Is tap water safe to drink? 4 ways to make tap water drinkable Throughout the course of your life, the subject of ‘is tap water safe to drink’ is going to come up and be talked about. Whether that’s with people who normally live in the UK or those just visiting. Tap water is a very subjective topic with some people telling you it is safe to drink tap water and some people telling you to avoid it at all costs. We’ve been in the business of water filtration since 2011 and have heard it all! That’s why, as water filter specialists we can help guide you towards making decisions that are right for you about your household drinking water. We are lucky in the UK, in that household tap water is potable. Potable water is a term commonly used to refer to water that is safe to drink, cook with, and wash in. It has normally been treated and tested to ensure its of high enough quality for human consumption. But just because it’s met the strict standards for drinking water set by the relevant authorities in the UK (World Health Organisation (WHO) and the English, Welsh, and Scottish governments) that doesn’t mean you have to like drinking tap water. Those same authorities will happily tell you that you don’t need a water filter or drinking water tap either. It wouldn’t make sense would it, that on one hand these authorities are telling you that tap water in the UK is safe to drink and then on the other hand telling you to filter your water. That’s why we are here! In this article, we’ll take you on your very own UK tap water journey so that you can answer that burning question ‘is UK tap water safe to drink’ and be armed with knowledge on ‘why not to drink tap water in the UK’ without putting it through a water filter first. And at the end you’ll find four ways to make your tap water more drinkable. What’s in UK tap water? If you want to know more about your water, a good starting point is your local water company. If you’re unsure who that is, look at one of your water bills or this handy tool will tell you. The standards for water quality are there to protect you. They cover metals such as lead and copper, micro-organisms, chemicals such as pesticides and nitrates, and the way the water tastes and smells. Your local water company can give you the breakdown of the water that’s supplied to you. Let’s now go through the different kinds of things that may or may not be in UK tap water. Discolouration Have you ever poured a glass of water straight from the tap, without it having gone through a water filter first, and it appears cloudy? We get calls from people who say their water looks ‘milky’, closely followed by ‘is tap water safe to drink?’. It’s really nothing to worry about as it’s nearly always air or small deposits of naturally occurring chalk. You often get the same even if your tap water has been through a water filter, and again it’s just air and absolutely nothing to get worked up about. Try running your tap slowly for a few minutes and the water should clear. In almost all cases, discoloured water may look weird but it’s perfectly safe. Sometimes your tap water can be brown, black, or orange, and this is normally due to harmless deposits if there has been a disturbance in the water mains such as repairs to a leak or burst pipe. Taste and smell You may have travelled throughout the UK and decided that you don’t like the taste and smell of the tap water in different locations and think to yourself is UK tap water safe to drink? Before you go rushing to the supermarket to clear the shelves of bottled water, keep on reading. That tap water you are drinking is safe, but your tastebuds get very used to what you have at home and that makes you very aware of anything that tastes or smells different. Back at home, there are a few reasons why you might occasionally become aware of the changing taste and smell of your tap water. Chlorine Chlorine is used to keep your water supply safe by killing harmful bacteria. The levels of chlorine may fluctuate to ensure your tap water is meeting quality standards, and the closer you live to the treatment works the stronger the smell and taste of chlorine. Water source Where your water comes from can change. For example, some water companies are increasing their use of boreholes so in areas that used to have soft water – people are experiencing more difficulties with limescale. Time of year Seasonal weather changes can alter the way water tastes and smells. Reservoir catchment areas are mainly in rural areas, so winter animal stock movements require increasing the amount of chlorine added to the water to ensure microorganisms don’t contaminate the supply. Your plumbing The materials used in your plumbing system, or a breakdown of components used may cause your tap water to taste and smell differently. Limescale The focus of this article isn’t about the annoying effects of hard water, but we do need to highlight that no matter where you live in the country your water is going to be hard or soft, or somewhere in between. Find out how hard is the water in your area here. The general rule of thumb, working from the top of the UK down, is that tap water becomes harder the further south and east you live. The naturally occurring minerals of calcium and magnesium are the culprits here. Although tap water containing these two minerals is safe to drink, they are also the cause of all the furring and scaling on your kettle and other household appliances. Lead If you have lead lurking in your water that’s a very good reason why not to drink tap water in the UK, and you need to do something about it. Lead can be particularly harmful to young children and pregnant women. However, before you start panicking, you only need to worry about this if you have old lead pipes in your house. We know that ripping out and replacing old lead pipes can be time consuming and costly, so we would always encourage you to start with the simplest and most cost-effective solution