Water in California

As if we didn’t know that E.Coli was bad for our health, but a new online article warns that people with gastroenteritis as a result of E.Coli contaminated drinking water are at an increased risk for kidney problems, high blood pressure, and heart disease later in life according to Canadian researchers.

We knew it could cause some intestinal issues, but this could be an even more severe issue for those with drinking water which has some traces of E.Coli. The researchers studied data from the Walkerton Health Study which, “evaluated the long-term health of adults in an Ontario town who developed gastroenteritis (commonly known as stomach flu) in May 2000 after the municipal water system was contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter bacteria.”

The data showed higher risks for those with the contamination who needed to be treated. The data was so clear that more research needs to be done for explanations. Protecting food and drinking water is one goal of public health officials, which is why this has become part of the new discussion on water safety. So when it comes to keep your family safe, would you follow the number one recommendation for pure and safe drinking water? E.Coli produces short-term and long-term effects, but these health effects could also be prevented through residential water filtration systems. Drinking water systems such as water coolers and reverse osmosis systems are eco-friendly and affordable solutions for avoiding any contact with E.Coli which can infiltrate drinking water through fecal bacteria. Keep your family safe now and into the future with a drinking water system.

We always heard it straight from the dentist. Fluoride is important for your health, and its fine to have some in your drinking water. While it may have been credited for lowering cavities and tooth decay, a new report is showing that too much fluoride can actually cause spots on kids’ teeth. The report, mentioned in an online article, also states that the federal government plans on reducing the recommended levels of fluoride in drinking water supplies after more than fifty years.

The article states that approximately “About 2 out of 5 adolescents have tooth streaking or spottiness because of too much fluoride, a surprising government study found recently.” Dentists have also noticed that in extreme cases, teeth are pitted by the mineral. The standard since 1962 has been a range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the blotchy tooth condition, fluorosis, is common in kids ages 12 through 15. Furthermore, it appears to have grown much more common since the 1980s.

The government will also be releasing two other related studies by the EPA in regards to how people are exposed to fluoride and their health effects. Fluoride is a mineral that exists naturally in water and soil. The article states that “Today, most public drinking water supplies are fluoridated, especially in larger cities. Counting everyone, including those who live in rural areas, about 64 percent of Americans drink fluoridated water.”

While it may not be considered a nationwide health problem, and if some quantity does help fight cavities and protect eroding tooth decay, there may be other ways to get healthy drinking water for your family. When you need to eliminate the presence of minerals and contaminants in your water, one solution may be installing a water treatment system like reverse osmosis or using a water cooler for your drinking water. Reverse osmosis will filter your water, ensure natural and safe water, and produce a constant flow for any demands you may have. Look for a reverse osmosis system that has little to no water waste and keep your children’s health at their maximum potential.

Residents of California who have watched the movie Erin Brockovich are familiar with the words Hinkley and hexavalent chromium. They may know that when ingested or inhaled, it can cause serious health effects, and plague the drinking water of their community. But whether or not they know for sure if it is found in their water is still yet to come. A new study by the Environmental Working Group has recently published a study which states that in the United States alone, 35 cities tested positive for drinking water with hexavalent chromium, and 25 of those cities has amounts that exceed any recommended state or government levels. Some of these areas are located in California, and the study has brought about new potential threats to already sensitive drinking water sources in the western state.

Hexavalent chromium is a toxic form of the element chromium and their compounds are man-made and widely used in many different industries. Other research on the toxic chemical shows that it can be dangerous when both inhaled and ingested and can cause several types of cancer in large enough amounts. In smaller doses, it can still cause health issues with nasal passages and breathing. Residents of California could possibly ingest this toxin chemical through drinking water if present, and without knowing, could be putting themselves and their families in danger.

It was determined to be a probable carcinogen in 2008. Also stated in a document by the Clean Water Fund, “according to the Department of Public Health, from 1997 through 2008 chromium VI was detected in 2,208 California drinking water sources monitored for the contaminant. These sources are spread throughout 52 out of 58 counties, impacting an estimated 33 million Californians.”

