H2 Oh-Oh…What you Need to Know About Drinking Water

It wasn’t a shotgun blast but more like an explosion.   When the neighbour’s generator sprung to life, I knew we were in trouble.   The wind was ferocious that Good Friday – so much so that as I turned to get inside, a tree came crashing down beside me.  What was happening?  It felt like a biblical end of times.   Was this it?  Was God getting back at me for using his name in vain and not flossing?  Turns out it wasn’t the end, but the power was definitely out.  What was uncertain was how long we’d be left in the dark?

We’d been living in Cottage country for three months and this was our first major power outage.   At first it was amusing.   “Bust out the candles!” “Cards anyone?” “Guess we’ll never know who the Masked Singer really is”.   But then we realize the entire family had gathered for Easter and we had no stove to cook dinner.  Hey, we’re at the cottage, this is no problem, we’ve got the BBQ.   With a little culinary McGuivering we managed a terrific easter feast.   It was when we tried to clean up that we discovered the real problem.

We didn’t have any water!   When the electricity went out so did our pump that drew water from the lake through our filtering system and then to taps, toilet and tub.   Time to break out the buckets.   We’d have to haul water from the lake up to the cottage, which got old real quick.    That water was okay for washing dishes and flushing the toilet, but we couldn’t take the chance on drinking it untreated.   We were stuck.  It’s funny how thirsty you get when you suddenly don’t have water.   I wasn’t really thirsty, it was all in my head, but it got me thinking about how dependant we are on a safe supply of water.   Our lives literally depend on water.

The human body is composed of about 60% water, and we simply cannot live without it – we’d last about 3 days.  It’s key to the transportation, digestion, and absorption of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.  It is vital to our blood and circulatory system, the creation of saliva and even the maintenance of our body temperature – what would we sweat without water?  Consuming enough water is essential in maintaining our nervous system, energy levels and even brain function – think about that, unless you’re dehydrated and then…you can’t think about it.  So, water – the quantity and the quality of it – is kind of a big deal.

I don’t know about you but when I grew up you bought a bottle of pop at the store not a bottle of water.   In those days if you tried to sell bottled water you’d be laughed out of business.   Times have changed.   In most grocery stores bottled water takes up the better part of an aisle.   There seems to be as many types of water as there are types of cereal or beer (we didn’t have 8 billion microbreweries growing up either).  So, what kind of water is best to drink?  I began to dig into the information and soon realized that the subject of water is as vast as the ocean itself. There may only be 7 seas, but did you know there are principally 9 different types of drinking water??  Who knew that choosing drinking water could be more confusing than ordering a coffee at Starbucks?

Turns out, not all water is created equal. Here’s a brief 411 on H2O:

