| The majority of the human body is comprised | | | | Well water is subject to the same types of |
| of water and human beings can live only a | | | | natural and man made pollution as tap water |
| very short time without water. | | | | but it is unregulated. The Commonwealth of |
| | | | Virginia, for example, strongly recommends |
| Water is a chemical substance that is | | | | chlorination and dechlorination of owner's |
| essential to all known forms of life. It | | | | individual wells but mandatory compliance is |
| covers 71% of Earth's surface. It is found in | | | | not required. Well water is particularly |
| the oceans (saltwater) and polar ice caps, | | | | subject to ground bacteria pollution through |
| but it is also present as clouds, rain water, | | | | the wellhead itself. The use of chlorine adds |
| rivers, freshwater aquifers, lakes, airborne | | | | unpleasant odors and taste to the well |
| vapor and sea ice. | | | | supplied drinking water. |
| | | | |
| Water in these bodies perpetually moves | | | | Bottled Water: |
| through a cycle of evaporation, | | | | |
| precipitation, and runoff to the sea. Clean | | | | Repackaged bottled water: |
| water is essential to human life. In many | | | | |
| parts of the world, it is in short supply. | | | | There are many types of bottled drinking |
| (Source: Wikipedia) | | | | water on the market today with the result |
| | | | that some are good, some are bad and some are |
| Of all the water in the world, only about 3% | | | | useless when it comes to providing pure |
| is drinkable by human beings. Of this small | | | | drinking water. |
| percentage, the majority is either wholly or | | | | |
| partially polluted by natural or man made | | | | Some unethical suppliers merely take tap |
| contaminants. The body requires H2O to | | | | water and bottle the water in small packages. |
| survive but not the contaminants found in | | | | These bottlers are able to charge a premium |
| most drinking water. | | | | for tap water but the levels of contaminants |
| | | | are the same as in tap water. |
| What Are Your Choices For Drinking Water? | | | | |
| | | | Spring water: |
| Most people in the United States face limited | | | | |
| choices of drinking water. They can either | | | | The source of some bottled water is spring |
| drink tap water provided by the | | | | water and this term implies a fresh mountain |
| municipalities they live in or well water on | | | | spring of wholesome drinking water. Springs |
| their own land. Neither of these choices | | | | however, are subject to the same types and |
| provides pure drinking water. | | | | levels of natural and man made contaminants |
| | | | as tap and well water and the consumer does |
| What Are the Different Types of Drinking | | | | not get the benefit of pure water. |
| Water? | | | | |
| | | | Purified water: |
| Generally speaking there are three choices | | | | |
| for drinking water available to the consumer: | | | | Purified water is the only water that that |
| | | | one should drink for their health and the |
| - Tap Water (provided by local municipal | | | | health of their family. There are two |
| water suppliers) | | | | processes used in order to purify water: |
| | | | distillation and reverse osmosis. |
| - Well Water (found in more rural areas of | | | | |
| the country) | | | | Distillation is a process whereby water is |
| | | | turned to steam and condensed leaving behind |
| - Bottled Water (sold commercially throughout | | | | all contaminants and bacteria. Many countries |
| the country) | | | | without natural source water and the |
| | | | Department of Defense use distillation to |
| Tap Water: | | | | provide pure drinking water. |
| | | | |
| Tap water comes from local rivers and streams | | | | Reverse osmosis is a process where by water |
| and very often plants that recycle raw | | | | is filtered through a very small filter and |
| sewerage and other waste water. Because many | | | | contaminants are removed but bacteria and |
| rivers, streams and other groundwater sources | | | | trace elements are left in the water. |
| are polluted by natural runoff and man made | | | | |
| contaminants, and all waste water and raw | | | | Distillation removes the water from the |
| sewerage contain high levels of bacteria, | | | | contaminants while reverse osmosis merely |
| increasing levels of chlorine are required to | | | | filters the water without removing all |
| kill bacterial and other harmful organisms. | | | | bacteria and other material. |
| | | | |
| Tap water is regulated by The Environmental | | | | Many experts believe that distillation is the |
| Protection Agency (EPA) an agency of the | | | | best way to create pure water. |
| Federal Government but EPA regulations in no | | | | |
| way require the elimination of contaminants. | | | | Conclusion: |
| The EPA only sets minimum levels of | | | | |
| contaminants (including chlorine) and the | | | | If you are an individual interested in |
| long term effects of these poisons on the | | | | maintaining a healthy lifestyle or a parent |
| human body are largely unknown. In addition | | | | that is concerned about the health of your |
| chlorine adds unpleasant odors and taste to | | | | family, you should consider adding purified |
| tap water. | | | | water to your diet. |
| | | | |
| Well Water: | | | | No other water source provides the purity |
| | | | your body needs. |