My comment:

Due to the fact that toxins such as chloride, fluoride, trihalomethanes, and pharmaceutical drug residues along with high levels of bacteria have been found in both tap and bottled water, there tends to be a confusion on which is the less evil. However, because the standards are stricter, there is less chance of finding arsenic or antimony in your glass of tap water than its bottled brother! Still, if you use tap regularly, you will be loading your body with chlorine. Not a fun choice.

So, what do I recommend? Well, I carry my essential oils of lemon, spearmint of peppermint which has been studied to inactive active carcinogens in dirty water. However, the best option is prevention. True, a healthy body can handle moderation of anything, but why stress it out to begin with. Filtered water tends to be the best option because you combine the FDAs regulations for tap with additional protection. Here is a summary of my environmental medicine class notes with Dr. Mitch Kennedy, ND, an authority in environmental medicine.

What reduces what??

  1. **Reverse osmosis- particles, pollens, human hairs, yeast, bacteria, solvents, similar to distilled water which removes everything

–get channeling with ruts to catch large particles and remember to replace membrane

  1. Carbon-odors, colors, solvents, chlorine and fluorine, pesticides, volatile solvents
  2. **Ion exchange- heavy metals, salts, minerals, just about everything
  3. Steam Distillation – still can contain volatile organics (gasoline)
  4. Ceramic Filters– Takes out algae, protozoa, fragile
  5. UV light– Class A system. Needs to be a slow passage of water so that light particles can contact that which is to be killed. Used with hot tubes. Won’t remove metals or solvents, casts shadows

Brands:

Certification is more important than brand

MSR, Katadyn, PUR, Doulton (Impregnated with silver, zoite material), Aquasana (solvents, protozoa, chlorine, minerals, some heavy metals)

NSF lost certification (Oak, Hickory Springs)

***IDEAL FILTER:

Gross particle filter (sediment filter) (Suspended solids, rust, extends post-filter life)

Carbon Filter (Organics-gas, THMS, ect)

Ceramic Filter (microbes, viruses, spores)

Something for metals IF they are a problem (RO, IX)