first and that would mean filtering it out. It’s very quick and easy to check if you have lead pipes. Find the point where the external water pipe enters your house. It’s usually under your kitchen sink at the stop cock. Lead pipes that haven’t been painted will appear dark grey or black in colour and the joints may appear swollen. With a coin, scrape the metal and if it’s lead it will leave a shiny silver strip. Lead is quite a soft metal. Fluoride Aside from the naturally occurring fluoride in your tap water, if the area you live in hasn’t had the water supply artificially fluoridated then you don’t need to worry about it. We respect people’s decisions on whether they agree or disagree with artificial fluoridation as an aide to reduce tooth decay. If you disagree, then it’s easy to do something about it with our easy to install drinking water solutions. The quality of your water isn’t always the same As with anything in life, stuff happens. And that goes for water too, with incidents that may have a negative effect on the quality of your tap water and make you question is water from the tap safe to drink. The causes of these incidents vary, but may include: Poor weather – significant periods of poor weather can whip river sediment up into a frenzy thereby decreasing the raw water quality. Raw water is untreated water, i.e., the stage before the water treatment works. Mechanical failure – if pumps stop working or the power fails at the treatment works this can have an impact on the water quality. Journey through the mains – leaks and bursts in the water mains can make the water unclear due to the disturbed sediment inside the pipes. Did you know that there are approximately 348,723km of mains water pipes looked after by the various water companies and that 3,031 million litres of water were leaked each day between April 2019 and March 2022. That’s the equivalent of 1,212 Olympic swimming pools per day. Incidents may result in you receiving a ‘boil notice’ from your water company. What is a boil notice and what should I do if I get one? One of the best ways to kill bacteria or viruses in tap water is to boil it. If you get one of these notices it means that your tap water might contain harmful bacteria or viruses and you shouldn’t use your tap water for drinking, cleaning your teeth, making food or ice cubes, or giving it to your pets. You can still shower or have a bath – just don’t drink the bath water! However, think about the following. If you had one of our bacteria water filters with one of our 3-way water filter taps or a drinking water filter with your favourite from our wide selection of drinking water filter taps then you wouldn’t need to boil your water. You also must take some responsibility! It’s probably unlikely, but there is a small possibility that your internal plumbing may be causing some issues and therefore making your tap water unsafe to drink and cook with. If your plumbing hasn’t been fitted or maintained properly this can cause taste issues and water discolouration. While the poor taste and colour of the water may not mean it’s unsafe to drink, a build-up of bacteria and micro-organisms at the tap ends may. So, keep on top of your cleaning! We’ve also had a few customers who’ve had a new water filter tap installed and then had a water analysis done and they find that they have low levels of nickel in their water. That’s because nickel can be leached from the new tap for a short period of time after installation. What’s the difference between kitchen water and bathroom water? Unless you are on a private water supply there is no difference between water that comes out of the bathroom or kitchen tap on a mains supply. So, it’s perfectly safe to drink from either tap as the water quality is the same. I remember as a child hearing conversations about bathroom tap water and is bathroom tap water safe to drink. I spent a lot of years thinking that I couldn’t. Experience has taught me a lot and I now happily drink water from the bathroom tap if I’m thirsty. Drinking warm water or cooking with warm water directly from your kitchen tap is a different thing altogether. Drinking warm tap water It doesn’t sound that appealing, does it? Can you drink warm tap water? The most straightforward answer to this is MAYBE. We would suggest avoiding it depending on the following reasons. When your house was built – in a modern house you’ll probably be ok to drink warm tap water, but in older houses there may be lead pipes or lead solder to hold the pipes together. If there are lead pipes or lead solder, warm water will dissolve the lead more easily causing lead contamination. It is unsafe to drink that. What type of plumbing system you have – with old fashioned, unsealed heating systems there is usually a cold tank in the loft where water is stored. This can become contaminated with bacteria and other microorganisms. You don’t want to drink that. To be quite honest, we would recommend avoiding drinking warm water from any tap. What are the alternatives to drinking tap water in the UK? If you are toying with the idea of whether tap water is safe to drink in the UK, there are a few alternatives that should only be used on a temporary basis due to the financial cost and lack of environmental sustainability. Bottled water – an eye watering 2.51 billion litres of bottled water was consumed in the UK in 2021, worth an estimated 1.64 billion British pounds. Plastic bottles are the most common form of packaging with less than 5% of water being sold in glass bottles. Contrary to popular and misguided belief, bottled water is no safer to drink than tap water in the UK. The UK has some of the highest standards in the world when it comes to water hygiene. Canned water – the supermarket shelves are rapidly filling up with flavoured and non-flavoured canned water. It’s a slightly more sustainable option than plastic bottles, but the major brands all argue over who does it better! How to