With health concerns due to contaminated water sources on the rise, the sale of bottled water reached a milestone in 2016, with retail sales ballooning to an astonishing $21.3 billion dollars. In fact according to statistics from the International Bottled Water Association the consumption of bottled water in the US has increased by 2,700%, from 354 million gallons of bottled water in 1976 to 11.7 billion in 2015. The recent publicity surrounding water contamination has pushed the demand for bottled water exponentially with preliminary reports indicating that as many as 700,000 residents in the state of California alone have possibly been exposed to contaminated water. A federal state of emergency was declared in Flint, Michigan in early 2016 with residents being told to consume bottled water for drinking, cooking, and bathing due to the high levels of lead detected through an old and faulty infrastructure. Residents across the country including Florida are not immune to the effects of contaminated water; and research indicates almost 50,000 Florida individuals were potentially exposed to unsafe levels of lead in drinking water during 2012 to 2015. A study was down by the EWG (Environmental Working Group) where they listed the results and the top 10 America cities with the worst drinking water. Jacksonville, FL was number 10 and Pensacola, FL was number 1.
Is Plastic Bottled Water Safe to Drink?
What many people don’t realize is that when they purchase bottled water, they are often purchasing and consuming water that comes from a municipal water source. In other words, the same water that comes out of the tap. Ask anyone and they will probably tell you that drinking bottled water is safer than tap water, but according to researchers that may not be completely true. In fact as much as 45% of the bottled water available in the United States comes from a municipal water supply. A spokesperson from the International Bottled Water Association states that purified water and spring water must meet FDA quality standards, with most of the major suppliers of bottled water claiming to use a specialist process to achieve these regulations.
What Diseases to Bottled Water & Soda Contribute to?
Despite this highly technical system, bottled water is not without chemicals, and studies performed in Europe indicate that many of the compounds found in bottled water can disrupt endocrine secretions, causing them to begin to mimic hormones found within the body. These same hormones have been linked to many diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. On the other end of the spectrum, soda and sugary drinks are responsible for an estimated 184,000 deaths each year from diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses which are considered obesity-related. However studies also indicate that consumers concerned with the effects of sugar are steering clear of diet soda and artificial flavored waters as well. In fact recent studies indicate diet soda has been linked to cardiovascular disease with a possible correlation between cancer and the use of aspartame. Still the FDA has ruled that artificial sweeteners are in fact safe for use. Many large soft drink companies are releasing a separate line of products including diet soda and flavored water which contain sweeteners such as aspartame (Equal) and sucralose (Splenda) to give their customers a choice.
Water Filtration & Purification is the Solution for Clean, Fresh Water
There are approximately 2100 known contaminants that have been found in sources of tap water and the consumption of bottled water does not necessarily offer a reliable alternative. Water filters are the best way to ensure that your tap water is healthy and contaminate free. In fact water filters are designed to remove more dangerous chemicals and other contaminants than any other method of water purification. The filtration system is specially designed to purify water that has been treated through a municipal water facility. The water produced through the filtration process is also free of cryptosporidium (A chlorine-resistant protozoan that can be found in municipal water that causes gastrointestinal upsets). Drinking filtered water is also much more cost effective than drinking expensive bottled water, tastes better, smells better, and overall is much better for your health.
Whole Home Water Filtration in Naples, Cape Coral, Fort Myers & Lehigh Acres, Florida
To learn more about filtration systems for your Naples, Florida home, contact the knowledgeable experts at AAA Water Team today.
