The tap water in 42 states is contaminated with more than 140 unregulated chemicals that lack safety standards, according to the Environmental Working Group's (EWG's)two-and-a-half year investigation of water suppliers' tests of the treated tap water served to communities across the country.

Additionally, the water you drink is contaminated with regulated:

Microorganisms (Legionella, E coli, Viruses... )
Disinfectants(Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide...)
Disinfection Byproducts (Bromate, Chloriate...)
Inorganic Chemicals (Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Mercury...)
Organic Chemicals
Radionuclides (Uranium.. whoa!)

More information can be found at my Water Contamination lens.

So what's the solution? Simple. Filter your water.

Chlorine is a toxic gas that irritates the respiratory system. It is a strong oxidizer, which may react with flammable materials. Chlorine gas has been used in WWI and the Iraq war as a chemical weapon.

The use of chlorine in water systems began in the late 19th century as a way to combat diseases like cholera and typhoid, a task at which it was quite effective. Great! However, chlorine can leave skin feeling dry and itchy and leave hair dry, brittle, and prone to dandruff. It can cause or further aggravate rashes and other skin irritations and it leaves eyes feeling sore and itchy.

Click to learn more about Chlorine and your body

"Water filters currently provide the best and healthiest solution to the problems of both bottled water and tap water.

Water filters remove more dangerous contaminants than any other purification method, and they are uniquely designed to work with municipally treated water. The water they produce is not subject to phthalate contamination, and they are able to remove cryptosporidium from drinking water, a feat that neither municipal water treatment plants nor bottled water companies have yet managed. Also, drinking filtered water is a much more economical practice than drinking bottled water.

Find out more at my water filter lens

Aquasana is a leading filter manufacturer. One of the really great things about Aquasana is that they make the "whole-house" water filtration system. This is the ultimate water filtration system, cleansing not only your drinking water but also your bath water as well.

I found this
20% coupon. I used it to buy my shower filter and saved about 25 bucks. You are throwing money away if you don't take advantage!

What Aquasana says:
Unlike like most other water filtration products, Aquasana products were not designed to meet minimum government or industry standards that allow "Trace Levels" of toxic chemicals in tap water and bottled water. We believe%u201A and science has proven%u201A that there are no safe levels for toxic synthetic chemicals in our water.

While it is permitted and accepted that bottled water and tap water commonly contain traces of many unhealthy contaminants%u201A Aquasana was designed to produce naturally healthy, great tasting water.

We believe that the healthiest water is water like it existed before the influences of modern man%u201A water free from chemical contaminants and balanced with traces of the Earth's natural minerals. Aquasana systems filter out chlorine, lead, VOCs and cysts while leaving in the natural trace minerals. It's like having natural spring water on tap in your home for only 9¢ a gallon!

If you aren't ready to filter your entire house, you can start small with the affordable under-sink kit.

My Grandparents use this kit and I have to say it's very easy to use, and very convenient. I never see any kind of particles or floaties and the water tastes great.

There are new disposable filter systems available as well. Have a look at the Brita Disposable Faucet Filtration System for the kitchen and bathroom. For under 60 bucks for both it's a steal. Installation takes about 5 minutes and the filters last for 6 months. The bathroom filter has a water fountain built in!

I use both filters and I have been very pleased. Easy to use, and the water fountain feature is pretty cool.

Below is a chart describing which impurities the Brita filters above help reduce.

The best way to protect yourself from vaporized Chlorine and other toxic elements while showering is to filter the water. The filter does two things: First it removes all the junk from the water and second it prevents the Chlorine from vaporizing (very important)!

I think the best equipment for the job can be found at Aquasana.

You will feel a difference within days. Your skin will be softer, and less dry. Your hair will be less brittle and won't feel like straw. Dandruff should also decrease. If you have eczema or some other sort of skin irritation, the filter should help reduce the irritation (no more Chlorine!).

If you have asthma then you know how serious a condition can become just because of a slight exposure to chlorine vapor. FILTER YOUR WATER! It could save your life.

The best way to avoid the poison shower is to just filter prior to it exiting the shower head. Even if you had a whole house filtration system I would still recommend filtering the water just before it touches your body.

Aquasana offers a great adjustable shower head filter that uses patented filtration technology to remove chlorine, reduce synthetic chemicals and VOCs from your shower water and to balance pH for the best shower experience possible.

I use the Aquasana shower filter. I am very pleased with it. Without trying to sound like a commercial, it does leave my skin and hair feeling soft and refreshed rather than dry and chalky. The installation took 5 minutes, it was so easy. This is probably my best and favorite filter investment so far.

How it works:

The Aquasana Shower Filter has a unique 2 stage filter process that takes out chlorine and balances the pH in Stage 1 and filters out harmful VOCs and THMs in stage 2.

Stage 1: Removes chlorine and enhances pH balance with a natural copper/ zinc mineral media called KDF-55D.

Stage 2: uses a carbonized coconut shell media for the removal of synthetic chemicals, THMs and VOCs that vaporize from tap water and be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, potentially causing adverse health and cosmetic effects.

Another option would be the New Market Naturals April Shower Filter, Hand-Held/Massage Head Filter, White. It has a sleek design, filters Chlorine and heavy metals, and keeps you feeling clean, fresh, and non-toxic.

Everyone needs their very own water bottle. It should be high quality ALUMINUM (not plastic) water bottle. An aluminum bottle is not only tougher, but prevents that nasty plastic taste from developing in your water. You should consider purchasing an eco-friendly, super sweet, aluminum style water bottle that you can call your very own.




This is the bottle I use. I can D-RING it to my pack, or sling it over my shoulder. I don't have to worry about cracking it when I'm doing something unusual. It normally keeps my water cool even on a hot day. It's sweet.

By the way, if you get a bottle from SIGG. You can customize it. Different caps, different colors, different colored caps.. etc. Nice.

Click here for a list of SIGG bottles

You might think that a pre-package bottle of water is the way to go. You're wrong!

More contamination!
"NRDC's study included testing of more than 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of bottled water. While most of the tested waters were found to be of high quality, some brands were contaminated: about one-third of the waters tested contained levels of contamination -- including synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic -- in at least one sample that exceeded allowable limits under either state or bottled water industry standards or guidelines." - Environmental Health, Safety Online.

Americans drink around 30,000,000 bottles of water daily. Where do all the bottles go? TO THE DUMP!

Plastic water bottles are piling up!
"Bottled water is the single largest growth area among all beverages, that includes alcohol, juices and soft drinks. Per capita consumption has more than doubled over the last decade, from 10.5 gallons in 1993 to 22.6 in 2003, according to the Beverage Marketing Corporation.

The growth has been even more impressive in terms of water bottles sold: from 3.3 billion in 1997 to 15 billion in 2002.

But most bottled water is consumed away from home, usually at a park, in an office or even while driving - areas where there's usually no recycling." - MSNBC report

I highly recommend getting yourself a SIGG water bottle. It's not just a name, it's a lifestyle! Just kidding. It's a high quality product and I wouldn't recommend it otherwise. You won't be disappointed.