Category Archives: Drinking Water Filtration System

How Pharmaceuticals in Your Tap Water Are Affecting You

Pharmaceuticals – the wide range of medications prescribed for any number of ailments and conditions – may have some dangerous side effects that aren’t listed in the fine print.

A vast array of pharmaceuticals including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Water providers rarely disclose results of pharmaceutical screenings, unless pressed, the AP found. For example, the head of a group representing major California suppliers said the public “doesn’t know how to interpret the information” and might be unduly alarmed.

The issue here is that water utilities do not yet have the infrastructure to adequately test and filter these “emerging contaminants,” but recent studies have shown some glaring concerns that suggest we might want to tackle this issue soon.

Blog Post: Shampoo, Narcotics and Birth Control: Things You Didn’t Know You Were Drinking

How do the pharmaceuticals get in our drinking water?

People take pills.
Their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet.
The wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers or lakes.
Then, some of the water is cleansed again at drinking water treatment plants and piped to consumers. But most treatments do not remove all drug residue.

And while researchers do not yet understand the exact risks from decades of persistent exposure to random combinations of low levels of pharmaceuticals, recent studies which have gone virtually unnoticed by the general public have found alarming effects on human cells and wildlife.

In several cases, officials at municipal or regional water providers told the AP that pharmaceuticals had not been detected, but the AP obtained the results of tests conducted by independent researchers that showed otherwise.

For example, water department officials in New Orleans said their water had not been tested for pharmaceuticals, but a Tulane University researcher and his students have published a study that found the pain reliever naproxen, the sex hormone estrone and the anti-cholesterol drug byproduct clofibric acid in treated drinking water.

In the United States, the problem isn’t confined to surface waters.

Pharmaceuticals also permeate aquifers deep underground, source of 40 percent of the nation’s water supply.

Federal scientists who drew water in 24 states from aquifers near contaminant sources such as landfills and animal feed lots found minuscule levels of hormones, antibiotics and other drugs.

Some drugs, including widely used cholesterol fighters, tranquilizers and anti-epileptic medications, resist modern drinking water and wastewater treatment processes. Plus, the EPA says there are no sewage treatment systems specifically engineered to remove pharmaceuticals.

Our bodies may shrug off a relatively big one-time dose, yet suffer from a smaller amount delivered continuously over a half century, perhaps subtly stirring allergies or nerve damage. Pregnant women, the elderly and the very ill might be more sensitive.

And while drugs are tested to be safe for humans, the timeframe is usually over a matter of months, not a lifetime. Pharmaceuticals also can produce side effects and interact with other drugs at normal medical doses. That’s why aside from therapeutic doses of fluoride injected into potable water supplies pharmaceuticals are prescribed to people who need them, not delivered to everyone in their drinking water.

Sources:

http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/pharmawater_site/day1_01.html

How the Drought is Poisoning California’s Drinking Water

As California struggles through the fourth year of its historic drought, the effects are starting to hit a little closer to home… and our health.

The results of a 10-year study of California groundwater quality showed some disturbing findings.

Normally, Californians get about 30% of their drinking water from aquifers, but the drought has forced Californians to rely on these aquifers for more than 60% of our water needs.

The study found that roughly 20% of our groundwater is contaminated with high concentrations of dangerous substances like arsenic, uranium and nitrates. And it’s not getting any better…

As groundwater keeps getting lower, our drinking water will become more and more unsafe.

The longer the drought continues, the more we will rely on groundwater. You can probably see how this is quite the vicious cycle. But is there an answer? In order to understand that, we have to know what caused this quality issue.

Where do the contaminants come from?

Contaminants enter California’s water artificially – through heavy use of nitrogen-based fertilizers on farms – and naturally – through erosion of natural deposits.

Heavy reliance on nitrogen fertilizers (and animal waste) has led to increased levels of nitrates in the water. At levels above 10 ppm (parts per million), nitrates can impede the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, leading to birth defects and cancers of the ovaries and thyroid.

Agriculture alone isn’t the only source of contamination; arsenic – which is not used on farms – turned up more than nitrates. The study also found an alarming amount of aquifers poisoned with uranium, which is a contaminant not used in farms, but which has been pushed further into the water table (5-10 feet per year) by irrigation.

According to Kenneth Belitz, the study’s lead author and chief of the USGS’s National Water Quality Assessment Program, the process of contaminants slowly moving further down into the water table affects all areas of California.

Former agricultural areas that have evolved into suburban (Santa Ana, for example) will start to see the effects of years-old nitrates sinking into their water tables. Today’s farming hotspots – especially the San Joaquin Valley (where San Diego gets a portion of its water) – could be slowly building up nitrate levels year by year that could lead to much higher nitrate levels in well water.

How is the drought making it worse?

This heart-wrenching video from High Country News depicts how the drought is exacerbating the level of contaminants in California’s water. It shows the situation in East Orosi, one of the areas hit hardest by the drought.

Chad Fischer, East Orosi District Engineer, explains how landowners are digging a higher level of wells, putting more stress on the aquifers:

“It’s simple, drill a lot of wells, produce a lot of water. The water tables are going to drop and the level of contaminants is going to go up.”