make tap water taste better Add some fruit such as lemons, strawberries, kiwi fruit, or some cucumber and mint. These will drown out any bad tastes or smells. Allow the tap water to sit for a bit before drinking it. Did you know that chlorine dissipates after 24 hours. Fill a water filter bottle so you have fresh filtered water while on the go. Install one of our stunning water filter taps for home along with one of our drinking water filters and you’ll never have to have that debate ‘is tap water safe to drink’! We’re lucky in the UK to have such good access to predominantly safe and clean water for most of the time. We have robust laws that underpin the expected high standards of the public water supply in the UK so that residents have access to potable water. So, please enjoy the fact that you can turn on the tap and the water isn’t going to harm you. We realise it’s all down to personal preference and you have a multitude of options at your fingertips to treat your water in whichever way you choose. That’s why we are here to help in any way we can, providing solutions to all water related problems. FAQ What is potable water UK? Potable water UK is water that has been treated and tested to ensure it is safe to drink, cook with, and wash in. Can you drink bathroom tap water UK? Yes, bathroom tap water in the UK is safe to drink if you are on mains water. The water is the same whether it comes from the bathroom or kitchen tap. How clean is tap water UK? Tap water is clean in the UK. You are fortunate in that UK water has been treated to some of the most stringent levels in the world, overseen by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
0 PFAS or Forever Chemicals in Water
How to remove PFAS or Forever Chemicals in Water in the UK We’re very lucky in the UK! You may not believe it, but we have probably the best public water supply in the world. However, it’s not perfect, and one of the things that detracts from that good record is PFAS in water. In this article you are going to find out what are PFAs in water, also known as forever chemicals, and how to remove pfas chemicals from drinking water. Let’s dive in! PFAS in water The initials PFAS stand for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, difficult just to say which is why they are more memorably referred to as “forever chemicals”. It also gives a clue as to one of the reasons there’s concern about ensuring they are controlled, reduced, and removed from both the environment and drinking water supplies – PFAS in water don’t break down over time. There are thousands of chemical substances that are in the group PFAS and they are incredibly useful in everyday life. This group of chemicals can be found in non-stick coatings, batteries, medical devices, stain resistant fabrics, food packaging, plastic bottles, and lubricants for the equipment that makes them – the list is endless. But as useful and effective as they are in making our modern lives so much better and easier, PFAs chemicals can also have serious effects on human and animal health. The UK government is being lobbied to reduce the permitted levels of forever chemicals or PFAs in water courses (streams and rivers, etc) as well as in the public water supply. Change is certainly on its way due to the results of recent research and the efforts of scientists. But the purpose of this article is not to create a health scare, panic people, or go into all the technical complexities of what PFAS are and what they’re used for. The objective of this article is to provide some practical guidance on what to do about PFAS or forever chemicals in the water supply to your home. Are there PFAs in tap water? Tap water is tightly regulated in the UK, but there probably is a small amount of PFAS or forever chemicals in the water. The water regulations in the UK state that the maximum allowed in water courses is 100 nanograms per litre (ng/L). One nanogram per litre is one billionth of a gram in a litre (1000 grams) of water. Water companies filter and dilute the water they supply to make that dilution even lower – 10 ng/L at most, which is classed as low risk in the UK, EU, and US for the majority of PFAS in water. There are lower levels permitted or for certain PFAS known as PFOA and PFOS. PFAS in plastic water bottles So, you are wondering how to get rid of forever chemicals in water. First, let’s look at the scale of the issue. The ambition is to reduce the amount of PFAS chemicals in drinking water to as low as is practicable. Why is it “as low as is practicable” and not “remove all” the PFAS chemicals from water? The aim is to reduce the levels of forever chemicals to be well within safe limits. Taking it further is where the law of diminishing returns applies, you can spend vast amounts of money and only make small further gains. The term “practicable” can also be interpreted as “affordable but effective”. The concentrations of PFAS in your drinking water are smaller than miniscule. Can forever chemicals be filtered out of water? Water filters can certainly help reduce or remove the levels of PFAS and other things you may not want in your water. Stephanie Metzger, Policy Advisor at the Royal Society of Chemistry says in this article, "We know that PFAS can be filtered from drinking water – the technology exists, so increasing the level of filtration is just a matter of expense and political will." But why wait for politicians to recognise the need when you can take action yourself, now? Particle or sediment filters are unlikely to be of much use, the physical size of the PFAS chemicals means that they will just flow straight through even the finest sub-micron filter medium. On the other hand adsorption, where the molecules of the contaminant are attracted to and “stick” to the molecules of the filter medium in the cartridge, is the most effective and low cost method of filtering out substances like PFAS. Activated carbon is used for this purpose to remove