Water Quality, Resources, Issues, Contamination and Filtering Water

Hot vs Cold Water: Which is Better for Hydration and Health? Most of us automatically reach for cold water. That's a fact for a lot of us. Post-workout, post-outside, out of habit. Cold water hits different. It just feels so refreshing.  Then some swear by warm or hot water. They drink it first thing in the morning, before meals, or when they are feeling a little off. For them, it's calming. And generally, it just sits better in the stomach.  We are left wondering whether the temperature really matters. Or it is something we stick to because we are used to it....

The water you drink every day may seem simple. But where it actually comes from makes a pretty big difference. Some people draw water from the city. Others get it from a private well in their yard. Both can be safe, but they're handled differently.  City water flows from a treatment plant before it reaches your tap. A whole team checks, cleans, and ensures it meets specific standards.   Well water does not go through any of that. It comes straight from the ground. So really, it's up to the homeowner to make sure it stays clean. That's why it helps to...

Staying hydrated is simple. Or it sounds simple. Yet many still have questions about how much water a person really needs in a day.  Some try to stick with the famous eight glasses rule. While others drink water only when they feel thirsty. And so, it depends.  The thing is, every individual has their own needs when it comes to water. Age, weight, daily habits-even where you live. All play a part. This is why a single fixed number rarely works for everyone.  Water keeps your body running smoothly. It helps with digestion, keeps your energy level steady, and allows your...

Let's begin with a simple story. A few years ago, there was this small Midwestern town. People learned that the tap water contained unsafe levels of lead.  But the thing is, parents used the water every day. They cooked with it. They mixed baby formula with it. And yet, no one noticed anything at first. Why? Well, for one, the water looked normal. It, in fact, tasted normal. But of course, deep down, it carried a quiet risk that only showed up when children started getting sick—this was very unfortunate.  Just as in this story, heavy metals in water often act in such a...

When you turn on your tap, the water looks clear. It fills a glass fast. It tastes normal. But honestly, there's more to it than what you see. There are lots of things in that water "too" small to see. Some homes have traces of chlorine from treatment plants. Others may have residual pesticides from farming. And some deal with PFAS and VOCs. These are long-lasting chemicals that can migrate into water supplies. People use filters at home because they want drinking water that feels safer. The carbon filter is one of the most common options. It does not look...

You are not the only person who has ever thought about white spots on dishes, or a soap that does not lather, or scale on faucets. Hard water prevalence is so common that the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that approximately 85% of Americans move into their homes with hard water. However, not all homeowners are sure what hard water is, why it exists, or why certain filters do not appear to correct it. This article will answer all questions, such as what hard water is, what causes the problem, what you should test at home, why the vast majority of...

Have you ever sipped tap water and thought that something was "wrong"? You are not alone. The majority of homeowners can smell or taste strange things or substances before they can see any visible contamination. What most people do not know is that such sensory indicators, chemical smell, earthy smell, or rotten-egg smells, are the initial indication of the existing problems with water quality. This guide classifies the most common causes of bad-tasting or foul-odor water as chlorine, sulfur, metals, and microorganism growth. To discover what each problem is likely to smell or taste like, what these signs are, and how...

Most people experience itch, reddening, or rash after bathing, hand washing, or even when they quench thirst using tap water- and most readily believe they are "allergic to tap water". But is it possible to become allergic to such a basic thing as water? The fact is that pure H₂O cannot cause any allergies in people, as the immune system does not respond to water molecules. But a significant percentage of the population reacts to what is in the water. Tap water can contain chlorine, chloramines, metals, minerals, bacteria, and other irritants that can cause discomfort in the skin or respiratory...

Have you ever wondered why your favorite hot drinks at your favorite cafe taste cleaner, smoother, and more aromatic than your home-made beverages, even though they use the same ingredients? It can be as basic as water quality. Water isn't just a base liquid. It affects flavor extraction, color, aroma, texture, and mouthfeel. In cases where water is chlorinated, sedimentary, or excessively mineralized, or contains chemicals, these substances interfere with the release and dissolution of flavors. The result? Unbalanced, cloudy, metallic, dull, and bitter gusts of drinks. In this article, we will examine seven warm winter drinks, including traditional tea...

Did you know that the pH of your drinking water can either make or break the taste, and your plumbing, appliances, and even the intricacy of the fine chemistry of what you put into your body? Even though we all tend to regard water as a cheap, colorless, and tasteless commodity, the reality is that the acid-alkaline makeup of water (its "pH") matters in how it reacts with metal pipes, dissolves minerals, and supports our bodies.  As the use of home filtration systems has grown and the popularity of "alkaline water" has increased, the topic of water pH is no longer...