As groundwater levels drop and the level of contaminants stays the same, the concentration of nitrates in groundwater supply will continue to increase.

Think of it as a small amount of poison that’s diluted by a large amount of water. The poison is relatively harmless as long as the water level stays high enough. But when the water level decreases, there’s not as much to dilute the poison, making it much more dangerous.

This issue is hitting areas of California at different times. East Orosi is getting the worst of it now. Residents use five-gallon plastic jugs for drinking, cleaning, brushing teeth, making tea and coffee, making soup and cleaning fruits and vegetables.

East Orosi’s situation serves as a stark warning to the rest of the state about the dangers of the drought on water quality. Hopefully it serves as a canary in the coal mine demonstrating that serious actions need to be taken for the health and safety of the people.

When will it end?

That’s the bad news. According to NASA Analysis, California’s aquifers are extremely depleted (by 11 trillion gallons, to be exact). Lower rainfall in the coming years and steady or increased farming will only continue to diminish these sources, therefore raising contaminant concentration.

As the drought continues, it’s imperative that California residents continue to monitor their local drinking water quality. Every municipality is required to send out a Water Quality Report (or CCR) annually, detailing local contaminant levels.

As always, the safest solution for your water’s safety is to install water filter systems in your home to ensure the highest quality clean water in your home regardless of outside circumstances. See your home water filter options HERE.

More information: Mother Jones on California’s Drinking Water

Why You Should Avoid Distilled Water

Many consumers don’t understand the difference between the “distilled water” and “drinking water,” you see on the shelf at the grocery store. The difference, though, can have a serious effect on your health.

Distilled water is created by boiling tap water until it evaporates, then condensing the vapor back into liquid. While this process removes most contaminants in your tap water, it also has some less attractive effects.

Distillation removes all the beneficial minerals from your water. The process also dissolves carbon dioxide from the air into the new liquid, making your water acidic (according to the EPA).

This is why certain water at the grocery store is labeled “drinking water” instead of distilled: because the water meant for drinking is actually filtered and remineralized for your health.

Water distillation was popular in the 1960s, when demand for clean water exceeded supply. Some people still used distillers today, but consumption has dropped as studies reveal the health dangers tied to drinking distilled water.

What Are The Main Health Risks Of Drinking Distilled Water?

Mineral Deficiencies

Drinking distilled water disrupts your body’s mineral balance. In fact, studies have shown that drinking distilled or demineralized water can leach minerals from your body.

Mineral loss in the body puts you at risk for an array of issues including osteoporosis, hypertension, coronary artery disease and premature aging.

Tooth Decay

Because distilled water leaches minerals from your body, dentists are seeing an increase in cavities in children who consume distilled water. The water can damage your teeth because it is readily looking to absorb nutrients and minerals from your body both internally and topically.

Electrolyte Imbalance

Numerous studies, including one done by the World Health Organization have shown that because distilled water can cause an electrolyte imbalance in your body. Your body will leach electrolytes from your tissues in order to add them to the mineral-free water you are drinking.

So what kind of water SHOULD I drink?

We at Evolution Healthworks encourage you to be drinking clean, mineralized water. There are numerous benefits to drinking your minerals. Check out our PRODUCT OPTIONS HERE

What’s the Deal with Fluoride in My Water?

The controversy over fluoridated water is making news lately, as more and more concerned citizens question their local governments about the benefits and possible drawbacks of adding fluoride to drinking water.

In 1945, dental researchers and city officials in Grand Rapids, Michigan agreed to fluoridate the city water supply for experimental purposes. After eleven years, the results were staggering; tooth decay rates had dropped 60%.

Ever since, cities across the country have adopted fluoridation. The American Dental Association and other prominent public health organizations endorse the practice wholeheartedly.

In a situation becoming more familiar in our information-heavy world, though, people are speaking out and challenging institutions on the benefits of fluoridation. Similar to the anti-vaccine and anti-GMO movements, there is a spectrum of dissent ranging from legitimate concern to government conspiracy mongering.

It’s hard to argue with the wealth of information proving that fluoridated water has improved dental health, but it’s also important to acknowledge that many beneficial public health policies have detrimental side effects.

(For example, adding chlorine to public water supplies for disinfection purposes was one of the great inventions of the 20th century, improving life expectancy for millions. But chlorine reacts with natural materials in water to create dangerous, cancer-causing disinfectant byproducts.)

Fluoride’s drawbacks are documented at length across the web, but few have been widely accepted. A recent British study showed a link between water fluoridation and thyroid issues (hypothyroidism). One undisputed fact is that an excess of fluoride (fluorosis) causes tooth decay. There is minimal evidence of fluoride as a carcinogen.

The real issue with fluoride in public water supplies is informed consent.

Americans have always been fiercely individualistic; the explosion of the internet has magnified this trait. Citizens can now pull up information on other countries’ fluoridation practices quickly and realize that the U.S. adds fluoride more widely than any other country in the world.

