Municipalities and pro tap water advocates are
claiming that tap water is safe and there is
absolutely no need for the bottled water
industry. But despite these claims and recent
negative publicity the bottled water industry
continues to grow at phenomenal rates.
Supporters of tap water claim that bottled
water can often have more bacteria that tap
water, that the majority of bottles do not get
recycled and are going to the landfills, that
those big trucks that delivery bottled water
contribute to green house gases and at the end
of the day many brands of bottled water are
just filtered tap water any way. And if that
is not enough the cost per gallon can be more
expensive than gasoline. Let's examine each
of these claims.
Bacteria Counts - The Reverse Osmosis process used by many
bottled water companies does effectively
remove parasites and bacteria from water. Many
companies take further steps to kill bacteria
in water with such methods as Ozonating.
Bottled water can get into trouble due to the
risk of insufficient disinfection of reused
water bottles or the time lapse between
bottling and consumption. This can allow
bacteria to grow to the point of unacceptable
levels by the time the water is being
consumed. Bottled water should be stored in
dark cool places. Unfortunately most
retailers, offices and homeowners store their
bottled water in open spaces where the water
is exposed to indoor light or sun light that
can generate algae and bacteria growth in the
water. So, if you prefer bottled water to tap
water buy in quantities that allow you to use
it quickly, before bacteria can develop and
store it in a cool dark place.
Bottle Recycling - There are studies showing that the vast
majority of water bottles are not making it
into recycling centers but are ending up in
the land fill. First, this will cause our
landfills to reach capacity sooner than
needed. Second, with such a large number of
bottled not being recycled manufacturers will
have to deplete more natural resource supplies
to manufacturer various goods such as
carpeting etc.
Green House Gases - Water is very heavy by volume and it takes
large trucks with large gas guzzling engines
to transport water bottles to homes and
businesses. Many customers have delivery one
to two times per month. This is twice per
month that a truck has to burn gas and emits
the hydro carbons and other air pollutants
that are contributing to Global Warming.
Just Filtered Tap Water - In fairness to bottled water companies they do
more than just "filter" tap water. The Reverse
Osmosis process that many companies use
produces in water in its purest form. Only
distillation results in a purer water, and
only marginally so.
What Is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a process where water
is pressed up against a semi permeable
membrane. The porousness of the membrane is so
minute that only water molecules can work
their way through. Just about all other
impurities are rejected and discharged. Here
is a list of some of the impurities that RO is
documented to remove or dramatically reduce in
water. Before even going through the RO
process there is often two or three stages of
pre filtration to make the RO process more
effective and one or more post RO steps to
ensure the water is safe, pure and tastes
great.
High Cost - The cost per litre can vary greatly depending on what volume
and form you are buying it in. For instance.
Delivered bottled water in 20 litre jugs will
usually cost between $6 - $8 per just which is
$.30 - $.40 per liter. The small bottles
purchased at the local convenience store are
often $1.00 to $1.50 for 500ml which is $2 to
$3 per liter.
Why Is Bottled Water So Popular?
Pro tap water supporters are passionate about
the reasons for not using bottled water. So
why is it that the bottled water industry
continues to grow a great rate despite all the
information and negative publicity surrounding
its consumption?
Taste- Many feel that tap water tastes horrible. The bad taste usually
comes from a combination of chlorine in the
water, sediment and other impurities and odors
picked up in municipal and household plumbing
lines.
Chlorine is usually the dominant taste in
municipal water. Levels of chlorine can change
daily based on the level of bacteria the
municipal water department has to deal with
and how close you are to a "booster station".
This explains why the taste of chlorine seems
almost acceptable some times and other times
it tastes like your drinking from a swimming
pool. There is a lot of pressure on municipal
official to ensure that our water is micro
biologically safe so they will tend to error
on the side of caution to be sure there is
plenty of chlorine in the water to kill the
bugs. Chlorine does dicipate while it
interacts with bacteria as it travels through
municipal lines. There are booster stations
long the way that keep injecting chlorine into
the water supply to be sure it keeps the water
microbiologically safe to the furthest
customer down the line. If you are physically
close to one of these stations you will have
higher levels of chlorine in your water than
those further down the line.
Chlorine (THMs) - Chlorine not only tastes bad, it is very toxic
and it creates a by product called THMs that
is proven to cause cancer. This is well
documented by Health
Canada. If you go to their site and search
"Chlorination of drinking water" you will find
a report explaining how THMs do exist in tap
water and can cause cancer. However, they also
state that they don't feel the levels are high
enough to be of concern. But in the next
paragraph of their report they suggest "point
of use" filtration if THMs (chloroforms), DBCP,
Lindane, TCE (trichloroethylene), PCE (tetrachloroethylene),
Carbon tetrachloride, Chlorine, Barium,
Potassium, Bicarbonate, Radium, Cadmium,
Selenium, Calcium, Silicates, Chromium,
Silver, Copper Sodium , Detergents , Strontium
, Fluoride , Sulphates, Lead , PCBs ,
Magnesium, Insecticides, Nickel, Herbicide,
Nitrates, Total Dissolved Solids, Arsenic,
Bacteria & Parasites you are concern about
THM levels in your water.
So with this knowledge in hand why is chlorine
used to disinfect drinking water in Canada
when many European countries have banned it.
It's very simple. Money. Chlorine is the most
"cost effective" way to disinfect water. Not
the safest, but the most cost effective.
