Water2Drink Blog

Last week, we talked about how to protect yourself from waterborne microbial cysts. This week, the world of water filtration has a new Multipure product to address current concerns about transmittable disease by #bacteria and viruses as well.

At the Multipure 2014 PURE Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV, Multipure International introduced the Aqualuxe, a bold, innovative departure from their other product families. 

 

What makes this product exceptional? Here is what we believe are the #Aqualuxe’s standout features:

 

We have not seen another product quite like this currently on the market. The expected retail price is $1,080, and the replacement filter cartridge is $150.

 

This is a remarkable departure from past products for Multipure. They introduced this product concept several years ago to their distributors, and #Multipure has been working hard to bring it to market ever since. It’s exactly what is needed for communities that constantly receive “boil water” alerts, which is happening with increasing frequency, or for anyone who is concerned about the growing #contamination problem in our nation’s water supply.

 

Multipure has the product on display at their company headquarters, and a select few test marketers have an “ACE” beta version to provide valuable feedback to Multipure.  Multipure is still in the process of obtaining NSF certifications and refining their manufacturing and supply processes, and they estimate that the product will be ready to ship in early 2015.  In the meantime, Water2Drink.com will soon be updating our website with this new product information, and you will be able to register to be notified when the Aqualuxe becomes available.

 

It’s impossible to ignore the news about the first-ever emergence of the Ebola virus here in the United States. Citizens are quite concerned with the potential to be infected with this rare and deadly virus.

While #Ebola is certainly a grave illness, at this time it is unlikely that the majority of people in the U.S. will come into contact with the virus.  However, there are numerous other non-viral, waterborne parasites that can infect all citizens, even within a treated municipal water delivery system.

For example, the Cryptosporidium pathogen can cause the diarrheal illness cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidium is not passed along by insects, but is transmitted by hardy cysts that can be ingested and that result in gastrointestinal infection and illness.  Cryptosporidium can survive for long periods outside a host, and is resistant to common disinfectants including chlorine-based disinfectants.  High concentrations of chlorine disinfection is required to inactivate #Cryptosporidium.  Generally, the required levels of chlorine preclude the use of this #disinfection method as a reliable method to control it in drinking water.

Other microbial pathogens (microorganisms capable of causing disease) such as Giardia, Entamoeba, and Toxoplasma can be transmitted by fecal contamination of surface waters used as drinking water sources, or by other exposures such as touching contaminated soil or eating unwashed fruits and vegetables.

The good news is you can easily protect yourself.  All #Multipure Water Filtration Systems have been NSF tested and certified for 99.95 and over reduction percentage levels of these waterborne microbial cysts.  In addition, a Multipure system will also reduce the chlorine-based disinfectants that are used by municipal water treatment plants. You can check the reduction levels of all contaminants on our Water2Drink website.  The Product Page for each water filtration system contains a link to the Performance Data Sheet which contains that information.  Use your Multipure filtered water for drinking, washing foods, ice cubes, boiling foods, or for any ingestible use.

A recent article in The Washington Post brings to light a new example of neurotoxin exposure in the environment.

Tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, was used by New England’s water utilities to line the insides of water pipes in the late 1960’s.  PCE has been linked to increased risk for stillbirths and other pregnancy complications. PCE is widely used in the dry cleaning industry also, so it may be of concern for many other citizens as well.  The toxin has been linked to mental illness, breast cancer risks, and some birth defects.

 

Unfortunately, PCE was not only found in the New England area.  Contamination has been found on military bases across the country as well, along with water systems in Pennsylvania and California.

 

There is a simple solution to address this problem:  use a Multipure Drinking Water System at your sink or point-of-use water supply to filter your drinking water.  Multipure filters are NSF tested and certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 53 Health Effects to reduce the widest array of water contaminants of health concern of any filter on the market, including PCE. You can find a confirming Performance Data Sheet on our Water2Drink website that will give you the list of all contaminants that are addressed by using a Multipure water filter.

 

If you would like to learn more about PCE, the Environmental Protection Agency has information on their website as well.  Click here for more information about health effects and the EPA’s drinking water regulations.

 

Your search for the elusive Fountain of Youth could be as close as your kitchen sink.

Water is a critical life element for our body. Our organs cannot function properly when the body is not adequately hydrated, because water is taken from other places within the body to combat dehydration. This can lead to sunken skin, increased acne, and weakened muscles and joints.

A recent article on modernsalon.com includes a case study in which the Daily Mail U.K. writer Sarah Smith asks, “What would happen if I drank the recommended amount every day for a month?”  The article includes a before and after picture of Ms. Smith, who concluded she looked 10 years older in her before picture. Dark under-eye shadows, blotches, and lackluster skin all disappeared in just 30 days. 

