Bottled Water Versus Water Filters

In today's world, it seems people choose water in bottles instead of water filters. Why is that and what seems to be driving people to water in plastic bottles? Everyone (except the bottlers) will be better off if people will filter their own water and take it with them.

The Readers Digest August 2011 issue has a quote by Pete Gleick, PhD and author of Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water. Dr. Gleick says, "Sales of bottled water have skyrocketed from around a gallon per person per year in the early 1970s to over 30 gallons today." That is amazing yet it is mainly because we don't trust our water sources today.

If you do some basic searching on the Internet, you can turn up some reasons to go along with Dr. Gleick's remarks. If you look for "reasons to drink bottled water" most of the articles are why you should NOT drink bottled water. Yes, you should drink lots of water just not bottled water. Most of these sites are dedicated to the environment and individual's health. For example, the website Barefoot Runner's Life points out that, "Plastic bottled water contains a harmful chemical, BPA. Studies suggest that BPA mimics hormones. Exposure to BPA can cause a wide variety of health issues."

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Another issue Dr. Gleick points out is, "we don't like the taste, and it's become easier to find bottles of water at the same time that it's become harder to find water fountains." It is true that you can buy bottled water in ever gas station and convenience store in America. At the same time, more and more public places do not have water fountains. The water is in a machine somewhere in the building.

On the website Spirit Directors International, there is an article titled "Eight Good Reasons NOT to Drink Bottled Water." In the eight reasons, they list that water is often not regulated, it contains contaminants, and that 90% of the cost of the water is making the bottle! So you really aren't paying for the water, you are paying for the bottle and you throw that away. Item no. "6. North Americans use over 28 billion plastic water bottles per year; over 80% of bottles end up in landfills."

One of the issues listed on the website Mother Nature Network is that of corporate ownership of water. This site lists 5 reasons not to drink bottled water and their no. 5 is, "In the documentary film Thirst, authors Alan Snitow and Deborah Kaufman demonstrated the rapid worldwide privatization of municipal water supplies, and the effect these purchases are having on local economies." This issue has even worked its way into fiction. The author Clive Cussler wrote one of his adventure novels called Blue Gold and this is exactly what is happening. We have to hope that some hero comes forth as they did in the book to save us. The bottled water industry is "an important component in their drive to commoditize what many feel is a basic human right: the access to safe and affordable water."

The simple answer that many of these sites recommend is to get a carbon water filter of some type and a stainless steel container. If you don't have a water filter pitcher, faucet water filters, countertop water filters, or under counter water filter, be sure to take the time to get one of these. They are relatively inexpensive and over time will pay you back in better health, fewer trips to a doctor, and less need for medication. For people who want or need to filter larger amounts of water you can buy under counter water filters or even a reverse osmosis water filter.

Drinking Water Filters Needed More and More

All the doctors and nutritionists, all the diets and the fitness instructors tell us to drink as much water as possible, the minimum of liquid consumed during a day being at least 2 liters. And then we hear from the environmentalists and other government organizations that water is contaminated with all kind of bacteria.

The thing that makes drinking water safe is the water filter. Drinking water filters are available now in many forms and using different technologies. The main goal of the drinking water filter is to make the tap water or almost any other type of water safe for drinking.

There are several types of drinking water filters. Some of them are portable ones like for example the water pitcher filters while others need to be attached to the water pipe. Each of them comes with pros and cons and because of the large variety of drinking water filters available on the market it is important to decide the kind of water filter you want.

It's not only that there are drinking water filters available on the market, but also shower filters systems and whole house water filter systems. The drinking water filter is by far the most popular one and is available as portable filter, counter top filter, under counter filter, and faucet mounted filter.

The most popular ones are the charcoal water filters, the ceramic water filters, the reverse osmosis filters and the Ultraviolet water filters. All the filtering systems have cartridges and filters that need to be replaced from time to time, and need to be cleaned.

As in any other market there are several manufacturers, but you are the one that should decide which one is the best for you. If you want to have purified water in your entire house than obviously the best choice is a whole house water filter system. However these systems are somewhat expensive and their maintenance is not very easy either. Nonetheless with such a system you will have purified water in the entire house because the filter system is connected to the pipe before it enters the house.

