for Water Quality, and participates in the development of WHO guidelines for drinking water. The Bureau also works closely and shares information with other government agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

The multi-barrier approach

The best way to make sure drinking water supplies are kept clean, safe and reliable is to take a preventive risk management approach. This means understanding each water supply from its beginning in nature to where it reaches you, the consumer. This understanding--about the water's characteristics, the ways it could become contaminated, and the type of treatment it needs--comes from collecting and studying data.

The drinking water supply can be broken down into three parts: the source water, the drinking water treatment system, and the distribution system which carries the treated water to homes, businesses, schools, and other buildings. The plumbing inside your home is an extension of the distribution system.

As drinking water travels on its journey to you, it can become contaminated in many ways. The multi-barrier approach to managing drinking water supplies is a preventive risk management approach that identifies all known and potential hazards and makes sure barriers are in place to reduce or eliminate the risk of contamination.

Drinking water guidelines

In order to know whether their drinking water management program is working, drinking water authorities need to have benchmarks for water quality. These benchmarks come in the form of drinking water guidelines. Guidelines make it possible for drinking water to be tested at various points along its journey and analysed to determine whether it is safe to drink. The Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality are established by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water and published by Health Canada.

The guidelines for some contaminants, like E.coli which indicates the presence of microbiological pathogens, are very clear and should never be exceeded because people will become sick soon after drinking contaminated water. Others, like many of the chemical guidelines, are based on the best available science and give a good indication of health effects that might be seen in some people if we consume high amounts of the chemical in drinking water over a period of decades.

Products and materials that come into contact with drinking water

Another way that drinking water can become contaminated is by the products and materials with which it comes into contact. Water is a solvent and can leach metals and other chemicals from pipes, fittings, fixtures, and other products. Health Canada works with national and international standards-setting organizations to develop health-based performance standards for these products and materials to make sure they are not contributing harmful contaminants to your drinking water.

Herbal Drinking Water

2010-12-05T22:13:00.000-08:00

If you are someone who keeps track of new herbal products then you might not have forgotten the successful launch of Laboob Sager- the herbal Viagra, by Tamil Nadu Medicinal Plant Farms and Herbal Medicines Corporation Ltd. (TAMPCOL). Now this state-owned corporation of Tamil Nadu government is set to launch its all new herbal product- Herbal Drinking Water. The corporation claims it to be first of its kind in the country.

Herbal water is already manufactured and marketed in the US by infusing organic culinary herbs in pure water. This water doesn't contain artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or additives of any other kind. They are made refreshing, aromatic drink by granting flavours such as those of lavender, mint, cinnamon, lemongrass, vanilla, ginger, cloves, cardamom etc.

Herbal drinking water, developed by TAMPCOL contains herbal extracts along with useful bio-active properties that play a major role in maintaining good health as evidenced by Siddha and original scriptures of Ayurveda as well as modern scientific theories.

This herbal water will be sold in 1,000 ml and 500 ml pet bottles and competitively priced in the growing mineral water market. According to G A Rajkumar, the Chairman and Managing Director, TAMPCOL, the new water is set to be launched in the next two months after getting the ISI certificate and other related licenses.

What remains to be seen is that whether the corporation will follow suit of other nation and make its herbal drinking water flavored or not? Flavored or not, the healthy herbal water is surely a thing to wait for!

Filters vs. Purifiers

2010-11-11T21:38:00.000-08:00

Filters vs. Purifiers

Filters work by forcing water through material of a certain pore size which screens contaminants. These are fine for backcountry use in the U.S. and Canada since Giardia is the main contaminant here. (Giardia screening requires a pore size of two microns.) Developing countries, however, may have waterborne viruses, such as hepatitis and polio, which are 0.04 microns or smaller. Thus virus control requires boiling, iodine chemical treatment, or a purifying filter.

The PUR filters listed below, as well as the Sweetwater Guardian with its Viralguard accessory, incorporate iodine matrixes which kill viruses and bacteria without passing much iodine into the water.

According to a Katadyn white paper that appears scientific to this nonscientist, in practice non-purifying filters that screen contaminants to 0.2 microns remove most viruses since viruses usually attach themselves to bigger things, which are then screened. This apparently hasn't impressed real scientists at the EPA, however, so if using a non-purifying filter on suspect developing-world water you probably should add iodine after filtering. While not as much iodine is necessary as with unfiltered water, you still must wait twenty minutes before drinking.

Using Filters

Avoid fast clogging by always using the cleanest available water. If the water is particularly dirty or silt-laden, let it settle in a pot before filtering, and/or use a coffee filter or cloth as a pre-filter. I permanently clogged a not-field-cleanable filter on the second liter drawn from a silty Washington river.

To clean a clogged filter you must carefully follow manufacturer instructions. A grave possibility is contaminating yourself with the nasty bacteria trapped inside the filter. You must also be careful about contamination from the water-source hose. Take care with a ceramic filter since a hairline crack will make it 100% ineffective.

Selection Criteria for Water Filters

If you will be depending on a filter for much of your water field cleanability, pump speed, and ease of use are far more important than a few ounces of weight. A good filter saves you from carrying at least some water, which weighs eight pounds per gallon (or one kilogram per liter). Pump speed lessens the more the filter is used.

Filters with a pore size of one micron or less are good. Smaller pore sizes and smaller filters clog faster. Carbon filters trap pesticides and metals, which for my taste is a worthwhile feature. Ceramic-only filters do not.

For emergency or short periods of developing world backcountry use, filters such as the PUR Voyageur, PUR Scout, and Sweetwater Guardian with iodine cartridge are good choices. If you will be filtering mostly from faucets or sinks (the usual scenario), clogging and pump speed will be less of a problem, so smaller filters should suffice.
If you will be filtering most or all of your water from wells or streams, say in East Africa or the Darien Gap, then you will appreciate having (and essentially require) an easy-pumping, easy-cleaning, full-size filter. You may also require spare cartridges or filtering elements.

A water purifier is not a requirement for developing-world travel. Most travelers buy most of their water and use iodine tablets or drops in a pinch.

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Water Purification

2010-11-11T21:37:00.000-08:00

TRAVELERS MUST INCREASE water intake as they expend more energy carrying a pack, walking, museum-going, and being outside. In hot climates the need for water doubles or triples. Hikers require a gallon or more per day as they sweat and respire water and water vapor. Note that alcohol and caffeinated drinks have a dehydrating effect.

Thirst is not a reliable indicator of hydration state. As visible semi-mucous membranes, lips are. The next time yours feel dry or chapped drink several glasses of water and see what happens.¹

Another barometer is urine color. If it's always dark you're probably a liter or two low. A rule of thumb is to drink enough water to ensure at least two clear, healthy pees per day.

Obtaining Safe Water

In Western Europe, much of Eastern Europe, and other developed countries you can drink safely from public water supplies. In many (but not all) developing countries the water supply contains diarrhea-producing bacteria. While some hard travelers adjust to impure water over weeks or months, most travelers avoid discomfort by buying most or all of their water.

Ice cubes in developing countries are rarely made from purified water; they bite even from alcoholic drinks.

Buying water: is usually easy. It is sold in convenient one or 1.5-liter plastic bottles which cost from fifty cents to $3, depending on the country. Look for a quality label and a safety-sealed cap. Bottled drinks are also safe and routinely drunk by travelers.

Boiling: makes tea, coffee, and soups safe in developing countries. Opinion varies on how much boiling is necessary, but a minute or two at full boil should do the job.

Iodine: is the preferred chemical treatment for water. It is easy and effective in twenty minutes, but iodine probably should not be used for months at a time. It also should not be used by pregnant women and people with thyroid conditions. The two most popular iodine treatments in the U.S. are Potable Aqua and Polar Pure.

Potable Aqua: consists of tiny iodine tablets in a small glass bottle. Directions are one or two tablets (depending upon temperature, clarity, and Giardia control) per liter of water. Shake and let dissolve, then loosen the cap and shake again to allow the iodized water to spread over the threads, killing germs there. It's ready for drinking in twenty minutes.

The water has a slight brownish-orange color, and a moderate iodine taste. Potable Aqua also comes with ascorbic acid tablets, called P.A. Pure, which greatly reduce the iodine taste and off-color.

Potable Aqua tablets should be left sealed in the glass bottle until use as they have a limited effective life after exposure to air.

Polar Pure: consists of a four-ounce (120 milliliter) glass bottle with crystallized iodine in the bottom. First, the bottle is filled with several ounces of water, then after a few minutes (time dependent on water temperature--a small thermometer is attached) this bottle is poured into a quart of water to be purified. The crystals remain in the original glass bottle. While Polar Pure is slightly more complicated than Potable Aqua, less iodine is used, and it has a longer shelf life.

Liquid iodine: from a dropper bottle is an alternate method used by some travelers. When faced with suspect water in a restaurant they add two or three drops per glass of water, stir, and wait a few minutes. This is unscientific but seems to work.

Silver: water disinfectant tablets are expensive at about $20 for a packet of forty tablets, which purifies forty liters. Silver is an alternative for those who don't want to use iodine.

Chlorine: tablets or liquid are not recommended as a water purifier, as chlorine is unstable and not always effective. Since it is also associated with a small cancer risk, only use chlorine in a pinch.

Filtering: cleans water mechanically. Special purifying filters may make sense when camping away from campgrounds--say in Central American National Parks, or otherwise in the bush. Travelers in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the former Soviet Union could also benefit. In the long run you could save money by filtering instead of buying, and certainly spare Earth from hundreds of unrecycled plastic bottles.

Boiling is inconvenient since it requires much time and fuel. While iodine renders water bacteriologically safe, it doesn't remove crud or improve taste. A good filter pumps out good water in a few minutes, and provides a real boost as opposed to drinking boiled or iodine-purified--but horrible tasting--water.

Drinking Water Using HR-CS AAS

2010-10-21T23:19:00.000-07:00

Due to its high electro negativity the element fluorine is the most reactive non-metal and thus does not occur in elementary, but only in combined form.

Fluorine is the most widespread halogen. Its share in the earth’s

crust is approx. 0.08%. It occurs in large quantities in apatite Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F) and in fluorite CaF2 as well as in the almost exhausted cryolite Na3AlF6 . It is therefore no surprise that fluoride is also found in almost all water bodies - although the fluoride concentration can differ greatly by water type and the geogenic conditions. Seawater contains more than 1mg/L fluoride, rivers and lakes approx. 0.05 - 0.5mg/L, whereas in ground water values above 0.5mg/L are relatively rare. However, in deepwater, especially in sources from hydrothermal deposits, significantly higher fluoride content can also be found, e.g. in geysers more than 20mg/L. Mainly responsible for the fluoride content are the pH value, temperature, solubility conditions and geological preconditions .

There are two sides to the effects of fluoride on human health. On the one hand it is essential for the human organism, because the fluoride ingested with food is a condition for the mineralisation of the apatite in bones and teeth. In this respect a corresponding fluoride content in the drinking water as the most important food is also of great importance with regard to an adequate caries prophylaxis. On the other hand too high a daily absorption of fluoride in all the ingested food can have fatal consequences. Tooth and bone fluorosis result if the daily total fluorine absorption exceeds approximately 20mg F/day .

The control of the fluoride concentration in our foodstuffs is therefore of major importance. Drinking water is the number 1 food and thus subject to a particularly intensive control. Fluoride has been categorised as a substance causing health disorders after a given concentration. The limit defined for fluoride in the drinking water regulations is 1.5mg/L .

MEASURING METHODS FOR FLUORIDE DETECTION

The detection of fluorine as non-metal has been sufficiently described in the literature. The methods range from classical gravimetry and volumetry to photometry and electrochemical titration. The methods for detecting the fluoride concentration in water dominating today are the ion chromatography (IC) and the use of ion-selective electrodes (ISE) . Both detection methods have in common that they only respond to ionic dissolved fluoride. Organic or covalent combined fluorine is not detected, so that these detection methods can only be used for purely water-based matrixes.

7TH SPECIALIZED EXPERTS TASK GROUP (SETG) MEETING OF ECO COUNTRIES

2010-09-01T02:45:00.001-07:00

Pakistan is hosting the 7th Specialized Experts Task Group (SETG) meeting of ECO Countries at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad on February 6 – 7, 2008. Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and ECO Secretariat are participating in the meeting.

Ministry of Water & Power have finalized the arrangements of the meeting in which feasibility study of Interconnection power system of ECO Member states would be finalized.

