How To Prevent Water-Related Illnesses From Drinking Water
Water is among our planet’s most important resources, yet it is becoming scarcer and scarcer. In fact, WMO – the World Meteorological Organization warns that a water crisis is looming in our future.
Unfortunately, water-related illnesses are among the greatest threats to the global supply, with an alarming 485,000 deaths attributed each year. And, even worse, the World Health Organization warns that by 2025, half of our population will be living in water-stressed regions.
If you’re concerned with these statistics, stay calm. It’s easy to prevent illness from drinking water with proper filtration. Keep reading to learn how you can protect your access to the best drinking water possible – no matter what’s happening in the world.
Potential Contaminants
Waterborne illnesses are often quite serious, with nasty bugs like Salmonella, Hepatitis A, E. coli, and Norovirus among the most commonly transmitted. While anyone coming in contact with these contaminants might become ill, infants, elderly adults, and people with poor immune systems are most at risk.
Contaminated water may also contain copper, lead, and other heavy metals. These may lead to serious health concerns including kidney and respiratory disease, reproductive challenges, and cancer.
Essential Filtration Information
The most common types of water filters use microscopic holes to catch sediment.
How powerful each filter is can be measured in microns. Smaller micron ratings mean finer filtration, eliminating particles as small as parasites and bacteria. Filters with larger pores like the big bubba are perfect for straining other contaminants such as dirt and chlorine.
This type of filtration system is most commonly found in pitchers, sink attachments, and in-line systems.
Reverse osmosis systems vary slightly, forcing water through a tough membrane to catch small particles and chemicals. This is also a much slower process, taking multiple hours to deliver a few gallons.
It is also important to note that reverse osmosis filters remove the healthy minerals found in water. Eventually, you may be forced to use a supplement to balance out these lost nutrients.
Additional filtration may be used as well. For example, carbon or charcoal filters to remove odors, alkaline enhancement to change your water’s pH balance, and even UV lights to help reduce the presence of microorganisms. Some systems also include mineral supplements that are added back in post-filtration to balance the effects of reverse osmosis.
Protect Your Access to Important Resources
Now that you know a bit more about preventing water-related illnesses from drinking water, you’re ready to safeguard your access in the future. And, not a moment too soon! After all, clean and safe drinking water is one of the world’s most important resources – and you absolutely can’t live without it.
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