Other related studies on the effects of hexavalent chromium state that the best way to stay safe is to use a water treatment system like reverse osmosis or water coolers. Check with your local water supply company to see if this toxin is present in your drinking water, and take the safe step of installing a reverse osmosis system in your California home. To read more about this article, click here.

For many of us in the areas of Fullerton, Yorba Linda, Anaheim, Brea, Garden Grove, La Mirada, Buena Park, or La Habra, we like to invest in energy-efficient appliances to save us money. Yet, we don’t always see the money until the long-term, as some of these appliances tend to cost a little more upfront. But what would you say if your home’s water was actually not letting you save the money you set out for because of the minerals it has in it? What if something as common as hard water was actually costing you more money in the long run on something that was supposed to save you money? We all invest in our homes, so why not invest in a new water softener that can save you money and reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

A new study by the Battelle Memorial Institute provides consumers with some information on how water softeners are an important part of any home’s appliances and how those appliances will perform better, while at the same time saving you money and greenhouse gas emissions. The water we use should be taken into consideration, and appliances that have to use hard water will use more of it and work harder. Likewise, they don’t have the same life expectancy as those used with water softeners, and will need more repairs and more replacements due to the buildup on pipes and fixtures brought about by hard water.

Luxury home and newer home owners may be less likely to think about purchasing a water softener, but with higher pressure fixtures, more bathrooms, bigger washers, and more appliances, hard water could be having an even worse affect on these homes. Call a reliable water treatment company today to get your free water test and see how much your water softener could be saving you. To read more from this study, click here.

This year 16 states banned high levels of phosphates in household cleaners. Most of us likely never noticed the difference, except in our dishwashers. Many people started noticing a thick chalky substance on silverware, glasses, and even plastic containers. This meant an uptick in appliance repair service calls, complaints to municipal water suppliers, and even purchases of new dishwashers – when it was all just the dishwasher detergent.

Historically, phosphates have been used in dishwasher detergent to counteract hard water minerals. When this compound is removed, calcium, magnesium, and manganese are allowed to stick to the surface of the dishes. Unfortunately, however, phosphates are problematic to the environment, acting like a fertilizer that spurs algae and aquatic weed growth. That algae depletes the water of oxygen, making it impossible for fish and other aquatic animals to survive. In some places, public beaches have even been closed because of the “green slime”.

So, what can you do? Well, like some folks, you could try to buy the old “contraband” detergent online, but we don’t think that’s a good solution. Others have found that using 20 Mule Team Borax or vinegar in the dishwasher reduces spotting. If you’re using powder detergent, you might try switching to gel or tablets. Another satisfactory solution is to invest in a water softener for your home or business. This appliance will remove the hard water minerals before they reach your dishwasher – or your shower doors, or faucets, or any other surface! Additionally, the soft water will make all your cleaners more effective and allow you to use smaller amounts of them.

Because obesity is such a prevalent issue in the United States, everyone is looking for ways to reverse the epidemic. One intelligent way to help our obese children is by taking away all the sugar infested drinks that we provide for them and replacing them with water. It’s actually been shown to work and is also cost saving and convenient.

There was a study done in Germany comparing schools that were upgraded with more water fountains and water bottles for the children to other schools that were not. The children were encouraged by their teacher to drink water and were told about the benefits of it. They were allowed to fill their water bottles at the beginning of the day so that they would always have a drink handy. The teachers even agreed to throw in little messages throughout the day about how healthy water is and why it is a better choice than soda. By the end of the year, the children that had more exposure to water were 30% less likely to be overweight than the groups that didn’t have the water promotion. Their risks of becoming overweight, and therefore, other health risks were actually decreased with the simple switch to water.

The idea behind this study is that one in every five calories consumed is from a liquid. Basically, what we choose to drink affects our weight. Because 90% of school aged children drink sugar-sweetened beverages everyday, substituting water seems like an easy solution to reduce calories. In fact, if this change is made, on average, 235 calories will be completely eliminated from a child’s diet. There is no evidence that the child will have an increased appetite to make up for those calories, so it is a healthy solution.

