There are all sorts of articles out on the internet about the relationship between water and heart attacks and some claim more water is better and others debunk this claim. So what should we believe? Does it really matter how much water you drink every day? Does drinking plenty of water reduce your risk of fatal heart attacks? The short answer is, yes. It really does matter how much water we drink daily and the more water we drink, the less likely we are to have a fatal heart attack. This isn’t just a theory anymore, but a definitive conclusion to a study conducted by The American Journal of Epidemiology.
Researchers looked at the water intake of 12,017 female participants and 8,280 male participants in correlation to coronary heart disease events over the period of six years. Even after they adjusted for additional risk factors, they conclusively determined that more than any other factor, water intake determined fatal heart disease risk. The study stated that men who drank at least 40 ounces of water daily reduced their risk by 54 percent and women who drank the same amount reduced their risk by 41 percent.
The majority of fatal heart attacks occur during the morning hours and doctors believe it is caused by the higher viscosity of blood during the morning hours. You lose water throughout the night as you sleep and until you replenish the fluid, your blood will be thicker than usual. Also, lack of water will cause the body to secrete the stress hormone cortisol and there have been numerous studies that have linked increased instances of heart attacks with stress.
According to the American Heart Association, the better the hydration, they easier it is for your heart to do its job. They also state that water is the best thing for people to drink for hydration. Drinking water from a high quality water filter will ensure that you only ingest the purest water you can without any other harmful contaminants. You can get water from other sources as well such as certain fruits and vegetables, however plain water is the best source for proper hydration. One more tip they share is to drink plenty of water BEFORE you exercise or go out in the sun. If you wait then you will be constantly playing catch-up and you will be putting extra strain on your heart.
If you are asking yourself, should I be filtering my home water source? The answer is yes.Filtering the water coming into your home is important if your water is contaminated or if you are concerned about exposure to certain types of contaminants. If you are considering installing a water filtration home system, you’ll want to start by understanding what contaminants are in your water and what types of filtration systems are available. Once you have the basics understood, you can focus on how to get great tasting, filtered drinking water into your home.
Do I Need a Water Filtration System?
If you are scratching your head and wondering if you should invest in water treatment systems, that is the first step towards having healthier drinking water. However, only you can answer whether you need an in-house water filtration system, but there are some very good reasons why you might consider ditching your regular faucet water and install one. The importance of water purification cannot be understated if you are concerned about exposure to potentially harmful contaminants. Although the water provided by community water systems has undergone some form of treatment, violations of water quality standards occur every day.
To illustrate this point, a 2015 study of nearly 18,000 community water systems from the period between 1982 – 2015 found that between 9 – 45 million people were affected by violations of drinking water standards. If you are concerned about bacteria, chemicals, and other contaminants while asking yourself, “should I filter my tap water?” The answer is that filtering your tap water provides the greatest assurance that the water in your house is clean and free of contaminants.
For you to be completely sure that a house water filter is the right thing for you to invest in, its best to understand what substances are in the water from your plumbing.
What Types of Contaminants can be Found in Tap Water?
There is a wide range of contaminants that can be found in tap water. Here are some of the most common and problematic:
Disinfectant By-Products (DBPs) – Most community water suppliers treat their water with chemicals to kill waterborne pathogens. The most common chemicals used are chlorine and bromine. When added to water, these chemicals react with organic material in the water to form DBPs. DBPs like chloroform are considered possibly carcinogenic.
Microbes – The water that is piped into your house may contain waterborne pathogens. Although most water suppliers treat their water with chemicals to kill microbes, over 16 million people in the United States each year suffer from acute gastroenteritis from waterborne pathogens. These include bacteria like E. Coli, Salmonella, and Legionella, viruses like rotavirus and Norwalk virus, and protozoans like Giardia.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)– VOCs are chemicals that are used in a variety of products like gasoline, solvents, paints, and pesticides. According to the EPA, VOCs are present in about 1/5th of water supplies in the United States. Exposure to high concentrations of VOCs has been linked to increased risk of cancers, liver problems, and damage to reproductive systems.
