Water and why it is important

Water and why it is important

Do you ever wonder about the water you drink?

The consumption of water is one thing we all, rich or poor, have in common in this world. We all need it to survive. After all, the main component of the human body is water, approx. 70%.

Water penetrates every cell of the human of the human body and regulates major bodily functions, such as metabolism, digestion, cardio-vascular circulation and many more. Moreover, water plays an important role in the brain. It facilitates our thinking, feelings and moods. Water is the carrier of all bodily and spiritual functions.

It does so by virtue of its capabilities as a solvent, distribution and cleaning agent. Water transports and distributes nutrients, eliminates metabolic waste, maintains cellular osmotic pressure and regulates body temperature. All metabolic processes in our body as well as secretion of poisonous substances through kidneys, intestines, skin and lungs can only occur in conjunction with water.

In 24 hours 2000 liters of blood flow through our kidneys in the process of which about 2,5 liter of water secreted. This loss must be replaced by drinking at least 2 liters of water per day, so that all organs can accomplish their specific task. As a rule of thumb one should drink about 30 ml per 1 kg (2,2 lbs) of body weight.

Shortage of water slows down all metabolic processes and other body functions, cells dry out and the aging process accelerates significantly. Poisonous substances accumulate in joints, vascular system or connective tissue and cause all kinds of ailments.

Just as important is your water’s safety…

Every community in the world strives to provide a safe and dependable supply of water. Many times through water shortages, accidents, human error or acts of God the water supply is compromised and micro-biologically contaminated.

Micro-organisms as bacteria, cysts and viruses continuously threaten safety of our drinking water and make it quite appropriate to focus on the question how to prevent exposure to these kinds of pathogens.

Scientific data on levels of micro-organisms indicate that the concentration of coli form bacteria (i.e. e.coli), commonly found in surface waters, ranges from 10⁵ (also expressed as log 5) per 100 ml for polluted stream water to 10⁹ / 100 ml in raw sewage. Considering infectious levels of 10³ for immune compromised people, the target effluent concentration after treatment must be less than 1/100 ml or a reduction of at least 6 logs (99,9999%)

Cysts (i.e. cryptosporidium and giardia) are the largest water born micro-organisms (3 - 6 micron) and occur in surface waters in a concentration of 10/L. They are highly infectious and the target effluent after treatment should contain less than 1/100L, equivalent to a 3 log reduction (99,9%)

Concentrations of entero viruses (i.e. Polio and Rota virus) in surface waters are estimated to range between and 10² - 10⁴ per liter. It is generally felt that drinking water should be free of infectious viruses and the effluent concentration after treatment should contain < 1/100L, equivalent to 4 log reduction (99,99%)

Above target effluent concentrations have been established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their guide standard and protocol for testing microbiological water purifiers.

Since 1976 we know that not only ingested bacteria can have serious health effects. Legionella bacteria, if inhaled with water vapor, can cause a severe form of lung infection.

Click here for more information on Legionella Pneumophilia.

MOST OCCURRING PATHOGENS IN SURFACE WATER