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Back To School, How is the Water in Your Childrens School?
Summer vacation is almost over. Parents and grand parents all over are getting ready to send their kids off to school. The back to school lists are made, we watch for the big sales. Our children are supposed to be safe at school. Improvements are being made in the lunch room, to insure they get good nutrition, teachers are honing their skills to give the best education, but are they missing something that could be undermining the education that our children receive?
MSNBC reports that many schools across the country have water contaminated with lead, pesticides and many other toxins. The Federal Government is really dropping the ball here! Most contaminants found in our schools have been proven to cause learning disabilities. Some states require households with children to have their water tested to insure it is safe, but do not regulate the water supply in public school systems.
An Associated Press investigation found that contaminants have surfaced at public and private schools in all 50 states — in small towns and inner cities alike.
But the problem has gone largely unmonitored by the federal government, even as the number of water safety violations has multiplied.
The contamination is most apparent at schools with wells, which represent 8 to 11 percent of the nation’s schools. Roughly one of every five schools with its own water supply violated the Safe Drinking Water Act in the past decade, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency analyzed by the AP.
Water in about 100 school districts and 2,250 schools breached federal safety standards.
Those schools and districts racked up more than 5,550 separate violations. In 2008, the EPA recorded 577 violations, up from 59 in 1998 — an increase that officials attribute mainly to tougher rules.
California, which has the most schools of any state, also recorded the most violations with 612, followed by Ohio (451), Maine (417), Connecticut (318) and Indiana (289).
Nearly half the violators in California were repeat offenders. One elementary school in Tulare County, in the farm country of the Central Valley, broke safe-water laws 20 times.
The most frequently cited contaminant was coliform bacteria, followed by lead and copper, arsenic and nitrates.
So, what can we do to make sure our children are not drinking poison when they go back to school? There are several alternatives to letting our children drink water at school.
The first one that may come to mind is sending them with bottled water, but bottled water is not at all eco friendly, and it can be just as contaminated as the school water.
Another option is to purchase a great water filter to insure there are no water contaminants effecting your child’s learning in your home water and use a reusable, BPA free water bottle to send your water to school with them. This may not be enough to get them through the day and they will drink the contaminated school water anyways.
There is a new tool that parents can use to make sure the kids are drinking safe water, anywhere they go. The Multipure wriggle. The wriggle is a filtered, reusable, water bottle. Using a personal water filter, the kids can fill it up an you can feel confident that the water they drink anywhere, is as safe as it can be.
Over half of our country is experiencing moderate to sever drought conditions. The rain gods are surely not smiling on us this Summer. The drought is causing all sorts of problems for everyone. Our yards and flower gardens are suffering due to an extreme lack of rain.
There are Four Drought Stages
Drought Watch – The least severe of the stages, a drought watch is declared when a drought is developing. Public water suppliers begin to conserve water and urge customers to reduce water use.
Drought Warning – Voluntary water conservation is intensified. Public water suppliers and industries update and implement local drought contingency plans. Local agencies make plans in case of emergency declaration.
Drought Emergency – The Governor may declare emergency. The Disaster Preparedness Commission coordinates response. Mandatory local/county water restrictions may be imposed. Communities may need to tap alternative water sources to avoid depleting water supplies, protect public health and provide for essential uses.
Drought Disaster – Disaster plans are implemented. Water use is further restricted. The Governor may declare disaster and request federal disaster assistance. Emergency legislation may be enacted. The state provides equipment and technical assistance to communities.
Not only are our personal gardens, crops and lawns suffering, so is the farming industry. Cows are dying or becoming ill from dehydration or water contamination. Corn and soy beans are not producing any usable crops.
Our water supply is suffering as well. In Indianapolis, officials are imposing a water usage ban. This means residents can be fined for watering their lawns, gardens, or even washing their cars. The drought is so bad mandatory conservation is in order for everyone.
Drought and Surface Water
Drought can impact surface water quality in many ways. Reduced stream and river flows can increase the concentration of pollutants in water and cause stagnation. Higher water temperatures in lakes and reservoirs lead to reduced oxygen levels, which can affect aquatic life and water quality. Runoff from drought-related wildfires can carry extra sediment, ash, charcoal, and woody debris to surface waters, killing fish and other aquatic life by decreasing oxygen levels in the water. The effect of wildfires on drinking water was graphically demonstrated during the 1996 Buffalo Creek fire in Colorado, which was followed by heavy rains. This event forced municipal water supplies to shut off, caused one of Denver’s water treatment plants to close, required extensive cleaning of a water-supply reservoir, and forced a local beverage manufacturer to begin hauling in water for use during production activities.