Heavy Metals – Heavy metals like lead and zinc can make their way into the water supply. Lead is often leached from the pipes bringing water to your house, while other metals like zinc can be picked up by water as it moves through the soil. These metals contribute to water hardness and can be detrimental to your health.
Arsenic – Arsenic is a naturally occurring compound that is most often found in water coming from a private well. Arsenic doesn’t produce a specific smell or taste in water, so you would have to test your water to know if it is contaminated with arsenic. Long-term exposure to arsenic can result in an increased risk of developing certain types of cancers.
Nitrates– Nitrates enter the water supply through runoff from fertilizers, sewage, and livestock manure. This makes water supplies close to agricultural centers particularly vulnerable to nitrate contamination.
What Type of Filtration System Should I Get?
Finding the right filtration system can make a big difference in which contaminants get removed. Different filtration methods remove different contaminants. Although many water filtration systems will combine multiple filtration methods, it is important to start with getting your water professionally tested.
Starting with a professional water test will tell you exactly what contaminants are in your water. From there, you can more accurately narrow down which filtration methods are appropriate for the water in your house.
Here are the three most common types of filtration methods and what types of contaminants they are effective at removing:
Reverse Osmosis (RO) – Reverse osmosis involves forcing contaminated water at high pressure through a membrane containing very small pores. The osmosis filter’s membrane captures contaminants while the water molecules can pass through to the other side. Reverse osmosis systems are great at capturing sediment, silt, heavy metals, nitrates, and microbes. They are less effective at removing disinfection chemicals, DBPs, and VOCs.
Activated Carbon – Activated carbon filters contain porous charcoal that captures certain molecules that pass through it. Activated carbon filters are excellent at removing chemicals used to treat water, such as chlorine and bromine, DBPs, VOCs, and fluorine. These filters are also great for removing the bad odors and tastes in tap water.
Ion Exchange – Ion exchange systems contain a negatively charged resin that is used to attract the minerals and metals that contribute to water hardness. These systems are excellent at removing hardness from water and are typically installed as a point-of-entry (POE) system where the water enters your home. This ensures that all of the water in your house is soft. Ion exchange systems are not effective at removing microbes, chemicals, DBPs, VOCs, and nitrates.
Closing Thoughts
There are many benefits to home water filtration systems. That is why there is no single best water filter at home, but rather there are water filtration systems that are more appropriate for the type of contaminants found in your water. That is why it’s important to conduct a professional water test before investing in a water filtration system for your home.
Everyone deserves to have great tasting, filtered water. What is great about all these water purification systems is that you can combine multiple filtration methods, so that they can capture the most contaminants. Each filtration method has advantages and disadvantages, so systems that combine filtration methods typically minimize the disadvantages of specific filtration methods. Thus, optimizing your chances of providing healthy, purified water for your home.
Water is essential to good health – that we know. But do you know just how vital hydration is for a healthy brain? Our brains depend on proper hydration to function optimally. Drinking plenty of high-quality drinking water from an efficient water filter can lead to superior habits and a better functioning brain over time. Recent research has found that the majority of us are slightly dehydrated, drinking fewer glasses of water than recommended and that we have more difficulty keeping our attention towards things because of it. How much water do you drink each day?
Our brain cells require both water and other elements to operate. It forms a balance but when we lack water or lose water through natural processes, the balance is disrupted and your brain cells become less efficient. For example, one medical expert concluded that dehydration can impair short-term memory function and the recall of long-term memory. The ability to perform mental arithmetic, like calculating whether or not you’ll be late for work if you hit snooze for another 15 minutes, is compromised when your fluids are low.
A new study has also found that drinking more water can also benefit your memory and your ability to react to things. In fact, it was proven that drinking a glass of water can make your brain 14% faster. Previous research has shown that mild dehydration can have a negative effect on cognitive performance, and it’s a well-known fact that not getting enough water can make us feel sluggish. For the first time, the 2015 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations report included information about the role certain nutrients may play in supporting and protecting our mental health. This includes water as your main source of hydration as a part of this healthy mindset. Your brain will thank you just as your body does.