Water Is Life,

2010-08-16T02:28:00.001-07:00

From cars being swept down the Potomac River - to massive sink holes literally swallowing trucks in Manhattan and Fire Engines in Los Angeles - to flood waters contaminating public buildings with E. coli in New Jersey, we are seeing the results of neglected water infrastructure. In addition to aging infrastructure, climate change adaptation, and enhanced regulation, are compelling communities to invest in water infrastructure and expand green infrastructure.

Water Is Life, and Infrastructure Makes It Happen* is an education program designed to face the challenge. Targeting ratepayers, local leaders and the media, it teaches the value of water infrastructure and the importance of investing in its long-term stability. Water Is Life public information materials are designed to assist utilities and community organizations to build public support for investment in water infrastructure. Request a complimentary CD with outreach materials that are customizable for your community.

Recommended Water Intake A Myth

2010-08-04T02:47:00.000-07:00

It has become accepted wisdom: "Drink at least eight glasses of water a day!" Not necessarily, says a DMS physician Heinz Valtin, MD. The universal advice that has made guzzling water a national pastime is more urban myth than medical dogma and appears to lack scientific proof, he found. In an invited review published online by the American Journal of Physiology August 8, Valtin, professor emeritus of physiology at Dartmouth Medical School, reports no supporting evidence to back this popular counsel, commonly known as "8 x 8" (for eight, eight-ounce glasses). The review will also appear in a later issue of the journal.

Valtin, a kidney specialist and author of two widely used textbooks on the kidney and water balance, sought to find the origin of this dictum and to examine the scientific evidence, if any, that might support it. He observes that we see the exhortation everywhere: from health writers, nutritionists, even physicians. Valtin doubts its validity. Indeed, he finds it, "difficult to believe that evolution left us with a chronic water deficit that needs to be compensated by forcing a high fluid intake."

The 8 x 8 rule is slavishly followed. Everywhere, people carry bottles of water, constantly sipping from them; it is acceptable to drink water anywhere, anytime. A pamphlet distributed at one southern California university even counsels its students to "carry a water bottle with you. Drink often while sitting in class..."

How did the obsession start? Is there any scientific evidence that supports the recommendation? Does the habit promote good health? Might it be harmful?

Valtin thinks the notion may have started when the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council recommended approximately "1 milliliter of water for each calorie of food," which would amount to roughly two to two-and-a-half quarts per day (64 to 80 ounces). Although in its next sentence, the Board stated "most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods," that last sentence may have been missed, so that the recommendation was erroneously interpreted as how much water one should drink each day.

He found no scientific studies in support of 8 x 8. Rather, surveys of fluid intake on healthy adults of both genders, published as peer-reviewed documents, strongly suggest that such large amounts are not needed. His conclusion is supported by published studies showing that caffeinated drinks, such as most coffee, tea and soft drinks, may indeed be counted toward the daily total. He also points to the quantity of published experiments that attest to the capability of the human body for maintaining proper water balance.

Valtin emphasizes that his conclusion is limited to healthy adults in a temperate climate leading a largely sedentary existence -- precisely, he points out, the population and conditions that the "at least" in 8 x 8 refers to. At the same time, he stresses that large intakes of fluid, equal to and greater than 8 x 8, are advisable for the treatment or prevention of some diseases, such as kidney stones, as well as under special circumstances, such as strenuous physical activity, long airplane flights or hot weather. But barring those exceptions, he concludes that we are currently drinking enough and possibly even more than enough.

Despite the dearth of compelling evidence, then, What's the harm? "The fact is that, potentially, there is harm even in water," explains Valtin. Even modest increases in fluid intake can result in "water intoxication" if one's kidneys are unable to excrete enough water (urine). Such instances are not unheard of, and they have led to mental confusion and even death in athletes, in teenagers after ingesting the recreational drug Ecstasy, and in ordinary patients.

And he lists other disadvantages of a high water intake: (a) possible exposure to pollutants, especially if sustained over many years; (b) frequent urination, which can be both inconvenient and embarrassing; (c) expense, for those who satisfy the 8 x 8 requirements with bottled water; and (d) feelings of guilt for not achieving 8 x 8.

Other claims discredited by scientific evidence that Valtin discusses include:

Thirst Is Too Late. It is often stated that by the time people are thirsty, they are already dehydrated. On the contrary, thirst begins when the concentration of blood (an accurate indicator of our state of hydration) has risen by less than two percent, whereas most experts would define dehydration as beginning when that concentration has risen by at least five percent.

Dark Urine Means Dehydration. At normal urinary volume and color, the concentration of the blood is within the normal range and nowhere near the values that are seen in meaningful dehydration. Therefore, the warning that dark urine reflects dehydration is alarmist and false in most instances.

Is there scientific documentation that we do not need to drink "8 x 8"? There is highly suggestive evidence, says Valtin. First is the voluminous scientific literature on the efficacy of the osmoregulatory system that maintains water balance through the antidiuretic hormone and thirst. Second, published surveys document that the mean daily fluid intake of thousands of presumably healthy humans is less than the roughly two quarts prescribed by 8 x 8. Valtin argues that, in view of this evidence, the burden of proof that everyone needs 8 x 8 should fall on those who persist in advocating the high fluid intake without, apparently, citing any scientific support.

Finally, strong evidence now indicates that not all of the prescribed fluid need be in the form of water. Careful peer-reviewed experiments have shown that caffeinated drinks should indeed count toward the daily fluid intake in the vast majority of persons. To a lesser extent, the same probably can be said for dilute alcoholic beverages, such as beer, if taken in moderation.

"Thus, I have found no scientific proof that absolutely every person must 'drink at least eight glasses of water a day'," says Valtin. While there is some evidence that the risk of certain diseases can be lowered by high water intake, the quantities needed for this beneficial effect may be less than 8 x 8, and the recommendation can be limited to those particularly susceptible to the diseases in question

Water for Injection Description

2010-07-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

Sterile Water for Injection, USP, is sterile, nonpyrogenic, distilled water in a single dose container for intravenous administration after addition of a suitable solute. It may also be used as a dispensing container for diluent use. No antimicrobial or other substance has been added. The pH is 5.5 (5.0 to 7.0). The osmolarity is 0.

The VIAFLEX plastic container is fabricated from a specially formulated polyvinyl chloride (PL 146 Plastic). The amount of water that can permeate from inside the container into the overwrap is insufficient to affect the solution significantly. Solutions in contact with the plastic container may leach out certain chemical components from the plastic in very small amounts; however, biological testing was supportive of the safety of the plastic container materials.

Water for Injection - Clinical Pharmacology

Sterile Water for Injection, USP is used for fluid replacement only after suitable additives are introduced to approximate isotonicity and to serve as a vehicle for suitable medications.

Read more: http://www.drugs.com/pro/water-for-injection.html#ixzz0vBs1Tvnu

Drinking Water Crisis in Pakistan

2010-07-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

In 1998 Nestlé choose Pakistan as country to roadmap its global water strategy in the bottled water market. It produced and introduced "Pure Life" as "a source of clean water. Bottled water is often the consumers' choice for a healthy beverage that gives them a source of minerals, helps to prevent obesity, and in so doing, reduces the risk of associated healthcare problems."

Nestlé' bottled water is not affordable for the people in need of safe and clean drinking water, nor is it only sold in Pakistan. Nestlé contributes to the decrease of the ground water level, that dries local water provisions for the sake of profit. Finally, Nestlé's use of groundwater obviously exceeding the renewable volume.

Nestlé's engagement in Pakistan and business policies are in contradiction to its own self commitments with regard to human rights and the principle of sustainable use of resources as well as to its membership in the United Nations Global Compact.

The global water shortage of affordable and safe drinking water is manifested in Pakistan with an estimated 44 percent of the population without access to safe drinking water. In rural areas, up to 90 percent of the population may lack such access. As one indication of the magnitude of the problem, it is estimated that 200,000 children in Pakistan die every year due to diarrhoeal diseases alone. Groundwater extraction is one of the few possibilities to satisfy peoples need for drinking water. But groundwater extraction in Pakistan is unregulated and different users, such as public water providers, agriculture and industrial exploitation compete about the use of this scare source.

DRINKING WATER FOR INFANTS & BABIES

2010-07-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

Newborn babies do just fine with formula or breast milk; drinking water is not recommended until about six-12 months (too much water can cause jaundice or intoxication). However, when making bottles it is imperative to use pure water.

While most of the medical world pushes breast feeding, many moms opt for formula. Or in fact, must use the substitute for health reasons. Whatever the reason behind not using breast milk, attention must be focused on one crucial ingredient to formula: water. The World Health Organization states, "...concentrations of nutrient minerals in drinking water may contribute significantly to the total trace element and mineral intake of infants and young children...especially applicable to formula-fed infants during the first months of life, who may be the most vulnerable group affected by excessive concentrations of nutrients or contaminants in drinking water."

Formula can come ready to drink which parents can be assured is safe. Formula also comes in powder mixture, which water is mixed with. Because the latter infants will be in taking so much water through formula, safety of that water should be the parents' focus. In an astonishing statistic, infants receive 40-60% of the lead they are exposed to through drinking water- which can cause damages including mental retardation. Nitrate, chlorine, aluminum and fluoride are other worries for babies drinking formula. For this reason, most formula companies recommend bottled water or boiled tap water. Also, homes with water purification systems will be on the safe side. Contamination of water needs to limited.

Pure drinking water can also aid in healthy teeth and gums. Many toddlers need a bottle to go to sleep with or they get antsy. But, giving a bottle of juice or ice tea can cause decay. A bottle of water is suggested instead.

According to TodaysParent.com, until babies begin to eat food, they will get all of the nutrition they need from breast milk and formula. But, the site also says once a baby is older and drinking from a cup, water is preferred over juice as it satisfies thirst. (Plus, it will start a healthy water habit early!)

According to recent news and reports, most tap and well water in the U.S. are not safe for drinking due to heavy industrial and environmental pollution. Toxic bacteria, chemicals and heavy metals routinely penetrate and pollute our natural water sources making people sick while exposing them to long term health consequences such as liver damage, cancer and other serious conditions. We have reached the point where all sources of our drinking water, including municipal water systems, wells, lakes, rivers, and even glaciers, contain some level of contamination. Even some brands of bottled water have been found to contain high levels of contaminants in addition to plastics chemical leaching from the bottle.

Health and Water Pallution

2010-07-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Virtually all types of water pollution are harmful to the health of humans and animals. Water pollution may not damage our health immediately but can be harmful after long term exposure. Different forms of pollutants affect the health of animals in different ways:

•Heavy metals from industrial processes can accumulate in nearby lakes and rivers. These are toxic to marine life such as fish and shellfish, and subsequently to the humans who eat them. Heavy metals can slow development; result in birth defects and some are carcinogenic.

•Industrial waste often contains many toxic compounds that damage the health of aquatic animals and those who eat them. Some of the toxins in industrial waste may only have a mild effect whereas other can be fatal. They can cause immune suppression, reproductive failure or acute poisoning.

•Microbial pollutants from sewage often result in infectious diseases that infect aquatic life and terrestrial life through drinking water. Microbial water pollution is a major problem in the developing world, with diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever being the primary cause of infant mortality.

•Organic matter and nutrients causes an increase in aerobic algae and depletes oxygen from the water column. This causes the suffocation of fish and other aquatic organisms.

•Sulfate particles from acid rain can cause harm the health of marine life in the rivers and lakes it contaminates, and can result in mortality.

•Suspended particles in freshwater reduces the quality of drinking water for humans and the aquatic environment for marine life. Suspended particles can often reduce the amount of sunlight penetrating the water, disrupting the growth of photosynthetic plants and micro-organisms.

You are not just what you eat; you are what you drink.

2010-07-11T05:17:00.000-07:00

Our life, our planet. Over 70% of the earth's surface is water. However, most of it—98%--is salt water. Only 2% of the earth's H20 is fresh water that we can drink, and of this, almost all is trapped in frozen glaciers.

You are not just what you eat; you are what you drink.

This is why water is so important to your health.

The Water Cure (TWC) does not sell water or purification systems or any related products. We offer insights and information; both free and in books that give you easy-to-understand scientific explanations on why water is vital to your well-being.

TWC believes promoting "water for health, for healing, for life" is an invaluable public health message. We can all change the way we drink – by drinking pure, natural water that is good for our health, our pocket book, and our environment.

No miracles. Just common sense backed by Dr. F. Batmaghelidj’s years of research and investigation into why water works so well in keeping us healthy and pain free. It can even cure illness in some people who get sick.

Water is the basis of all life and that includes your body. Your muscles that move your body are 75% water; your blood that transport nutrients is 82% water; your lungs that provide your oxygen are 90% water; your brain that is the control center of your body is 76% water; even your bones are 25% water.