1. Municipal Tap Water – For the most part in North America, tap water is generally considered safe and healthy. While public water systems can become contaminated (Hello Flint, Michigan), they are tested regularly to ensure safety. Plus, it’s cheap, accessible, and more eco-friendly than bottled water.Municipal water contains natural minerals and fluoride to protect teeth from decay. But even though it is considered “safe”, tap water may also contain pesticide residue, iron, aluminum, plastics, and other substances which might make it sub-par or give it a slightly unpleasant taste or smell. Even if it looks and tastes okay, you might want to test a sample, so you know exactly what you’re drinking.
2. Purified Water – this is water that goes through a purification system. Generally, purified water is sourced as municipal water, groundwater (well), lake, or river water. The components of a filter system are usually based on the source of water, its condition, and contaminants.  These systems can be as simple as pouring tap water through a water jug with a carbon filter (Brita) which removes metals like lead, copper, and mercury as well as chemicals like chlorine and pesticides. Or it could be run through something like a reverse osmosis filtration system connected directly to your water supply where the water is filtered through a semi-permeable membrane before it reaches your tap. They system I used had water from the lake running through a sediment filter and then an ultra-violet light which killed all bacteria.   For drinking water, we used three additional filters to remove any further contaminants and improve the taste – without it the water tasted like a soggy log…yummy.
   On the downside, purifying water can be costly, as you have to pay for the system and change filters regularly or you risk having water that has more contaminants than what you started with.  Plus, you are losing out on some of the health benefits of less purified water. The natural minerals our bodies need (like calcium, magnesium, and sulfur) have been largely stripped out, as well as the fluoride that helps protect our teeth. However, many of these minerals can also come from food or other sources.
3. Distilled Water – steam from boiling water is collected and condensed back to liquid form, creating one of the purest forms of water.  This type of water is commonly used in medical facilities and labs.  Much like purified water, it’s a great substitute for tap water that’s not fit or tasty to drink.  But distilled water is considered dead water as it contains no minerals or fluoride making it less beneficial than tap or mineral waters.  Plus, it can be costly to purchase and energy intensive to prepare.
4. Mineral Water – this water comes directly from a mineral spring and contains beneficial calcium, sulfur, magnesium, and other nutrients. These are elements our bodies need but don’t produce.  Mineral water is known to aid digestion and many folks find it tastes better than tap water.  The downside is that it can be expensive to purchase, and the bottles need to be recycled or create waste.     For centuries people have believed in the “unique properties” of mineral water and its abilities to keep us youthful (Fountain of Youth) to healing all manner of illness (Lourdes).  I have one friend who has bottled mineral water shipped across the country monthly for the health benefits.    Whether it is the water itself or the placebo effect, there’s no doubt mineral water helps some people.
5. Spring or Glacier Water – this water comes from an underwater spring or glacier and will also contain some natural minerals. It may be less expensive than mineral water but unless you live close to a spring or glacier, it still needs to be purchased in bottles. The way glacier’s are melting these days, it may be last call for this water before we know it.
6. Sparkling Water – many people think this water is the same as mineral water but that’s not necessarily so. It might simply be tap water that has been infused with carbon-dioxide under pressure to make it bubbly. Whether it’s sparkling tap water or mineral water, many people prefer their water fizzy which encourages you to drink more and therefore helps you stay hydrated. If you are buying sparkling water, be aware that any flavoured versions may contain added sugar or artificial sweeteners. You can even buy a machine so you can make it at home.  However, as with other types of processed water there are costs involved.
7. Flavoured and infused Water – the benefit of drinking flavoured water is the taste – especially those who otherwise aren’t fans of plain water. Adding some lemon, lime, orange, or cucumber to any water can make for a delicious alternative and encourage you to drink more. But flavoured waters that are “store bought” can be high in sugar or artificial sweeteners which can contribute to weight gain and negatively affect those with diabetes or other sensitivities.
8. Alkaline Water – this type of water is becoming more popular and has a higher PH level than regular tap water. It can be purchased in bottles or made from a PH kit you can purchase at health stores, made from tap water filtered through an ionizer filter or made by simply adding a little baking soda and/or fresh lemon to your water. Some believe that alkaline water helps to neutralize acid in the body which can help slow the aging process and possibly prevent cancer. However, there is not enough scientific data to prove this is true. You should exercise caution as drinking too much alkaline water may also lower the acidity in your stomach which, in turn, lowers your ability to fight harmful bacteria and may disrupt digestion.
9. Well Water – in many rural areas, your tap water comes from your own underground backyard well rather than a city water supply. This fresh water has not been treated and while it may be safe and contain beneficial minerals, it should be tested regularly to make sure it’s suitable for drinking. Well water has a higher potential for contamination from bacteria, nitrates and improper PH levels and may be safer consumed after it’s been filtered.

So, as you can tell, I didn’t die of thirst.  The power took it’s time and finally came on about 30 hours later.  You’d think I’d learned my lesson but sadly no.   I now live in a house that draws its water from a well.   So, if the power goes out, we’re totally screwed – we won’t even be able to flush as there’s no lake to fill a bucket!  Not to worry a back-up power system is on the way.  I may be slow, but I’m not totally dehydrated!

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