From: ras23@aol.com (Ras23) Date: 8 Dec 1994 09:45:04 -0500
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Message-ID: <3c765g$c5e@newsbf01.news.aol.com>
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAFE AND HEALTHY WATER
by Robert A. Schwartz
Times Guest Columnist

     It is time to take control of the water coming into your home.  We
can no longer assume that our water is safe and free of harmful
contaminants.  The water we use to drink, for coffee, beverages, cooking,
washing and bathing is potentially loaded with hundreds of different water
borne contaminants, bacteria, and other pollutants.  The EPA has said that
nearly 1 in 5 Americans are drinking contaminated water.  The National
Environmental Group stated that in a recent two year period there were
more than 250,000 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act.  What is more
alarming, is the fact that the EPA and the related state governments only
took action on less than 4,000 of these 250,000 violations.  Clearly we
cannot rely on the government to insure us that our tap water is safe and
healthy.  Every consumer must take responsibility for their own tap water
to be assured that the water their family is using is free from harmful
contaminants, bacteria, parasites and pollutants.

     There was a time when we could take a drink of tap water, wash a
piece of fruit, or take a shower and not give a second thought to the
quality or safety of the water.  Unfortunately this is no longer the case,
the EPA has even cautioned well water users on possible ground water
contamination besides the leaching of lead from brass well pumps into
their water supply.  The consumer must be made aware of the many potential
dangers in their drinking water.  The Federal Center for Disease Control
and Preventions has said that each year nearly 1,000,000 people become
sick from drinking contaminated water.  Excessive lead levels in the water
have been linked to learning disabilities, birth defects and other
complications in babies and young children.  Still, the EPA has allowed
water suppliers up to 20 years to comply with their new lead level
standards.  Although chlorine has many beneficial effects in water
treatment, the consumption of chlorinated water has been linked to the
increased risk of breast, bladder, rectal and prostate cancer.  What is
worse is that a study by the Graduate School of Health - University of
Pittsburgh showed that showering with contaminated water is potentially 2
to 10 times more toxic than drinking water.  We cannot sit idly by and
allow our families and ourselves to risk cancer, birth defects,
gastrointestinal illness, or any of the other related potential diseases
and infections that have been linked to the contaminants in our water
supply.

      The revision and strict enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act
may be the ideal long term solution, nonetheless we cannot wait for the
government to make our tap water safe again.  There are many immediate
options available that claim to provide healthy and safe water, however
some of these options have many related faults and shortcomings.
     Retail Bottled Water:  Bottled water is a solution that is initially
appealing to many people.  They do not have to think about what kind of
equipment to purchase, they simply go to the store buy the water and take
it home.  Unfortunately there are many potential problems with bottled
water.  Bottled water sources are usually unknown to the end user,
therefore the quality and purity of the source and product water are
questionable.  The bottles used for most bottled water are permeable to
bacteria and studies show that within as little as 20 days the water can
become tainted and contaminated.  That 20 days includes the time it took
to bottle the water, store it, transport it to the store, display it on
the shelf, and for you to take it home and finally use it.  Further,
bottled water is bulky, heavy, inconvenient and costly.  In considering
the cost and the fact that the bottle only offers a limited supply, many
people still use their tap water for most of their water needs.  Bottled
water is not usually used to fill ice trays, make coffee, wash fruits,
vegetables or meat, or to shower with, consequently consumers are exposing
themselves to the harmful contaminants they are trying to avoid.
     Bottled Water Delivery: Another popular option is home or office
delivery of bottled water. Unfortunately this water has many of the same
shortcomings as store bought bottled water and more.  For example, the
coolers are bulky and cumbersome, and require the same amount of
electricity as a standard refrigerator.  Further, the bottles are bulky
and valuable space must be sacrificed for cooler operation and bottle
storage.  There is also the inconvenience of waiting for the delivery
person to arrive with the bottles.  However, the most distressing problem
is that the high pressure steam washing that the companies use to clean
the used bottles weakens the plastic and causes it to be leached into your
water.
       Reverse Osmosis Filtration: Reverse Osmosis or R.O. is one of the
many water filtration methods available today.  R.O. filtration systems
will remove or reduce most of the water borne contaminants in today's
water, but it also has many faults.  A standard R.O. unit wastes an
average of 3 to 5 gallons of water for every gallon of water it produces.
R.O. units are also very limited in that they only can produce a very
limited amount of usable water per 24 hour period and they are a time
consuming high maintenance item.  Therefore consumers are forced to
carefully select when to use their R.O. water, which is a modern day form
of Russian Roulette.  The most prominent problem with R.O. systems is that
they remove all of the essential trace minerals and elements that are
necessary for good health and normal body functions.
       Carbon Based Filtration Systems:  Carbon based filters offer an
effective solution in addressing chlorine, bad odors, discoloring, bad
taste and some of the lead in tap water.   Unfortunately these carbon
based filters also have many shortcomings and faults.  The carbon is so
highly adsorbent of chlorine that many of the other harmful and dangerous
contaminants and impurities pass through the filter unaffected.  In
addition, the carbon filters become saturated with chlorine and provide an
optimal breeding ground for bacteria, therefore these filters or
cartridges need to be replaced quite often.  Besides being inconvenient
and expensive, most people forget or neglect to change the filters or
cartridges.  When the cartridges are not changed the chlorine, lead,
bacteria and other contaminants reach saturation and pass through the
filter into your water creating a very dangerous situation.  In general
the carbon filters are very effective on chlorine tastes, discoloring and
odors, but lack the capacity to address many of the harmful water borne
contaminants, bacteria and pollutants.
       Multi Stage Media Filtration Systems: Multi Stage Media Filtration
Systems will address all of the consumer's demands as well as the needs
presented by today's water supplies.  These multi stage products expand on
the concept of carbon based filtration systems, they employ unique media
compounds that specifically address different groups and types of water
borne contaminants.  A good analogy would be comparing carbon as a whole
house cleaner to the multi stage media as individual cleaners specifically
designed to address different contaminants. While the whole house cleaner
may do an adequate overall cleaning job the individual cleaners will excel
in their respective areas.  By utilizing multiple media compounds more
than 200 of today's water borne contaminants and pollutants can be
addressed.  In addition, these multi stage filtration systems, eliminate
the need for replacement filters or cartridges, are maintenance free and
offer an on demand supply of filtered water. Through the addition
of an Ultra Violet bactericidal unit a majority of the viruses and
bacteria that threaten many water supplies can also be addressed.

     In looking for a water treatment system for you and your family, you
should be sure to address the following points.  The system should be
maintenance free, requiring no filter or cartridge replacement.  The
system should have a long life and multiple stage media filtration to best
address a full array of contaminants.  Remember that an inexpensive system
that requires costly and inconvenient filter replacements is not saving
you any money.  For example a system costing $99.00 and requiring $50.00
replacement filters every six months, will cost you $549.00 over five
years, as compared to a system for $150.00 that will last five years
without filter replacement.  Affordable systems, such as these, do exist
enabling you to provide healthy, safe and affordable water for you and
your family.
     Robert Schwartz is the Executive Vice President of Astro
Associates,Inc.  a local environmental products company.   Astro
Associates, Inc. is involved with the research design, and distribution of
state-of-the-art consumer and commercial water treatment systems.  To
discuss today's water problems and your related questions, you can reach
Robert Schwartz at on-line at Ras23 @aol.com or (215) 885-3330 or Fax
(215) 885-1367.


File has been edited and released into The HealthCare Network by:
 
Rick Catania
The Special Needs BBS, Whiting, Indiana
BBS Phone Number (219) 659-0112