Our health is truly dependent on the quality and quantity of the water we drink.

Dr. B's pioneering work shows that Unintentional Chronic Dehydration (UCD) contributes to and even produces pain and many degenerative diseases that can be prevented and treated by increasing water intake on a regular basis.

If you are co

mmitted to a healthy lifestyle, make drinking enough natural water a habit in your life. It won't take long for you to feel the benefit.

It is a free investment for your long-term health.

Drinking Water Treatment

2010-07-03T02:59:00.000-07:00

Ancient civilizations established themselves around water sources. While the importance of ample water quantity for drinking and other purposes was apparent to our ancestors, an understanding of drinking water quality was not well known or documented. Although historical records have long mentioned aesthetic problems (an unpleasant appearance, taste or smell) with regard to drinking water, it took thousands of years for people to recognize that their senses alone were not accurate judges of water quality.

Water treatment originally focused on improving the aesthetic qualities of drinking water. Methods to improve the taste and odor of drinking water were recorded as early as 4000 B.C. Ancient Sanskrit and Greek writings recommended water treatment methods such as filtering through charcoal, exposing to sunlight, boiling, and straining. Visible cloudiness (later termed turbidity) was the driving force behind the earliest water treatments, as many source waters contained particles that had an objectionable taste and appearance. To clarify water, the Egyptians reportedly used the chemical alum as early as 1500 B.C. to cause suspended particles to settle out of water. During the 1700s, filtration was established as an effective means of removing particles from water, although the degree of clarity achieved was not measurable at that time. By the early 1800s, slow sand filtration was beginning to be used regularly in Europe.

During the mid to late 1800s, scientists gained a greater understanding of the sources and effects of drinking water contaminants, especially those that were not visible to the naked eye. In 1855, epidemiologist Dr. John Snow proved that cholera was a waterborne disease by linking an outbreak of illness in London to a public well that was contaminated by sewage. In the late 1880s, Louis Pasteur demonstrated the “germ theory” of disease, which explained how microscopic organisms (microbes) could transmit disease through media like water.

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, concerns regarding drinking water quality continued to focus mostly on disease-causing microbes (pathogens) in public water supplies. Scientists discovered that turbidity was not only an aesthetic problem; particles in source water, such as fecal matter, could harbor pathogens. As a result, the design of most drinking water treatment systems built in the U.S. during the early 1900s was driven by the need to reduce turbidity, thereby removing microbial contaminants that were causing typhoid, dysentery, and cholera epidemics. To reduce turbidity, some water systems in U.S. cities (such as Philadelphia) began to use slow sand filtration.

While filtration was a fairly effective treatment method for reducing turbidity, it was disinfectants like chlorine that played the largest role in reducing the number of waterborne disease outbreaks in the early 1900s. In 1908, chlorine was used for the first time as a primary disinfectant of drinking water in Jersey City, New Jersey. The use of other disinfectants such as ozone also began in Europe around this time, but were not employed in the U.S. until several decades later.

Federal regulation of drinking water quality began in 1914, when the U.S. Public Health Service set standards for the bacteriological quality of drinking water. The standards applied only to water systems which provided drinking water to interstate carriers like ships and trains, and only applied to contaminants capable of causing contagious disease. The Public Health Service revised and expanded these standards in 1925, 1946, and 1962. The 1962 standards, regulating 28 substances, were the most comprehensive federal drinking water standards in existence before the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. With minor modifications, all 50 states adopted the Public Health Service standards either as regulations or as guidelines for all of the public water systems in their jurisdiction.

By the late 1960s it became apparent that the aesthetic problems, pathogens, and chemicals identified by the Public Health Service were not the only drinking water quality concerns. Industrial and agricultural advances and the creation of new man-made chemicals also had negative impacts on the environment and public health. Many of these new chemicals were finding their way into water supplies through factory discharges, street and farm field runoff, and leaking underground storage and disposal tanks. Although treatment techniques such as aeration, flocculation, and granular activated carbon adsorption (for removal of organic contaminants) existed at the time, they were either underutilized by water systems or ineffective at removing some new contaminants.

Health concerns spurred the federal government to conduct several studies on the nation’s drinking water supply. One of the most telling was a water system survey conducted by the Public Health Service in 1969 which showed that only 60 percent of the systems surveyed delivered water that met all the Public Health Service standards. Over half of the treatment facilities surveyed had major deficiencies involving disinfection, clarification, or pressure in the distribution system (the pipes that carry water from the treatment plant to buildings), or combinations of these deficiencies. Small systems, especially those with fewer than 500 customers, had the most deficiencies. A study in 1972 found 36 chemicals in treated water taken from treatment plants that drew water from the Mississippi River in Louisiana. As a result of these and other studies, new legislative proposals for a federal safe drinking water law were introduced and debated in Congress in 1973.

Chemical contamination of water supplies was only one of many environmental and health issues that gained the attention of Congress and the public in the early 1970s. This increased awareness eventually led to the passage of several federal environmental and health laws, one of which was the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. That law, with significant amendments in 1986 and 1996, is administered today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (EPA) and its partners.

Since the passage of the original Safe Drinking Water Act, the number of water systems applying some type of treatment to their water has increased. According to several EPA surveys, from 1976 to 1995, the percentage of small and medium community water systems (systems serving people year-round) that treat their water has steadily increased. For example, in 1976 only 33 percent of systems serving fewer than 100 people provided treatment. By 1995, that number had risen to 69 percent.

Since their establishment in the early 1900s, most large urban systems have always provided some treatment, as they draw their water from surface sources (rivers, lakes, and reservoirs) which are more susceptible to pollution. Larger systems also have the customer base to provide the funds needed to install and improve treatment equipment. Because distribution systems have extended to serve a growing population (as people have moved from concentrated urban areas to more suburban areas), additional disinfection has been required to keep water safe until it is delivered to all customers.

Today, filtration and chlorination remain effective treatment techniques for protecting U.S. water supplies from harmful microbes, although additional advances in disinfection have been made over the years. In the 1970s and 1980s, improvements were made in membrane development for reverse osmosis filtration and other treatment techniques such as ozonation. Some treatment advancements have been driven by the discovery of chlorine-resistant pathogens in drinking water that can cause illnesses like hepatitis, gastroenteritis, Legionnaire’s Disease, and cryptosporidiosis. Other advancements resulted from the need to remove more and more chemicals found in sources of drinking water.

According to a 1995 EPA survey, approximately 64 percent of community ground water and surface water systems disinfect their water with chlorine. Almost all of the remaining surface water systems, and some of the remaining ground water systems, use another type of disinfectant, such as ozone or chloramine.

Many of the treatment techniques used today by drinking water plants include methods that have been used for hundreds and even thousands of years (see the diagram below). However, newer treatment techniques (e.g., reverse osmosis and granular activated carbon) are also being employed by some modern drinking water plants.

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Academy of Engineering named water treatment as one of the most significant public health advancements of the 20th Century. Moreover, the number of treatment techniques, and combinations of techniques, developed is expected to increase with time as more complex contaminants are discovered and regulated. It is also expected that the number of systems employing these techniques will increase due to the recent creation of a multi-billion dollar state revolving loan fund that will help water systems, especially those serving small and disadvantaged communities, upgrade or install new treatment facilities.

Distilled Water is Natural Water

2010-06-21T02:13:00.000-07:00

Today's family encounters a wide variety of products in the supermarket. Housewives who are concerned about better health and nutrition for their families usually select "natural" products versus those which have "artificial" flavors, coloring or "synthetic" fibers, nutrients, and so forth.

On the other hand, shoppers looking for a bargain, usually select the "synthetic" or "artificial" brands, without too much concern regarding qualitative or quantitative nutrient characteristics.

Because naturally-occurring ingredients are more difficult to obtain, and many times more expensive because of their scarcity, store shelves tend to be dominated by the "artificial" and "synthetic" varieties---thus catering to the bargain shopper, rather than the shopper intent on better nutrition.

Turning down the supermarket aisle where bottled water is stacked in neat rows, we see a similar situation. In the bottled water section we see all types of "additives" in small bottled water containers, so-called "nutrient" waters, de-ionized waters, reverse osmosis-treated waters, filtered waters, spring water and steam distilled water.

Only the last two types of waters---spring and steam distilled are natural products. Spring water is bottled as it occurs naturally in nature---usually directly from a ground source, and un-touched by other human, synthetic processes.

Steam distilled water is produced by a completely natural process, simple heating and cooling, exactly like earth's natural rain process, resulting in a product with completely natural qualities.

Tap water is being shunned by nearly half of California's population---either because of poor taste or because of fears of chemical contamination of various sorts. The rush to alternatives, namely the supermarket, vending machines, delivered water and water stores has produced much confusion regarding the benefits one may or may not obtain from these various alternatives to tap water.

The public is unaware that even well-known organizations such as the American Medical Association have correctly pointed out that "...the body's need for minerals is largely met through food, not drinking water".

Even the National Water Quality Association, not usually known for it's excursions into areas concerned with nutrition, has stated "...the amounts of minerals found in water are insignificant when compared to those found in the foods we eat".

Since we see from these two internationally-known sources that water is essentially a cleansing agent, while food is the nutrient, we find it difficult to calculate the enormous amount of money being wasted on "synthetic" or "artificial" drinking waters.

True, these artificial waters might taste better than tap water when spiked with carbon dioxide, salts, sugars and other additives, but there is no proof whatsoever that any of these synthetic or artificial waters provide any nutrient benefits other than making one increasingly thirsty because of the sugar and salt additives.

We harp on our children because of their near-continual consumption of various types of sugary colas---while we grownups fill our own shopping carts with "designer" waters, simply an adult version of sugary colas.

The smart alternative in purchasing pure drinking water is simply to obtain pure, unadulterated H2O, uncontaminated with salts, metals, chemicals and additives that our body cannot use and most certainly must expel because of their undigestibility.

This alternative reduces to either steam distilled water or a top-quality spring water.

It is not uncommon to find warning signs in industrial and manufacturing environments which warn against the use of de-ionized water for drinking.

Even though millions of gallons of this clean, synthetic, artificial water are readily available in the workplace, bottled spring or distilled water will be found in those manufacturing and industrial workplaces for employee drinking needs.

To be more specific, there are no processes in nature which duplicate either reverse osmosis or de-ionization. In fact, reverse osmosis is the exact opposite(or reverse) of a natural process, osmosis. In attempting to create pure, industrial-grade water many years ago, scientists found that by reversing a natural process(osmosis) they were able to produce a fairly good quality of water. It was not a natural product, but it did meet their industrial requirements.

Today, this inexpensive industrial process has spilled over into the drinking water business where some bottlers, water stores and vending machines use the reverse osmosis technology to produce an inexpensive, moderately clean grade of artificial or synthetic drinking water.

On the other hand, steam distilled water is used in virtually every pharmaceutical where pure, natural absorption of nutrients or medication is required, in all naval vessels where pure, uncontaminated drinking water is produced from incredibly impure seawater and hundreds of other applications where pure, natural water is necessary.

Because of it's natural structure, the taste of distilled water is also much cleaner and smoother than de-ionized or reverse osmosis water.

The production of distilled water is with stainless-steel components while various types of synthetic rubber and plastic components are used to produce reverse osmosis water. It is therefore easy to understand why steam distilled water has no aftertaste while one with a sensitive palate can still taste the residue of the plastics and rubber components in the reverse osmosis water.

The only thing that reverse osmosis water seems to have going for it is it's lower cost---and that again is because of it's lesser purity than steam distilled water.

Remember, there are two pump at every gas station---one with regular gas, the other premium. These two pumps provide widely different qualities of gas---at two quite different prices.

I guess the most interesting thing about observing these pumps at a station is that the "premium" pump fits every gas tank---while the "regular" or leaded pump fits only a smaller portion of gas tanks.

The same can be said about naturally pure water such as distilled water. While it might costs a few cents more per gallon, it will meet everyone's needs because of it's higher purity.

Reverse osmosis water(although it is still "water") fits a much smaller percentage of needs because of it still contains small amounts of a wide variety of impurities and is not a natural water product.

