Filtered Drinking Water - The Time Has Arrived for a Second Water Supply

The New York Times reported that "more than 20% of the nation's water treatment systems have violated key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act over the last five years." The paper went on to say that those municipalities have gone unpunished for this abuse.

Health problems today are more than just who our health care provider will be here in the United States. Basic issues, such as safe, pure drinking water combined with actively fighting potentially deadly bacteria such as E.coli, MRSA and cryptosporidiosis are major health risks that must be addressed. Are we missing the forest because we have been sidelined by politicians and caught up in the hype of the overhaul of the health care system? Has the time arrived for a second water supply?

A brilliant friend, co-worker and mentor long ago - in 1989 predicted that someday the standard of living here in the United States would no longer be the best in the world. He went on to predict (and remember the year) that we would hang television sets on the wall like a painting. He also felt very strongly that we would have two sources of water right in our homes - one for drinking and one for everything else. Has that time arrived?

Our Priorities

As eloquently stated by the New York Times,"According to current and former government officials, enforcing the Safe Drinking Water Act has not been a federal priority". This is the crux of the matter.

Follow the Money

The reason boils down to money (sorry for the pun!). Imposing fines ultimately hurts the taxpayers, imposing fines is a "lose - lose" situation, so the EPA has opted to offer technical assistance. Essentially EPA officials are attempting to help where they can. But is it enough? Is it correct?

The New York Times Analysis - aka Times Analysis

To answer this question specifically, the report dated December 8, 2008 stated: "The violations counted by the Times analysis include only

situations where residents were exposed to dangerous contaminants, and

exclude violations that involved paperwork or other minor problems." The

report goes on to pinpoint the problem appears to be centered around smaller municipalities who may not have the technical skills to correctly resolve or fund the solutions to the problems.

The Health Risks Are Real - Terms we Should Learn - E.coli, MRSA and

Cryptosporidiosis

Just as we follow the health care issue, we as citizens must educate ourselves on our health. We must learn to be our own health advocate. And, as such, we must expand our vocabulary to include harmful bacteria such as E. coli, MRSA and a parasite cryptosporidiosis.

#1 - E. coli = Escherichia coli

E. coli is Escherichia coli but is commonly abbreviated E. coli; E. coli is commonly associated with food poisoning. While many of the bacteria of E. coli are harmless, food poisoning does occur for certain strains of these bacteria. Food product recalls are commonly associated with E. coli. E. coli can be prevented - both in the manufacturing process and in your home kitchen.

The difficult name is after German pediatrician and bacteriologist Theodor

Escherich who discovered this bacteria in 1885. The discovery of this strain of bacteria is an important discovery to allow us to protect our health. Urinary tract infections are primarily due to a strain of E. coli.

PREVENTION OF E. COLI

Mayo Clinic's website accessed on December 8, 2009 provided this helpful information about prevention and E. coli:

"No vaccine or medication can protect you from E. coli-based illness, though researchers are investigating potential vaccines. To reduce your chance of being exposed to E. coli, avoid risky foods and avoid cross-contamination.

Risky foods

Avoid pink hamburger. Hamburgers should be well-done. Meat, especially if grilled, is likely to brown before it is completely cooked, so use a meat thermometer to ensure that meat is heated to at least 160 F (71 C) at its thickest point. If you don't have a thermometer, cook ground meat until no pink shows in the center.

. Drink pasteurized milk, juice and cider. Any boxed or bottled juice keptat room temperature is likely to be pasteurized, even if the label doesn't say so.

. Wash raw produce thoroughly. Although washing produce won't necessarily eliminate all E. coli - especially in leafy greens, which provide many spots for the bacteria to attach themselves - careful rinsing can remove dirt and reduce the amount of bacteria that may be clinging to the produce.

Avoid cross-contamination

. Wash utensils. Use hot, soapy water on knives, counter tops and cutting boards before and after they come into contact with fresh produce or raw meat.

