Since bottled water usually isn’t any better than tap water, and since it’s not good to reuse the bottles because they leach unsafe chemicals into the water, what can you do for portable water? Glad you asked.

The first part of the answer is to buy a water filter as discussed in an earlier post, then use that water to fill up some reusable water bottles that do not leach any bad chemicals into your water.

All the following bottles are 100% BPA-free:

The CamelBak This company has sold clear plastic bottles made with polycarbonate for a long time, however, they are now also producing bottles made from a new copolyester polymer called Tristan™ that is 100% BPA free. Comes if 5 sizes, from 12 to 33 ounces.

Pros: Dishwasher safe, no residual taste of plastic in stored liquids.

Cons: Need to look for the BPA-free logo on the bottle to be sure you’re getting the newer type bottle guaranteed not to leach BPA, instead of a polycarbonate the company will also continue to market.

Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel: These containers are made from electropolished, non-leaching stainless steel and come as a 12 oz sippy cup, plus 4 regular bottle sizes ranging from 12 – 40 ounces.

Pros: Dishwasher safe. large-mouth design allows you to pour in big stuff like ice cubes.

Cons: Cannot be frozen or filled with very hot liquid. Made in China.

Nalgene Plastic: This company is now producing non-leaching HDPE (#2) and LDPE (#4) plastic reusable bottles that come in 12, 16, 20 and 32 ounce sizes.

Pros: Economical and dent proof.

Cons: Nalgene is currently phasing out the old polycarbonate bottles that will leach BPA into your liquid, but some are still on the market, so be careful which kind you buy.

Platypus Company: This collapsible bottle is made with a durable, multi-layer laminate of urethane and food-grade, taste-free polyethylene film. It comes in 3 sizes: 17oz, 34oz, and 80 oz.

Pros: Takes up very little room when empty. Stylish in a funky sort of way. Bottles are tough enough to be frozen or boiled. Weighs 80% less than conventional plastic bottles.

Cons: Prone to spills when half-full. Must be washed by hand.  Looks a lot like an IV bottle.

Sigg Aluminum: These bottles are made it Switzerland. They have a special liner that prevents any leaching of the metal into the liquid and come in at least 6 different sizes: 13.5, 16.9, 20.4, 24.75, 33, and 50.7 ounces.

Pros: Dishwasher safe (though repeated washings may dull the finish). Can hold carbonated drinks. Taste neutral (doesn’t impart any plastic or other taste no matter how long liquid stored).

Cons: Availability shortage due to high demand. Cannot be frozen.

I’m sure there are more bottles on the market besides the above that are BPA free, and with more and more people looking for them, companies will label them as such.

A lot of outdoor shops carry these water bottles, Lands End, REI, and other places.  I just placed an order with ReusableBags.com to try one of the Nalgene water bottles and a Sigg bottle.  I’ve heard good things about this company.  I’ll let you know how it works out! Stay safe, stay healthy – buy reusable water bottles that are BPA-free!

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Safe Water Bottles

By now you know water is an important ingredient for life. Whether you drink it straight or use it to make other beverages, you know you need water.

The problem is making sure you’re drinking pure water, that is, water free of harmful contaminants. Whether it’s pollution from agricultural or industrial waste, or pollution stemming from urban sprawl, it all leads to contaminated water coming out of the faucets in our home.  Heavy metals, antibiotics, chemicals, harmful bacteria, protozoa, viruses and intestinal parasites can all find their way into our water.

Yes, water goes through a treatment facility before it comes out of the tap, but that doesn’t mean it’s actually pure water. The Environmental Working Group did a two-and-a-half year investigation of water suppliers’ tests of the treated tap water served to communities across the country. They found that the tap water in 42 states is contaminated with more than 140 unregulated chemicals that lack safety standards. So there’s no guarantee your tap water is pure.

And don’t be fooled either by thinking if you buy bottled water, you’ve got pure water. Generally, over the years, the FDA has adopted EPA standards for tap water as standards for bottled water. As a result, standards for contaminants in tap water and bottled water are very similar. Producers of bottled water don’t even have to create a report each year detailing any contaminants found in their product as those producing tap water must do.

So if tap water and bottled water are unreliable sources of a pure product, what can you do? Take matters into your own hands, and buy a water purifier for your home.

There are all kinds of water purifiers on the market, but the most popular types are reverse osmosis, steam distillation and filtration systems. These different types remove bacteria, chemical and heavy metals with varying degrees of efficiency.

Reverse osmosis systems were originally developed to process water in submarines. The process basically draws water through an extremely fine membrane that filters out contaminants. The biggest drawback to this filtration system is that it removes all minerals, even those considered beneficial.

Steam distillation also creates very pure water and removes all the minerals.  This distilled water can effect the balance of minerals in the body if that’s all you’re drinking. You don’t want contaminated water, but dissolved minerals in the water are more natural than totally purified water, and thought to serve an important function in supporting the body’s immune system and metabolism.

Carbon filters, such as those put on your faucet, will reduce organic compounds, and thereby improve the taste of water, but do not remove bacteria or all heavy metals. They are the cheapest type of filter available, but it is essential to replace the filters regularly as the longer the filter is in use, the less efficient it is, until eventually it isn’t helping at all.

Ceramic filtration systems not only reduce organic compounds, but will also remove bacteria from the water since they do not allow particles smaller than 0.2 to 0.3 microns through the system. When combined with carbon, this system is even more effective. These units do not rely on water pressure or electricity to work, but are usually countertop units that must be refilled with water as it is used.

The top ceramic filtrations systems on the market today are Doulton, Berkey, and British Berkefeld units.  If you don’t mind a system that looks a lot like the silver iced tea containers seen in restaurants sitting on your counter, there are advantages to these ceramic filters. They do a better job by far than carbon filtration alone, and although the units are initially more expensive, going for $150 and up depending on the size, the filter cartridges last a long time as they can be cleaned many times before needing replacement. The downside is the unit must be refilled when the water is used up, and if you forget, it takes quite a while before you have filtered water available again.

If you prefer, there are also ceramic filtration units made to fit under the sink and attach to the cold water line. These generally remove the bacteria, chemicals and heavy metals, while leaving behind other minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium that are healthful minerals.  It takes a little plumbing skill to install one, and crawling under your sink to change filter cartridges, but gives you a constant supply of filtered water.

Bottom line, to improve the quality of water you’re drinking, try the filter of your choice.  Any filter you choose should improve the quality of your drinking water!

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Pure Water Needed? Water filters to the rescue!