Are you looking for a healthy, easy way to look younger? What would you be willing to do to take 10 years off your face? How about nourishing your body with fresh, clean drinking water? We can help to provide the water if you are willing to take the challenge. A Multipure water filtration system will give you the healthy water you need for your challenge.  The rest is up to you!  Just drink the recommended 8 to 10 glasses of water each day and see what happens. 

If you are educating yourself about your water supply, and want to know how the government is helping to protect you, we have new information on our website that may assist you in your research.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets limits on the levels of certain contaminants in drinking water.  In addition to the limits, the EPA sets testing schedules and methods of testing that water systems must follow.  These are implemented by most states and territories that oversee the water systems in their locations. 

 

Water2Drink has added a link to the EPA document, "National Primary Drinking Water Regulations," which serves as a useful summary of primary and secondary drinking water regulations. This list also includes a description of how each contaminant can negatively affect health and where the contaminant comes from. 

 

If you would like more information about the EPA’s current drinking water regulations and what the regulations address, you can visit the “Current Drinking Water Regulations” page on the EPA website for more information and links.

 

If you are looking for an appropriate Multipure Drinking Water System for your home, you probably have looked at the Aquaversa family of products. In researching the entire Multipure product line, you may have noticed that the Aquaversa MP750 model and the MP1200EL model appear to be identical, with only the addition of a Capacity Monitor on the MP1200EL.  What is the difference between these two filter models?  This is a common question that we hear many times from our customers, and here is an explanation of the key difference.

As you may know, all Multipure Drinking Water Systems have been tested and certified under NSF drinking water filter certification rules.  Under these rules, the manufacturer is permitted to claim only 50% of the "test capacity" of the filter. The test capacity of the Aquaversa MP750 is 1,500 gallons, so NSF’s "rated capacity" for that model is 50% of those gallons, or 750 gallons. The logic behind this is, since customers are not measuring actual water usage, NSF wants to establish a wide margin of error for when the filter cartridges are replaced.

If, however, the manufacturer includes a "performance indication device," such as the Capacity Monitor included with the Aquaversa MP1200EL, and the customer can measure the actual water usage to more accurately time filter cartridge replacement, the manufacturer can claim 80% of the test capacity. For the Aquaversa MP1200EL, that's a rated capacity of 1,200 gallons.

Generally speaking, Water2Drink.com recommends the MP1200EL model for families of four or more, and for office or higher volume environments. Otherwise, consumers should plan to replace the filter cartridge annually, which also will serve to maintain the manufacturer’s lifetime housing warranty.

Please contact us if you have any other questions regarding how to choose the best Multipure product for your home!

Have you ever received a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water utility? A CCR is a federally mandated annual report that every water utility is required to publish. Some utilities may not mail it to every household, but you have the right to access the information as a consumer.

If you are not sure how to read your report, NSF (the public safety and health organization) has an article that may help.  The “What’s In Your Drinking Water” article talks about what information is included in a CCR, and how to use the information.  Generally, the CCR contains an overview, an explanation of abbreviations, and contaminant tables that list which contaminants have been detected in the community water supply. 

The NSF encourages people to use a home water treatment device to address possible contaminants in your water supply. A variety of products exist to treat drinking water, so you will want to do some research to ensure you get a filtration system that meets your specific needs.  “Because residential water treatment products are not federally regulated, it’s important to verify that the system is tested and certified to meet your specific contaminant reduction needs before purchasing,” says the NSF article.

We hear all the time about how much water a person should drink. But have you ever wondered what would happen if you stopped drinking water?

The creators of AsapScience, Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown, have weekly videos that help to understand the science of your own life.  Their “Weekly Dose of Science” video called "What If You Stopped Drinking Water" explains how we would begin to feel as the effects of dehydration take over our bodies.

 

“Much like the desire to breath oxygen, thirst is a survival instinct,” according to the AsapScience video.  With H2O being the most abundant molecule in our bodies, it performs important functions such as carrying nutrients and hormones, regulating body temperature, cushioning our joints and providing lubrication.  These functions produce about 1.5 liters of urine a day, which is essential for the body to replace before it begins shutting down.

While the body can exist many days without food, within one to two days of no fluids the effects of dehydration can seriously impact the body.  Within three to five days, our organs and brain shut down.

The body needs water.  It is possible to replace fluids with any substance containing water, such as soda, tea, or even some foods; however, clean water is the essential element that the body can best assimilate, as our bodies are made up of about 65 percent water. 

