Water- What Are We Really Drinking?

We all need water to survive. No way of tryingsubstances".' I for one will be reading more labels.
to get around it, it is a fundamental part of justThen we are faced with toxic spills. Thousands of
LIVING. Without water we would die. As I'm sureenvironmental groups around the world demand
most people are aware, more than half our bodythat the public be made aware of toxic spills and
weight is just water. Water is the main ingredientsome companies actually accommodate the public
in our blood and is what makes our internalby informing them when these things happen but
systems work. Be it the digestive system,what about when they don't/won't do it? What
lymphatic system or circulatory system they allhappens when chemicals get purposefully
need water for optimal function. Water is whatdumped? In some cases these crisis are
flushes out the toxins and carries the nutrients toundoubtedly well managed but let's not be
your cells.naïve. They can't get them all.
The body cannot store water and so since weOutbreaks sometimes just happen and there is no
loose water all the time, through urine, bowelfore warning and no way of controlling it initially.
movements and perspiration it is imperative thatThese things take time. In 1993 Milwaukee,
it gets replaced. Dehydration is never a goodWisconsin saw the largest waterborne disease out
thing. You feel weak, drained, tired, andbreak in the history of the United States. A
lightheaded. To top it all off you suffer fromreported 400 000 people were sick. The disease
terrible headaches.was Cryptosporidium, which is a diarrheas disease
Well now we know that we NEED to drink watercaused by parasites. It is apparently a parasite
but when we do so are we aware of exactlythat is one of the more common waterborne
what it is that we are putting in our bodies?diseases in the United States and is found in both
The quality of the water we drink varies fromdrinking water and recreational water. It is not
place to place and from country to country. Don'tjust found in the United States however, it is a
misunderstand all water contains impurities ofcommon parasite found world wide. The parasite
some sort and need to be 'decontaminated" ashas a hard outer layer that helps it to survive and
there are many parasitic disease found in waterso once inside you the parasite lives in the
,but some people quite rightly want to know howintestines and passes in the stool.
much of the chemicals that go into the water areSometimes it's not the chemicals, not bacterial
harmful to our bodies?outbreaks that are harmful but the general wear
Due to this more and more people are drinkingand tear of your plumbing materials. As they start
bottled water. Bottled water may come from ato corrode so you get the introduction of lead
tap, spring water, well water, purified water or itinto your water. This is the water that you, your
may just be untreated water and so veryloved ones and children consume. Well, once off it
contaminated. People seem to be under a senseprobably doesn't do much but over time it leads
of false security when it comes to bottled water.to high blood pressure and kidney problems in
We all tend to believe that bottled water is saferadults and in children it can delay physical and
than tap water. In some cases it is and in othersmental development. The results of this being a
it is far more harmful.short attention span in children and in some cases
In the United Stated bottled water is regulated bylearning disabilities.
the FDA but they too seem to fall short in someWe need water, no arguing it as we have already
areas. Bottled water suppliers are not made toestablished, without it in a couple of days we will
document the approval of their sources, so wedie. We can't control everything in our lives but
the public have to "go on their word". I waswe can be more proactive in finding out what is in
completely horrified to learn that 'water bottlerswhat we are drinking. Especially since when
are permitted to sell contaminated water if, anddrinking water we are doing so to just stay alive.
only if, their labeling notes the water containsIronically never to harm ourselves.
"excessive bacteria" or "excessive chemical