The filtration components in surface water treatment facilities are designed based on historical water quality data and are effective at removing microbiological contaminants from untreated source waters. If source waters have unusually high sediment loads, such as those caused by wildfires, they can easily clog these filters. Ash particles, which are often much smaller than the microbes the surface water filters are designed to remove, can also flow through the filters and adversely impact the aesthetic quality of the water delivered to customers. In extreme circumstances, mudslides could render a surface water facility inoperable for some time, which may prevent water from being supplied for domestic, as well as fire control purposes (Idaho Department of Environmental Quality 2007).
Drought and Ground Water
Many parts of the United States are dependent on groundwater as a primary source of water. Reduced precipitation and increased evaporation of surface water can impact the recharge of groundwater supplies over time. Of all groundwater systems, shallow groundwater aquifers that exchange water with surface waters are likely to be the most affected by drought. Several areas throughout the Southeast and Southwest have reported decreased levels of water in wells in the face of drought, with many shallow wells becoming dry. Drought in coastal areas can increase saltwater intrusion into fresh groundwater supplies. The lack of rain and drying of surface water prevents the replenishment of fresh water in aquifers, which allows saltwater to enter.
Bottled water is not an answer to compensating for drought. Some bottled water is the same water you get from your own tap. Drought or not, the only way to insure your drinking water is as safe as it can be is to filter it. Municipal water or private well, protect and conserve the water we have. To really know what is in your water, have it tested. Once you know what needs to be removed, purchase a quality water filter system and drink healthy.
What if we could all find a use for a lot of plastic bottles?
Since it seems we just can’t stop being pigs and just tossing our plastic bottles in the trash, other countries are finding ways to use some of our waste. What will they think of next! Imagine how many boats you could construct with the tons of plastic bottles that are thrown away every day.
Why not build boats with them? Simple ones or very high tech. The Plastiki can be seen at plastiki.com. Follow the voyage of reused plastic bottles. I highly recommend taking the virtual tour. The Hi-Fi version, if your computer will handle it, is pretty cool. The low-fi is good too. The site does take a while to load, but worth the time.
But I mean what if we could re purpose a whole lot of plastic bottles:
What if we could make use of all the bottles that get dumped every day?
Other countries, including Africa are finding ways to reuse a lot of plastic bottles!
Inhabitat.com has a great post about Asia’s first plastic bottle school. read it here, and be sure to check out the photo show! Amazing!
Reduce plastic bottle waste.
These are just a few examples of what can be done on a large scale. While some are finding uses for our garbage, we are giving solutions to stop using so many plastic bottles. Between building schools, and getting back to drinking our own tap water. We can all do a part to stop filling land fills and water ways with our trash.
Summer time is here and the kids are going to need to drink plenty of water to keep hydrated and healthy. How are you going to keep them hydrated safely:? There are so many choices. Sweet carbonated drinks might taste good, but they do not hydrate like a nice fresh glass of water on a hot Summer day.
Energy drinks, soda, and all kinds of flavored, sweet or carbonated drinks are all over the stores. Companies dress their unhealthy drinks in all kinds of ways to attract kids. These sweet treats are ok, but they do not hydrate like water. So, parents, here is your mission: Get the kids to drink more water.
Sounds easy, but if your children have not been given water often, or they see you not drinking water, it is not such an easy chore. You may be tempted to try bottled water, but is that really any better? I think not, we can never tell exactly where the water in that bottle comes from, or even what is in it. Not to mention bottled water is not at all environmentally friendly.
How about your tap water? There are lots of reusable, safe water bottles that geared for kids. If you live in a populated area with municipal water supply, you pay for it. Why not use it? What? You say it tastes bad or has an awful odor? Well, you may think that bottled water is the only answer when you have bad tap water, but did you know a home water filter will make your water drinkable, and great tasting?
No matter where your tap water comes from, there could be contaminants. Municipal water may be regulated by the government, but how much junk does it pick up by the time it gets to your tap? Well water can have its own set of issues, such as pesticides, arsenic, and a multitude of other contaminants.