While NASA is figuring out how to turn urine into clean drinking water, you may want to just filter your home tap water.  Multipure makes a water filter for almost every environment, and we here at Water2Drink.com are able to help you determine which one is right for you. 

Recently, an article came across our desk about the water quality in the small community of Wake Forest, NC. The 100+ homes in the neighborhood must contend with discolored water that often contains sediment as well.

 

According to neighbor Wendy Callahan, “Some days we’ll get relatively clear water, but you just don’t know until you turn on the tap.”  President Tom Roberts of the water provider, Aqua North Carolina, calls it an “aesthetic issue” that is not health-based.

 

"We try to treat the most sufficient way we can," Roberts said. "A lot of times that's by adding a sequestrant, which is an additive that keeps it in suspension so it's invisible to the customers."

 

Sequestrant? Invisible? We looked up “sequestrant” and it does not look very appetizing.  Chemical #sequestrants are often used in treatment projects to remove contaminants that adversely affect taste, odor, and color of drinking water.  They do not remove, reduce, or solve the problem; sequestrants appear to just mask the underlying contamination.

 

Obviously, this is a small water treatment facility serving just over 100 homes, much like many smaller communities and towns across the nation.  Typically, small community water utilities are inspected at some regular interval, but they simply do not have funding to provide the optimal water filtration solution for you, their customer. Adding a Multipure Drinking Water Filtration System would provide a buffer to help protect consumers from ingesting many of the “irregularities” that occur between inspections and maintenance cycles.

 

If you have done any research on water filtration systems, you most likely know that the highest quality systems not only rely on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, but also are tested to, and certified against, NSF International standards. While there are myriad contaminants that are reduced or eliminated by a certified filter, you may not know that currently there is no EPA standard for emerging contaminants in drinking water.

What are emerging contaminants? They are chemicals being discovered that previously have not been detected, or are being detected at significantly different levels than previously acceptable.  These include #pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pathogens, #hormones, #antimicrobials, veterinary drugs and feed additives.  These chemicals can accumulate in human tissue or blood, and are associated with health effects such as endocrine disruption.  The EPA has not been able to create drinking water standards for these emerging compounds, as only recently chemists have been able to measure trace amounts of the #contaminants present in public water supplies.

But now the issue has been identified and #NSF is working to develop a testing standard for emerging contaminants.  A recent issue of Scientific American describes the issue in depth.

The new testing standard is identified as NSF Standard 401: Drinking Water Treatment Units – Emerging Compounds/Incidental Contaminants. Since this is a new unpublished standard and testing protocols have not been finalized, no drinking water filter system can honestly promote that they are in compliance with the new standard, including Multipure’s. However, Dr. Andrew Fenwick, PhD, of Multipure International is actively working on NSF standards committees to help finalize testing protocols. #Multipure will continue to be on the forefront of product testing and standards compliance certification when the new NSF Standard 401 is published.

By now you have probably seen the news reports about the water main break in Los Angeles, CA, on Wednesday, July 30th. TWENTY MILLION GALLONS were released into the streets of the #UCLA campus.  Sadly, those 20 million gallons of water were lost during the midst of California’s worst #drought in decades.  What the headlines didn’t shout was that the aging #watermain that burst was 93 years old.  Warren G. Harding was inaugurated as the 29th U.S. President in 1921 when that water line was laid and the U.S. formally ended World War I in August of that same year.  That’s ancient!

In fact, most of the pipes that supply drinking water across the country were laid in during the first half of the 20^th century.  For many cities, the greatest population growth and urban expansion occurred from the late 1800’s into the 1920’s.  As our water supply infrastructure ages, ruptures like this will occur with increasing regularity.  The concerning thing to note is that the rupture occurred in the water line after the water left the treatment facility. Why is this important to you? 

Breaks like this happen all the time, anywhere between the plant and our homes.  There are 240,000 breaks a year, according to the National Association of Water Companies.  These breaks can allow dirt and contaminants into your #water supply after it has been treated but before it reaches your home. 

Fortunately, there is a solution.  Citizens can protect themselves by using a high quality “final barrier” point-of-use water filtration system like the Multipure Aquaversa.  The Aquaversa, with its solid #carbon block filter technology, is considered to be the most effective method in reducing a wide range of water contaminants of aesthetic and health concern.  To find out how to protect your health and your family, contact #Water2Drink and we will help you determine the right water filtration system for your needs.

Even if you don’t live in California, you should be concerned about California’s current drought situation. California’s $44.7 billion agriculture industry is poised to take a big hit which will impact your food budget as you shop for foods that are water-intensive to produce.  Why does this matter to you? California is the leading source of agriculture in the nation.