all sorts of contaminants from drinking water. Best water filters to remove PFAS Given that adsorption is likely to be the best water filters to remove PFAS from your water at a reasonable cost it’s worth considering what sort of water filter system is going to suit you. There are three types ofactivated carbon water filters that are suitable to remove forever chemicals in water, two of which are easy to obtain, and another that only a few manufacturers can supply. Granular Activated Carbon Also known as GAC, granular activated carbon filters contain a granulated carbon media, in a filter canister, or sometime loose inside larger vessels. GAC is an effective filter medium, although it can become inefficient if water creates channels in the media which reduces the surface area that is in contact with the water to be filtered. Carbon Block Carbon block water filter cartridges are more efficient at removing contaminants such as PFAS than GAC, though they are very similar in many respects. These filter cartridges are made from GAC by compressing and extruding it into solid blocks (hence the name) which are then wrapped in a protective covering. Channelling is not an issue with a carbon block, and the high-pressure compression used creates a denser filter medium with increased surface are in the same dimensions as a GAC cartridge. This makes carbon block more efficient at removing contaminants than GAC can achieve. NanoCeram PAC NanoCeram PAC filter cartridges are made by Argonide, a highly innovative company from the USA. NanoCeram PAC and PACB are pleated filter cartridges that remove a plethora of particles, microorganisms, and chemicals from water. Using an electropositive technology, and carbon coating, plus carbon block in the larger cartridges the NanoCeram PAC cover all bases. They offer a high flow rate with a 0.2 micron rating, and the carbon coating (plus carbon block) gives a high contact time for the removal of PFAS, chlorine, and other chemicals. Having established that an activated carbon filter is what you need, the next step is to choose the water filter system. Whole House Filters When it comes to whole house water filters, the options here are fairly simple… If you want to filter all the water in your home, then you need to have a filter system big enough to cope with the flow rate demands placed on it. For a single bathroom flat system containing a 4.5’’ x 10’’ carbon block cartridge is a good choice. That will provide water flowing at around 10 litres per minute – enough for most showers. A system with a NanoCeram PACB will give a higher flow rate should you want it. For bigger properties the system you require will contain at least a 4.5’’ x 20’’ carbon filter cartridge, or NanoCeram PACB. These will give you at least 20 litres per minute and will make your water taste and smell much nicer, as well as giving you the peace of mind that you’ve removed most of the unpleasant things from the water that might be there. There are even bigger systems available for very large houses or commercial premises, such as Watts Big Bubba with an activated carbon cartridge. This will provide up to 56 litres per minute of lovely, filtered water. They even offer a 15 litre per minute option to remove the most harmful type of PFAS (PFOS/PFOA). Drinking Water Filters Drinking water filters are another choice to remove forever chemicals from water. You have to consider two options here. Do you want to filter all the water to your kitchen tap or install a dedicated drinking water filter tap? If it’s the first of those then we’re back to that 4.5’’ x 10’’ system mentioned previously. If you want a water filter tap, this is a much smaller filter system that easily fits under the sink and doesn’t take up much room – for example the Oyster Taste and Chemicals Under Sink Water Filter. Or an affordable Pearl T Drinking Water Filter makes removing PFAS very accessible. Other Ways to Get Rid of Forever Chemicals in Water You may have heard that Reverse Osmosis (RO) is the best or only way of removing forever chemicals from water. It’s true that reverse osmosis systems will get rid of PFOS but they do that using multiple stages of carbon block and/or GAC filter cartridges – just the same as the non-RO filter systems. They also strip out good minerals, and then some put minerals back in with a final stage. This makes them cumbersome and expensive, as well as slow to produce the water desires. If you really do want to filter your water for as much as you can then one of our Water Purifiers is a very good option – for whole house, single tap, or just a small drinking water filter. As you can see there’s a lot you can do to reduce your consumption of and exposure to PFAS chemicals – and it needn’t be expensive! Some useful further reading and information for you: BBC News RSC interactive map When it comes to water filtration, everyone has different needs, requirements, and expectations so we really encourage you to contact us here on our helpdesk or call 01352 838281 to talk to us about your individual circumstances. FAQ What are forever chemicals? Forever chemicals are substances found in items such as non-stick coatings on pans, stain resistant fabrics, food packaging, plastic bottles, to name but a few. You may also see them being referred to as PFAS which stands for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Forever chemicals do not break down over time which is why they are of such concern. Can PFAS be filtered out of water? Yes, PFAS can be filtered out of water, and you don't have to wait for someone else to do it. You can do it yourself. A water filter system containing an activated carbon water filter cartridge is the most effective and low cost way to remove PFAS from water. How to avoid forever chemicals in the UK? One of the best ways to avoid PFAS and reduce your consumption of forever chemicals in the UK is to install a low cost water purifier from Fountain Filters.