The cost of a drinking water filter ranges from inexpensive to pricey, but again it depends on the technology used and the amount of water that can be purified. A small water filter will probably be enough to supply your house with drinking water, but more and more people like to have the water they cook with purified too.

Counter top and under counter water filters seem to be good both at giving enough purified water to drink and cook as needed. And while the counter top water filter is easier to install and does not require extra plumbing work, it is usually cheaper than the under the counter water filter.

So if you have enough space on the counter and you only want to have drinking and cooking water, you can definitely choose a counter top water filter. The main disadvantage of a drinking water filter is that you need a filter for each faucet where you want to have drinking water.

Under Counter Water Filter

All the doctors and nutritionists, all the diets and the fitness instructors tell us to drink as much water as possible, the minimum of liquid consumed during a day being at least 2 liters. And then we hear from the environmentalists and other government organizations that water is contaminated with all kind of bacteria.

The thing that makes drinking water safe is the water filter. Drinking water filters are available now in many forms and using different technologies. The main goal of the drinking water filter is to make the tap water or almost any other type of water safe for drinking.

There are several types of drinking water filters. Some of them are portable ones like for example the water pitcher filters while others need to be attached to the water pipe. Each of them comes with pros and cons and because of the large variety of drinking water filters available on the market it is important to decide the kind of water filter you want.

It's not only that there are drinking water filters available on the market, but also shower filters systems and whole house water filter systems. The drinking water filter is by far the most popular one and is available as portable filter, counter top filter, under counter filter, and faucet mounted filter.

The most popular ones are the charcoal water filters, the ceramic water filters, the reverse osmosis filters and the Ultraviolet water filters. All the filtering systems have cartridges and filters that need to be replaced from time to time, and need to be cleaned.

As in any other market there are several manufacturers, but you are the one that should decide which one is the best for you. If you want to have purified water in your entire house than obviously the best choice is a whole house water filter system. However these systems are somewhat expensive and their maintenance is not very easy either. Nonetheless with such a system you will have purified water in the entire house because the filter system is connected to the pipe before it enters the house.

The cost of a drinking water filter ranges from inexpensive to pricey, but again it depends on the technology used and the amount of water that can be purified. A small water filter will probably be enough to supply your house with drinking water, but more and more people like to have the water they cook with purified too.

Counter top and under counter water filters seem to be good both at giving enough purified water to drink and cook as needed. And while the counter top water filter is easier to install and does not require extra plumbing work, it is usually cheaper than the under the counter water filter.

So if you have enough space on the counter and you only want to have drinking and cooking water, you can definitely choose a counter top water filter. The main disadvantage of a drinking water filter is that you need a filter for each faucet where you want to have drinking water.

About the Author:

Find out how you can research and find a clinically tested water filter that will meet your needs by visiting my clean water site. I recently lost over eighty pounds and have been researching health related issues. Go to http://www.clean-filtered-water-site.com and get the additional results of my research. You will find the solutions that you need on clean water there.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Drinking Water Filters Needed More and More

Under Counter Water Filters

We did some research on the prices of drinking water filters for you.  At first glance, you might think that the really high priced units are the best quality or that a really low priced drinking water filter is the best value.  We thought that too, until we got a little education.

Reverse osmosis is the most expensive choice in drinking water filters    for home use.  They use them in large industries and public treatment facilities.  In certain situations, they are the right choice for the home, but most of us can do without them.

There best application is desalination, but without additional steps, the water is still not safe to drink.

The more reasonably priced drinking water filter    systems reach a top price of around $420.00.  They are typically some form of carbon filtration, combined with a micron filter and some sort of stage to balance mineral content and pH levels.
 
Practically the same drinking water filters can be purchased for less than $150.  The difference is mark-up.  Buying directly from the factory that manufactures the drinking water filter will save you hundreds of dollars.