What needs to happen to make this change possible is that parents and school faculty need to accept responsibility for promoting better habits. It is not the fault of McDonald’s or the soda companies, it is the choices that the adults in children’s lives are making for them. Save soda as a treat for special occasions. Allow them access to water by placing paper cups close to the refrigerator or sink so they may get their own drink when thirsty. Take vending machines out of schools that do not provide water in them. Most importantly, make the change with your children. They will become accustomed to drinking water if you are beside them doing it as well.

To take it a step further, there is nothing worse than pouring a nice, fresh glass of ice water only to realize that the water has an odor or a chemical taste to it. Provide your household with a water filtration system of some kind to allow your children to enjoy the taste of it. There are faucet attachments, refrigerator dispenser filters, and even water coolers. In turn, you are eliminating any contaminants, which will certainly ensure the good health of your children. Switching to water is an easy enough way to keep your child healthy and to prevent them from having health risks in the future.

State and local water sources are usually tested on a regular basis. But as one Illinois community found out, their emergency water supplies might not be as safe as they had hoped. The mishap occurred due to dishonest communication and irregular water testing of secondary water sources. Both are actions that should never happen on behalf of community officials. According to this article in the Chicago Times, state and local officials were not communicating about which emergency water sources were being used, leading to less testing, greater cost savings, and a possibility of dangerous drinking water being distributed to residents.

According to the article, there is no way to determine if over 58 million people were being served contaminated drinking water through these emergency sources. As a result the federal government is now urging state and local officials to begin testing all drinking water sources more often and more rigorously.

But how often is enough for testing our drinking water sources? Some toxins enter after rainfall or snow. Others occur in the water sources and groundwater naturally over time. Not sure about your home’s drinking water? Many residents aren’t, and the chances of these miscommunications occurring in places other than Illinois are also pretty good. Take the safest route you can for your family’s drinking water is to purchasing a home water treatment system. Reverse osmosis systems, water softeners, tank exchange systems, and water coolers are great ways to keep your peace of mind. Maybe a home water system is the emergency water source each home should have instead of relying on your local drinking water supplies.

Lead is a great and abundant resource with many important uses including batteries and x-rays. However, its use in plumbing pipes has caused health concerns for decades. We need to avoid ingesting lead to avoid severe health consequences, yet too many households have lead in their drinking water.

Lead, a bluish-white lustrous metal, it is very soft, highly malleable, ductile, it is very resistant to corrosion but tarnishes upon exposure to air. Rarely is lead found in source water yet it is found regularly in high concentrations in our tap water. How did it get there? It is our water delivery system that introduces lead to our tap water. Homes built before the mid 80’s are more likely to contain problem plumbing. Lead pipes as well as solder used to join copper pipes, brass in faucets, coolers, and valves all contribute to elevated lead levels. Private Wells fitted with parts that contain lead also pose a threat.

Exposure to lead can cause increased blood pressure as well as anemia and damage to reproductive organs as well as significant damage to the nervous system. Exposure to high levels can severely damage the brain and kidneys and can ultimately lead to death. Children are more vulnerable to lead poisoning than adults. Even small amounts may cause severe stomachache, weakness, and possible brain damage. Low level exposure has been shown to affect mental and physical growth of children. Rather than question the quality of your water, and what it is doing to your body, a simple water test can put your mind at ease – whether the results indicate that your water is fine, or that you need to take action against a specific contaminant.

Obviously the ultimate fix is to remove the source of the lead if at all possible, which in many cases may mean replumbing the house or business. An easier and more economical option is to install a water treatment system such as a reverse osmosis drinking water system under the sink or in a convenient water cooler. Systems like these are designed to reduce pr remove contaminates so that you and your family have the highest quality and safest drinking water.