Other Impurities - There are many other impurities in drinking
water. Depending on your location you may have
rust, dirt, Arsenic, Lead and Manganese in
your local water supply. Local municipalities
do their best to keep the levels of these
impurities as "safe" levels but it is a
constant challenge to manage nature. In
Langley, 2 of the 12 local aquifers
consistently fail their Arsenic level tests.
So far the chosen method to handle this is by
mixing enough of the "good" water with the
"bad" to dilute Arsenic levels to a safe
amount determined by Health Canada.
Trust - General trust of tap water has waned in years since the Walkerton
incident. This was an incident when local
water officials were "sleeping at the wheel"
when e Coli levels started to rise and they
didn't take corrective action causing many
people to die and many more to become very
ill. System safeguards are not infallible.
Most if not all municipalities publish some
form of "water safety report'. Very often
these reports will state that the systems were
effectively safeguarding the water 98%of the
time. And the water officials are generally
pleased with this level of success. But what
about the other 2%. Does this mean the water
is unsafe 2% of the time? Are we on our own
during these times? So here you have pro tap
water advocates with some very strong
arguments against bottled water but there are
also some strong arguments for those who
choose bottled water. Who do you believe? What
is the right thing to do?
The 3rd
Option "Point Of Use" Purification
There is an other option that is taking the
whole water industry by storm. On Site Water
Purification systems. The advancement of
technology and the growing awareness of point
of us (POU) Reverse Osmosis Water purification
systems has created a wedge between tap water
and bottled water supporters and is growing at
a phenomenal rate. These systems are typically
installed under a kitchen sink and can
dispense water through a dedicated purified
water tap at the sink or to a "jugless" water
cooler that automatically replenishes it
self. They work by connecting to the cold
water line under the sink and putting the
water through the same Reverse Osmosis process
used by many bottled water companies described
earlier in this report. Many say this provides
the best of both worlds by producing "bottled
water quality" enjoyed by so many without all
the negatives and hassles of dealing with
bottled water. Consider some of the
advantages:
No Heavy Lifting & Spilling
For people using jugs, a reverse osmosis
system eliminates the need to constantly
replace the hassle of replacing the jugs. Most
machines are installed under the sink, and a
tube is set up to run from the system to the
cooler.
Saves Time & Energy
No more driving down to the store, wasting gas
and time, to pick up more water.
Frees Up Storage Space
If you've been using water jugs you know the
hassle of trying to figure out where to put
all those darn jugs. I've had clients start
using the jugless system for this one benefit
alone.
Better sanitation
As mentioned before, some bottled water
actually contains higher concentrations of
bacteria and parasites than regular tap water.
When you use the bottled or jug solution, you
may inadvertently be contaminating your cooler
with bacteria from the bottles or be drinking
water from a cooler not sanitized often
enough.
You never run out of water
So long as your tap has water, you can have an
infinite amount of pure, clean, fresh water in
your home or business.
Costs much less per litre than bottled water
On average, a reverse osmosis system actually
costs less than a bottled water solution. You
can get an unlimited amount of purified water
for just pennies a glass!
Very Affordable
Some water purification companies have made it
possible for just about anyone to afford an in
home water purification system. Systems that
would cost over $1000 several years ago can
now be installed for under $500. There are
also service plans being offered where the
customer pays nothing up front for
installation but is charged a very affordable
fixed monthly fee for the system including
filter changes and service.
Special Invitation Offer
I invite you to try our reverse osmosis for 30
Days at no charge. If you are not absolutely
thrilled with the water quality and service we
will remove the system, No Questions Asked
Your
kitchen is probably the most used room in your
house. Poor layout, inadequate lighting,
cramped spaces, outdated fixtures and old
cabinetry are common complaints of homeowners.
Before you
decide to go ahead with a kitchen renovation,
it is important to clearly identify the
features you want in your new kitchen. Just as
important is a thorough pre-renovation
inspection to identify any existing problems.
Common
Situations
Kitchen
renovations are high on the list of the most
common home renovations. A renovation can be
as simple as installing new flooring or be a
major undertaking that includes enlarging the
space and replacing all fixtures and finishes.
Homeowners
consider kitchen renovations for many reasons
including:
Size and design -
the existing kitchen may be too small or
poorly laid out.
Fixtures and appliances - the fixtures and appliances may be worn out, inefficient or outdated.
Cabinets and countertops - cabinet finishes, hardware or countertops may be outdated, need repair
or replacement.
Structural problems - there may be problems that require structural changes or repairs.
Moisture - the
floor, walls or finishes may be unsightly or
damaged due to moisture problems.
Plumbing and electrical - many older kitchens don't have enough electrical outlets and circuits.
Older plumbing and plumbing fixtures may
include lead or galvanized steel piping.
Heating and ventilation - older kitchens often have inadequate ventilation or heating systems.
The area may be poorly insulated and have a
high degree of air leakage, two factors that
lead to high energy consumption.
Finishes - older
finishes may be unattractive or not durable
enough to withstand the daily wear and tear.
House as a
System
A house is
much more than just four walls and a roof -
it's an interactive system made up of many
components including the basic structure,
heating, ventilation and air conditioning
(HVAC) equipment, the external environment and
the occupants. Each component influences the
performance of the entire system. A renovation
provides an opportunity to improve how your
house performs. Kitchen renovations often
include changes to HVAC equipment that can
improve indoor air quality and moisture
management in the house. Be careful if
choosing large volume exhaust fans because
they can cause combustion heating equipment to
backdraft. Structural changes may give you a
chance to improve air tightness and
insulation, resulting in increased occupant
comfort and house durability.