 
For less than $150 and a dime a day, you can get one of the top ten rated drinking water filters, in the world.  These units are designed to sit on your counter, next to your sink.  They are more effective and less likely to leak than the units that screw directly onto the faucet.

There is typically an option to switch from filtered to unfiltered, in case you want to extend the filter life by doing dishes or washing vegetables in unfiltered water.  For cooking though, you will enjoy better tasting healthier foods, if you turn the drinking water filter to the "on" position.

You may be tempted by the really low priced drinking water filters that retail around $40.  We thought they might be a good reasonably priced alternative for a family on a budget.  We found that there were several problems.

Most are really chlorine filters, not purifiers.  Many harmful contaminants, such as THMs and VOCs, which have been linked to cancer, will not be blocked by the cheap models.  In some, the toxic metal lead is not removed.  Lead contamination is a big problem in many cities.  Not because the treatment facility isn't doing their job, but because the pipes that run into the house are old.

Bacterial cysts are another type of contaminant that a cheaper drinking water filter cannot remove.  They can cause parasitic infections in the gastrointestinal tract and have been know to cause death in children, the elderly and people with a compromised immune system.

If that's not enough, cheap drinking water filters cost more to use.  On average more than 20 cents per day, as opposed to the 10 cents per day that is available.  You see, they get you by charging a lower price initially, but then charging more for replacement filtration cartridges.  Or, the cartridge has a very short lifespan.  Either way, you end up spending more in the long run.

About the Author:

Author Steve Waters is passionate about our water supply. See which drinking water filter is the only one he recommends after extensive research at http://www.BestH2oFilter.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Not All Drinking Water Filters are Created Equal. What You Really Need to Know

Water Filter Reviews

Looking for an under counter water filter?  Read this under counter water filter review before you buy.

You may suffer from a little sticker shock, if you don’t have a little advanced warning.  That’s what I’m here for. So choose carefully. Follow my advice.

Price No Guarantee of Performance

The price ranges on under counter water filters vary from less than a couple of hundred to more than $800.  And, all of these systems are designed for people with publicly treated water.  Here’s a brief look at some of the most popular systems and why they cost so much.

Kenmore Under Counter Water Filter

You may love Sears, but if you are like many people, you may hate their under counter water filters.  I read five reviews and all but one was negative.  The system comes with a “warning light” to let you know it’s time to change the filter.
 
One customer said that the light came on after two days.  Another said that there’s went out completely after two months and regardless of battery changes and attempted repairs, it never came back on.  So, now they have to “guess” when it’s time for a replacement. 

At $250, this is not the most expensive system on the market, but it isn’t the best quality, either.  The contaminant reduction is low as compared to other systems.

Ever-Pure Under Counter Water Filters

You might compare this brand of under counter water filter to a Cadillac.  If you really want to spend the extra money (around $800), then go ahead.  But, other models “drive” just as well.

Ever-pure allows you to “choose” which contaminants to remove.  The systems are bulky and difficult to install.  There most expensive model is the ROM III.  It’s the only one that removes chlorine byproducts and VOCs, but that’s not the reason for the added expense.

The ROM III includes a reverse osmosis step, which is simply an unnecessary expense for anyone with publicly treated water.  The step is sometimes recommended for cyst removal, but any system certified to filter down to one micron will also remove cysts.

GE Under Counter Water Filters

A GE under counter water filter can only be purchased and installed by a dealer.  That means you’re paying mark-up.  It’s not an unreasonable price at $200, but there are still less expensive systems that do a better job and don’t require professional installation.

 The Best Under Counter Water Filters

Multi-stage selective filtration, that’s the phrase to look for.  These units remove the widest range of contaminants, everything that is commonly found in publicly treated water and the price is reasonable.  For about $200, you can get a package that includes a showerhead system, as well. 

Didn’t think about your shower?  You should know that your risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals is even higher in the shower.

The systems remove chlorine and its byproducts, lead and copper and all of the cancer-causing chemicals that are often found in tap-water.  You can buy this under counter water filter direct from the manufacturer, install it yourself, protect your health and save money at the same time.  I that found this company has the best price, as well as, it has the best and most effective water filtration system.