The holidays are a time of love, giving, and making really comfortable gifts, not only in the moment but also for the long term. Consumers have never abandoned impulsive holiday gifts as quickly as they are increasingly turning to thoughtful, meaningful gifts that add to the routine of life in simple yet effective ways. This sustainability shift has provided an exciting trend of gifting clean water.   Clean water is vital to the health, well-being, and quality of life. Nevertheless, the WHO and UNICEF report that over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, and millions of others...

Water has a long journey before it reaches your glass. It gets collected, treated, and filtered so many times along the way. One of the most critical parts of that process happens inside your water filter. Not many people know about this. But, there's this black, grainy material that silently cleans your water.  And that material, as the title suggests, is known as activated carbon. The whole gist is simple. It physically binds to "unwanted" substances in your water. These substances are the harmful ones that make your water taste or smell bad, or even make it unsafe to drink....

Generally, bottled water is marketed as a cleaner and safer option. In reality, though, it is one of the most significant causes of plastic pollution worldwide. People purchase over 600 billion plastic bottles each year. Most of them are used once and then thrown away.  Sadly, many of them end up in landfills, rivers, and oceans. This is where they take hundreds of years to break down. And that right here is really the problem. But that's not all. It is not at all just a question of waste. The manufacturing and distribution of bottled water require the burning of vast quantities...

Hot springs are known around the world, and for thousands of years, people have visited them in search of healing and rejuvenation. From the foggy mountain hot springs in Japan to the marble-tiled Roman baths, it has been recognized that hot springs are considered the "nature's medicine", relaxing, restoring, and healing. These geothermal delights have given rise to tales, rituals, and perhaps an introduction to wellness tourism.    But, as the modern traveler may drink, bathe in, and bottle this so-called "miracle water", one vital question arises: Can we drink hot spring water safely? We will cover the cultural background...

Every year, Americans spend more money on bottled water than on gasoline. But is it worth it? Since then, bottled water has been advertised as the icon of convenience and purity. It is most convenient to carry a plastic bottle of cold water to stay hydrated on the road. The convenience is not only expensive financially but also environmentally damaging.   At first glance, the price of bottled water might seem low, but in the long run, it is the opposite. The cost of clean water is considerably higher than Americans assume, in terms of the money paid, transportation costs, and...

According to recent studies, a liter of bottled water can contain hundreds of thousands of microplastic particles, including nanoplastics. In fact, a landmark 2024 study by Columbia University and Rutgers University discovered that an average liter of commercially bottled water had almost 240,000 plastic fragments, the majority of which were nanoplastics (far smaller than microplastics). This shocking fact provokes serious questions regarding microplastics. How are they getting into our bottled water? What were the possible health impacts and implications? And what can we do about it, more specifically? This article will discuss what researchers are discovering about the presence of...

For years, people have been searching for new anti-aging creams, supplements, and weight loss diets. But the powerful source of aging healthier and stronger has been streaming from our taps throughout: water. Satisfying thirst is not only about maintaining adequate fluid intake. Maintaining good hydration is crucial to how our bodies age, not only for preserving our cells' health and our muscles' strength, but also for keeping our brains sharp and our skin supple.  Nevertheless, the majority of older people are unable to sustain their daily water intake, and this mere carelessness has cumulative effects that persist into our later life. The article...

Honestly, we hardly even know the water we're drinking. We just turn on the faucet, swallow it down the throat, or grab a glass of water from a filtered fountain, and we're good to go.　 What you don't realize, though, is that not all water is created equal. Where it is made, how it is made, and even what minerals it contains can vary. How so? Well, it affects the way that it will taste, the way that it will be in your body, and the way that it will affect your overall health. And then there are numerous choices these...

Synthetic organic chemicals, or SOCs, are man-made molecules constructed around the element carbon. One thing about them is that they do not naturally exist. Instead, they are manufactured in factories and laboratories for specific functions.  From our clothing to the cleaners we use, SOCs already reside in our daily lives, whether we acknowledge them or not.　 The issue is that none of us is even aware of how frequently we are exposed to them. They can find their way into our food, our homes, and even the water we drink. Sure, some are harmless in small quantities. However, we must still be...

Volatile organic pollutants, or VOCs, surround us. But they're quite hard to see. They're literally in the air we breathe, the cleaning products we use throughout the house, and even sometimes in the water we drink. Have you ever seen them? Or let alone, felt them?  The issue is that chemicals don't always make themselves visible. You don't have to spill paint thinner all over your living room carpet to be at risk. VOCs can gradually diffuse out of the furniture, flooring, cleaning solutions, and other household products. So what are they, then? Culligan Water. (n.d.). Where do VOCs come...