Purified water is water that’s filtered and processed to remove impurities like:
- Bacteria
- Parasites
- Fungi
- Pesticides
- Copper
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Nuclear waste
In America, most public drinking water is filtered and disinfected to make it safe for consumption. Here’s how:
How Are Public Water Supplies Purified?
Compared to most countries, the process for purifying public drinking water in the US is quite thorough.
Common treatment methods include:
- Sedimentation: Large particles are allowed to settle at the bottom of the water supply so they can be separated from the rest of the water.
- Flocculation: Positively charged chemicals are added to the water to attract and remove negatively charged pollutants.
- Filtration: Clean water from the top of the water supply travels through multiple layers of gravel, sand and charcoal to remove bacteria and chemicals.
- Disinfection: Chemicals like chlorine are added to the water to kill any remaining bacteria and viruses.
Unfortunately, these steps aren’t always enough to prevent dangerous levels of contaminants from sneaking into your drinking water.
Are There Any Downsides to Public Tap Water?
Although purified public water is generally safe enough to prevent outbreaks, it can come with several downsides…
Most treatment plants add fluoride to help prevent tooth decay, but some evidence suggests that long-term fluoride consumption can be toxic to the nervous system, especially in developing fetuses and young children.
Even worse, trace contaminants like lead and copper can wreak havoc on the gut and brain.
Benefits of In-Home Water Purification
When it comes down to it, the only way to guarantee that your water is truly safe is with an in-home water system.
In fact, in-home systems add extra layers of filtration that public treatment centers don’t. Depending on the type of system, it can remove up to 99.9% of harmful contaminants like lead and pesticides.
At the same time, in-home systems remove all of the undesirable chemicals added by treatment plants, like chlorine and fluoride, so that you can protect your family from their neurotoxic effects.
Health Risks of Demineralized or Low-Mineral Water
The best home water filters also soften the water by removing excess amounts of “hard” minerals.
This is great for the health of your pipes and appliances, but it’s not so great for your body.
Furthermore, the importance of minerals in drinking water has been recognized by Aurvedic medicine for thousands of years, and modern medicine agrees! Minerals like calcium and magnesium boost energy, prevent muscle cramps, and support brain function.
In fact, literally every organ in the body relies on minerals to function properly, and removing them from your drinking water can seriously hurt your health.
- Calcium and magnesium deficiency
- Poor absorption of nutrients
- Increased absorption of toxic metals
- Negative effects on cellular metabolism
- Damage to the intestinal mucous membrane
Finally, drinking water that’s low in calcium and magnesium can increase the risk of bone fractures, preterm birth and heart disease.
Distilled Water vs Reverse Osmosis - What’s the Difference?
When it comes to kicking some serious toxin booty, the frontrunners are reverse osmosis and distillation.
Boiling water and collecting the steam creates distilled water. What's left is nothing but contaminant-free water.
This process is especially effective at removing bacteria, viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms.
Distilled water is so pure that it’s often used in medical facilities for patients with compromised immune systems.
But there are several downsides to distillation, including:
- Will not protect your pipes from “hard” water
- Are less practical for producing large quantities of drinking water
- Most systems do not include a remineralization phase
Reverse osmosis systems, on the other hand, can supply your entire family with pristine drinking water and protect your pipes year round...
What’s the Best Way to Purify Your Tap Water At Home?
High-end reverse osmosis (RO) systems combine several different stages of filtration to remove 99.9% of harmful contaminants.
In early stages, they soften the water and remove hard minerals, then in the final remineralization stage they add healthy minerals back in.
Let’s take a closer look at how RO systems work:
- Step #1: Sediment filters remove large particles of dust, rust, dirt and debris to remove discoloration and decrease the burden on the rest of the system.
- Step #2: Activated carbon (charcoal) filter traps organic chemicals and disinfectants. This improves the smell and taste of your water and protects your family from the toxic effects of chlorine.
- Step #3: Ion exchange resins remove “hard” minerals and protect your pipes and appliances from stains and calcification.
- Step #4: RO membrane removes dangerous contaminants like lead, arsenic and nuclear waste by forcing pressurized water through a membrane with very small pores.
- Step #5: Polishing filter provides another layer of carbon filtration and traps any pollutants that may have snuck through.
- Step #6: Remineralization stage adds a healthy ratio of electrolyte minerals back into the water.
Remember, not all RO systems include this important final step. But don’t worry, there are plenty of high-end RO systems to choose from...
Should You Purify Your Family’s Water?
In the last decade, as many as 63 million Americans (that’s one-fifth of the country) were exposed to potentially unsafe drinking water.
Rural areas where most homes are on private wells are the worst off, but municipal water supplies are also at risk.
The 2014 Flint Water Crisis exposed over 6,000 children to high levels of lead, and similar events continue to occur across the country.
Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates over 90+ contaminants, it’s ultimately up to the state and local governments to enforce them, and they often fall short.
If you want to guarantee toxin-free drinking water, installing an RO system is usually the best option.
Cloud Water Filters remove 99.9% of dangerous contaminants and remineralize with essential electrolytes. They also sync to an app on your phone so that you can monitor your water quality 24/7.
Click here to learn more.