Water usually makes up 55% to 78% of the human body

2010-06-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Water (H2O) is the most abundant compound on Earth's surface, constituting about 70% of the planet's surface. In nature it exists in liquid, solid, and gaseous states. It is in dynamic equilibrium between the liquid and gas states at standard temperature and pressure. At room temperature, it is a nearly colorless with a hint of blue, tasteless, and odorless liquid. Many substances dissolve in water and it is commonly referred to as the universal solvent. Because of this, water in nature and in use is rarely pure and some of its properties may vary slightly from those of the pure substance. However, there are many compounds that are essentially, if not completely, insoluble in water. Water is the only common substance found naturally in all three common states of matter and it is essential for life on Earth. Water usually makes up 55% to 78% of the human body.

Forms of water

Like many substances, water can take numerous forms that are broadly categorized by phase of matter. The liquid phase is the most common among water's phases and is the form that's generally denoted by the word "water." The solid phase of water is known as ice and commonly takes the structure of hard, amalgamated crystals, such as ice cubes, or loosely accumulated granular crystals, like snow. For a list of the many different crystalline and amorphous forms of solid H2O, see the article ice. The gaseous phase of water is known as water vapor (or steam), and is characterized by water assuming the configuration of a transparent cloud. The fourth state of water, that of a supercritical fluid, is much less common than the other three and only rarely occurs in nature. When water achieves a specific critical temperature and a specific critical pressure (647 K and 22.064 MPa), liquid and gas phase merge to one homogeneous fluid phase, with properties of both gas and liquid. Since water only becomes supercritical under extreme temperatures or pressures, it almost never occurs naturally. One example of naturally occurring supercritical water is in the hottest parts of deep water hydrothermal vents, in which water is heated to the critical temperature by scalding volcanic plumes and achieves the critical pressure because of the crushing weight of the ocean at the extreme depths at which the vents are located.

In natural water (see Standard Mean Ocean Water), almost all of the hydrogen atoms are of the isotope protium, 1H. Heavy water is water in which the hydrogen is replaced by its heavier isotope, deuterium,2H. It is chemically similar to normal water, but not identical. This is because the nucleus of deuterium is twice as heavy as protium, and thus causes noticeable differences in bonding energies and hydrogen bonding. Heavy water is used in the nuclear reactor industry to moderate (slow down) neutrons. By contrast, the term light water designates water containing the protium isotope, in contexts when such distinction is needed. An example is the term light water reactor to emphasize that the reactor type uses light water.

Physics and chemistry

Water is the chemical substance with chemical formula H2O: one molecule of water has two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to a single oxygen atom.[5] Water is a tasteless, odorless liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, and appears colorless in small quantities, although it has its own intrinsic very light blue hue. Ice also appears colorless, and water vapor is essentially invisible as a gas. Water is primarily a liquid under standard conditions, which is not predicted from its relationship to other analogous hydrides of the oxygen family in the periodic table, which are gases such as hydrogen sulfide. Also the elements surrounding oxygen in the periodic table, nitrogen, fluorine, phosphorus, sulfur and chlorine, all combine with hydrogen to produce gases under standard conditions. The reason that water forms a liquid is that oxygen is more electronegative than all of these elements with the exception of fluorine. Oxygen attracts electrons much more strongly than hydrogen, resulting in a net positive charge on the hydrogen atoms, and a net negative charge on the oxygen atom. The presence of a charge on each of these atoms gives each water molecule a net dipole moment. Electrical attraction between water molecules due to this dipole pulls individual molecules closer together, making it more difficult to separate the molecules and therefore raising the boiling point. This attraction is known as hydrogen bonding. The molecules of water are constantly moving in relation to each other, and the hydrogen bonds are continually breaking and reforming at timescales faster than 200 femtoseconds. However, this bond is strong enough to create many of the peculiar properties of water described in this article, such as the those that make it integral to life. Water can be described as a polar liquid that slightly dissociates disproportionately into the hydronium ion (H3O+(aq)) and an associated hydroxide ion (OH−(aq)).

2 H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + OH− (aq)

The dissociation constant for this dissociation is commonly symbolized as Kw and has a value of about 10−14 at 25 °C; see "Water (data page)" and "Self-ionization of water" for more information

Water is essential for life

2010-06-03T03:45:00.000-07:00

Water is essential for life. The amount of fresh water on earth is limited, and its quality is under constant pressure. Preserving the quality of fresh water is important for the drinking-water supply, food production and recreational water use. Water quality can be compromised by the presence of infectious agents, toxic chemicals, and radiological hazards.

The body can store water

2010-05-25T23:04:00.000-07:00

Water is a major component of the tissues and cells of the body. Without water the human body will survive only a few days. No other nutrient deficiency has such profound effects.

A prolonged absence of water:

lowers blood pressure

weakens the heart and

shuts down the kidneys

Water is the major component of blood and urine and is also found in gastrointestinal juices, perspiration, and even the joints of the body.

The body can store water, but only on a very limited basis. For the body to function optimally, water losses from urine, stool, perspiration, and respiration need to be replenished daily.

The average person should consume 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water each day. Although water is the best "thirst-quencher," other liquids (such as juices, milk, sodas, and teas) can help meet fluid needs. High sugar and high caffeine beverages are not the best choices because they can lead to increased urination.

The elderly and young children are at the highest risk for a water deficiency. Any individual who is experiencing prolonged diarrhea, vomiting, or perspiration is also at risk for water deficiency or dehydration.

People in hot climates, particularly extremely dry or humid climates, can deplete their water reserves. If you experience muscle cramping, nausea, headache, or dizziness, you may be dehydrated.

Be water smart. Drink plenty of fluids each and every day!

How To Maintain Good Water Conditions

2010-05-18T00:27:00.000-07:00

The ideal water for guppies has low nitrite and ammonia levels. This condition gives good oxygenation for growth and a friendly environment for healthy fish. Many times when disease hits our tanks, it is due more to tank conditions that have declined which make the fish susceptible to disease already present in our tanks rather than an airborne disease suddenly entering our fish room. This is apart from the situation when fish that are returned from a fish show or fish that come from a place that may carry a disease or parasites. The common diseases like Ich, Velvet and Fin Rot are always present in our tanks and are just waiting to take hold when the guppy’s heath drops due to water conditions.

Guppy breeders often try to feed their fish with the maximum amount of food to get the maximum potential growth. If a guppy breeder feeds too much, the food that is not eaten rots and produces nitrite in the water which causes a decrease in available oxygen for the guppy. Also the more food a guppy is fed more fish waste will result causing a higher ammonia level causing more deterioration of the water quality. Fish waste is also increased when a tank has too many guppies inhabiting it. More fish means more food put into the tanks which produce more fish waste.

The nitrite and ammonia are countered with biological filtration. The key is how effectively and quickly can the filtration breakdown the harmful compounds to keep the water quality to a level that is beneficial to guppies? The following summarizes some of my experiences with different filters.

The Box Filter

Good basic filtration for most guppy breeders. I use ceramic tubes used for biological filtration on the bottom 2/3 with floss on top. The ceramic tubes are good media for the good bacteria grow to breakdown nitrite and ammonia. It also helps to weigh down the filter. Any other material that encourages good bacteria growth can be used, such as glass marbles or the other available biological media for filtration. The floss on top helps stop larger debris from entering the box. Also the fish can pick on the floss where live brine and other food may have been stopped by it. I usually change the floss every 3 weeks or sooner if it is heavy with debris. I also use a second box filter with just ceramic tubes in a tank that has more fish and require more biological filtration. I have to make a point to rinse out the filter without the floss once a week to get out the waste build up. The reason I don’t use floss in the second filter is to get maximum water flow to give maximum biological filtration. This is true for all filtration.

I have used charcoal but I found that using ceramic tubes was a better solution. Charcoal only absorbs toxins such as nitrite and ammonia for a short period of time. Also after the charcoal is maxed out, it can reverse itself and release the toxins back into the water. This can sometimes explain the sudden deterioration of water conditions and the fish are gasping for air at the top of tank. Charcoal also becomes a breeding ground for good bacteria, but is lost when you change it for fresh charcoal. Even if you use some of the old charcoal, the biological filtration has been reduced, until the good bacteria can grow and increase again. Ceramic tubes, just need to have the waste rinsed out and replaced back with its good bacteria still intact. It is important to note that you do not rinse out the material in hot water which will kill the good bacteria. Chlorine will also kill anything in the material, but sometimes necessary to eliminate harmful diseases that have entered into the tank. Be sure that the material is neutralized of chlorine after treatment and give it time to repopulate before putting too many fish in the tank. Adding biological material from a healthy establish tank will also speed up the good bacteria growth. A picture of the ceramic tubes is shown below.

Sponge Filters

This has good biological filtration but does need to be rinsed often to keep the water flow going well through the sponge material. I have also experienced that with time it tends to get more difficult to clean due the minute particles and algae that get stuck deep within the sponge material. Sponge filters that are larger give more area for good bacteria to grow and greater water flow through the filter creating better biological filtration. People often use two sponge filters per tank so if one needs to be thrown away the other one can continue the biological filtration. When this is done it must be kept in mind that the biological filtration has been cut in half until the new one can catch up. People also use this in combination with a box filter. Same rules apply to the sponge filter as the ceramic tubes for rinsing.

Outside Filters

Outside Filters can give good biological filtration, but its downfall is that it will take in uneaten food and the fish can not reach it causing more dissolve waste into the water. Baby brine (as well as baby guppies.) can also be quickly vacuumed up before the fish can get to it.

Diatom Filters

The purpose of this filtration is to eliminate any floating debris in the water with no significant amount of biological filtration. Not a practical or useful filtration for guppy breeders.

A good indicator that the amount of biological filtration in a tank is not enough is if the tank is cloudy or if the fish are less active (this doesn’t rule out the possibility that the fish maybe diseased instead). If the filtration cannot be increased to compensate then less food has to be fed to that tank. This can be done having less fish in the tank requiring less food.

Weekly water changes also help in reducing the unwanted debris in the tank. Depending on how polluted the tank is, water changes can range from 10% to 50% of the tank’s water. People who do water changes above 25% should take more attention to the temperature matching the tanks and that water treatment chemicals are reduced to a safe level. People who do water changes below 25% still need to do the same, but it is not as critical to be perfect since the amount is smaller and has less chance of shocking the fish. Water quality is different depending on its source and how the water treatment plant purifies the water so it is advised to adjust your water treatment procedure to best serve your guppies.

The basic concept to good water quality is to reduce the fish waste, nitrite, and ammonia level in the water. Fish waste is reduced by siphoning off waste when you are changing water, changing the filter floss, and rinsing out waste from the filter’s biological material. Nitrite and ammonia are reduced by good biological filtration. If your biological filtration and water changes can not keep up, then the fish population and food input to the tank must be reduced. The illustration below demonstrates the balance between the different factors.

Drinking water is so important for good health.

2010-05-12T23:24:00.000-07:00

Drinking water is so important for good health. When you were a kid in school, you learned that each molecule of water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. You may also have learned that it was great fun to fill up your squirt guns with water, at least until the principal caught you. What you may not have learned, however, was how much water you needed in order to be a healthy human being.

Why You Need to Drink Water

Signs of Dehydration

Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles,lower back pain, headaches and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B Vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration and in fact, you need water long before you feel thirsty.

How Much Water do You Need to Drink?

A good estimate is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. If you exercise you should drink another eight ounce glass of water for every 20 minutes you are active. If you drink alcohol, you should drink at least an equal amount of water. When you are traveling on an airplane, it is good to drink eight ounces of water for every hour you are on board the plane. If you live in an arid climate, you should add another two servings per day. As you can see, your daily need for water can add up to quite a lot.

Twenty percent of your water need will come from the foods you eat. The rest of your water need should come from the beverages you drink. Water is the best choice. Sodas have a lot of sugar in them, so if you drink sodas, you may take in more calories than you need. Herbal teas that aren't diuretic are fine. Sports drinks contain electrolytes and may be beneficial, just look out for added sugar and calories that you don't need. Juices are good because they have vitamins and nutrients.

Caffeinated beverages will also add to your daily water need. Even though caffeine is a diuretic, if you regularly consume caffeine, your body will regulate itself to that diuretic effect.

Drink Enough Water

he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be developing a new set of strategies with the aim to "strengthen public health protection" from contaminants in drinking water

2010-05-10T03:33:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, US, March 23, 2010 -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be developing a new set of strategies with the aim to "strengthen public health protection" from contaminants in drinking water.

EPA administrator Lisa Jackson announced this week that the agency will be revising existing drinking water standards to introduce stricter regulations for four contaminants that it said can cause cancer.

In the review of existing drinking water standards, EPA determined that scientific advances allow for stricter regulations for the carcinogenic compounds tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, acrylamide and epichlorohydrin.

Tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene are used in industrial and/or textile processing and can be introduced into drinking water from contaminated ground or surface water sources. Acrylamide and epichlorohydrin are impurities that can be introduced into drinking water during the water treatment process.

