Experts recommend you drink eight large glasses of water a day. Of course, the exact amount you should drink depends on the climate you live in, your body size, and your activity level. But, it’s a good starting point.
However, have you ever considered the quality of the water you’re drinking? While it’s normal to turn on the faucet and drink the water that comes out, this may not be as beneficial as you think.
The water that comes out of your faucet has been treated at the water treatment plant. This means it has been filtered and chemicals have been added to kill bacteria. Unfortunately, these chemicals and contaminants picked up between the plant and your home, can have a detrimental effect on your health.
That’s why it’s time you took a look at the 5 ways you can make water safe to drink.
1. Distill It
Distilling water is the best way of removing all impurities. In effect the water is boiled, it turns to steam faster than the minerals and other contaminants in the water. This steam then hits a cold surface and returns to a liquid form. The liquid is collected in a separate container and you have pure water.
It’s potentially the best way of obtaining completely pure water. Unfortunately, it’s not a practical approach, and drinking too much-distilled water can actually put your body out of balance.
2. Water Filters
A better and much easier alternative is the use of water filters. There are many different types on the market, it’s a good idea to purchase one through a reputable supplier of water filters Australia. This will help to ensure you’re getting a high-quality product that does what it says it will.
There are several different types of water filters but the most popular ones are carbon and reverse osmosis. These are popular because they remove the majority of contaminants.
In fact, the two water filters work very well together, potentially giving you water that is as pure as distilled water.
Carbon filters remove volatile organic compounds, such as the chemicals that have been added by the water treatment plant.
Reverse osmosis filters push water through a semi-permeable membrane, allowing it to remove contaminants, particularly minerals and heavy metals.
These can be fitted as part of a whole-house system or for specific taps.
3. Spring Water
In general spring water is considered safe to drink. The water has come from deep underground and found a way to naturally travel to the surface. Companies harvest the spring water at its source, not where it breaks the surface. This reduces the likelihood of any contaminants being present.
This is a good option if you are stuck in the wilderness and find a spring, it’s more likely to be safe to drink as it is than a stream or other body of water.
You can choose to purchase bottled spring water. However, you should verify the contents to ensure it is as good as you think it is.
4. Purification Tablets
These are a great survival aid and can also be used in an emergency at home. You simply drop a tablet into the designated amount of water, usually a liter. It then dissolves and kills any bacteria in the water.
This makes it safe to drink although you won’t be removing minerals and metals. However, in an emergency, it is one of the most effective approaches to obtaining safe water.
It’s worth having a packet or two of purification tablets at home, just in case.
5. UV Light
Another way of purifying water to make it safe to drink is with a UV light purifier. It looks like a penned bit is actually a light bulb, emitting UV light. All you have to do is slide the light inside your bottle of water and turn it on. Slowly move it around the bottle for several minutes, according to the instructions supplied with the purifier.
You can then take it out, turn off the light, and drink the water!
It uses the power of the sun to kill the pathogens in the water. But, it’s considerably faster than leaving a bottle of water in sunlight for 24 hours, which does also work.
Final Thoughts
Water is something that many of us take for granted. But, it is a limited and valuable resource. There will be times when the water you have is of questionable quality. At those times it’s useful to know how to deal with the issue and create safe water for your family.
But, even daily you should be aware of how beneficial a water filter system is in your home. It can benefit your long-term health, that’s hard to put a price on.