Purchase a quality home water filter, and just taste the difference. Stop giving your kids those sugary, energy enhancing drinks, after all, they are kids, do they not have enough energy?
It seems the older we get, the more we worry about staying healthy. The fewer trips we have to make to see a doctor, the better for everyone. We all hear the diet suggestions, or the drugs that we can take to fix this or that. Truthfully, simple changes in diet can prevent many common, non-life threatening issues.
For men, prostate health is becoming more prominent in the news, on commercials, and ads everywhere. It seems, as men get older, the prostate can become an issue. It can become enlarged, a condition referred to as, Prostatitis.
This can be due to bacteria that have infected the prostate or surrounding area. Signs that you have Prostatitis are painful or difficult urination, pain in the groin, pelvic area or genitals, and sometimes, flu-like symptoms.
What is a prostate and what is its function? The prostate is a gland that adds the milky fluid to sperm at ejaculation. A normal, healthy one is about as big as a walnut. It will be larger if infected. That is what the doctor is checking when he asks you to turn your head and cough.
Now you know what it is and what it does. It just makes sense that drinking more water can keep a prostate healthy. If there is not enough fluid in your body, then it just does not function right. Diet also plays an important role in keeping you healthy, but the most important thing you can do for the health of every part of your body, is drink enough water.
Prostatitis can clear up on its own, or through doctor prescribed medication. Prostatitis should not be ignored, some cased do clear up without medication, and some will just go away.
You may think it is as simple as drinking bottled water, but it really is not. Studies have shown that the plastic your water is stored in can be the cause of prostate cancer. It seeps chemicals into your water.
Pesticides like Atrazine, have also been linked to problems with the prostate gland. This very common pesticide is widely used in farming communities. These can easily seep into your tap water.
When you decide to start living more healthy, it is time to drink water that is more healthful. Just make sure you know what is in it. Water filters are available to remove most contaminants, including pesticides. It is best to have your home water tested and then, if necessary, purchase a quality water filter.
Drinking more water can help your body heal itself and prevent cases of prostatitis. Keep your prostate and the rest of your body functioning at its optimum. Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water.
The economy is still struggling. More consumers are cutting corners. Bottled water is off the shopping list of many consumers. This is great news! This means we are winning the fight against bottled water! There is room for more improvement, but this is definitely a great start!
Food and Water Watch reports a 12.6 percent drop in sales! Nestle has to work harder to gain back consumer confidence. Watch out for increasingly deceitful advertising from the Nestle, Pure Life brand.
Hanging on for Pure Life
Why the Strategies Behind Nestlé’s New Bottled Water Brand May Be Good for the Company but Bad for Public Water
As many consumers in the United States and Europe are dropping bottled water, the industry is beginning to see a decline in sales. In fact, between 2007 and 2010, Nestlé Waters, the biggest water bottler in the world, saw its total sales drop 12.6 percent.
Today, Nestlé appears to have developed new strategies to combat this challenging sales climate, which center around its Pure Life brand. Unfortunately, while the brand has been profitable, these tactics do not bode well for public water in the United States or abroad.
Nestlé has shifted the focus of its advertising dollars in the United States to its new Pure Life brand. Between 2004 and 2009, spending on Pure Life advertising increased by more than 3000 percent; the company’s nearly $9.7 million expenditure on the brand in 2009 was more than any other bottled water company spent on a leading domestic brand, and more than Nestlé’s next five spring water brands combined.
While Nestlé’s global water division’s sales are falling in Europe, the United States and Canada, they are growing rapidly in the “emerging markets” that Nestlé is targeting in the rest of the word. In 2010, Nestlé’s sales of bottled water in these “other regions” increased by 25 percent over its 2009 sales in these areas.
Pure Life differs from Nestlé’s previous brands in the United States in terms of the source of its water, the messaging used to sell it, and its target audience:
Pure Life bottles municipal tap water rather than spring water, which can help the company avoid the costly conflicts over water access and labeling that have plagued its spring water operations in the past, allowing it instead to vie with its main competitors, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, on price.
The company focuses its messaging on the health benefits of bottled water, especially compared to sugary soft drinks, which improves the image of its product and helps it appeal to parents and teachers who are concerned about their children’s health.