. Keep raw foods separate. This includes using separate cutting boards forraw meat and foods, such as vegetables and fruits. Never put cooked hamburgers on the same plate you used for raw patties.

. Wash your hands. Wash your hands after preparing or eating food, using the bathroom or changing diapers. Make sure that children also wash their hands before eating, after using the bathroom and after contact with animals."

Source: www.mayoclinic.com

#2 - MRSA

Mayo Clinic's website accessed on December 8, 2009 provided this helpful information about prevention and MRSA:

"Protecting yourself from MRSA in the community - which might be just about anywhere - may seem daunting, but these common-sense precautions can help reduce your risk:

. Wash your hands. Careful hand washing remains your best defense against germs. Scrub hands briskly for at least 15 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet. Carry a smallbottle of hand sanitizer containing at least 62 percent alcohol for times when you don't have access to soap and water.

. Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. MRSA spreads on contaminated objects as well as through direct contact.

. Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores may contain MRSA, and keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.

. Shower after athletic games or practices. Shower immediately after each game or practice. Use soap and water. Don't share towels.

. Sit out athletic games or practices if you have a concerning infection. If you have a wound that's draining or appears infected - for example is red, swollen, warm to the touch or tender - consider sitting out athletic games or practices until the wound has healed.

. Sanitize linens. If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in a washing machine set to the "hot" water setting (with added bleach, if possible) and dry them in a hot dryer. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing.

. Get tested. If you have a skin infection that requires treatment, ask your doctor if you should be tested for MRSA. Doctors may prescribe drugs that aren't effective against antibiotic-resistant staph, which delays treatment and creates more resistant germs. Testing specifically for MRSA may get you the specific antibiotic you need to effectively treat your infection.

. Use antibiotics appropriately. When you're prescribed an antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better. Don't stop until your doctor tells you to stop. Don't share antibiotics with others or save unfinished antibiotics for another time. Inappropriate use of antibiotics, including not taking all of your prescription and overuse, contributes to resistance. If your infection isn't improving after a few days of taking an antibiotic, contact your doctor".

#3 - Crypto = Cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidiosis is actually a parasitic disease not bacteria and commonly referred to as "crypto". Crypto is caused by a single-celled animal- a parasite called cryptosporidium parvum (parvum means one which is indicative the "single-cell" structure).

In short, Crypto causes diarrhea. It is important to note that Crypto, cannot be seen by the naked eye and Crypto is resistant to chlorine disinfection. Crypto is not spread by touch or by blood; it is contracted by swallowing infected water. That is the reason why it is critical to teach children not to open their mouths even in a chlorinated swimming pool (the chlorine has little impact on this nasty disease). Great swimming pool operators mandate that their lifeguards ensure that everyone takes a soap shower before entering the pool not just for the chemical balance of the pool but for every one's safety. Never swim with diarrhea; never allow an infant or child to swim with diarrhea. Parents should never change diapers poolside. It is critical for others safety to use the designated changing area.

Many water filters can (if they filter less than 1 micron) filter out Crypto. For disinfection of other surfaces, remember chlorine is not effective. There are other chemicals on the market to fight Crypto. If you are seeking a non-chemical disinfectant, you can use ozonated water.

Ozonated water has been proven to disinfect other surfaces; ozonated water is the only non-chemical method to fight Crypto. Make certain that the system dispensing the ozonated water is from a credible source.

Summary

Through the centuries we have learned that the world is not flat, that unseen bacteria can hurt us and that health is not just medicine and surgery. Health is also prevention. Pure drinking water is an issue in more than developing countries. Pure drinking water is a critical issue here in the United States. Don't take my word for it - look at the investigative studies conducted by the New York Times.

If bottled water is deemed bad for the environment, if tap water is questionable, if MRSA, E.coli and Crypto are known health concerns, is it time for a second water supply in our homes - right at the kitchen faucet or point of use?

Has the time arrived for ozonated water to become health water that needs to be made available in each and every kitchen?