the importance sourcing your own water
your quest tasks are in red below!
anything and everything we put on or in our bodies matters! our bodies need maximum nutrients and minimal toxins to survive and thrive. eating real food gives us maximum nutrients, and relatively minimal toxins compared to processed food. if we want to optimize long-term health, longevity, and quality of life, then we need to minimize our exposure to toxins as much as possible. because water is such a crucial nutrient, and because most of us consume 1/2 gallon or more per day, we must be focused on the quality of our water.
understanding what’s in your water
tap water is crap water. period. here’s the main problems we’ve found with municipal water:
- over 90% of municipality waters are fluoridated.
- the average American fills 13 prescriptions per year, and over 50% of Americans are taking at least 1 prescription drug routinely. where do you think all those drugs go? much of their byproducts are excreted thru waste and end up in our water supply.
- water comes to us from municipal filtration systems, delivered through pipes which can made of all kinds of different materials, which means water can pick up toxins from these various materials. sealants are used to seal the pipes, adding even more potential for exposure to toxins.
- chlorine is added to all municipal waters kill pathogens. not only does it kill pathogens in water, but also kills beneficial organisms in our bodies, including our beneficial gut bacteria. chlorine also combines with other materials to form even more dangerous toxins, especially when heated (such as in showers, washing machines, and sinks).
- bottled water has it’s own problems. most bottled water is bottled tap water. the toxins in the plastics used in plastic bottles leach into the water, especially when stored for long periods of time under varying degrees of heat.
there are so many toxins in water to be concerned about, it’s ridiculous. the U.S. government in conjunction with testing by water utilities has found a massive amount of pollutants in the tap water we drink. more than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present in any amount. many of these toxins are known to be carcinogenic and lethal in high amounts.
the federal government does have health guidelines for some toxins and pollutants. however, these guidelines are minimal standards based on toxic levels of a single, isolated toxin. these guidelines do not account for the synergistic compounding and exponential hazard associated with multiple toxins and groups of toxins and their impact on our health.
- 49 of the contaminants with guidelines have been found in most municipality water supplies above recommended levels.
- the EPA has not set a new, enforceable drinking water standard since 2001, even though the Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to assess the need for standards for at least five new chemicals every five years. three-fourths of the current standards were set in 1991 and 1992 and have not been updated since. think about how many new chemicals and toxins have been introduced into our water supply since then.
- water utility companies spend 19 times more money on water treatment chemicals every year than the federal government invests in protecting lakes and rivers from pollution in the first place.
if you want to dig in further, one of the best resource I’ve found on water quality is the EWG, which has launched a 3-year project to create the largest drinking water quality database in existence. you can learn more by visiting here ewg.org/tap-water/.
curious about what is in your local water supply?
- you can visit http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/whats-in-yourwater, type in your zip code, and find out exactly what’s in your water.
- you can also order a variety of home testing kits.
if you live in Las Vegas? Las Vegas has some of the dirtiest water in the country! check out this PDF where North Las Vegas is listed as one of the lowest rated in the country:
sourcing your drinking water
if you don’t use a filter, your body becomes the filter. and remember, tap water is crap water. below are our top 3 picks for sourcing water:
1st option for sourcing drinking water – spring water
water that comes directly from a real spring would be an optimal choice. it’s naturally filtered, and naturally picks up healthful organic and non-organic materials. check out this video on spring water. to find a spring new you, visit findaspring.com.
in order to ensure purity, if you’re going to use spring water you must source it yourself! “spring water” found in most grocery stores is not any better than tap water!
2nd option for sourcing drinking water – in-home Reverse Osmosis filters
Reverse osmosis (RO) filters are our top in-home filter recommendation. RO filtration systems use a semipermeable membrane which separates many contaminates that cannot pass thru the membrane. RO systems are almost always paired with other filters including pre RO filters, and post filters including carbon and carbon block filters. because RO filters also remove beneficial minerals and electrolytes, we recommend mineralizing your ultra-clean RO water.
you can install an RO filter in your home, for a small investment (usually between $150 and $300), and reap the benefits of having a long-lasting filtering system that you can use for all your family’s consumption needs. with this initial investment, it’s estimated that your cost per gallon of clean water less than $0.05 per gallon. you’ll need to service the pre and post filters annually (small cost), and the RO membrane every few years. but it’s well worth it.
we have a couple of different recommendations for purchasing your own RO system:
we’ve had great feedback from a couple of people on this particular system from Amazon. when you order it, it helps to have a plumber install it for you.
another great option would be to contact Joy Parker of PuriTeam. we love Joy! Joy is a SuperHuman (SHT), part of the SHT community, and follows all the protocols put out by Paul C. Tijerina, LLC, and the SHT program. Joy is familiar with our foundations for health and so can relate to our goals and our way of life. she is extremely passionate about water quality and helping others. she is part owner and has helped run PuriTeam for over 15 years. PuriTeam offers an RO system. the advantages of purchasing through PuriTeam:
- water efficiency. their RO system uses a 3-1 waste to water ratio (you get 1 gallon of clean water for every 3 gallon that go thru the system), reducing waste, versus most RO systems which average around 7-1 waste to water ratio
- they use a single-injection manifold with a “quick change” filter system, making it very easy to change your filters out yourself.
- you get amazing customer support from Joy herself!
visit PuriTeam.com for more information, or reach out directly to Joy at (702) 749-5308.