0 7 ways purify water naturally drinking cooking hygiene
7 ways to purify water naturally for drinking, cooking, and hygiene Are you looking at ways to purify water naturally? Purifying water means different things to different people. That makes it a more complex subject than it may otherwise appear, so let’s break it down by specifying what “water purification” and “natural filtration” are. Water purification is simply the act of removing unwanted substances from water. Natural water purification can mean that it’s a physical process where no chemicals are used. Alternatively, natural water purification may also mean that you want to use natural materials to purify water. To complicate matters further, purifying water can be defined as making it safe from microorganisms, removing sediment particles, or removing chemicals and metals, or any combination of those. So if you want drinking water filters for home here are seven methods in two groups to consider. How to purify tap water naturally As tap water is already purified of most things, it’s chlorine what most people want to remove. Chlorine is added to prevent bacteria, mould, and other microorganisms from contaminating the water. Method 1 - The simplest natural way to purify water at home is to fill a jug with water and put it in the fridge for 24 hours, or at least overnight. Chlorine breaks down and dissipates naturally over time, so when you pour yourself a glass of water the following day it will have no chlorine taste or odour. Method 2 - Or if it’s disinfecting water that may contain microbial infection. If that’s the case then to purify water naturally you can boil the water for between three and six minutes. The boiling time depends on altitude – at sea level three minutes is fine, above 1000 metres (3000 ft) it’s six minutes. You can’t get more natural than those two methods of water purification! The main natural materials to purify water are carbon, fabric, paper, and ceramic. We talk about each one of these natural water purifying methods in the next section of this article. Method 3 - Removing particles from water can easily be done using clean fabric such as muslin or a paper coffee filter and pouring water through it into a jug or bottle. That will get rid of visible particles but not microscopic, chemical, or biological contaminants. Method 4 - Another natural method of disinfection is to fill a clear bottle with water and then leave it in direct sunlight for at least six hours, preferably longer. The ultraviolet radiation in the sun’s rays will kill any microorganisms contaminating the water. As you’ve seen filtering water naturally at home without a dedicated water filter is not very effective when you want to have properly purified water that’s safe and hygienic. Especially if you want that purified water on demand. How to purify water with natural materials We’re now into the realms of natural ways to purify water at home using manufactured filtration systems that use natural materials to purify the water. Filter housings are generally made from food grade plastic or stainless steel, and the purified water is delivered from water filter taps installed on a kitchen sink or bench. For an in-depth understanding of water filtration see the ultimate water purification guide. UV Water Filters As mentioned previously, the natural ways of purifying water employ carbon, ceramic, and sunlight. If we look at the sunlight as a water purification method; clearly, you can’t bring the sun into your house, but it’s the ultraviolet part of sunlight that does the disinfection. Method 5 - To recreate that in the home requires a UV water filter system: a stainless-steel vessel that contains a UV lamp that shines through the water as it flows through the unit. All it requires is electricity to power the lamp. Carbon Based Water Filters Carbon based filters are another method of water purification and are often described as charcoal, this is a natural material made by heating coconut husks in low oxygen ovens. What you get is black, brittle, and easily ground up into granules that can be placed into canisters, or shaped into cylindrical blocks, known as carbon block. You may also see that carbon filters are called “activated carbon”. This may sound unnatural, but it’s really a simple process of heating the carbon to make it have a very large surface area to volume ratio – it’s the same process as making popcorn. Activated carbon is made by heating up coconut shells and then breaking them down into granules that are used to either fill a canister or press into a filter cartridge shape. Of course, these different styles of carbon filter material need to be contained within a manufactured vessel, either stainless steel or plastic. That high surface area attracts chemical contaminants to “stick” to the carbon within the cartridge therefore removing them from the water. This is called adsorption and is highly effective at removing many substances such as chlorine, PAHs, THMs, pharmaceutical residues, agricultural substances, endocrine disruptors. The list goes on and on… Method 6 – obtain a filter containing either carbon block or GAC (granular activated carbon) cartridges. Ensure the size is sufficient for the flow rate you need for counter-top, cold water tap, or whole house filtration purposes. Some activated carbon block filters are made from bituminous material, so if you don’t want something that’s been extracted from a mine then it’s best to avoid these (although they are highly efficient filter cartridges). Ceramic Water Filters Ceramic filters have been around for a good couple of hundred years. This was pioneered in Staffordshire, UK, by John