Within the next year, EPA will initiate rulemaking efforts to revise the tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene standards using the strategy’s framework. Revision of epichlorohydrin and acrylamide standards will follow later.

Jackson said: "To confront emerging health threats, strained budgets and increased needs - today's and tomorrow's drinking water challenges - we must use the law more effectively and promote new technologies. That means fostering innovation that can increase cost-effective protection. It means finding win-win-win solutions for our health our environment and our economy. And it means broad collaboration. To make our drinking water systems work harder, we have to work smarter."

Four key principles have been put forward by the EPA behind the shift in drinking water strategy, including: to address contaminants as a group rather than one at a time so that enhancement of drinking water protection can be achieved cost-effectively; foster development of new drinking water treatment technologies to address health risks posed by a broad array of contaminants; use the authority of multiple statutes to help protect drinking water and partner with states to share more complete data from monitoring at public water systems.

Pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical industries demand high purity water systems that are reliable and capable of consistently providing the required WFI and Purified Water to established standards

2010-04-21T04:16:00.000-07:00

The pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical industries demand high purity water systems that are reliable and capable of consistently providing the required Water for Injection (WFI) and Purified Water (PW) to meet the established standards of purity.

Water for Injection is usually stored in a continuously circulating system and maintained at an elevated temperature to prevent microbial growth.

Stainless steel is the preferred material of construction for the tanks, valves, pumps and process piping that make up the high purity water system and the interior surfaces are highly polished and then electropolished.

The system is necessarily designed to eliminate or minimise dead zones, thereby avoiding the growth of bacteria.

The components of a high purity water system are largely determined by the quality of the water supplied to the plant.

Pre-treatment is essential and this involves filtration, the removal of chlorine compounds present in the water and percolation through ion exchange media.

In addition, to obtain the required quality of WFI, distillation or reverse osmosis filtration must be used for the final step.

Thirty years of working with the processing industries has allowed A and B Process Systems (Stratford, Wisconsin) to gain valuable experience in the design, fabrication and installation of high purity water systems and the several unit operations involved, ie, filtration, ion exchange processes, reverse osmosis and distillation.

Furthermore, the benchmarks of this service are consistent, high quality workmanship that provides a reliable product, as well as the ability to meet design and fabrication challenges.

A and B Process Systems is renowned for providing quality of workmanship that is evident in all phases of the project --- the design, the fabrication, the incorporation of automation and computerised controls, the attention to the surface finish of the piping, equipment and all weld areas and finally the installation.

It is critically important to the pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical industries that a high purity water system is reliable and able to consistently produce water that is in compliance.

This means that both the Water for Injection and Purified Water meet the specifications given in the United States Pharmacopeia (the official document listing all drugs and medical products, together with standards established for the manufacture, dispensation and use of those products).

The ability of the product from the high purity water system to remain consistently in compliance depends largely upon the design, the operating conditions and the materials of construction used.

What are the usual operating conditions to produce WFI? Water for injection is typically stored in a continuously circulating system maintained at an elevated temperature (a temperature of 80-85C is recommended).

The circulation of the purified water, under conditions that provide turbulent flow, maintains the elevated temperature uniformly throughout the system.

These operating conditions prevent microbial growth and ensure that the water meets the specifications given in the US Pharmacopeia.

Although lower temperatures may be acceptable, it becomes necessary to provide sufficient data to validate this mode of operation.

What factors are of importance to the design of a high purity water system? It is recognised that the high purity water system is a potential source of contamination, since each point-of-use valve and instrument take-off represents a possible microbial entry site.

It is therefore necessary that the piping and equipment be designed to allow the system to be drained easily and frequently sanitised.

It is also important to eliminate or minimise 'dead zones' in the system, again to avoid the growth of bacteria.

A and B Process Systems have extensive experience in the design of these systems, a result of three decades of service to the processing industries.

What material of construction is recommended? The preferred material of construction is polished and passivated stainless steel.

The interior surfaces of the piping, valves and pumps should be highly polished, to minimise the number of micropores in the metal surfaces, these being sites for both corrosion and microbial growth.

The techniques used to join piping and components can also be of concern and experience has taught the industry that it is important to minimise the number of weld beads in the system.

A and B Process Systems are nationally recognised for their ability to fabricate stainless steel process equipment and process systems.

What components are required for a high purity water system? The components of the system are largely determined by the quality of the water supply to the plant.

Pre-treatment of the feed water is essential, even when the water supply meets the standards for drinking water.

The pre-treatment typically requires multiple unit operations, including filtration through membranes of various pore sizes, the removal of chlorine and chloramines using activated carbon beds and percolation through ion exchange resins to remove soluble ionic species.

This pre-treatment sequence effectively reduces the conductivity of the water, as well as the levels of organic contaminants, suspended solids and colloidal particles present.

However, to produce the required quality of water for injection it is necessary to include either distillation or reverse osmosis filtration as a final step.

What is distillation? Distillation is simply the phase change from liquid to vapour, thus enabling the pre-treated feed water to be stripped of any residual ionic materials, particulates, colloids and non-volatile organic compounds.

Distillation also removes bacterial endotoxins.

This is crucial to the production of the water for injection.

The evaporation stage of the distillation process leaves the non-volatile compounds and large particulates in the feed water.

The presence of demisters and separation devices removes any of these materials that may be entrained in the vapour.

There are several types of distillation units in use in the processing industries, eg, single effect, multiple effect and vapour compression units.

A single effect unit consists of a series of columns within which the phase change occurs, the evaporation and subsequent condensation being considered as a single effect.

The feed water may be heated externally before entering the main evaporation column or the main column itself is heated.

Single effect distillation units are suitable for production of purified water at rates up to approximately 120 litres per hour.

For larger outputs it is necessary to use multiple effect units, in which the steam generated in the first effect is used to heat the feed water in the second effect and so on.

With both types of distillation unit the distillate is typically gravity fed to the storage tank, requiring that the outlet from the unit be higher than the inlet to the tank and, if possible, within close proximity.

In this way the need for transfer pumps or extensive piping in the system can be avoided.

In contrast, a vapour compression unit initially generates steam at a low pressure in an evaporation vessel.

This steam is then compressed, allowing it to be heated to higher temperatures, before being returned to heat incoming feed water and simultaneously be condensed to the high purity product.

The vapour compression unit relies upon the use of pumps and compressors, which results in more service and maintenance requirements than a multiple effect distillation unit, although its demand on plant utilities is lower.

What is involved in reverse osmosis filtration? Reverse osmosis is a process in which water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane and the pores in that membrane effectively reject dissolved ions, salts and organic compounds.

The process may be regarded as filtration on a molecular and ionic level.

The performance of the process is dependent upon several factors, eg, the quality of the feed water, the size of the unit, the type of membrane, the operating pressure and temperature.

The membranes are fabricated from cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, aromatic polyamide resins and mixtures of these materials.

The use of the non-cellulosic membranes can be advantageous, since these membranes can be operated at lower temperatures and over a wider range of pH than their cellulosic counterparts.

Furthermore, the non-cellulosic membranes are not susceptible to oxidative degradation by any bacteria in the water, eliminating the need for a disinfectant in the water undergoing the reverse osmosis process.

A reverse osmosis system typically contains several components, including the filtration units that are located before and after the modules containing the membranes, a booster pump to increase the net pressure across the membranes, storage tank(s) and a control panel.

(Note: In the case of a system to produce water for injection, the pre-treatment filtration unit will already be included).

Reverse osmosis units can be designed for industrial applications requiring production capacities ranging from 600 to 50,000 gallons per day of high purity water.

What other factors are important when installing a high purity water system? It is essential that the new high purity water system satisfy the validation process.

It is also required that any changes or additions to an existing water system also satisfy the validation process.

What is this validation process? There are three formal stages to the validation process, these being installation qualification, operational qualification and performance qualification.

Installation qualification establishes that the system conforms to the design drawings, specifications and manufacturer's recommendations.

The second stage demonstrates that the operation of the system and the equipment is as was specified.

The validation process is completed after it has been shown that the performance of the system meets all the process requirements under simulated production conditions.

Design changes to an existing high purity water system must again satisfy this validation process.

Thus it is a challenge to design, fabricate and install a system to produce water for injection for these industries.

For an organization faced with this challenge, it is beneficial to work with a company with demonstrated capability and extensive experience in the processing industries.

Is A and B Process Systems such a company? A and B Process Systems is nationally recognized for the design, fabrication and installation of stainless steel tanks, vessels, auxiliary equipment and piping, including the high purity and hygienic piping required by the pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical industries.

The company's reputation has been built upon the capability to produce high quality products to meet performance requirements in a timely manner.

The A and B success is attributed to their in-house resources, ie, the design and fabrication engineers, the welder-fabricators and welder-fitters, the automation and controls group and the QA/QC professionals.

The company has four plants in Stratford, Wisconsin, with approximately 80,000 square feet of manufacturing capability.

Plasma cutting, automated seam welding, GMAW, GTAW and orbital welding capabilities are available when needed.

An extensive range of process equipment may be fabricated in these facilities to meet customer requirements.

The company also offers an experienced management team, capable of co-ordinating all aspects of a particular project, eg, site preparation, selection and scheduling of general contractors, cost estimation, delivery and installation of the new equipment.

Beer contains water

2010-04-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

Most people have no idea how much water they should be drinking, and most Americans live from day to day in a dehydrated state. They don't drink enough water.

Without water, we would be poisoned to death by our own waste products and toxins resulting from metabolism. Can you see why dehydration is bad for our health?!

Water is vital to digestion and metabolism, acting as a medium for various enzymatic and chemical reactions in the body. It carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells through the blood, regulates body temperature and lubricates our joints (which is particularly important if you're arthritic, have chronic muscular-skeletal problems or are athletically active).

We need water to breathe; we lose approximately one pint of liquid every day just by exhaling.

If you are not in "fluid balance" you can impair every aspect of your body's physiological functioning.

Dr. Howard Flaks, Beverly Hills:
"As a result of not drinking enough water, many people encounter such problems as excess body fat, poor muscle tone and size, decreased digestive efficiency and organ function, increased toxicity in the body, joint and muscle soreness (particularly after exercise) and water retention."

Proper water intake is the key to weight loss," says Dr. Donald Robertson, Scottsdale, Arizona. "If people who are trying to lose weight don't drink enough water, the body can't metabolize the fat, they retain fluid, which keeps their weight up, and the whole procedure we're trying to set up falls apart."

"I'd say the minimum amount of water a healthy person should drink is 10 eight-ounce glasses a day," he continues, "and you need to drink more if you are overweight, exercise a lot, or live in a hot climate. Overweight people should drink an extra eight ounces of water for each 25 pounds that exceeds their ideal weight."

Your water intake should be spread judiciously throughout the day, including the evening. Dr. Flaks cautions against drinking more than four glasses in any given hour. Always check with your physician before embarking on a water intake increase program.

You may ask, "If I drink this much water, won't I constantly be running to the bathroom?" Initially, yes, because of the hypersensitivity of the bladder to increased fluids. But after a few weeks, your bladder calms down, and you urinate less frequently, but in larger amounts.

There is a difference between pure water and other beverages that contain water.

Water is water. Obviously you can get it by consuming fruit juice, soft drinks, beer, coffee or tea. Unfortunately, while such drinks contain water, they also may contain substances that are not healthy and actually contradict some of the positive effects of the added water.

Dr. Jerzy Meduski, Los Angeles, California: "Beer contains water, but it also contains alcohol, which is a toxic substance. Beverages that contain caffeine, such as coffee, stimulate the adrenal glands; fruit juices contain a lot of sugar and stimulate the pancreas. Such drinks may tax the body more than cleanse it."

Another problem with these beverages is that you lose your taste for water.

The way to interpret all of this, therefore, is that the recommended daily water intake means just that--WATER!

Remember, if you wait until you are thirsty, you are already slightly dehydrated!

NOTE: Its important to drink pure, clean water. The only way to do this in today's world is to add some kind of filtration system to your water before you use it. I personally use filters on both my drinking water and my shower. The water tastes better, doesn't smell, and the shower filter has made my skin much less dry. My hair color lasts much longer! Plus, I have the added benefit of knowing I am doing something good for my health!

Drinking Enough

2010-04-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

You are not just what you eat; you are what you drink.

This is why water is so important to your health.

Our health is truly dependent on the quality and quantity of the water we drink.

If you are committed to a healthy lifestyle, make drinking enough natural water a habit in your life. It won't take long for you to feel the benefit.