3rd option for sourcing drinking water – local water stores that do the filtering for you
you may also source your water directly from locations that use RO and advanced filtration systems. most cities will have “water stores” or similar locations that dispense RO water. ideally you would use a glass container to refill, I love these 3 gallon glass jugs.
in Las Vegas, we have several options for sourcing RO water:
some Whole Foods locations. don’t take our word for it! call to verify! prices vary from $0.40 to $0.59 per gallon.
- Whole Foods Market, 7250 W Lake Mead Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89128, (702) 942-1500.
- Whole Foods Market, 8855 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89117, (702) 254-8655.
all Natural Grocers locations. visit http://www.naturalgrocers.com/ for locations. most locations use a multi stage pre filter, RO, post carbon filter, and post UV which is a huge bonus. $0.25 per gallon!
- Natural Grocers, North Las Vegas, 6305 Simmons St, North Las Vegas, NV 89031, (702) 395-0642.
- Natural Grocers, Henderson, 1660 W Sunset Rd, Henderson, NV 89014, (702) 547-1837.
other water stores. most of these water stores have been verified to use a 12-step filtration process which includes pre filters, RO, post carbon filters, ozone, and UV – all amazing stuff. bring your water jugs and fill up for $0.35 per gallon in store, $0.25 using their vending machines just outside (locations may vary :)
- Water Store Las Vegas, Cheyenne Commons, 3151 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, (702) 515-7005.
- Westcliff Water Store Inc., 7518 Westcliff Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89145, (702) 256-2042.
- South Shores Water Store, 8514 W Lake Mead Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89128, (702) 256-1091.
- Eco Water Store, 2696 W Ann Rd #110, North Las Vegas, NV 89031, (702) 852-3939.
- Red Rock Springs Water, 9132 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89117, (877) 290-5157.
- Sin City H2O to Go, 3950 N Tenaya Way, Las Vegas, NV 89129, (702) 262-1034.
- Purified Water to Go, 3180 E Desert Inn Rd # 1, Las Vegas, NV 89121, (702) 369-1500.
- Alkapi Alkaline Water LV, S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89103, (702) 476-4747.
also try searching for Las Vegas water store, there may be some other options out there! just be sure to do your due diligence and ask questions, make sure it’s RO with pre and post filters!
if you don’t live in Vegas, simply look for local water stores and then call to verify their filtration process. and be sure to use your own glass jugs such as these 3 gallon glass jugs.
other options while out and about and for variety
occasional bottled water. I’ll be the first to admit, I’ll take a free bottle of water here and there. or in a pinch, if I’m not prepared with my own water, I may buy some bottled water. make sure you look for drinking or purified water. in the fine print, look for Reverse Osmosis plus added filtration such as carbon, ozone, UV, etc.
distilled water may be another option in a pinch. distilled water is extremely pure. it usually comes in plastic bottles (problem). we would not recommend drinking it on a regular basis. but in a pinch, if it’s all you have access to, it’s definitely better than tap water.
properly bottled quality sparkling water is a great option. if it’s sourced from quality springs, and especially if packaged in glass, we love this as a way to add variety. we would still recommend the majority of your hydration come from ultra-clean filtered water. and then you can use sparkling water for variety and for special occasions.
for more information on recommended sparkling water options visit our post here http://www.paulctijerina.com/sparkling-water/.
on bottled water for consumption
millions of Americans buy bottled water in the mistaken belief that it’s safer than tap water. IT’S NOT. many popular brands are nothing more than bottled tap water, tainted with the same pollutants, plus additional pollutants from the plastic.
I’m convinced that bottled water is no better than any other toxic water source. even if filtered. the plastic is a problem, and the environmental toll is a problem. in a pinch, or if I’m a guest at someone’s place or event, of course I have no problem consuming bottled water that is Reverse Osmosis and carbon filtrated. but for my daily drinking water, I prefer to source straight from an RO system, whether one I have in my home, or at one of our preferred recommended locations.
for more information on bottled water, check out this series from Wise Bread – bottled water, bottled hype:
making your shower safer
when chlorine is used as a water treatment, it combines with organic matter to form compounds called trihalomethanes (THMs), also known as disinfectant byproducts. these compounds are toxic when consumed, inhaled, or applied to the skin.
showering and bathing in chlorinated water may expose us to even more chlorine and its byproducts than drinking this disinfected water. while our bodies can filter out much of the chlorine from our drinking water, the THMs and other disinfectant byproducts we inhale during showers and baths may be much more harmful, since the chlorine gas we inhale enters directly into our blood stream. therefore, even if you filter your drinking water, the amount of toxins you are exposed to from your daily shower or bath, through inhalation or skin absorption, may be cause for greater concern.
research has demonstrated that the cancer risk associated with chlorinated water may actually be due to showering and bathing, rather than drinking the disinfected water. in fact, the chloroform dose from a single, ten minute shower is equal to, and possibly greater than, that from the average two liters of water ingestion on a daily basis.
therefore, the filtration of your shower and bath water may be even more important than the water you drink.
- you can try this one from Amazon, or
- Joy Parker and Puriteam has some great ones as well, check them out here!
we cannot stress the importance of pure, clean drinking water, and pure water in your shower! please take this opportunity to set some things in motion NOW to make yourself and your home healthier!