It also specifically targets Hispanic immigrants in the United States and “emerging markets” in developing nations abroad — consumers who are accustomed to inadequate water infrastructure and therefore less inclined to drink from the tap because of safety concerns.
StopCorproateAbuse.org is reporting that the ad campaigns in the bottled water industry have not gone as planned. The still struggling economy and environmental awareness are taking consumers back to their tap. More consumers are choosing to drink tap water over bottled water not only to save money, but to also do their part for the environment.
Bottled water is wasteful and expensive. You go to the store, heft a case or two into your cart. Haul that cart to your car, put it in your trunk. Then you get home and have to lug it around one more time. Why torture yourself? Take back your tap. Save money, and the environment.
If you are still drinking bottled water because you feel your tap water is unsafe, get it tested. Then, the solution could be as simple as purchasing a quality home water filter. Although there is an initial cost, the savings are felt quickly.
The drop in sales of bottled water needs to continue up to 100 percent. Filter your tap water. Drink your tap water. After all, Nestle clearly states; “Pure Life bottles municipal tap water rather than spring water”
If drinking water is sexy. Drinking Mulitpure filtered water will blow your mind!
Think about it. For our bodies to work right, we need water. Every system in our bodies need water. Every single bodily function needs water. Yes, I just typed that twice. It is a very important fact.
If our bodies are healthy and hydrated, doesn’t it just make sense that great sex will happen naturally?
Not only does being healthy and hydrated make you feel sexy, it can make you look sexy as well. Properly hydrated skin and hair will just look sexy.
What if the water you are drinking contains contaminants? How do you know if your water contains contaminants? You may think you are safe drinking bottled water. You may think your unfiltered tap water is safe to drink and free of contaminants. But is it really?
Studies show that bottled water can actually be more contaminated than your unfiltered tap water. So are you still really sure?
For water to do its proper job at keeping all of our bodily functions running smooth and sexy, we need to be sure it is clean, healthy water.
The best way to insure that you are drinking uncontaminated water is simple, use a quality home water filter, like Multipure.
So, what did you learn from this post? Drinking healthy, Multipure filtered water, will help make you look and feel sexy!
The wriggle was a gift for the stars at the Oscars. It will also be a gift for a couple other award shows.
Kenton Jones, one of our fearless leaders at Multipure, was on the MORE TV show in Las Vegas on April 11th, 2012!
The new wriggle filtered water bottle will reduce waste, and insure the water you drink, anywhere, is safe, healthy water.
Watch the video! Kenton explains how great the wriggle is for travelers. This water bottle can be taken through airport security, empty, and you can fill it up once you are through the check point and enjoy life essential, healthful water, anywhere you go!
It is a fact that every little bit helps! One of the biggest landfill and waste pollution problems is plastic water bottles! They are clogging up landfills, killing water life, and ruining our beautiful land and oceans. There are many solutions to reducing plastic waste. We can choose to recycle them, but a better choice would be to filter our own tap water, and stop purchasing them all together.
A good quality water filter is the perfect solution to the glut of plastic water bottle waste. Simply hook them up to your faucet or water supply, and your water is filtered and safe to drink. It is important to know what is in your water by having it tested by a qualified lab. Once you know what contaminants are in your water, purchase an NSF certified water filter to insure that the contaminants found are what the filter removes. (NSF insures that the filter you are buying is certified to reduce the contaminants that may be found in your water). Also make sure to check with the manufacturer of that filter to see if their product removes the contaminants you want out.
Another great option for people on the go, is reusable water bottles with a filter built right in. Many water filter companies are developing water filter bottles to help stop plastic waste. These reusable water filter bottles are designed to filter any water, anywhere.
Brita has developed The Brita Bottle:
The Brita Bottle has been tested and certified by NSF International against NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for the reduction of chlorine (taste and odor) and particulate reduction (class VI).
Replace filter every 128 servings, 20 gallons or roughly every two months
Bottles are BPA free and recyclable
Smart Planet Eco Filtered Water Bottle:
Filters for better taste, odor, heavy metals, chlorine and other contaminants
Can filter up to 100 gallons
Replacement for disposable bottles
BPA free
These water filter bottles are NOT NSF Certified
Multi-Pure’s Wriggle water filter bottle: New 2012 Product
Has an activated carbon filter which claims to remove, organic contaminants from regular municipal tap water
Meets or exceeds NSF International Standard 42 for chlorine, some pesticides, taste and odor reduction
Filter life, 2 months or 40 gallons/150 litres.