It is a free investment for your long-term health.

Bottled drinking water

2010-04-07T22:47:00.000-07:00

"Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink" from the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner is perhaps a fitting description of the attitude of many consumers living in urban areas today who are increasingly looking toward bottled water as a means of meeting some or all of their daily requirements. As fresh water supplies are further stretched to meet the demands of industry, agriculture and an ever-expanding population, the shortage of safe and accessible drinking-water will become a major challenge in many parts of the world. In the wake of several major outbreaks involving food and water, there is a growing concern for the safety and quality of drinking-water. While bottled water is widely available in both industrialised and developing countries, it may represent a significant cost to the consumer. Consumers may have various reasons for purchasing bottled drinking-water, such as taste, convenience or fashion, but for many consumers, safety and potential health benefits are important considerations. Since such considerations are often not founded on facts, these will be specifically addressed here.

The safety of bottled drinking water

While the term bottled water is widely used, the term packaged water is perhaps more accurate. Water sold in countries for consumption can come in cans, laminated boxes and even plastic bags. However, bottled water is most commonly sold in glass or disposable plastic bottles. Bottled water also comes in various sizes from single servings to large carbouys holding up to 80 litres. Depending on the climate, physical activity and culture, the drinking-water needs for individuals vary, but for high consumers it is estimated to be about two litres per day for a 60 kg person and one litre per day for a 10 kg child.

Drinking-water may be contaminated by a range of chemical, microbial and physical hazards that could pose risks to health if they are present at high levels. Examples of chemical hazards include lead, arsenic and benzene. Microbial hazards, include bacteria, viruses and parasites, such as Vibrio cholerae, hepatitis A virus, and Crytosporidium parvum, respectively. Physical hazards include glass chips and metal fragments. Because of the large number of possible hazards in drinking-water, the development of standards for drinking-water requires significant resources and expertise, which many countries are unable to afford. Fortunately, guidance is available at the international level.

The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality which many countries use as the basis to establish their own national standards. The Guidelines represent a scientific assessment of the risks to health from biological and chemical constituents of drinking-water and of the effectiveness of associated control measures. WHO recommends that social, economic and environmental factors be taken into account through a risk-benefit approach when adapting the Guideline values to national standards. As the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality are meant to be the scientific point of departure for standards development, including bottled water, actual standards will sometimes vary from the Guidelines. It should also be noted that water used for making edible ice should be subject to the same drinking-water standard and include specific sanitary requirements for equipment for making and storing ice. For water in carbouys, similar sanitary requirements for dispensing devices need to be observed.

In applying the WHO Guidelines to bottled waters, certain factors may be more readily controlled than in piped distribution systems and stricter standards may, therefore, be preferred in order to reduce overall population exposure. This has, for example, been argued for the case of lead. Similarly, when flexibility exists regarding the source of the water, stricter standards for certain naturally-occurring substances of health concern, such as arsenic and fluoride, may be more readily achieved than in piped distribution systems.

Contrary to this, some substances may prove more difficult to manage in bottled than tap water. This is generally because bottled water is stored for longer periods and at higher temperatures than water distributed in piped distribution systems. Control of materials used in containers and closures for bottled waters is, therefore, of special concern. In addition, some micro-organisms, which are normally of little or no public health significance, may grow to higher levels in bottled waters. This growth appears to occur less frequently in gasified water and in water bottled in glass containers compared to still water and water bottled in plastic containers. However, the public health significance of this remains little understood, especially for vulnerable individuals, such as infants and children, pregnant women, immuno-compromised individuals and the elderly. In regard to infants, as bottled water is not sterile, it should be disinfected - for example, by boiling for one minute - prior to its use in the preparation of infant formula.

There have also been reports of fraud in which ordinary tap water has been added to used mineral water bottles and sold as the original article. Consumers may not be able to detect this by taste alone and, if concern is warranted, should examine the closures of bottled waters carefully before purchase and insist on seeing bottles opened in their presence in restaurants and other food and beverage service establishments.

The potential health benefits of bottled drinking water

In European and certain other countries, many consumers believe that natural mineral waters have medicinal properties or offer other health benefits. Such waters are typically of high mineral content and, in some cases, significantly above the concentrations normally accepted in drinking-water. Such waters have a long tradition of use and are often accepted on the basis that they are considered foods rather than drinking-water per se. Although certain mineral waters may be useful in providing essential micro-nutrients, such as calcium, WHO is unaware of any convincing evidence to support the beneficial effects of consuming such mineral waters. As a consequence, WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality do not make recommendations regarding minimum concentrations of essential compounds.

On the other hand, in some countries, bottled waters with very low mineral content, such as distilled or demineralised waters, may be offered for sale. While a large number of people have traditionally consumed rainwater which is similarly low in minerals without apparent adverse health effects, WHO has no scientific information on the benefits or hazards of regularly consuming these types of bottled waters.

International standards for bottled drinking water

The intergovernmental body for the development of internationally recognized standards for food is the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). WHO, one of the co-sponsors of the CAC, has advocated the use of the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality as the basis for derivation of standards for all bottled waters.

The CAC has developed a Codex Standard for Natural Mineral Waters and an associated code of practice. The Codex Standard describes the product and its labelling, compositional and quality factors, including limits for certain chemicals, hygiene, packaging and labelling. The Codex Code of Practice for Collecting, Processing and Marketing of Natural Mineral Waters provides guidance to the industry on a range of good manufacturing practices matters. While CAC standards and recommendations are not strictly mandatory, Codex health and safety requirements are recognized by the World Trade Organization as representing the international consensus for consumer protection and any deviation from Codex recommendations may require a scientifically-based justification.

This Commission is currently developing a draft of a Codex Standard for Bottled/Packaged Waters to cover drinking-water other than natural mineral waters. Under the existing Codex Standard and Code of Practice, natural mineral waters must conform to strict requirements concerning, for example, their direct collection and bottling without further treatment from a natural source, such as a spring or well. In comparison, the draft Codex Standard for Bottled/Packaged Waters has been proposed to include waters from other sources, in addition to springs and wells, and treatment to improve their safety and quality. The distinctions between these standards are especially relevant in regions where natural mineral waters have a long cultural history. Within the CAC, the Codex Committee for Natural Mineral Waters, which is hosted by Switzerland, is responsible for the development of draft Codex Standards and Codes of Practice in consultation with other relevant Codex Committees, notably the Codex Committees on Food Additives and Contaminants and Food Hygiene. Parties interested in participating in this work of Codex should contact the National Codex Contact Point in their country.

It should be noted that neither the CAC nor WHO offer certification of any bottled or mineral water products. In this regard, WHO does not permit its name or emblem to be used in connection with any commercial purposes. While many countries have national standards for bottled waters and some have national certification schemes, no universally accepted international certification scheme now exists. Persons seeking information on bottled water certification should approach the national authorities in the country concerned.

Water for the Skin

2010-04-05T22:03:00.000-07:00

Drinking an adequate amount of water daily is important for overall good health because water is involved in and helps improve many bodily functions. These functions include digestion, absorption, circulation, and excretion. There are other more specific benefits for drinking water as well.

Water assists in the flushing or removal of harmful toxins from the body. If the body does not have sufficient water, then metabolic wastes will not be removed as efficiently as they should. In essence, the body would be holding in toxins instead of expelling them as is required for proper health. Much of this toxin removal is performed in the kidneys. Therefore, the benefit of drinking water in this case is to allow the kidneys to perform their task properly.

Another benefit of drinking water is to carry nutrients into the cells of the body. In addition to helping nutrients get into the cells where they are needed, the benefit of drinking water in adequate amounts also helps to keep the cells well hydrated so they can function properly and efficiently.

Drinking water is also beneficial for muscles. It helps maintain proper muscle tone and prevents painful muscle cramping.

The prevention of kidney stones or at least the reduction of risk of developing kidney stones is another benefit of drinking water in the right quantities.

Drinking water helps to increase the energy level in people and helps to lubricate the joints in the body.

There is a belief that one benefit of drinking water in large amounts is that it curbs the appetite and therefore can be an effective tool for weight loss. Unfortunately, there is no solid evidence that water plays this role. Certainly, drinking water in large amounts will fill the stomach, but this is only temporary. Once the water exists the stomach, the hunger sensation returns, perhaps with even more strength.

Benefit of Drinking Water for the Skin

The benefit of drinking water in large amounts for proper skin health is a controversial area. Many believe and have stated that water is very beneficial for proper skin care. The main stated benefit is that drinking a large quantity of water keeps the skin hydrated and prevents dry skin. Claims are also made that drinking water gives the skin a radiant, healthy, younger looking complexion with no wrinkles, and allows skin to maintain its elasticity and suppleness.

However, many experts are now refuting the above-mentioned benefits. Unless the individual is severely dehydrated, drinking large quantities of water will not prevent dry skin. Basically the moisture level of skin is not determined by internal factors. Instead, it is external factors such as skin cleansing, the environment, the number of oil glands, and the functioning of these oil-producing glands that determines how dry the skin is or will become. The water that is consumed internally will not reach the epidermis. In fact, the water moves through the body system rather quickly. If the skin is dry, the best solution is to treat the skin from the outside with a suitable and dry skin moisturizer or dry skin lotion. This forms an effective barrier to water loss from the skin.

It appears there is no significant benefit of drinking water to cure or prevent dry skin. How about spraying or misting water on the skin to help reduce dryness? This once again is a treatment where there are significant differences in opinion. Some argue that misting water on the skin will help hydrate it and help prevent dryness and skin aging. Others argue that water misting has no significant hydrating effect. This latter opinion appears to be the truth. It is best to prevent moisture from escaping the skin in the first place with proper moisturizers rather than wetting the skin constantly. However, it is important that the environment is not dry. Moisture in the air will limit the amount of water escaping from your skin compared to a dry environment where water will be more readily drawn out of the skin.

Is there any real benefit of drinking water for skin health? Actually, although combating dry skin is not a benefit of drinking water, there are some other potential benefits.

As mentioned, drinking water in adequate amounts is necessary to flush out toxins out of the body via the excretory system. With inadequate amounts of water flowing through the body, these toxins can build up in the body and escape through skin pores. This contributes to acne. Therefore, by flushing the body internally with water, acne breakouts are less likely to occur due to toxin release through the skin.

Another benefit of drinking water in large amounts for the skin is in the treatment of skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis. In addition, proper hydration will help to eliminate sunken eyes and circles under the eyes. Skin plumpness is also sometimes stated as a benefit of drinking water.

Drinking Water Recommendations

The benefit of drinking water for the skin and body is determined by the amount of water consumed. Most of the recommendations in the literature suggest that eight glasses of water should be consumed per day to obtain the maximum benefit of drinking water. Some claim that the best benefit of drinking water occurs when fresh distilled water is consumed as opposed to tap water. Tap water can be inconsistent in composition and can contain unwanted minerals and additives. Spring water is also questioned by many because of the possible presence of contaminates and pollutants. However, there is no agreement on this and opinions vary widely in terms of the proper water type choice. As long as the water is clean, then it is acceptable.

The suggestion of drinking eight-8 ounce or 250 ml glasses of water per day (the so-called 8-by-8 rule) is an interesting one because it does not seem to have any basis in science. It is a rule often quoted, but difficult to trace back to a medical or scientific study. In addition to the 8-by-8 rule, recommendations often include to avoid dehydrating foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, cola, other caffeine containing drinks, and alcohol.

However, many believe that 8 glasses of water is overkill and the same benefits of drinking water can be obtained with smaller quantities. Some specialists suggest that for an average-sized adult in good health, with healthy kidneys, and living in a temperate climate, only four glasses of water is required to obtain the benefits of drinking water and to replace daily water losses.

The water does not have to be in the form of distilled water, bottled water, or tap water. Water to hydrate the body can be obtained from eating water-rich fruits such as melons, vegetables, and foods. It is believed that water in foods stays in the body longer and has a better chance of being absorbed, whereas liquid water exits the stomach quickly and gets expelled quickly before proper absorption is able to occur. Beverages such as milk and juice also contribute to the daily water intake total. Even beverages that are said to dehydrate are useful according to research. Caffeinated beverages, do dehydrate the body to some extent, but this is more than compensated for by the amount of water in the beverage. A cup of coffee actually adds about two-thirds of a cup of hydrating fluid. Therefore, drinking a cup of coffee will add to your water intake total.

Alcoholic beverages when consumed result in a net loss of water in the body. One drink may not make too much of a difference, but several will cause noticeable dehydration. If consuming alcohol, it is best to drink water as well to keep hydrated.