You can also feel better when the water you drink is safe and clean. It has been recommended that consumers invest in a home water treatment system. We offer numerous water filters to match your home’s needs and your family’s demands. Pure drinking water is just better for you, therefore supporting habits and a healthier brain. Improving brain function could be as easy as drinking more water and staying hydrated – seems worth it, right?
Commercial water softeners remove the mineral ions that contribute to water hardness. Gaining a better understanding of how commercial water softeners work, including what contaminants they remove, can help you understand if a water softening system is an ideal solution for your needs.
What is a Water Softener?
Water softening systems are used to remove mineral ions from hard water. Those mineral ions can have a big impact around your office building, not only on industrial systems and machinery but even on your employees themselves.
Before we dive into how commercial water softeners work, let’s explore what hard water is exactly.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water is simply water with a high content of hard minerals. These minerals are in the form of ions, which are picked up and bound to water molecules as it percolates through the ground.
Hard water occurs naturally, and water softeners use natural processes to reverse water hardness. Some regions in the United States have naturally harder water than others. If you are dealing with the effects of hard water, everyone else on the same municipal water supply will also be dealing with hard water.
Water hardness can be affected by different minerals. Hard water predominantly contains calcium carbonate and magnesium, which are found in chalky soil and limestone. However, hard water can also contain metal ions like iron, manganese, zinc, aluminum, and others.
When do you need a Water Softener?
The simple answer for when you need a water softener is when the effects of hard water are too difficult or detrimental to deal with. This threshold will change for each person and organization. The impacts of hard water can be severe, particularly in a commercial setting. Understanding what those impacts are can help you gain a better sense of whether you need a water softening system.
One thing to keep in mind is that there are different levels of water hardness. Water hardness exists on a scale ranging from “soft” water that contains less than one grain-per-gallon (GPG) of dissolved calcium carbonate, all the way to “very hard” water that contains over 10 GPG of dissolved calcium carbonate.
Because water hardness can vary depending on your location, it is important to have your water tested before investing in a water softening system. A water test will tell you not only how hard your water is, but also what the mineral content of the water is. Water tests can also let you know what other contaminants are in your water. High levels of contaminants, in addition to mineral ions, may indicate that a water filtration system, such as a commercial reverse osmosis system, may be necessary alongside a water softening system.
How do Water Softening Systems Function?
If you are wondering, “how does a water softening systems work?” The answer is through a process known as “ion exchange.” Sometimes water softening systems are also referred to as ion exchange systems.
When water percolates through the soil, it attracts mineral ions, which become bound through an electrical charge to the water molecule. Water softening systems attract mineral ions away from the water molecule by replacing them with a sodium ion. In other words, in a water softening system, the minerals in hard water are exchanged with sodium ions.
To accomplish this exchange process, water softening systems contain a negatively charged resin. Attached to that resin are positively charged sodium ions. When hard water enters the system, the mineral ions attached to the water molecule are attracted to the resin. The sodium ions that were previously attached to the resin swap places with the mineral ion, allowing the water molecules to maintain a balanced electrical charge.
The water exiting the system is considered “soft” because the hard minerals remain behind on the resin. Water softening systems typically contain a tank containing resin and a tank containing a salty brine solution. When the resin becomes saturated with minerals, it needs to be refreshed. To return the system to peak working condition, the salty brine solution in the second tank flows into the tank containing the resin. The sodium ions in the brine solution replace the mineral ions attached to the resin. The remaining water, containing the detached mineral ions, is flushed from the system as wastewater.
The process of flushing the collected minerals from the system occurs periodically and can be automated with some systems. Periodically, the sodium in the brine tank must also be replenished. Aside from these events, water softening systems do their job without any intervention. The ion exchange process doesn’t use any chemicals to remove minerals from hard water.
Water softening systems are considered a “point-of-entry” (POE) solution. This is because water softening systems are typically installed where water is piped into a building or home. The installation location ensures that the water being piped throughout a building or home is soft, which eliminates the most significant impacts of hard water.
