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Water has many applications and uses, each of them with different standards and specifications in regards to its many properties. Below is a list of a few common applications with some considerations as to the standards and specifications we should ask.
Applications
Drinking: Drinking water should be held to some of the highest standards when it comes to common usage, (by common usage we are not referring to the many applications in the medical fields and other commercial usages). Drinking water should be free of contaminants not just sanitized. The term free of contaminants refers not only to the removal of micro-organisms, but also toxic compounds such as gases, certain minerals, herbicides, pesticides, and other compounds that can potentially be harmfull through continued exposure. We recommend water that has been through reverse osmosis for drinking.
Cooking: Water used for cooking should be held to the same standards as drinking water, this should be obvious as you will be ingesting a portion if not all of this water with the meal. We recommend water that has been through reverse osmosis for cooking.
Bathing: Water for bathing does not need to meet the same standards as water for cooking or drinking. The water should still be sanitary but there is not the need to put the water through a process that would remove salts and other minerals which will not vaporize nor be absorbed through the skin. It is still important though to remove chlorine and any organics from the water as these can combine to form very dangerous compounds known as the trihalomethanes (THM's); known to cause cancer. It should be noted that when bathing we are at increased risk as these compounds vaporize and are instantly absorbed through the lungs. For bathing, we recommend that water go through a minimum of carbon filtration. For optimal bathing, water should also go through an ion exchange process. This will remove the hardness minerals allowing one to make better use of soap products and allowing the natural oils of the skin to remain exposed.
Household Cleaning: Water for household cleaning should meet the same standards as water for bathing. Cleaning products often contain organic chemicals, VOC’s, and other toxic compounds. When combined with chlorinated water, these compounds readily form the very same THM’s. In addition, it should be noted that at least forty percent of common household detergents, laundry and dishwasher, are composed of chemical softeners. If utilizing soft water, the need for chemical softeners is overcome allowing the user to save money by utilizing more concentrated products. These products have the added advantage of being safer for the environment.
Lawn Care: Water for lawn care should ideally go through at a minimum carbon filtration. The chlorine and organic compounds such as herbicide and pesticide residues have negative long term effects on our yards and lawns. It is all too common for homeowners to utilize pesticides to control grubs and other troublesome pests in their lawn and gardens. A large reason for the rampant proliferation of these pests is due to the die off of lower order species via chlorination and organics in the water used to water the lawn. With lower order species out of the way, larger pests such as grubs are free to proliferate. In addition, if you have iron in your water, (enough to stain rocks and cement), you may wish to consider iron removal both outdoors and indoors. Far better to remove the iron at the point of entry than to permanently stain beautiful landscapes and or to use harsh chemicals to remove the iron oxidation.
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