Berkey Light Water Purifier

What’s in your water?  I know the tap water where I live is full of things I’m not comfortable giving my family on a daily basis.  Nitrates, chlorine, heavy metals and discarded pharmaceuticals are only a fraction of the toxins that can be found in the indoor stream that we as Americans have become so dependent on.  So what are the alternatives?

You could drink well water.  In some cases this is a great choice, but not one available to the average suburbanite or city dweller.  Also this is never foolproof as some wells often test positive for bacteria, iron and nitrates from pasture run-off.

You could buy bottled water.  This sounds great in theory, but having personally witnessed the testing of many of the more common varieties of bottled water available, I can tell you, this is probably the least effective way to get good water.  Most of these are run through cheap filters if any and then sold to the consumer as "pure".  The funny thing is there are few regulations set on how clean the water has to be in order to slap a label on a bottle of tap water and call it "filtered".

You could invest in a Reverse Osmosis system, more commonly referred to as an R.O.  This is a fantastic choice by any standards.  I’ve tested and consumed water from a good quality R.O. and was impressed.  The R.O. unfortunately can be costly and it is generally a permanent or semi-permanent addition to the home.  This may not be the best choice for those who want something more portable especially those who do not own their own residence or
property.

So where does that leave you?  There is a product out there that is effective, inexpensive and portable.  It’s a Berkey Light filtering system.  This interesting product can filter even the dirtiest of water from a pond or a contaminated water source and give you back a quality, safe, clean source of water to drink from.

The Berkey filter element which is used in all of the Berkey products is rated to safely remove pathogenic bacteria and parasites like E.Coli and Giardia and inorganic compounds like chlorine to non-detectable levels; heavy metals including lead, mercury, aluminum, cadmium, chromium and copper to five percent or less; nitrates and nitrites from pastures and pesticides to less than 15 percent; and with the addition of an add-on PF-2 filter, you can reduce fluoride by at least 95%.

In addition to the comfort that comes from knowing I’m giving my family safe water to drink, the water also tastes great!  Before I owned a Berkey, I filled gallon jugs and placed them on my counter to allow the chlorine to evaporate before consuming it.  My husband thought
I was crazy and eight one-gallon jars take up a lot of counter-space.  Soon after, I noticed that my husband was quite taken with this new source of tasty water.  He was even more impressed when I replaced my somewhat clumsy purification system with the Berkey Light.  He is, in fact so impressed with this new water source, that he often fills the reservoir more often than I do – a feat in itself!

I think that if you are concerned for the health and well-being of yourself and your loved ones, that finding a good quality source for water should be a priority.  If the most important source of nourishment is poisoned, then we have little hope of accomplishing the high standards of health that everyone hopes for. 

For a reasonable investment you can get yourself a great system that will filter the water in your home and not only that, but you can take it to your grandma’s house for Thanksgiving dinner or take it camping and filter the creek water.  It’s an innovative way to get your
bottled water at a higher quality and at a fraction of the cost.  Probably the only product out there that is better than the Berkey Light is the Big Berkey, but that is another story.

About the Author:

I am a retired statistical database designer and stay-at-home mom with 3 children.  I enjoy learning about the complexities of
nutrition and nature with respect for God's master design.   My goal is to uncover the mysteries of optimum health and share
them with family, friends and others with similar desires.  I currently review products and publish articles for the Bulk
Herb Store.   ~Shay McConaughey

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The Berkey Light Water Filtering System

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Gilson’s big hit sends PCM past Tigerhawks
PRAIRIE CITY — PCM senior Joe Gilson was fortunate he didn’t get a bunt down.

Chlorine in our Drinking Water

To protect our drinking water against germs and disease transmitted through water, disinfectants such as chlorine, chloramines, ozone and chlorine dioxide are commonly used. Actually, for more than 90 years, Chlorine has played a significant role in this order of protection. However, during these years, segments of the scientific, regulatory, and public communities have raised concerns over what should be considered safe and acceptable usage levels in our water.