Water Softening Systems vs. Water Filtration Systems
It is important to note that while ion exchange systems are excellent at removing hardness from water and heavy metals such as iron or lead, they aren’t effective at removing other contaminants from drinking water. To remove organic and inorganic materials from water, you’ll want to consider a water filtration system. Using both a water softening system and a water filtration system can be an effective way to remove both the hardness from water as well as other contaminants that affect the safety or taste of water.
Water filtration systems rely on various methods to remove contaminants from water. Reverse osmosis (RO) is one such method, which utilizes a membrane containing very tiny pores. In an RO system, water is forced through the membrane using pressure. Contaminants larger than the water molecule are left behind.
Activated carbon is another very popular method of water filtration. Activated carbon filters contain porous charcoal which can capture organic compounds, such as benzene, pesticides, and petroleum products. Activated carbon filters are also capable of removing the chemicals used in water treatment, such as fluorine and chlorine, as well as the odors that can negatively impact the taste of your water.
What are the Impacts of Hard Water?
In a commercial setting, hard water can be quite detrimental. Although in a residential setting the focus of attention tends to be on the health effects of hard water, in a commercial environment, the impacts of hard water tend to revolve around its effect on systems, machinery, and manufactured products.
Equipment Efficiency
When hard water passes over or through something, it leaves behind mineral deposits, which are collectively known as “scale” or “limescale.”Scaling can be a big problem in commercial applications, particularly for machinery and equipment. When hard water is heated, it leaves behind mineral deposits as an insoluble precipitate that is difficult to remove. Over time, these mineral deposits build up and impact the efficiency of the equipment.
Water heaters, dishwashers, machinery, or other appliances that use large amounts of water will experience the worst impacts from hard water. Equipment that uses hot water, such as industrial boilers, tend to be the most impacted.
Plumbing
The same mineral deposits that can impact machinery and appliances will also harm your plumbing. Over time, mineral deposits can slowly reduce the flow of water passing through pipes, in a similar way to how cholesterol buildup in our body can reduce the flow of blood.
Food and Beverage Preparation
The minerals in hard water will impact the taste of food and beverages. For example, most coffee shops choose to use soft water for the preparation of their beverages due to the impact on the taste of their products that hard water can have. Hard water can harm the equipment used to prepare food and beverages, such as coffee pots and espresso machines.
Mineral Deposits
Surfaces around your office building that come into contact with hard water will have mineral deposits. Typically these are found on sinks, faucets, and fixtures. They will probably also be found in fountains and other displays that use flowing water. While not necessarily damaging, these mineral deposits are unsightly and difficult to keep clean. When the minerals in hard water combine with soap, they form soap scum, which is an insoluble precipitate that is also unsightly and difficult to remove.
Final Thoughts
If you are seeking to understand whether your office needs a commercial water softener, it is helpful to understand what a water softener is. Water softeners remove hardness from water. Hardness consists of hard minerals that can be left behind by hard water and impact the efficiency of equipment, the taste of food and beverages, and the plumbing of your building.
If your office building has tenants that rely on machinery that uses water or heats water, such as water heaters or boilers, or prepare food and beverages, or manufacture certain products, chances are you will need a water softening system.
To understand whether a water softening system is right for you, you’ll want to test your water. Testing your water will give you an idea of how hard your water is, as well as let you know of any additional contaminants which might require a water filtration system.
If you’re still wondering why your office needs a commercial water filter system, to learn more about commercial water treatment options, please contact our water experts at Rayne today. With more than 100 years of experience in water treatment, Rayne can guide you towards the treatment options that are ideal for your office environment.
Sources:
Ungvarsky, Janine. 2018. “Hard Water.” Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science.
Is your office considering getting an office water cooler? Providing fresh drinking water to your employees can benefit their health and productivity while improving your working environment.
There are many must-have office amenities that any business owners should purchase, but investing in a water cooler is a must. When it comes to getting an office water coolers, you’ll have to decide whether to go with a bottled water delivery service or whether to go with a bottle-less water cooler dispenser. There are numerous advantages to investing in a bottle-less water cooler. Understanding these advantages can help you make a decision that will save your office money while delivering nearly unlimited clean, filtered water that is available on-demand for your staff.
