What is in my water?

Clean, fresh water is becoming more and more important. Major investment is flocking to the resource, with tycoons referring to water as the new oil. This major focus on water is providing opportunity for improved technology and a wider variety of choices for the end consumer.

As sustainability consultants, we work with clients to make choices that meet specific needs. Like any sustainability concept, we begin by addressing two personal points of reference.

Phase 1: "Where you are you in the process now? and, " What is in my water?"

Water contains both contaminants and chemicals intentionally included to disinfect. If you are using public water, you can call your provider and ask for your Annual Consumer Confidence Report. This report will contain a list of regulated contaminants in your water. For those in larger cities, you can find your state water quality report by doing an Internet search for “city, state water quality report”. There are free resources that can help you better understand the details of the report. Also for a small fee, you can get professional analysis of your specific water analysis.

Understanding the water coming out of your tap provides the knowledge needed for:

Phase two: "What do I NOT want in my water"?

Because we bathe in it, cook with it, and pour it into our drinking glasses, water is an extremely important element in our daily lives. Different technologies provide different solutions. Defining your goals is an important step:

If you are committed to drinking tap water, are you concerned about the smell and taste?
Are you concerned about contaminants?
Do you prefer softer water - water that feels better?
Would you like to effect the whole house or are you just interested in an individual faucet or shower head?
Is water pressure and flow a concern?

There are specific technologies that address each of these goals. No one solution is going to meet all.

With a desire to choose a more sustainable lifestyle, there are tools and resources available to help you become informed and implement solutions that meet your defined requirements.