Because of all the uncertainty about the benefit of drinking water and how much water should be consumed daily, there is no clear course of action. The best strategy is to be reasonable. Be aware of what your body is telling you. If you lack energy, are constantly thirsty, and have dark urine then this could be a sign that you are not getting enough water. Thirst is the body’s way of signalling a need to increase water intake. So pay attention to this warning sign. If you are running to the bathroom every hour then perhaps you are drinking too much. An average healthy person should be passing urine 3 to 4 times per day. If this is the case, then the body is likely to be well hydrated.

When exercising and sweating there is a need to replace the lost water regularly in order to prevent dehydration and heat sickness. The same is true when residing in hot climates. In these situations, the benefit of drinking water is obvious. Certain illnesses also require extra hydration. The benefit of drinking water in larger amounts than normal also extends to pregnant and breastfeeding women, which are conditions where the body requires more fluid intake.

For older individuals, drinking more water is a good idea, since dehydration is more likely to occur due to physiological changes in the body and general lack of awareness when it comes to hydrating the body.

Drinking water for the proper health of individuals is not universal. For some it may actually be dangerous. For people who have trouble eliminating fluids (diabetics taking anti-diuretic hormone), the excess water intake cannot be eliminated and water intoxication may develop. Signs of water intoxication include mild headaches, confusion, coma, seizures, and maybe death. Individuals taking this medication should consult with their physician prior to increasing their water intake significantly.

Drinking excessive amounts of water may also lead to hyponatremia (too little sodium in the blood). Elderly individuals, athletes such as marathon runners, and people with congestive heart failure and cirrhosis of the liver are most at risk for suffering this rare condition.

In summary, for the average healthy person, there is a benefit of drinking water in elevated amounts. Most of the benefits are for the proper functioning of organs such as kidneys and for cellular health. It is also useful for expelling toxins from the body, which leads to overall good health. However, one benefit of drinking water that has been exaggerated is the effect on dry skin.

Water we drink

2010-04-04T22:45:00.000-07:00

Drinking Water for Good Health

The human body is a water machine‚ designed primarily to run on water and minerals. Every life giving and healing process that happens inside our body… happens with water. In just the last decade medical science has begun to focus more on the tremendous healing ability our body has and how much that ability depends on water. Our body instinctively knows how and strives to sustain youthful longevity‚ and in its every effort… water is the key.

The human body is made up of over 70% water. Our blood is more than 80%‚ our brain … over 75%‚ and the human liver is an amazing 96% water!

The function of every cell in our body is controlled by electrical signals sent through our nervous system from the brain. Our nerves‚ in reality‚ are an elaborate system of tiny waterways. If the fluid inside our nerves thickens due to dehydration‚ or is contaminated with synthetic chemicals or toxic heavy metals like lead‚ the vital signals can get distorted. Many experts now believe that the distortion of these signals may be the root cause of many degenerative diseases and neurological illnesses like Attention Deficit Disorder‚ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome‚ anxiety‚ depression and even Alzheimer’s disease

Considering the major role that water plays in the function of our brain and nervous system‚ its purity is possibly the most basic and essential key to healthy longevity. Proper digestion and nutrient absorption depend on a healthy intake of water. In order for our body to get the nutritional value from our foods and supplements‚ we must consume plenty of good water. Since sugars and carbohydrates are absorbed more rapidly‚ even a slight degree of dehydration can cause us to get the caloric intake without the nutrition from the foods we eat.

Our energy level is greatly affected by the amount of water we drink. It has been medically proven that just a 5% drop in body fluids will cause a 25% to 30% loss of energy in the average person… a 15% drop in body fluids causes death! Water is what our liver uses to metabolize fat into useable energy. It is estimated that over 80% of our population suffers energy loss due to minor dehydration. An increased intake of healthy water will help metabolize and shed stored fat… resulting in more energy and less fat.

Detoxification is probably the single most important component to long-term health… and one that relies almost exclusively on an adequate intake of good water. Water is our body’s only means of flushing out toxins‚ the key to disease prevention. In our industrialized‚ chemical society‚ we are exposed to literally hundreds of harmful substances daily. Our air‚ our foods and everything we touch… contain traces of harmful chemicals. Unfortunately we can’t keep toxins from getting into our body‚ but we can help our body to get rid of them by drinking plenty of healthy water. The more water we drink… the more we allow our body to purify itself. Almost all-degenerative disease is the result of toxins building up in our body.

The quality of the water we drink is equally as important as the amount. If water already contains chlorine and other chemicals‚ it has less of an ability to carry toxins out of our body. If we consume water that contains traces of synthetic chemicals‚ then we force our liver and kidneys to be the filter… ultimately damaging or destroying two of our most vital organs. With an abundant intake of clean‚ healthy water we allow our body to perform all the healing processes that it is naturally capable of.

Purified Drinking Water From The Seeds of Moringa oleifera Tree

2010-03-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

The United Nations states that dirty water causes about 80 percent of diseases in the developing world and kills about 10 million people each year. While those living in the developed world have access to electronic water purifiers, people residing in the developing and the underdeveloped nations don’t have many alternatives.

Researchers have now tried to find ways to help these people drink purified water using nothing more than seeds from the Moringa oleifera tree. The tree, which is often described as the “world’s most useful tree,” produces seeds which can produce a 90 to 99.99 percent bacterial reduction in previously untreated water.

The purification process involves grinding the seeds into a paste and mixing that with untreated water. The paste particles then bind with impurities and settle to the bottom. Clean water can then be siphoned from the top.

Water Is Good for You

2010-02-11T00:17:00.000-08:00

I resolved not to make any New Year’s resolutions, but instead am doing small changes over the year to take care of myself and make things easier for myself. My first “promise to self” was to drink more water. I have been able to do this by making three changes:(1) drink one glass of water before each meal, and then one more with each meal; (2) drink a glass of water in every meeting or conference call at work; (3) drink a glass each evening when I take my vitamins. These small changes quickly add up to 6-8 glasses of water per day.

Now that I have been doing this for a couple of weeks, I can say there are definite benefits to drinking all of this water. Based on my own personal experience, here is my list of the Ten Reasons Why Drinking Water Is Good for You:

It helps you lose weight. Maybe it’s because I drink a glass of water before each meal, plus while I am eating, but I’ve noticed that I definitely get full faster and am taking in less food without feeling deprived. This has been an easy way to kick up my weight loss efforts.
It’s easier to be hydrated for exercise. Since I am always drinking water, I start my runs already hydrated and don’t have to take in as much water to stay on top of my hydration. When I am well hydrated, I run better–my times are better, I don’t feel sluggish and it takes longer for me to feel tired. I did not expect simply drinking water would be so beneficial to my running.
Your skin texture improves. I’ve read that your skin gets plumped up and dewy because you are hydrated. I don’t know about that, but I am definitely breaking out less and generally having fewer skin problems since I started drinking more water.
Drinking water helps maintain digestive health. I have definitely noticed that water helps with digestion, and (this is probably an overshare) helps to keep you “regular”….with your “evacuation” processes by making things easier and more frequent. If you don’t know what I mean, then email me and I can send a more graphic description if you’d like.
Drinking water helps flush out toxins. Although most people refer to the benefits of drinking water to flush out toxins that come from our food and the environment, the best proof I have is how water helps to prevent hangovers and minimizes the effects of alcohol. This is probably more of a hydration effect than a toxin-flush effect. I noticed before that whenever I had a glass of wine the night before a run, I used to feel pretty sluggish and drained during my run. Now that I am taking in extra water, I can have a glass of wine and still feel fine for my run the next day. Being able to drink more alcohol is definitely not one of the benefits I expected from drinking water….but I’ll take it!
Speaking of exercise, I definitely get more exercise as a result of drinking water. This is because of all of the bathroom breaks I need to take during the day. I have to go about 5-6 times while I am at work, and the bathroom is at the end of the hall. If I wore a pedometer, I bet this would add a couple of thousand steps to my daily tally.
Taking in more fluid helps reduce fluid retention. Like many women, I retain fluid and get some swelling around the time I menstruate. However, I’ve noticed that I am now less swollen since I began drinking water.
You have more energy. I don’t know why, I just know that I feel more alert and have fewer days when I hit the afternoon slump since I started drinking more water.
You save money. Bottled water is definitely cheaper than most other drinks, and tap water is free! Most people in the US have access to good, clean, safe tap water. In my opinion the water in New York City is some of the best in the country. If you want to learn about the quality of your local tap water, the Environmental Protection Agency monitors and publicly reports the quality of tap water throughout the US.
You know the location of every bathroom. Have I mentioned how much you go to the bathroom drinking all of this water? Let me just say that a benefit to the popularity of Starbuck’s is you are never very far from a bathroom. If you are stuck, with no Starbuck’s in sight, a good back up is a nice hotel. Most of them have bathrooms somewhere in the lobby.

So this is the list of benefits of drinking water that I have observed in the past few weeks. I think there are worth making the effort to drink more water (aside from the excess bathroom breaks) and would encourage you to drink up!

The Water Cycle

2010-01-17T21:44:00.000-08:00

The Water Cycle (also known as the hydrologic cycle) is the journey water takes as it circulates from the land to the sky and back again.

The Sun's heat provides energy to evaporate water from the Earth's surface (oceans, lakes, etc.). Plants also lose water to the air (this is called transpiration). The water vapor eventually condenses, forming tiny droplets in clouds. When the clouds meet cool air over land, precipitation (rain, sleet, or snow) is triggered, and water returns to the land (or sea). Some of the precipitation soaks into the ground. Some of the underground water is trapped between rock or clay layers; this is called groundwater. But most of the water flows downhill as runoff (above ground or underground), eventually returning to the seas as slightly salty water.

WHY ARE THE OCEANS SALTY?

As water flows through rivers, it picks up small amounts of mineral salts from the rocks and soil of the river beds. This very-slightly salty water flows into the oceans and seas. The water in the oceans only leaves by evaporating (and the freezing of polar ice), but the salt remains dissolved in the ocean - it does not evaporate. So the remaining water gets saltier and saltier as time passes.

The Facts Might Surprise You

2010-01-05T01:28:00.000-08:00

Bottled Water vs. Tap Water: The Facts Might Surprise You

As well know the world revolves around money. First, one should compare the cost of tap water (pennies a day) to the cost of bottled water, which varies from approximately 80 cents to four dollars a day. So, now the question becomes, is the extra cost of bottled water worth it? First, we'll examine the history and logistics of the water industry and lastly, we'll try an experiment that could save you money and provide adequate health benefits.

One needs to consider the fact that the bottled water and tap water industry are regulated by two different agencies. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the bottled water industry and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) governs America's tap water.

The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 first gave regulatory oversight to the EPA of public drinking water. And often times when the EPA sets new standards the FDA adopts the same policies. There are a lot of similarities between the two, but minor differences should not go unnoticed.

The major difference that bottled water advocates want consumers to embrace, and as recent sales show they have, is that bottles offer more water and less lead. With tap water it is not uncommon for lead to leach from the pipes into the water as it passes from the main source to our faucets. The EPA is aware of this and sets a standard of 15 parts per billion (ppb) or lower of lead in the water. The FDA appears to take this threat more seiously by requiring manufacturers to operate at a level of or lower than 5 ppb. Moves like this and other acts like the Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) seem to place bottled water a step ahead of its counterpart, tap water.

Drinking Water to Maintain Good Health

2009-12-11T02:01:00.000-08:00

Why You Need to Drink Water

Signs of Dehydration

ou lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating. If you are very active, you lose more water than if you are sedentary. Diuretics such as caffeine pills and alcohol result in the need to drink more water because they trick your body into thinking you have more water than we need.

Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles,lower back pain, headaches and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B Vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration and in fact, you need water long before you feel thirsty.

How Much Water do You Need to Drink?

Caffeinated beverages will also add to your daily water need. Even though caffeine is a diuretic, if you regularly consume caffeine, your body will regulate itself to that diuretic effect.

Drink Enough Water

Water intoxication

2009-09-28T22:50:00.000-07:00

Water intoxication (also known as hyper-hydration or water poisoning) is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain functions that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside of safe limits by over-consumption of वाटर ।Normal, healthy (both physically and nutritionally) individuals have little reason to worry about accidentally consuming too much water. Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests, in which individuals attempt to consume high amounts of water, or long bouts of intensive exercise during which electrolytes are not properly replenished, yet excessive amounts of fluid are still consumed.