Doulton in the early 1800s, and developed by his son Henry. Doulton filters are still made today. Ceramic filter cartridges are made from naturally occurring clay, and some also contain carbon so that they naturally purify water of bacteria, moulds, cysts, sediment, and chemicals such as chlorine. The way they work is that the ceramic material has microscopic pores that allows water to pass through it, while trapping particles. The pores are so minute that in addition to fine sediment, ceramic filters can also remove bacteria and cysts. This makes ceramic filters a very good natural method of purifying water. Some ceramic cartridges also contain activated carbon block elements within the ceramic shell so purify water naturally of chemicals AND microorganisms at the same time. Method 7 – this method of purifying water naturally consists of installing a filter system that has ceramic candles or cartridges – Doulton still makes these in the UK! The only drawback with these ceramic filters is that they aren’t always suitable for whole house applications due to flow rate restrictions – but you will get good, clean water for drinking and cooking with. One of the practical benefits of installing a manufactured filter is that you can match it with something from our modern and stylish 3 way taps selection. Best natural water purifier If you’ve read this far you now know that there isn’t necessarily a simple answer to the question of how you purify water naturally. However, describing those seven methods gives a good indication of what you can do simply and easily using things you already have in the kitchen to filter your water. Plus, you now have the knowledge of what natural materials are used in the manufacture of water filters that do a lot more than the basic methods described in methods 1 to 4. We haven’t covered reverse osmosis water filter systems in this item even though RO could be considered a natural method of purifying water. It works by having a number of filters plus a semi-permeable membrane through which water molecules pass to be stored in a reservoir ready for use. The main reason for omitting RO is that some of the filter cartridges used, including the membrane, are made of non-natural materials. You can make an informed choice of what you want to improve about your water, and which method will work for you while also using natural materials. Got more questions? If you still need more information or want help choosing the right filter for you feel free to give us a call on 01352 838281 or send a message on our helpdesk. Image by Jarkko Mänty FAQ How to clean water naturally? Cleaning water naturally to ensure its drinkable can be done using a variety of methods ranging from standing water in the open air to remove chlorine to carbon based water filter systems to remove chlorine and other contaminants. Can water filters remove chlorine? Yes, water filters can remove chlorine. Water filters containing a carbon block water filter cartridge will remove chlorine. Which water purification system is best? The water purification system that is best for you is the system that removes the contaminants that you don't want in your water. Knowing what you want to improve about your water is the first question you need to ask yourself. Seeking help from a water filtration expert like Fountain Filters may help.
Water fluoridation in the UK Fluoride occurs naturally in water, but some areas of the UK (England only) have fluoride added by the water companies upon request from local health authorities. We’ll cover why they fluoridate drinking water later. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do not currently add fluoride to drinking water, but naturally occurring fluoride may be present. Here is a water fluoridation UK map so you can quickly see if fluoride has been added to your drinking water. This map was sourced from GOV.UK. Understanding water fluoridation The main reason that fluoride is added to water is to prevent rising tooth decay and improve oral health in the general population. However, fluoridation of water pales in comparison to the availability of toothpaste containing fluoride, which is available across the UK. Fluoride in varying levels is added to toothpaste as a preventative measure against oral disease and is the most common delivery system of fluoride to the UK population. Benefits of fluoridated water The addition of fluoride in water is all about intervention. Food sugars + mouth plaque bacteria = acid, which leads to cavities. Dental cavities can ultimately end in tooth decay and extraction, unless something is done about it. Tooth decay is avoidable. Extracting decayed teeth from children is not something to celebrate. According to the British Dental Association (BDA) 'tooth decay is still going unchallenged as the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children'. And for the financial year 2021-2022 there were 26,741 episodes of tooth extractions in NHS hospitals for 0-19 year olds, with the primary reason being tooth decay. This obviously cost the NHS, and you the taxpayer a lot of money. This is why some parts of the UK fluoridate water, and why fluoride toothpaste is available. So that there are consistent levels of fluoride in the mouth to make teeth enamel more resistant to decay. Research findings on water fluoridation Despite the horror stories that you’ll read on the world-wide web, water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health intervention that can improve dental health and help to narrow dental health inequalities across England. