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We cannot assume that our drinking water is safe just because it meets the government’s standards. Low levels of heavy metals, industrial chemicals and radiation may be present in your drinking water and still be considered within “safe” limits.

Arsenic in drinking water is an example of this contradiction. Under the old standard you could have up to 50 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic in your drinking water and it was considered within the acceptable “Maximum Concentration Level (MCL).”   The new revised standard allows only up to 10 ppb, so yesterday’s safe levels of arsenic are considered unsafe today.  Based upon the National Academy of Sciences’ 1999 risk estimates, there is an approximate total cancer risk of 1 in 500 drinking 2 liters of water per day with an arsenic level of 10 ppb.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)  analyzed data compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of arsenic levels in 25 states and estimates, “34 million Americans drink tap water containing average levels of arsenic that pose unacceptable cancer risks.” According to the EPA, Western states have more systems with arsenic levels greater than 10 ppb, but parts of the Midwest and New England have areas with greater than 10 ppb.  However, it is my experience that many other areas have low levels of arsenic in their drinking water that should be reduced.

There are several types of water filtration technologies that are used to reduce arsenic. Depending upon the amount of arsenic in the water, whether the water source is a well or municipal, or if the water contains high levels of minerals, different filtration equipment is used to effectively reduce arsenic levels.

In drinking water that is treated with chlorine and contains low levels of arsenic, an arsenic reducing filter can be added to a ceramic-carbon filter at the sink. However, when the water is hard, or arsenic levels are above 10 ppb, the best filtration system is a Reverse Osmosis ( R.O.) system under the sink.
With well water contaminated with arsenic, an R.O. system is combined with a special whole house arsenic treatment system. Also, it is very important that all filters be maintained and replaced at least as often as is recommended by the manufacturer, otherwise their effectiveness is diminished. You can obtain a water report from your water supplier, or if you have a well it can be tested for arsenic and other water contaminants.

References:

(1)  Natural Resources Defense Council
Web site: www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/qarsenic.asp
(2)  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,  “Arsenic in Drinking Water”
Web site: www.epa.gov/safewater/arsenic/basicinformation.htm

Dr. Roy Speiser is president of CWR Environmental. His experience includes being a microbiologist for the New Jersey Dept. of Health, a research biochemist for Ortho Research Foundation, and a holistic health care practitioner for 30 years with an emphasis on environmental illness. He has achieved a Level 5 water specialist certification from the Water Quality Association, published numerous scientific articles and co-developed several water and air purification systems.

You may think your drinking water is safe because it meets Federal Regulations, but recent studies have found that even low levels of contaminants that are within legal limits pose health risks.

A recent New York Times article reported that the 35 year old federal law regulating tap water is so out of date that scientists say the water Americans drink can pose serious health risks. Only 91 contaminants are regulated by the Safe Drinking Act and yet more than 60,000 chemicals are used within the US, according to the EPA estimates. Hundreds of these contaminants have been detected in drinking water sources across the U.S.

Toxic Contaminants Found in Source Water

Scientific studies have revealed the shocking truth that in addition to chlorine, toxic contaminants commonly found in source water include;  industrial chemicals, pesticides, fluoride, arsenic, lead, parasites and radioactivity.  In the past several years new contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, perchlorate and gasoline additives have also been detected in many water supplies.

Drinking contaminated water for decades is a contributing factor for increased risks of cancer and other diseases such as Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), even at small concentrations.

Recent attention has been focused on “Trihalomethanes” (THM’s) which are chemicals formed by the action of chlorine with naturally occurring organic matter in water.  Scientific studies have linked THM’s to increased risk of bladder and colorectal cancer and may be linked to heart, lung, kidney and liver damage.

Many public water systems have now added ammonia to disinfect the water and reduce the levels of THM’s.  However, a whole new group of toxic by-products called “chloramines” have been created in drinking water. In addition to these cancer- causing agents, pesticides, plastic compounds such as Bisphenol A and contaminants from personal care products can interfere with normal hormonal function.

How to Protect Your Health from Water Contamination

In its official annual report, the President’s Cancer Panel is recommending that people use home filtering devices to decrease exposure to cancer-causing agents found in drinking water. With most drinking water containing a wide range of contaminants, what water filtration system is best?

Many consumers have tried small faucet filters or pour-through pitchers to remove toxins form their drinking water. However, these measures are inadequate for the types and levels of contaminants found in most water systems. Real protection requires a “Multibarrier Filtration System” that can effectively eliminate even the most harmful toxins from leaching into your drinking water.

Effective filtration at the sink utilizes the best available technologies such as ceramic microfiltration for parasites, VOC carbon for THM’s and Ion Exchange Filters for special contaminants such as fluoride and heavy metals. Filtration tanks on the main water line are used to reduce the total load of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hardness and iron to the entire home.

The first step is to have a water quality expert review your local Consumer Water Report, or if it is well water, test the well to determine the types and extent of the contaminants. Then, a specialized filtration equipment solution can be provided to eliminate the contaminants from your household water.

A customized system is the best way to address your water purification needs as well as your budget. In the long run you will reduce the incidence of health disorders that result from drinking and bathing in contaminated water.

Dr. Speiser is a water quality specialist and health care practitioner with 35 years experience on environmental health issues. He has published numerous scientific articles and developed personal protection products geared towards protecting our health. You can have your water report evaluated and receive a complimentary filtration recommendation from Dr. Speiser by contacting CWR, Environmental – phone #800-444-3563.

In addition to these contaminants, almost all municipal water is acidic because they add chlorine which breaks down to weak hydrochloric acid.  Also, many source waters do not contain a lot of normal minerals and are usually acidic with a low pH.

Now with the new CWR Ceramic Alkaline Water Filter your drinking water is not only purified it is infused with alkalizing minerals that restore the pH balance and add healthy minerals.

The new CWR  Ceramic Alkalizing Water Filter offers all the advantages of the Basic CWR Crown 4 stage filter plus it will make your drinking water more alkaline.

When you compare the new Ceramic Alkalizing Water Filter to alkalizing machines that are available on the market the CWR Ceramic Alkaline Filter has numerous advantages.

1. First, the new Ceramic Alkalizing Water Filter can make alkaline water at a fraction of the cost of an alkalizing machine which cost over $1,000 and even as high as $4,000.
2. In addition, the ceramic filter element inside the CWR Ceramic Alkalizing Water Filter is certified to remove parasites, chlorine, lead, turbidity and particulates, bad taste and odor.  Also, extensive testing has been performed on the ceramic filter by independent labs to USEPA protocol for testing microbiological filters and has passed.  In addition, the University of Arizona and The Water Research Council in England have tested the ceramic filter for parasite reduction and found greater than 99.99% of parasites were reduced by the Ceramic Filter.
3. Alkaline machines on the other hand are not considered filters and do not have enough filtration to remove these toxic contaminants.
4. Another advantage of the CWR Ceramic Alkalizing Water Filter is that you have a unique cleanable ceramic filter so that when it traps particles and dirt and the flow rate slows down, it can be cleaned.  This prolongs filter life.

So in addition to producing highly purified drinking water – the new CWR Ceramic Alkalizing Water Filter infuses alkalizing minerals into the your drinking water which has many benefits including raising the mineral content and pH range to help rebalance an acidic system and improve cellular physiology and resistance.

All in all the new CWR Ceramic Alkalizing Water Filter is a new water filtration technology that provides great value, large quantities of highly purified  remineralized water for all your drinking and cooking requirements. I highly recommend this filtration system to everyone.

CWR Alkaline Filter                                                 Alkaline Machines