The truth about drinking water: taps, bottles and dispensers

326 million trillion gallons of water cover 70% of our planet, but less than 1% of it is potable. Water is the primary element for everyone's good health, but a 2005 report by the Ralph Nader Research Group found 2100 cancer causing chemicals in our drinking water, while synthetic chemicals increase the toxicity exponentially. The most harmful chemicals threatening water supplies come from an agricultural process called "runoff." When Animal waste, pesticides, and fertilizer are not absorbed in the soil, rain and melted snow carry these toxins away, eventually reaching our waterways. Runoff is the largest source of toxic elements in our drinking water. Reasonable concerns over water safety led to thriving industries, such as bottled water, filtered pitchers and water dispensers. These products all promise water purer than what comes from your tap. But is packaged water really any safer? The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the highly renowned environmental action organization, undertook a 4-year study of the bottled water industry in the late 90's. The investigation found tremendous fraud in water labeling and poorly structured regulations. Water bottles showing images of sparkling lakes suggest their water comes from pristine sources. But NRDC found such a company that packaged their water from a well near a hazardous waste dump. Reports showed Industrial chemicals contaminated the water several times. Meanwhile, the FDA exempted up to 70% of all bottled water sold in the U.S. from the FDA's standards, while 20% of the states provide no bottled water regulations at all. On the bright side, the NDRC found no reason to suspect that bottled water is inferior to tap water. But as consumers spend up to 10,000 times more money on bottles, the NRDC notes that, "no one should assume that just because he or she purchases water in a bottle that it is necessarily any better regulated, purer, or safer than most tap water." In a 2003 publication, The California Department of Conservation reported over a billion water bottles discarded each year statewide. Recycled bottles would provide raw materials to make millions of products, but most of them end up in landfills and incinerators, polluting the air and destroying the ozone layer. Many states don't even offer recycling, leaving bottles to degrade over an estimated 500 to 1,000 years. The Nader Group specifically recommends the BelKraft water purifiers for their washable four stage ceramic cartridge that allows the free flow of Calcium and other natural rich minerals at very little cost. The NRDC recommends consumers to read the water report on its website, get a copy of the their local water quality report, and test their tap water for lead contamination. The research helps consumers find the specific filter for the particular chemicals threatening the local water. Women who are pregnant, intending to get pregnant or with young children are especially advised to take such measures. With Europe always far ahead of America on conservation issues, European-based Waterlogic International Limited is a leading manufacturer of top quality point-of-use water dispensers and purifying systems, called "Innowave." Distributed in 50 countries, Innowave's U.S. distributor is Leslie WaterWorks, Inc. Company President Jack Cohen guarantees the freshest, safest drinking water available, based on Innowave's unique 3-stage filtration, reverse osmosis and patented In-Tank UV Systems for highly hygienic drinking water. Its acquired microbial solution provides outstandingly hygienic water standards. WaterWorks, Inc. is not leed certified yet, but several Innowave products have already been certified by the USEPA Microbiological Water Purifier Standard and to NSF/ANSI standards, receiving WQA Gold Seals. Beyond that, Innowave's "Bottle-Less" systems require no plastic bottles, omitting waste and pollution. David Sporn is the president and creative director of Village Communications Worldwide, Plainview, N.Y.