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to agree with it. You can remove fluoride from tap water and we’ll guide you through the most effective ways to do this with one of our fluoride water filters. The Water Quality Regulations 2016 allow for up to 1.5 mg/l of fluoride in the public water supply. If water companies in England fluoridate water, they do so up to 1 mg/l. Visiting your water suppliers website will give you the most up to date information of the fluoride levels in your water supply. Remember that fluoride is naturally present in water, and the fluoride UK water map above tells you if you’re in an area that is artificially fluoridated. Fluoride in drinking water We’ve already established that England is the only country in the UK that adds fluoride to drinking water to improve dental health. And only 10% of England’s population has fluoride added to drinking water, which is about 6 million people. The most extensively fluoridated areas in England are the West Midlands and the Northeast of England. Historically, these are areas that have experienced high levels of deprivation. Checking fluoride levels in your area To quickly check if you have fluoride added to your drinking water supply, look at our UK fluoride water map above. Then for more detailed information about the fluoride levels in your drinking water, look at your water suppliers website. They may have a postcode checker, so it’s worthwhile looking for that. This will give you the level of fluoride present in your household water. It will also give you information on permissible levels. Effective methods for removing fluoride from water If your water is currently being fluoridated to elevate the naturally occurring levels, you may or may not agree with it. That’s entirely up to you and if you disagree with the fluoridation of water, you can do something about it. Firstly, you can stop buying toothpaste that has fluoride added to it. The toothpaste tube will always list fluoride if it’s been added. Secondly, you can reduce the amount of fluoride in your household water with one of our specialist fluoride water filters. Our fluoride filters will either treat your drinking water only, kitchen cold tap, or whole house. It really is very easy, and we will do what we can to help you. So, check the map, check your water suppliers website, do some research, decide what’s best for you and your family, and if that’s to minimise exposure to fluoride the next logical step is to call us on 01352 838 281 or pop a message on our helpdesk. Key takeaways from Fountain Filters When it comes to water filtration there is always a lot of information to sift through and try to understand. But for the purposes of fluoride in water, here are our top three takeaways. Look at the UK water fluoridation map above to determine if your water is artificially fluoridated. Remember that fluoride occurs naturally in water, so getting one of those home test kits for fluoride will almost always throw up a positive reading for fluoride. It’s better to visit your water suppliers website. Work out whether you want fluoride in your water or not. If you don’t want fluoride in your drinking water, then contact Fountain Filters and do something about it. FAQ about fluoride in water Does boiling water remove fluoride? NO. Boiling water does not remove fluoride. If you boil water containing fluoride, it would leave the same amount of fluoride in a smaller amount of water, due to evaporation during the boiling process. Why do water companies use fluoride? Fluoride is added to some public water supplies in England to reduce oral health inequalities and tooth decay rates, particularly in children aged 0-19 years old. Does bottled water have fluoride in it? Bottled water may contain fluoride. It's important to look at the label on the brand you wish to purchase.
0 Can You Drink Softened Water
Can you drink softened water? Is it safe? As specialists in water filtration, we are often asked these two questions “can you drink softened water?” and “is it safe to drink softened water?”. We like easy answers to simple questions like that, and in this case the answer is “yes, in most cases”. Important note: what follows in this article is our best advice and information as water filtration experts. We are not health professionals; if you have any doubts you should consult your GP or other medically qualified person. Let’s get some understanding of how water is softened and why it may not be good to drink it for some people. What is softened water? In simple terms soft water is water that has low concentrations of dissolved minerals – mainly calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), that’s below 100 milligrams per litre (mg/l). Water above that level may be slightly hard (100 - 150 mg/l), moderately hard (150 – 200 mg/l), hard (200 – 300 mg/l), or even very hard (300 mg/l and above). Softened water is hard water that has the hard minerals, also known as hard ions, replaced with sodium ions, in a process called “ion exchange”. Note that the sodium in softened water is not salt (sodium chloride, NaCL) so your water won’t taste salty if you install a water softener. The chemical introduced in water softening is sodium bicarbonate and it’s not a 1:1 ratio, in fact it’s closer to around 40%. So, if you have hard water of 200 mg/l you can expect around 80 mg/l of sodium to be introduced. If you’re in a very hard water area with 350 mg/l it’s 140 mg/l of sodium introduced. Now that we know that we can consider this further. Is it safe to drink softened water? For most people you can drink water from a water softener safely. Adults sodium tolerance in drinking water The UK’s drinking water regulations and the World Health Organisation (WHO) state that the maximum