The Huffington Post graphic, “Why California’s Drought Makes Your Tomatoes So Expensive,” shows that one gallon of milk requires 880 gallons of water to produce.  A pound of potatoes? 119 gallons of water. A loaf of bread requires 228 gallons. A pound of beef requires a whopping 1,799 gallons of water to produce.

Statistics like this are frightening.  Some may decide to limit or eliminate beef consumption. Others may explore options for fruits and vegetables closer to home at their local farm stand instead of a grocery store.  And as communities and states explore alternatives for finding enough water for human consumption, the quality of water sources may become questionable.

Are you willing to get your hands dirty? An alternative to buying fruits and vegetables that are grown in and shipped from drought-stricken areas is to grow your own.  And to maintain the fertility of your garden’s ecosystem, consider adding a Multipure Aquagrow dechlorinating filter to your garden.  The Aquagrow keeps your plants healthier by removing the chlorine that kills beneficial microorganisms in your garden soil.

While Julia Roberts in the “Erin Brockovich” movie is able to make sense of Chromium 6 chemical contamination in a small town’s water source, life isn’t a movie for families who are affected by this issue. Fortunately for some, California has become the first state to impose a limit on hexavalent chromium (also known as Chromium 6). But what if you live with this issue (or another prevalent water contamination source) and your state has not imposed limitations or restrictions?

The most effective drinking water filter solution for consumers with very specific water contamination issues is the Multipure AquaRO Reverse Osmosis System.  It is an ultrafiltration system that can remove contaminants such as barium, cadmium, chromium (both hexavalent and trivalent), copper and dissolved solids (such as sulphur, iron, calcium and magnesium), fluoride, nitrate and nitrite, perchlorate, radium and selenium.

But don’t just take our word for it.  Multipure’s AquaRO system is performance tested and certified by NSF International to NSF/ANSI Standards 42 (Aesthetic Effects), 53 (Health Effects), and 58 (Reverse Osmosis).  This five-stage water filtration system produces fresh, clean drinking water for an average operating cost of just 29 cents per gallon!  If you want to know more about what components make up the Multipure AquaRO, view this video about “What’s In the Box?”

If you have a specific water contamination issue, contact Water2Drink.com to find out how you can reduce your exposure to toxins.  We can help you pinpoint the water filtration system that will meet your needs and your budget.

Oh, no! Your community just issued a boil water alert due to a water main break, and the authorities don’t know how long it will last. What will you do to protect your family?

1.       1.  Fill the collapsible bucket included in the WET System with tap water to the designated level.

2.       2.  Add the disinfection tablets that are included in the WET system, stir until dissolved, and then let the water stand for a few minutes.

3.       3.  Screw the provided plastic fitting into one of the two Multipure EF8 emergency carbon block filters included in the WET System.

4.       4.  Attach to the fitting the plastic tubing provided in the WET System, and make sure the shutoff valve on the plastic tubing is closed.

5.       5.  Place the bucket on a tabletop or other raised surface and put the EF8 filter inside the bucket, letting the other end of the plastic tubing extend well below the bucket.

6.       6.  Place the open end of the plastic tubing into a suitable container to collect filtered water.

7.       7.  Let the filter soak for a few minutes and then open the shutoff valve on the plastic tubing.

8.       8.  Let gravity pressure do the rest. In very little time, fresh clean water will begin flowing through the EF8 filter and out the plastic tubing into the drinking water container.

9.       9.  When the source water bucket is empty, refill and repeat the process as often as needed until safe water service has been restored.

The WET System becomes your backup drinking water source in case of emergency. The Multipure WET System requires no electricity, hand tools, or anything else except water. Everything you will need is included in the kit.

How do you obtain a Multipure WET System? This product currently is not offered for sale, however, it’s available for FREE when you purchase a new Multipure Drinking Water System for your home or office. Click here for more information about this limited time offer, available from Water2Drink.com.

Now that we are in the heat of summer, many people think that consuming sports or energy drinks will provide replacement electrolytes and nutrients lost through sweating or sports activities. In fact, these drinks are extremely high in sugar and are particularly marketed within sporting events.  For example, among sponsors of the World Cup currently being held in #Brazil, Coca Cola is an official corporate partner of #FIFA, and McDonald’s is an official sponsor of the #WorldCup.

Marketing messaging gives the impression that these drinks, though high in sugar, could support an active, healthy lifestyle.  As with other health products, you should educate yourself on the content of these drinks, and the effect sugar consumption has on the body.  Some of the energy drinks contain between 60 and 70 grams of #sugar in a single bottle.

