Is Tap Water Healthy?

Dear Jessica,

Is bottled or filtered water really any better than tap water and what are the differences between the different types of bottled water? 

Well-Hydrated

Dear Well-Hydrated,

Since water is such a multifaceted topic, I thought that today, I’d discuss some of the controversy around tap water and in the next issue, I’ll compare some common methods of water purification (as well as provide some examples of bottled waters that use these methods).

Numerous studies have been done comparing tap water to bottled water.  A couple of years ago, a news program compared NYC tap water to bottled water and found that tap water is just as healthy as bottled and that it is not worth spending the money.  Many of these studies, however, are focused on cleanliness and bacteria count but do not consider the presence of fluoride and chlorine.

Chlorine is commonly added to tap water to disinfect it and kill bacteria.  Many consider this chlorine to be unhealthy and feel that it destroys friendly intestinal bacteria.  Dr. Weil and others also feel that chlorine poses a number of health risks.  Fortunately, chlorine will evaporate if water is left out for 24 hours.  There is a further concern regarding inhaling and absorbing chlorine through the skin in showers and baths.  Some studies estimate that the majority of chlorine exposure is through showering, but this exposure can be reduced or eliminated by installing a shower filter.  Proponents of chlorine, on the other hand, feel that it is a naturally occurring element and that it is completely safe.

Fluoride is also added to tap water (and some bottled waters).  Most of the fluoride added to tap water is actually a waste by-product of aluminum and other types of manufacturing.  Back in the 1930’s, these companies wanted to find a way to dispose of fluoride, and funded research which found that it could be used to prevent tooth decay.  Numerous studies have now found that this is not the case and that fluoride may actually be linked to other health problems. To learn more about these fluoride concerns, you can check out www.nofluoride.com.

Those wanting to avoid the potential health risks of chlorine or fluoride can do so by installing a water purification system (note: Brita and Pur filters remove only small amounts of fluoride.) or purchase high quality bottled water.

Thanks,

Jessica

In her free time, Jessica enjoys researching food and healthy eating.  If you have a food-related question that you would like answered in the journal, please email me at JessicaT@healinggardenjournal.com