Water sources are contaminated with toxins that are dangerous for us in the long term. PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) also known as ‘forever chemicals’ in our drinking water and food sources build up in our bodies and can lead to severe health effects including cancer, diabetes, auto-immune, cardiovascular disease, neurological issues, hormone issues and much more (1-4). Adopting a system to ensure your water’s safety can save you from health problems and costs down the line.
There are no national regulations for PFAS in public water supplies. Most water treatment facilities around the U.S. are not designed to remove PFAS, meaning these chemicals are found in our homes, schools and communities.
Follow These Steps to Make Sure Your Water is Safe:
1) Get a High-Quality Water Filter
It’s up to you to ensure the purity of both your home and drinking water by using a high-quality filter capable of effectively removing vinyl chloride, PFAS, and other harmful toxins and germs. There are two types of options for doing this effectively: Reverse Osmosis or arbon filter systems.
1) Reverse osmosis (RO) is a great way to remove heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, fluoride, iron, and aluminum from drinking water, but one of the major disadvantages of RO systems for the home is that they remove even beneficial minerals from the water leaving it with an acidic pH. This increases risk of mineral deficiency which has many negative health consequences. However, filter systems that combine RO with other filtration technologies are very effective options. For example, the iSpring multi-stage Reverse Osmosis System combines carbon technologies to also remove chlorine, chloramine, herbicides and pesticides, and has an Alkaline Remineralization filter to restore healthy minerals.
2) High-quality catalytic or activated carbon filters can effectively filter out vinyl chloride, PFAS and much more. Independent third party testing show the following companies have high-quality carbon-based water filters for both personal use as well as for the whole home.
ProOne Water Filters offers effective carbon-based options for filtering drinking water, shower water and options for the whole home.
Greenfield Water Solutions uses the best carbon filters as part of their whole house filtration system that is fully regenerative, putting water back into it’s mineralized and fully-charged energetic state that supports health.
Get a 10% discount on all filter systems with the code ROOTS
2) Test Your Water
Tap Score water test kits are available to test your tap or well water. This test generates a score of your water quality based on aesthetics and potential impact on your health and plumbing, and how it compares to health and regulatory benchmarks. Depending on the kit you choose, they’ll analyze contaminants in your water and provide an evaluation on whether they exist at safe or potentially harmful levels. For more information and to order go to:
3) Add Back Important Minerals
If you’re drinking from a reverse osmosis (RO) filter system, adding back important minerals to your water is essential. You can do this by using:
A remineralization filter like the Whole Home Mineralizer to introduce life enhancing minerals back into your water.
Trace Mineral Drops that provide all the important minerals you need for your body to maintain a wide range of functions and processes, especially if drinking demineralized water.
Sea salt (not common table salt) that contains all the necessary trace minerals that are removed during the RO process. This is one of the most cost-effective means of remineralizing water.
Electrolyte blends, often in the form of powdered mineral composition blends (copper, selenium, iron, manganese, calcium, magnesium, etc) that you mix in after water comes out of RO filter. Check out the Complete Electrolyte Formula that was made specifically to energize and recharge your cells.
Any of these NSF certified filters can ensure you’re drinking the cleanest water possible. Only purchase replacement filters from the original manufactures or your filter may not work as well as advertised. Get started today with protecting you and your family’s access to vital, healthy water.
Learn about the best kitchen filters for safe drinking water…
References
The Five Ws of EDCs, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. (2014) 99(11):37A
Gui SY, et al. Association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and risk of diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2023 Jan;33(1):40-55. doi: 10.1038/s41370-022-00464-3.
Hammarstrand S, et al. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water and risk for polycystic ovarian syndrome, uterine leiomyoma, and endometriosis: A Swedish cohort study. Environ Int. 2021 Dec;157:106819. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106819.
Cordner A, et al. Guideline levels for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water: the role of scientific uncertainty, risk assessment decisions, and social factors. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2019 Mar;29(2):157-171.
McDonough CA, et al. Unsaturated PFOS and Other PFASs in Human Serum and Drinking Water from an AFFF-Impacted Community. Environ Sci Technol. 2021 Jun 15;55(12):8139-8148. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00522.
Sara Schaefer, PhD is a nutrition research scientist as well as holistic health advocate and practitioner at www.rootsofwellness.us