People can also look up the fact that fluoride is a chemical, one being prescribed to them without consent. This issue is also at the core of the anti-vaccine movement, but there is one very important difference.

If you don’t vaccinate your child, others are at risk of catching a disease from him or her. If you don’t opt to fluoridate your water, you are not putting anyone else at risk.

This is the core of the fluoridation issue today. People deserve the option of what they consume, especially if it has the potential to affect their health.

All Evolution Healthworks drinking water products reduce fluoride content by 65%. For those wishing to remove more than two thirds of fluoride, we offer an additional filter attachment to remove 99.9% of fluoride.

The Issue With Using A Brita Water Filter

It’s critical to filter your drinking water in order to remove contaminants that can affect your health negatively.

As with most home products, there’s an array of different filter options varying in price, benefits and point-of-use.

For many consumers, a Brita filter is the easiest option. It comes in a easy-to-use pitcher, can be bought from your local Target, and is relatively easy on the wallet.

Brita products use a standard activated carbon and ion-exchange resin disposable filter as their primary filtering mechanism.

What does that mean for your drinking water?

It means that you are not adequately filtering your water. Brita technologies only use a basic carbon filter, which does not remove all of the contaminants in the water.

This holds especially true for San Diego, where we have very high amounts of agricultural runoff and heavy metals in our water.

Another issue is that Brita filters do not remove or kill bacteria in the water. This means any living organisms that are in your drinking water are affecting your health.

Are there any risks to using a Brita?

Beyond not removing all contaminants, Brita is a fine filter to start out with.

However, it is critical to change and remove filters. If you don’t there are some serious risks associated.

When the filters are not changed, they become breeding grounds for bacteria. This means that if you’re not changing your filters, your supposedly filtered water may actually be more dangerous that normal tap water. Research suggests that this occurs no later that 6 months.

Why Evolution Products?

1. Evolution Water goes through a 3-phase filter system:

Cleans your water with an activated carbon filter
Introduces healthy trace minerals such as calcium and magnesium
Features a region-specific third filter to remove contaminants native to YOUR geographic area

2. What separates Evolution Water is the ability to make it alkaline, which is desirable for a number of reasons:

It helps improve bone health
It raises blood alkalinity, allowing you to recover faster after exertion
It’s a powerful antioxidant, scientifically proven to combat disease and tumor growth
It has anti-diabetic effects

Call us today today at 619-356-3766 to learn more about how Evolution can help you Drink Clean!

7 Easy Ways to Drink More Water

Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to forget about staying hydrated. After all, drinking water isn’t exactly the most fun thing to do. Research suggests that the easiest way to learn new habits is by incorporating them into your existing routines. This is what we’ve done with these 7 easy ways to make sure you’re staying hydrated!

1. If you eat, drink

An easy way to start drinking water more often is to have a glass before every meal. It’s a simple transition, because most likely you drink something while you’re eating. Drinking water also helps you eat less, so your waistline will thank you. This trick applies to drinking as well – try having a glass of water for every cocktail or beer you order. It’ll help with your hangovers!

2. Take it with you

You can’t drink water if you don’t have access. Carrying your own water bottle is a great way to avoid costly, wasteful bottled water. It’s also important to avoid plastic, which can leach harmful BPAs. Our Evolution Healthworks Glass DrinkSafes are perfect on-the-go bottles because they have a neoprene sleeve with handles.

3. Eat your veggies!

You don’t always have to drink in order to stay hydrated. Many vegetables and fruits are packed with water, so you can stay hydrated without chugging all day!

4. Set an alarm

If you’re anything like us, you and your smartphone are inseparable. Let’s face it: phones are becoming our appendages, so we might as well use them to our benefit. It’s simple – go to your Calendar app and set alerts for several times tomorrow (i.e. 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm) with any label – maybe a Wave emoji? Then, click on the Repeat option and set it to Every Day. Now, as you’re Buzzfeeding your day away, you’ll be reminded to stay hydrated!

5. Make a game out of it

Like playing games? Of course you do. Like competition? Of course you do. Studies have shown that adding a social or competitive aspect to your goals leads to much higher levels of achievement. Think Weight Watchers meetings. Or people posting their workout numbers on social media every day. Adding this layer of social pressure leads to much better results.

Now you don’t have to throw it in everyone’s faces, but you can start a mini-competition between yourself and a few friends. Just set some stakes (first round of drinks?) and keep track. Whoever hits 8 glasses a day for the longest wins!

6. Get your money’s worth

Here at Evolution Healthworks, we’ve had numerous customers tell us that they started drinking much more water after they purchased one of our home water filtration systems. We all like to get our money’s worth. If you buy a gym membership, you’re going to use it. The same goes for drinking water systems – the only difference is its much easier to drink more water than it is to go to the gym. Even better, you’ll see results much faster.

7. Reward yourself

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that we’re all humans. The reason you’re dehydrated in the first place is because life is hectic and it’s easy to forget to drink water. So when you succeed, make sure to reward yourself. We’ll let you decide how to do this, but whatever it is – make it worth your while to stay hydrated!