#1 Cost-Effective
Bottle-less coolers are very cost-effective compared to alternative methods of getting clean, great-tasting, filtered drinking water in your office. With a bottled water delivery service, you’ll have to pay for the water in the bottles, a deposit on each bottle, and a rental fee for the cooler unless you own it.
With a bottle-less office water cooler, you’ll have a higher initial investment but lower ongoing costs. Over time, the system will more than pay for itself.
#2 Virtually Unlimited Water
Bottle-less water coolers for offices can provide nearly limitless filtered drinking water. Contrast this with a bottled water delivery service, where you pay for each 5-gallon bottle that you order. Though you are able to have a water cooler service with bottled water, your office workers are limited to how much water they can drink. Worse comes to worst, you run out of the purified water jugs. Then, what are employees to do when they want quality filtered water?
With Rayne’s bottle-less water cooler for office, your water will be available on demand. If demand increases, you won’t be left scrambling for an extra delivery of bottles. This makes bottle-less water coolers a scalable solution for filtered drinking water in an office environment.
#3 Less Hassle
Rayne’s bottle-less office water filter systems are hassle-free. With our filtration system, you’ll simply have to set it up once, and you’ll have access to a nearly unlimited supply of clean, on-demand water.
Bottled water coolers require users to change out the bottle when it runs out. A typical 5-gallon bottle of water weighs 42 lbs. This makes it difficult for many people to change out the bottle. Changing out the bottle can lead to spills, cracked bottles, and frustration. Getting a drink of fresh water shouldn’t have to be such a hassle. Avoiding the hassle of bottled water can be done by switching to a bottle-less water cooler for your office.
#4 Smaller Footprint
For a bottled water delivery service in an office setting, you’ll need quite a bit of space. Along with the cooler, you’ll need an area near the cooler to store the full bottles. You won’t want it too far because carrying a 42lb bottle to the cooler can be tiring. You’ll want enough water to last until your next delivery, so you will have to factor in how many bottles you need and how much space that will take up. You will also need an area to store the empty bottles until they can be exchanged for full bottles on your delivery date.
In contrast, bottle-less office water filtration systems only take up as much space as the cooler itself. The form factor of the cooler is similar to a bottled water cooler, allowing it to fit nearly anywhere in an office environment. If space is especially tight, Rayne has a Countertop bottle-less Water Cooler that requires even less space.
#5 Protect Against Contaminants
Even though water quality is regulated in the United States, the number of contaminants in your tap water can vary. One of the only ways to truly protect yourself against an unexpected rise in contaminants is to filter your source water before you drink it.
Our Rayne bottle-less water coolers utilize two filtration methods; reverse osmosis and activated carbon. Reverse osmosis filtration takes contaminated water and forces it through a specialized membrane with very small pores. Those pores allow water molecules through but capture larger contaminants such as heavy metals and microbes.
Our activated carbon filtration removes the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), disinfection chemicals and their by-products, fluoride, and other chemicals that can alter the state and smell of the water. You are left with clean, filtered water delivered on-demand.
Final Thoughts
So, why does your office needs a commercial water filter system? Well, to start, Bottle-less water coolers are the ideal solution for providing clean, filtered water in an office environment. Our bottle-less water coolers have a small footprint, so you won’t have to worry about where to store your full or empty water bottles. With countertop bottle-less water coolers available, you can make filtered water available to your staff even in tight spaces.
Bottle-less water coolers filter water through two different filtration methods; reverse osmosis and activated carbon. This ensures that a wide range of contaminants is captured, and results in consistently clean, filtered water. An added advantage of these systems is that, unlike bottled water delivery services, you never run out of filtered water.
In the end, bottle-less water coolers are more cost-effective than bottled water delivery services. With a bottle-less water cooler system, you won’t have to deal with ongoing service fees, change filters, load heavy bottles, or schedule additional water deliveries. This saves your office money and time.
To learn more about the importance of water filtration and our bottle-less water coolers, please contact Rayne today. Our water quality specialists can help you schedule a water test and explain what filtration system options are available to you.
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