Gastroenteritis, particularly in infants and children

The severe diarrhea and vomiting associated with gastroenteritis can result in very large electrolyte losses. Gastroenteritis due to infectious agents (primarily rotavirus), is a major cause of infant and child death. Management of gastroenteritis requires replacing water and electrolytes in proportions that avoid both dehydration and water intoxication. Drinking water will replace lost water and avoid a dehydration, but if the person is unable to take any other drink or food then lost electrolytes will not be replaced, which can result in water intoxication. Replacement fluids for vomiting and diarrhea should be properly balanced to make them isotonic with the fluids lost in these conditions. Special formulations exist for oral rehydration therapy in these cases।

Low body mass (infants)

It can be very easy for children under 1 year old to absorb too much water, especially if the child is under nine months old। Because of their small body mass, it is easy to take in a large amount of water relative to body mass.

Endurance स्पोर्ट्स

Marathon runners are susceptible to water intoxication if they drink too much while running. This is caused when sodium levels drop below 135 mmol/L when athletes consume large amounts of fluid. This has been noted to be the result of the encouragement of excessive fluid replacement by various guidelines. This has largely been identified in marathon runners as a dilutional hyponatremia. Medical personnel at marathon events are trained to immediately suspect water intoxication when runners collapse or show signs of confusion.

Overexertion and heat stress

Any activity or situation that promotes heavy sweating can lead to water intoxication when water is consumed to replace lost fluids. Persons working in extreme heat and/or humidity for long periods must take care to drink and eat in ways that help to maintain electrolyte balance. People using drugs such as MDMA ("Ecstasy") may overexert themselves, perspire heavily, and then drink large amounts of water to rehydrate, leading to electrolyte imbalance and water intoxication। Even people who are resting quietly in extreme heat or humidity may run the risk of water intoxication if they drink large amounts of water over short periods for rehydration.

Psychiatric conditions

Psychogenic polydipsia is the psychiatric condition in which patients feel compelled to drink large quantities of water, thus putting them at risk of water intoxication. This condition can be especially dangerous if the patient also exhibits other psychiatric indications (as is often the case), as his or her care-takers might misinterpret the hyponatremic symptoms.

Medical conditions

Many disorders can affect electrolyte balance, especially disorders of the किद्नेय्स Diuretic therapy, mineralocorticoid deficiency, osmotic diuresis (as in the hyperglycemia of uncontrolled diabetes), and the multiple disorders associated with AIDS are other common causes of electrolyte imbalance, although they do not always produce water इन्तोक्सिकाशन।

Iatrogenic

When an unconscious person is being fed intravenously (for example, total parenteral nutrition or via a nasogastric tube) the fluids given must be carefully balanced in composition to match fluids and electrolytes lost. These fluids are typically hypertonic, and so water is often co-administered. If the electrolytes are not monitored (even in an ambulatory patient) either hypernatremia or hyponatremia may result.
Some neurological/psychiatric medications (Oxcarbazepine, among others) have been found to cause hyponatremia in some patients[citation needed]. Patients with diabetes insipidus are particularly vulnerable due to rapid fluid processing.

Treatment

Mild intoxication may remain asymptomatic and require only fluid restriction. In more severe cases, treatment consists of:
Diuretics to increase urination, which are most effective for excess blood volume
Vasopressin receptor अन्तागोनिस्ट्स

प्रेवेंशन

Water intoxication can be prevented if a person's intake of water does not grossly exceed his or her losses,[citation needed]. Healthy kidneys are able to excrete approximately 1 liter of fluid per hour. However, stress (from prolonged physical exertion), as well as disease states, can greatly reduce this amount.
Sports drinks are popular among athletes because they provide electrolytes to support extended exercise. However most sports drinks are hypotonic and do not contain enough electrolytes to balance excessive intake. Additionally, most contain excessive sugars, which predispose to diarrhea. And most omit starches, though starches are superior for achieving hydration.
Water intoxication should not be confused with dehydration, a loss of fluids (with decreased, normal, or increased electrolytes). However, drinking to satisfy one's thirst prevents both conditions .[citation needed

Indicators of safe drinking water

2009-09-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

Access to safe drinking water is indicated by the number of people using proper sanitary sources. These improved drinking water sources include household connection, public standpipe, borehole condition, protected dug well, protected spring, and rain water collection. Sources that don't encourage improved drinking water to the same extent as previously mentioned include: unprotected well, unprotected spring, rivers or ponds, vender-provided water, bottled water (consequential of limitations in quantity, not quality of water), and tanker truck water. Access to sanitary water comes hand in hand with access to improved sanitation facilities for excreta. These facilities include connection to public sewer, connection to septic system, pour-flush latrine, and ventilated improved pit लात्रिने Unimproved sanitation facilities are: public or shared latrine, open pit latrine, or bucket लात्रिने

Diarrhea as a major health effect among children

Diarrhoeal diseases cause ninety percent of all deaths of children under five years old in developing countries. Malnutrition, especially protein-energy malnutrition, can decrease the children's resistance to infections, including water-related diarrhoeal diseases. In 2000-2003, 769,000 children under five years old in sub-Saharan Africa died each year from diarrhoeal diseases. As a result of only thirty-six percent of the population in the sub-Saharan region having access to proper means of sanitation, more than 2000 children's lives are lost every day. In south Asia, 683,000 children under five years old died each year from diarrhoeal disease from 2000-2003. During the same time period, in developed countries, 700 children under five years old died from diarrhoeal disease. Improved water supply reduces diarrhea morbidity by twenty-five percent and improvements in drinking water through proper storage in the home and chlorination reduces diarrhea episodes by thirty-nine परसेंट

Plans to improve availability of drinking water

One of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the UN includes environmental sustainability. In 2004, only forty-two percent of people in rural areas had access to clean water. Sixty-three percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa lacked access to basic sanitation facilities (hardly down from the sixty-eight percent in 1990). The effects of climate change add more distress to sub-Saharan Africa. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that 75-250 million people will have to cope with additional limitations to water access. The results could be terrible for the livelihoods of the disadvantaged and rural economies. Currently the UN is not on schedule with their plans and estimates that their intended goal will not be reached by २०१५

Requirements

2009-09-28T22:37:00.000-07:00

Water is necessary for most life on Earth. Humans can survive for several weeks without food, but for only a few days without water. The exact amount of water a human needs is highly individual, as it depends on the condition of the subject, the amount of physical exercise, and on the environmental temperature and humidity. In the US, the reference daily intake (RDI) for water is 3.7 litres per day for human males older than 18, and 2.7 litres for human females older than 18 including water contained in food, beverages, and drinking water. It is a common misconception that everyone should drink two litres (68 ounces, or about eight 8-oz glasses) of water per day and is not supported by scientific research. Various reviews of all the scientific literature on the topic performed in 2002 and 2008 could not find any solid scientific evidence that recommended drinking eight glasses of water per day. For example, people in hotter climates will require greater water intake than those in cooler climates. An individual's thirst provides a better guide for how much water they require rather than a specific, fixed number. A more flexible guideline is that a normal person should urinate 4 times per day, and the urine should be a light yellow color.
A constant supply is needed to replenish the fluids lost through normal physiological activities, such as respiration, perspiration and urination. Food contributes 0.5 to 1 litre, and the metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates produces another 0.25 to 0.4 litres[, which means that 2 to 3 litres of water for men and 1 to 2 litres of water for women should be taken in as fluid in order to meet the RDI. In terms of mineral nutrients intake, it is unclear what the drinking water contribution is. However, inorganic minerals generally enter surface water and ground water via storm water runoff or through the Earth's crust. Treatment processes also lead to the presence of some mineral nutrients. Examples include fluoride, calcium, zinc, manganese, phosphate, and sodium compounds. Water generated from the biochemical metabolism of nutrients provides a significant proportion of the daily water requirements for some and desert animals, but provides only a small fraction of a human's necessary intake. There are a variety of trace elements present in virtually all potable water, some of which play a role in metabolism. For example sodium, potassium and chloride are common chemicals found in small quantities in most waters, and these elements play a role (not necessarily major) in body metabolism. Other elements such as fluoride, while beneficial in low concentrations, can cause dental problems and other issues when present at high levels. Water is essential for the growth and maintenance of our bodies, as it is involved in a number of biological processes.
Because in general, RDI values incorporate a safety margin to account for individual variations, it does not mean that this amount is necessary for every person.[citation needed] Profuse sweating can increase the need for electrolyte (salt) replacement. Water इन्तोक्सिकाशन (which results in hyponatremia), the process of consuming too much water too quickly, can be fatal.
The human kidneys will normally adjust to varying levels of water intake. If a person suddenly increases water intake, the kidneys will produce more diluted urine, even if the person did not happen to consume water excessively.[citation needed] The kidneys will require time to adjust to the new water intake level. This can cause someone who drinks a lot of water to become dehydrated more easily than someone who routinely drinks less. Survival classes recommend that someone who expects to be in an environment with little water (such as a desert), not to drink water excessively, but rather to drink gradually decreasing amounts for several days before their trip to accustom the kidneys to making concentrated urine. Not using this method can, and has been known to be fatal

Water quality and contaminants

2009-09-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

Throughout most of the world, the most common contamination of raw water sources is from human sewage and in particular human faecal pathogens and parasites. In 2006, waterborne diseases were estimated to cause 1.8 million deaths each year while about 1.1 billion people lacked proper drinking water.It is clear that people in the developing world need to have access to good quality water in sufficient quantity, water purification technology and availability and distribution systems for water. In many parts of the world the only sources of water are from small streams often directly contaminated by sewage.
Most water requires some type of treatment before use, even water from deep wells or springs. The extent of treatment depends on the source of the water. Appropriate technology options in water treatment include both community-scale and household-scale point-of-use (POU) देसिग्न्स

The most reliable way to kill microbial pathogenic agents is to heat water to a rolling बोइल but this requires abundant sources of fuel and is very onerous on the households, especially where it is difficult to store boiled water in sterile conditions. Other techniques, such filtration, chemical disinfection, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation (including solar UV) have been demonstrated in an array of randomized control trials to significantly reduce levels of water-borne disease among users in low-income countries, but these suffer from the same problems as boiling methods.
Over the past decade, an increasing number of field-based studies have been undertaken to determine the success of POU measures in reducing waterborne disease. The ability of POU options to reduce disease is a function of both their ability to remove microbial pathogens if properly applied and such social factors as ease of use and cultural appropriateness. Technologies may generate more (or less) health benefit than their lab-based microbial removal performance would suggest.
The current priority of the proponents of POU treatment is to reach large numbers of low-income households on a sustainable basis. Few POU measures have reached significant scale thus far, but efforts to promote and commercially distribute these products to the world's poor have only been under way for a few years.
Parameters for drinking water quality typically fall under two categories: chemical/physical and microbiological. Chemical/physical parameters include heavy metals, trace organic compounds, total suspended solids (TSS), and turbidity. Microbiological parameters include Coliform bacteria, E. coli, and specific pathogenic species of bacteria (such as cholera-causing Vibr cholerae), viruses, and protozoan parasites.
Chemical parameters tend to pose more of a chronic health risk through buildup of heavy metals although some components like nitrates/nitrites and arsenic may have a more immediate impact. Physical parameters affect the aesthetics and taste of the drinking water and may complicate the removal of microbial pathogens.
Originally, fecal contamination was determined with the presence of coliform bacteria, a convenient marker for a class of harmful fecal pathogens. The presence of fecal coliforms (like E. Coli) serves as an indication of contamination by sewage. Additional contaminants include protozoan oocysts such as Cryptosporidium sp., Giardia lamblia, Legionella, and viruses (enteric). Microbial pathogenic parameters are typically of greatest concern because of their immediate health risk.

Drinking Water to Maintain Good Health

2009-09-28T22:23:00.000-07:00

Why You Need to Drink वाटर

Signs of Dehydration

You lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating. If you are very active, you lose more water than if you are sedentary. Diuretics such as caffeine pills and alcohol result in the need to drink more water because they trick your body into thinking you have more water than we need.
Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles,lower back pain, headaches and constipation। A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B Vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration and in fact, you need water long before you feel thirsty.

How Much Water do You Need to Drink?

A good estimate is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half। That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. If you exercise you should drink another eight ounce glass of water for every 20 minutes you are active. If you drink alcohol, you should drink at least an equal amount of water. When you are traveling on an airplane, it is good to drink eight ounces of water for every hour you are on board the plane. If you live in an arid climate, you should add another two servings per day. As you can see, your daily need for water can add up to quite a lot.

Drink Enough Water

वाटर HELTH

2009-08-13T00:08:00.000-07:00