If you are given two choices between glasses of natural, untreated water that is free of human-made contamination, meets every state and federal standard for drinking safety, or a glass of river water blended with fluoride, chlorine, anti-corrosives, nitrate, and pharmaceuticals. Which of these would you prefer?
If you are habitual to tap water, then glass number two describes the components of your water. To ensure that tap water is fit to drink, it is treated with chemicals, such as chlorine, to eliminate harmful microorganisms and anti-corrosives to meet the federal standards.
Without sterilization, untreated or unfiltered water could be crawling with deadly microorganisms, such ascryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, and Vibrio cholera, which could contribute to unhealthy health problems, such as sepsis, diarrhea, cholera, and possibly death.
Comprising of naturally occurring minerals, “Raw water” signifies unsterilized or unfiltered spring water. It is devoid of chemical additives that are placed into tap water to separate likely contaminants. This raw water has been highly in demand across the United States.
Even in India, many experts have started speaking against treated water. No matter which water you choose from, always know where your water comes from, what’s in it, and if it’s safe to drink is essential in the prevention of waterborne illness and to maintain good health and wellness.
A Case for Raw Water
According to an Associated Press investigation on drinking water supplies for 24 major metropolitan areas, traces of prescription medication, anticonvulsants, over-the-counter drugs, antibiotics, sex hormones, and additives from shampoos and lotions were found in our tap water.
To clear tap water of unsafe microorganisms and prevent it from surface-level contaminants as it transfers from the water source to your spigot, filters and sterilizing agents such as chlorine are used.
Raw water is bottled right at the covered, natural spring. This process eliminates the need for chemical sterilizing agents and the likelihood of surface-level contamination from air pollution, animal feces, and man-made pollutants residing in streams, lakes, and rivers.
The Risk of Drinking Raw Water
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the US, source of drinking water are groundwater, rivers, streams, and lakes, which are subject to contamination by animal microbial, byproducts, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, and pollution. The EPA has set regulations for over 90 contaminants for drinking water to ensure that the drinking water is safe from
- Chemical contaminants: chemical, arsenic, lead, copper, lead, radionuclides, and other chemicals
- Microbial contaminants: coliform, bacteria, parasites, disinfection byproducts and other pathogens
Drinking an untreated clean water can be extremely dangerous to your health. Consuming raw water from surface-level sources put us at risk for a number of hazardous health issues caused by pathogens, such as:
- Giardia lamblia is a diarrhea-inducing parasite found in soil, food, or water that colonizes in our small intestines. It is the most frequent cause of waterborne outbreaks of diarrhea in the United States.
- Cryptosporidium is a microorganism derived from feces resulting in diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, and potential death.
- Vibrio cholera is another acute diarrheal intestinal infection causing aquatic microorganism, which, when ingested, can lead to cholera.
How to Ensure That Your Drinking Water Is Safe
If you want to ensure the safety of your water supply, you can:
- Get your tap water tested.
- Read the Consumer Confidence Report about your local drinking water.
- Always filter your tap water.
- Drink Food and Drug Administration’s federal standards meeting bottled water.
- Boil your water.