Additionally, research shows that liquid calories are known to be less satiating than solid calories and fill you up less.  This can set up a cycle of overindulging on sugary beverages as the body searches for nutrients and hydration.

Unless you are an elite athlete, the best hydrating beverage for the body is fresh, filtered water.  Replacing sugary drinks with water reduces your sugar intake and cuts your risk of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.  Consider the critical role water plays in your body, and find out here how much water your body needs for digestion, body temperature regulation, and other important functions.

Do you realize just how important drinking water is to the efficient functioning of a healthy human body? It is estimated that your body consists of 60% to 75% water. So much of your health and how you feel is related to the quality and quantity of water you consume. Listen to Deanna DeLong, a self-proclaimed “water advocate,” present the “Drink Water For Life” story in a highly informative YouTube video that outlines the virtues of drinking enough water.

 

You can view the video by clicking on this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=833lbjUejFM

The answer is both yes and no. There is little doubt that adding chlorine to public drinking water supplies to serve as an affordable disinfectant has had the very positive health effect of eliminating a host of water-borne diseases such as cholera. Many people who have become accustomed to drinking tap water even associate the smell of chlorine in their water with it being “safe” to drink. The fact is that chlorine offers health benefits right up to the point where you ingest it. But what then?

The chlorine in treated water is essentially bleach, and it’s unlikely that most people would consider drinking bleach to be good for their health. Medical studies have linked chlorine consumption and associated chlorine byproducts to cancer, heart trouble, premature senility, hardening of the arteries, and a host of other ills. And while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established “safe” levels of chlorine in drinking water supplies, most rational people would prefer to consume none of it. So, what’s the answer?

 

Rather than expect any governmental agency to intervene and change your water treatment process in the near term, individuals can take matters into their own hands and simply begin filtering their drinking water at the point of use. Chlorine is fairly easy to filter out, while at the same time a variety of other potential contaminants that may be present (e.g., cryptosporidium, giardia, MTBE, lead, mercury, arsenic, asbestos, etc.) will be eliminated or significantly reduced as well. The simplest and most cost-effective solution is to filter water through a high quality compressed carbon block filter.

 

Would you like to see a demonstration of how such a filter effectively strips chlorine out of tap water?

 

Then click on the link below to see a short 1-minute video on YouTube.com. Most swimming pool owners are familiar with a chemical solution called OTO that is used to test the concentration of chlorine in pool water – the darker the water color after adding OTO, the more chlorine is present. The video shows a simple OTO test of tap water and a comparison to water drawn from the same source but pushed through a compressed carbon block drinking water filter.

 

It’s Graduation Season! High school.  College.  If you have a graduate in your life, you know it’s an exciting time.  While they may be home for the summer, hopefully they are moving onward in the fall to bigger and better things. To college. To a new apartment. To a new city. Give them one last gift – the gift of great health!

As your graduate packs for their next destination, consider sending them off with a portable Multipure Aquamini drinking water filtration system.  The Aquamini is a compact, high performance carbon filter designed to improve the quality of any municipal water source.  It’s convenient and easy to use, quickly connects to most faucets, and sets on the countertop next to the sink.  The replaceable filter cartridge is rated for 250 gallons before requiring a change, which should easily serve the #graduate for a couple of semesters.

Send your graduate out into the world with the superior drinking water only available from a #Multipure Drinking Water System. Plentiful free, clean water to drink every day will help your graduate stay hydrated and save money.

You may believe that the water coming out of your tap is safe to drink, especially if you live in or near a metropolitan area with water supplied by a municipal treatment facility. But it may not be as safe as you think.

There are numerous potential points of failure between the treatment facility and your water glass.  The Water Quality Association has provided information on how to Protect Your Family that describes the “Final Barrier” concept.

The best way to control the quality of your water is by using what is known as a Final Barrier Solution, such as a quality drinking water filtration system.  Installed at the point of use (typically, your kitchen sink), a high-performance, low maintenance water filtration system will provide you peace of mind. This is the #finalbarrier between the municipal delivery system and your water glass.

But not all water filtration systems are equal.  The water quality is improved only if you can identify the contaminants that are present in your #water, and you have the ability to certify that these contaminants are reduced or eliminated. The simplest way to provide such verification is if the filter has been submitted for independent performance testing and certification, such as that provided by NSF International.

The #Multipure line of drinking water filtration systems have all been NSF tested and certified.  In this era of transparency, Water2Drink.com provides Product Performance information so you can understand the product design and determine which filter is right for your home.

You can build your Final Barrier with information, education, and a certified Multipure Water Filtration System from Water2Drink.  Please contact us if you need assistance in determining your needs.