safe level of sodium in drinking water is 200 mg/l (or 200 parts per million – ppm). That’s based on WHO recommended maximum daily sodium intake of 2000 mg per day from all sources, which includes meals, snacks, supplements, and drinks. Having said that the NHS and British Heart Foundation say that the maximum daily limit is 6g of salt per day for adults (that’s 6000 mg/day!) which seems a bit high if the sodium content is 40%. Bearing that in mind it’s probably best to err on the side of caution and limit your intake to 4g of salt per day at most. Taking these figures into consideration, drinking softened water may be safe for healthy adults, but what about other people? Children sodium tolerance in drinking water Tolerance for sodium increases with the age of children: Age Sodium Salt Babies < 0.4g < 1g 1 - 3 0.8g 2g 4 - 6 1.2g 3g 7 - 10 2g 5g 11 and older 2.5g 6g As you can see from the table, you need to be much more vigilant with your children’s intake of salt and sodium to safeguard their health. It is probably best if children don’t drink softened water at all. Health effects of sodium Sodium in your diet affects your health by increasing blood pressure. While that may be fine for healthy adults who are reasonably active, it’s a big risk for some – it could even be life-threatening some. But what are the risks involved in drinking softened water? Given that sodium increases blood pressure, if you suffer from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, you’ll already be aware of what follows. If not, then it may surprise you to learn that high blood pressure significantly increases the chances of developing heart disease. And then add to that: Heart attacks Strokes Heart failure Peripheral arterial disease Aortic aneurisms Kidney disease Vascular dementia Why can’t you drink softened water? Think of this in terms of the health effects of softened water for at risk people. If you have normal blood pressure, it’s likely that it’s perfectly safe to drink softened water. However, if your blood pressure is already high, or of you have slightly elevated blood pressure then you really don’t want to add to the problem. So, it’s definitely not recommended to consume water with extra sodium added in by a water softener. Can dogs drink softened water? Water from a water softener is perfectly safe for most dogs, and other pets. Older animals are probably best not to have the increased sodium. However, hard water is likely to be a higher risk to dogs due to kidney problems it can cause. The same is true for cats and the best advice is to give your pets filtered soft water which reduces most chemicals that might have adverse health effects. The side effects of drinking softened are not severe for most people, but you still may want to prevent limescale, but without using a water softener. Salt free water softeners Strictly speaking salt free water softeners aren’t water softeners, but they do prevent or minimise the formation of hard scale. They can also be combined very cost effectively with other filters that will improve water quality overall. Salt free systems tend to be lower maintenance, have a lower purchase price, and be very much cheaper to install. The latest technology employs a system called template assisted crystallisation (TAC) or media assisted crystallisation (MAC). For whole house applications Watts’ OneFlow+ mains water filter system is a simple all-in-one solution that maintains a great flow rate while treating hard water and filtering out chemicals. Or if you’re happy with the taste of your water and only want to treat the limescale problem then a superb option that is also able to be fitted in a kitchen under sink cupboard is the OneFlow Hard Water Filter 30LPM . With this post we hope you are now more informed about drinking softened water. When it comes to treating limescale or softening water, everyone has different needs, requirements, and expectations so we really encourage you to contact us here on our helpdesk or call 01352 838281 to talk to us about your individual circumstances. Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians
0 10 Refreshing Ways to Liven up your Water
This is a brilliant article for anyone who wants to liven up their water and move away from processed drinks which contain way too much refined sugar and other artificial nasties that are better out of your body and not in it. It's packed full of refreshing fun recipes using fruit and herbs. Such a good alternative to plain water. Read the article HERE Intro: "Fruit-infused waters are a wonderful and refreshing drink option for summer when the sun is out, the kids are bored, and the bugs are biting.TV commercials will try to convince you that only soda and processed drinks are thirst-quenching enough for summer. Of course, you probably already know better, but sometimes it is nice to have an alternative to plain water.The market for sweetened, processed junk to add to water is a multi-billion dollar industry. This is unfortunate for all of the people drinking this junk. The body doesn’t need refined sugar, and it certainly doesn’t need artificial sweeteners or food dyes.If you want to add some delicious taste and health benefits to water, try these fruit-water recipes instead! These recipes use micronutrient-rich herbs, fruits, and vegetables for thirst-quenching flavor with added benefits!"
0 5 Amazing Benefits of Drinking Water
Water is and always will be the BEST drink to keep you hydrated. In this video you'll learn 5 amazing benefits of drinking water. And installing a drinking water filter is way cheaper than buying expensive bottled water.
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