Hydros Water Filter Bottle:
Lasts for 3 months (approximately 150 uses)
We are tested to the ANSI/ NSF standard 42 for water filtration
reduces chlorine, chloramines and particulates
natural anti-microbial which helps to prevent the build-up of bacteria
Writers note: I was NOT able to find any proof of NSF certification
It is a fact. Using a water filter instead of purchasing bottled water is helping to reduce plastic bottle waste. The more choices we can give consumers, the better. Filtering your own tap water with a high quality filter saves the environment, your budget, and could possibly improve your health! It is a win, win, win, for all. Good health to you!
Chromium 6 is a known to cause cancer. Erin Brokovich has been a leader in the fight to control, and eliminate this cancer causing element from drinking water. Now, there is some important testing going on in Glendale. They are testing a way to remove Chromium 6 from water.
Glendale Water & Power to test chromium 6 filtration method
State officials will monitor outcome of using resin to strip chromium 6 from drinking water.
Glendale Water & Power has started testing a new filtration method to strip chromium 6 from groundwater and plans to start the process for other techniques next month. Previous methods have had some drawbacks, prompting the fresh approaches.
Filtration adds an extra step to current testing, but the others, which include using resins and absorption technology to suck out the cancer-causing contaminant, are new ventures.
“We’re blazing the trail here,” said Charles Cron, plant manager at a chromium 6 testing facility in northwest Glendale.
The new research is part of a $550,000 project approved by the City Council in October. The money comes from a state grant, the Denver-based Water Research Foundation and California Water Service Co., a San Jose-based utility.
Glendale and other cities throughout the San Fernando Valley have been grappling with chromium 6 contamination caused by the aerospace manufacturing industry decades ago. Glendale has spent more than $8 million, including this new project, on chromium 6 research. Much of the money has come from grants.
If this process can remove Chromium 6, what else could it clean from water? Removing contaminants from drinking water is a huge step in insuring safe drinking water.
Using a water filter on your home tap will remove a lot of illness causing contaminants. Home water filtration is also very environmental friendly. Using your own home filtered water will reduce the number of plastic water bottles that get produced and dumped every day, adding to the contaminants that get into drinking water.
The Ultimate Resource on How Alkaline Ionized Water Can Restore your Health at your Fingertips! Want to know how a particular health condition can be helped by alkaline ionized water? Find it in the water-library!! Free scientific research section Free articles by the top experts in their fields 100’s of articles on various health issues […]
As early as the turn of the last century, our ancestors got their water from the rivers and streams near where they lived. The water was alkaline from picking up minerals as it bubbled over the rock. It was full of extra oxygen from flowing over the rock and down waterfalls. It was full of […]
When people get to be a “certain” age, they tend to slow down, and in most cases they feel like they need to. Now, some people are picking up speed, just when you’d think they should be doing the opposite. What’s their secret? Take J.L., who wouldn’t even get out of bed to go to […]
Gavin Newsom's initiatives follow a massive oil release from a Chevron facility in Kern County suspected of being caused by a high-pressure steam process for releasing oil from underground rock.
President Trump tours a Pennsylvania petrochemical plant Tuesday to highlight the U.S. energy boom. Trump claims credit for surging oil and gas production, but the trend began before he took office.
The Energy Information Administration reports the shift will probably happen by 2030, and it credits domestic natural gas production. The agency says it is watching variables such as new technology.
MSNBC reports that many schools across the country have water contaminated with lead, pesticides and many other toxins. The Federal Government is really dropping the ball here! Most contaminants found in our schools have been proven to cause learning disabilities. Some states require households with children to have their water tested to insure it is safe, but do not regulate the water supply in public school systems.
The first one that may come to mind is sending them with bottled water, but bottled water is not at all eco friendly, and it can be just as contaminated as the school water.
There is a new tool that parents can use to make sure the kids are drinking safe water, anywhere they go. The Multipure wriggle. The wriggle is a filtered, reusable, water bottle. Using a personal water filter, the kids can fill it up an you can feel confident that the water they drink anywhere, is as safe as it can be.
Hanging on for Pure Life
