Clean Drinking Water
...What Are the Options?
If we were to look at the history of drinking water, we'd find that three thousand years ago, through the discoveries of archeology, people were already collecting rain water and digging deep wells to insure clean and safe drinking water. During the colonial period, when western nations colonized much of South America and Africa, they realized the dangers of the water for drinking. The common response proposed was to boil one's water in order to destroy the bacteria and parasites carried by the waterways of these colonized lands.
Then came progress in the west and beyond of developing running water that could be treated and safely delivered to homes. Tap water became safe to drink. But as the systems for treating and distributing water aged and new forms of pollutants such as insecticides and toxic chemicals from industry were introduced, concern grew over the safety of drinking tap water. To respond to these fears, companies sprang up to provide us with bottled water, which appeared to be safer. But was it really?In short, there are five major sources of drinking water. The four I have mentioned above are investigated in detail in this section of my site: rain water, boiled water, tap water, and bottled water. I will examine the pros and the cons of each. The fifth option, that of using filtered water, is explained in much greater detail elsewhere on this site. Is Rain Water a Good Option?Rain water represents the product of natures huge distillation system. Water evaporates from the many kinds of surface water, often polluted water. But in evaporating it leaves the sickness causing pollutants behind. Then it condenses and comes back to us as rain. So it would appear that rain water offers us a wonderful source of purified and safe water. But there are complicating factors in the modern world which sometimes makes rain water unsafe and sometimes makes rain water impractical. However, it some areas of the world, rain water is still the best source of drinking water. Go to "Drinking Rain Water" for a detailed discussion of this subject. Is rain water a good option for you as a source of drinking water? Is Boiled Water a Good Option?I grew up drinking boiled water since I grew up in the Congo where boiling the water was a must if you wanted to avoid intestinal parasites. So I fully appreciate the value of boiling water. But to be totally effective you must boil the water long enough. Furthermore, boiling can destroy microorganisms but it doesn't remove all the contaminants that can affect one's health. For a detailed discussion of the ongoing value of boiling water, even in the developed world, and its drawbacks, go to "Boiling Drinking Water". You'll discover when and how this method of purifying drinking water can serve you. Is Tap Water a Good Option?One of the greatest achievements of the modern world is developing systems of water purification and distribution for entire cities and countries. It was a source of amazement to me, having grown up on boiled water, to be able to drink water straight from the tap. But even this achievement has its down side. Plumbing systems have become old and begin to break down. Purification systems were designed for earlier kinds of pollutants, but industry and medicine keep turning out into the environment new kinds of pollutants and require new kinds of treatment. The tap water infrastructure has not kept up with change and leaves us with real concerns about the safety of the water we drink from out taps. To get a closer look at the details go to "Drinking Tap Water" to see if you are comfortable with what you can drink from your tap or if you want safer water. Is Bottled Water a Good Option?With the growing concern over tap water, a whole industry of bottled water has mushroomed. The growth of the bottled water industry has tripled in the last 10 years. In fact, bottled water has become the drink of choice for many people. But is bottled water really any safer than tap water? Of has this growth come due to an effective advertising campaign which has convinced consumers of something that is not really true? For a closer look at the debate look at "Bottled Drinking Water...Is It a Good Option?" Is There a Better Option?In order to get a complete picture of the different option for drinking water, you will want to continue to read about water filters. There are a number of different approaches to filtering and various degrees of effectiveness in removing pollutants. In fact, with the hundreds of filters on the market, it could get rather confusing. I try to help you solve this "puzzle" through clear and systematic explanations. Ultimately, it depends on what you are looking for in the water you drink. This information will help you find what will suite you best. Enjoy the adventure! For more information on this and related subjects go to clean drinking water.
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