Every day we wake up and look in the mirror hoping to have a great reflection looking back at us. However, if you showered last night with hard water, the reflection looking back at you might just be the scariest thing you have ever seen. Bad hair days are every woman’s nightmare, but did you ever imagine it might be the water you shower in that causes it?

Hard water is water that has high mineral content consisting of calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, silica, and lead. More than 85% of American homes have hard water. The hardest water is found in streams in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Arizona, and California.

While hard water generally poses no health risks, it does interfere with almost every cleaning task from laundry to dishwashing, bathing and personal grooming. Clothes laundered in hard water may look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. Dishes and glasses may be spotted when they are dry. Hard water can cause a film on glass shower doors, walls, bathtubs, sinks, and faucets. Hair washed in hard water can feel sticky and look dull. All these issues make dealing with hard water a nuisance.

Ever get out of the shower or bath and simply feel sticky and unclean even though you just soaped up? Bathing with soap in hard water leaves a film of soap scum on the skin. This soap scum is also left behind from shampoo in your hair leaving hair dull, lifeless and difficult to manage. On top of all that, hard water can change the color of your hair. The minerals found in hard water affect our hair, scalp and skin. Calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, silica and lead all leave the hair feeling dry and heavy and all impact the processing of perms, color and chemical relaxers. Iron and copper both discolor the hair, iron leaving an orange hue and copper leaving a green hue. Calcium also builds up on the scalp causing flaking, giving the appearance of dandruff. On top of all these minerals, chlorine is also often found in water. Chlorine is added to drinking water to kill bacteria; however it also damages the cuticle and proteins of the hair.

After you spend all that money on your latest hair style with perhaps new color, or new perm, it would be incredibly frustrating to look in the mirror and see it partially washed out or an odd color. According to Prevention Magazine you should wait 48 hours to shampoo, and then do so with purified water. Because tap-water contains chlorine, which is a bleaching agent, and well-water has minerals like copper that coat the hair and alter its hue, purified water is the answer. For every day usage, treat your hard water to a Home Water Treatment System or a water softener. Water treatment systems or water softeners take the “hard” right out of your water. These systems are economical and easy to use with portable exchange tank service. The benefits they provide are countless but begin with feeling fresh and clean out of the shower, shiny hair that looks and feels great, clothes that look new longer, and best of all water that tastes great and does great things for you. Once your hard water has its own treatment, your hair treatment will last a lot longer and look just like it did when you walked out of the salon.

When we are thirsty we simply get a glass of water, drink it down and feel better by doing so. However, recently the Environmental Protection Agency is becoming concerned about a chemical called Perchlorate. This chemical has been found contaminating drinking water in at least 20 states, yours could be included.

The main concern surrounding perchlorate is the fact that it interferes with the iodide uptake into the thyroid gland. They thyroid gland in adults helps to regulate metabolism by releasing hormones. In fetuses and children it is even more important because the thyroid hormones are critical for normal growth and development of the central nervous system. Obviously having any drinking water source contaminated with this particular chemical would possibly have far reaching and long lasting effects. The upside to this contamination is that once the exposure is removed so are the effects on the body.

Perchlorate is both a naturally occurring and manmade contaminant that is being found more and more in ground water, surface water and soil. Most perchlorate that is manufactured in the U.S. is used as an ingredient in solid fuel for rockets and missiles. In addition, perchlorate-based chemicals are also found in the construction of highway safety flares, fireworks, pyrotechnics, explosives, common batteries, and automobile restraint systems. As common as some of these products are, it is not surprising that the chemical has been detected in drinking water supplies of over 11 million people.

While the government is considering altering the acceptable limits of this contaminant, ultimately it is up to each household to provide our own safe water to drink. Public water treatment systems can only do so much and we can’t rely on them to deliver completely clean, safe water to our home tap. There are many economical, budget friendly, home water treatment systems available today. With a little research and perhaps a simple water test, your home can be fitted with an under-sink RO System or a convenient water cooler that would virtually guarantee good, clean, safe drinking water for your family every single day. Your family is worth it, your health is worth it.