As part of the sanitation process for sewage and industrial waste, Chlorine acts as a disinfectant, killing microorganisms that can cause serious diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever.  This chemical has played a key role in the history of water by virtually eliminating water borne diseases and allowing populations around the world to flourish. Given the nature of the chemical, chlorine is easy to apply and small amounts will continue to be effective from the water treatment plant all the way to the faucet tap. This is an important attribute that distinguishes it from other forms of treatments, as Chlorine will address risks in the water distribution network where a potential for contamination exists.

Concerns over chlorine stem from the way in which the chemical reacts with organic plant matter naturally present in water as well as reactions with saliva and stomach content when ingested. These chemical reactions result in a group of chemicals known as disinfection byproducts. Some may be familiar with one of the most notorious byproducts called trihalomethanes (THMs). This byproduct category consists of four chemicals: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dribromochloromethane, and bromoform.  Scientific evidence classifies THM's as known carcinogens and continues to substantiate the link between low level consumption of THM's in drinking water and serious public health concerns.

In 1980, the EPA adopted new regulations requiring cities to reduce chlorination by-products (THM's) in the water to less than 100 parts per billion. This was later reduced by the EPA to 80 ppb. Scientific data suggests that the benefits of chlorinating our water far outweigh the risks associated with THM's and other byproducts. While this is generally understood, an increasing number of questions are arising as to the safety of exposure to THM's on a daily basis over decades.

To address potential long term health hazards, the current solution seems to lie in removing THM's at the point of use. The simplest method of reducing chlorination by-products is by putting water in a jug and letting it sit in the refrigerator overnight. THM's can also be reduced through boiling water or aerating drinking water in a blender. However, these are unrealistic options for the everyday on-the-go person. Home water filtration is a best fit, and one of the most effective methods for reducing THM's is through Carbon Water Filters such as Berkey. More recently, Ceramic Filters have affixed an additional layer of filtering protection against potential THM's.

The Thirsty Berkey - For the Love of Clean Water

Big Berkey Water Filters

About the Author

Dan DeBaun writes and reports on "all things" water and how it relates to our health. To learn more, please visit his blog at Big
Berkey Water Filters Blog

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What are You Doing About the Danger in Your Drinking Water?

Go ahead, sit down and drink a nice clear, pure glass of water. OK, now read this quote: “U.S. drinking water contains more than 2,100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer." This is a quote from Ralph Nader of the Nader Research Group. Scarey, isn’t it? Unfortunately, only about 75 of these are tested by most city water officials. Let’s example just one of these sinister invaders, chlorine.

When I was a kid, I won a fish at the carnival. I was thrilled! The first thing I had to do, of course, was to buy a larger tank and fill it with tap water. Yet, so as not to kill my trophy, I had to treat water with some de-chlorinating tablets. Question: if fish will die in chlorinated water, why do we think it’s OK for us to drink it? Yet, shocking as this may seem, the acceptable level of chlorine in some water systems is above the maximum recommended for swimming pools!

Chlorine is an excellent disinfectant. We use chlorine bleach to clean a house or purify a well. Bacteria such as typhoid, cholera, or dysentery are wiped out in its presence. However, chlorine also damages the body. It produces substances called THMs (trihalomethanes). These damage the cells and are cancer causing. Chlorine can also damage the arteries making is easier for cholesterol to attach itself to their walls. At times contamination gets into a city water system and it must be purged with extra chlorine. Research shows that such times evoke an increase in bladder, kidney, and urinary tract cancers. Drinking water taken from the Mississippi River contains 63 cancer causing compounds all of which are made when chlorine reacts with pollutants such as carbon disulphide and methanol, both present in the water.

Yet chlorine does not enter the body only through drinking. In fact, a greater risk of chlorine poisoning occurs in the shower. The hot water opens the pores and the chlorine, which evaporates at a lower temperature than water, enters through the lungs. This results in the formation of chloroform, which will cause bronchitis, and asthma, and will increase the risk of cancer. The warm chlorine water may also cause skin irritations such as eczema.

This is all shocking news to parents! After all, children’s bodies are much more susceptible to chemical changes as described above. What conscientious parents want to poison their child?

Many have opted for bottled water. After all, doesn’t it say, “Pure Spring water” right on the container? Unfortunately, that could be deceiving. In fact, the FDA itself said, "Companies that market bottled water as being safer than tap water are defrauding the American public." This is because there are no regulations on bottled water across state lines. Companies have bottled tape water and labeled it, “Pure Mountain Fresh.” This may not be honest, but it is perfectly legal. Coupled with the high cost and the huge volume of disposed containers, this is obviously not the best solution.

The only safe sure way to guarantee your family is getting chlorine free water is to filter it yourself. Start by purchasing a filter that promises to remove chlorine. Carbon filters do this. The small investment to filter your drinking and cooking water is well worth the peace of mind that will result.

One water filtration system has stood the test of time. Using a gravity filtration method, Berkey Water Filters are able to filter out a much higher percentage of contaminants than filters where water pressure forces the contaminants through. Learn more about the amazing effectiveness of the Big Berkey, including how they can be recleaned to filter up to 6000 gallons, at http://www.berkeywaterfilterstore.com

About the Author

Paul enjoys life by making sure his water is clear of impurities and then drinking lots of it. Doctors recommend drinking eight, 8-ounce glasses of water every day. Just make sure it's pure or you could be doing more harm than good!

Sunnehanna notebook: 104-year-old still a fan of tourney
John Mills watched the 57th Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions from inside one of the club’s golf carts on Sunday afternoon and later stood near the 18th green for the final groups. The Westmont resident watched some of the sport’s top amateurs compete, marvelling at their power and poise.

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Multipure Water Filter

In this article we take a look at the Nikken PiMag Aqua Pour Water Filter, and compare it with other similar commercially available countertop water filtration systems. Nikken is a Japanese network marketing, or MLM, company founded in 1975. One of their distinctive product line features is the Nikken magnets. These magnets are used in the water filtration process, as well as the many other wellness product lines provided by Nikken. We were interested in both the technology and how a network marketing product compared to others in the marketplace.

We discovered the Nikken PiMag Aqua Pour Gravity Water System listed on Amazon.com in both new and used condition. The Nikken website lists this product at $299.00 and includes a short video overview as well as information about dangers present in both tap water and bottled water. We certainly agree on these statements.

Other related Nikken water filter products include the Deluxe Countertop Water System, the Deluxe Under Counter System, Optimizer II, and Ultra Shower System. The company video claims that its magnetic technology doesn’t remove beneficial components during the filtration process as does reverse osmosis technology and other purification techniques.

Although having no personal experience with the Nikken water filters, rather we sought to discover the independent evaluations of others that have actually used them. To accomplish this, we analyzed customer ratings available on Amazon.com and other Internet websites.

In addition to the PiMag Aqua Pour, we compared consumer ratings and comments of two very similar products, albeit using unlike technology. First, we review the Nikken water filter product:

Nikken PiMag Aqua Pour Rating – 3.5 Star Rating – The reviews of this product were mixed.. One comment that is of concern is that the company will apparantly not publish independent lab test results (the Nikken website does have a statement that the PiMag water system "meets or exceeds the standards specified in ANSI/NSF 42 and 53").

New Berkley Water Filter System

Big Berkey Water Filter System – 4 Star Rating – All reviews are highly favorable. One comment included a reference to independent testing: The Black Berkey® filter formulation has been tested by State & EPA accredited laboratories to exceed EPA & ANSI/NSF (Std. 53) protocol, and included a link to see test results from the University of Arizona, Spectrum Labs and the LSU Department of Toxicology and Environmental Science.

Multipure Countertop Water Filter

Multipure CBVOCSC Countertop Water Filter – 4.5 Star Rating – All reviews extremely laudatory - Only concern mentioned was: “I wish the flexible pipe was a little longer, so I could position the filter further away from the sink.†According to product description: "Complete lab tests and California certifications are available at the company’s web site."

In summary, the Nikken PiMag Aqua Pour Water Filter and other Nikken magnetic-based technologies seem to be very popular. If the company would publish independent test results we could advocate this product without reservation. Competitive produt evaluations are somewhat better, although a small sample size is available.

About the Author:

Jim Green reviews and analyzes MLM company products and opportunities and assists his clients with online MLM lead generation.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Nikken Water Filter Review – PiMag Aqua Pour