About the Author:

Larry L. Taylor is a dedicated advocate of living a healthy lifestyle and diligent researcher of water purification systems. Visit his site at: http://www.CleanWaterPure.com to discover which water filtration system Larry recommends.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Under Counter Water Filters - Top Brand Review

Biology/Evolution question regarding whales..?

I need help on this question for a test review in my biology class.

There are two types of modern whales: toothed and baleen whales. Baleen whales filter plankton from the water using baleen, plates made of fibrous proteins that grow from the roof of their mouths. The embryos of baleen whales have teeth in their upper jaws. As the embryos develop, the teeth are replaced with baleen.

Which of the following conclusions is best supported by this information?
A. Teeth and baleen are analogous structures
B. Toothed whales descended from baleen whales.
C. Baleen whales evolved into toothed whales.
D. Descendants of modern baleen whales will have both teeth and baleen as adults.
E. Primitive whales had teeth as adults.

If you could explain your answer, that would be great. I'm confused.

They want you to figure out which order of evolution is the most parsimonious - that is, the simplest explanation. So there are two choices:

1. Baleen whales came first. That means that toothed whales evolved from baleen whales. However, since baleen embryos have teeth, that means that: a) all the original baleen whales are gone and have become toothed whales and b) some toothed whales evolved back to having baleen.

2. Toothed whales came first. They're done evolving. Then there's a mutation, and baleen whales evolve. There's no double evolving needed in order to account for the teeth in embryos of baleen whales.

Go through the answer choices:
A. analogous = they look similar but came from different genetic lines
B. option # 1 above
C. same as B, just stated differently
D. there's nothing in the question about this. They talk about embryos, not adults. You can't tell what phenotypes species will have based on their embryonic state (generally).
E. option # 2 above

B and C are the same thing, and since there's only 1 answer, it can't be either of these.
A is just wrong.
D is thrown in there to confuse you.
E is the correct answer. It follows the law of parsimony.

Counter Water Filter

Under Counter Water Filter - Part of a Workable, Pleasing Family Kitchen

If your household is anything like mine, then your kitchen is the hub of the majority of family activity. The clutter created by counter-top appliances, food, dishes, drinking glasses, school books, papers, etc., can make it difficult to enjoy a pleasing, workable kitchen. That's why I took an important step toward clearing the clutter by installing an under counter water filter. It’s one less item on my counter-top that I have to continually fuss with.

Water purification has always been a priority in our home. In the beginning, it was because we didn't like the taste and smell of the water that came out of our tap.

After spending a fortune on bottled water delivery, I began to research home water treatment systems. There were so many water filtration products on the market I needed to dig deeper before I pulled out my wallet.

There were plenty of under counter water filter systems, as well as counter-top, shower and whole house appliances. Some were based on reverse osmosis, while others were utilized a water distillation process.

I didn't want another appliance sitting on my kitchen counter, so I narrowed my search to under counter water filters.

But I needed to do more research to find the best filtration process for my under counter water filter.

That's when I discovered that pleasant tasting water was the least of my worries. I learned that water pollution is more than an interesting topic that is covered in the nightly news.

The Ralph Nader Study Group issued a report after completing an assessment of over 10,000 documents secured through the Freedom of Information Act. This comprehensive review verified that "U.S. drinking water contains more than 2,100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer."

I also learned that reverse osmosis and distillation has some handicaps when it came to filtering out certain contaminants. The size of the molecules that make up certain organic chemicals means they can make it through the filtering process and into your water.

Just so you know, this deficiency can be fixed with the addition of a carbon filter. However, I didn't want to have to purchase another appliance to support the under counter water filter appliance. More clutter (not to mention, more expense and hassle...)!

After looking at all the different under counter water filters, and learning about their advantages and disadvantages, I finally settled upon a multi-stage filtration under counter water filter.

Multi-stage filtration is an up-and-coming technology that filters out a large majority of chemical toxins, odor-causing sediments, and high levels of chlorine.

There is also a health bonus to multi-stage filtration: it leaves healthy mineral content untouched. So you and your family not only get the benefits of water that safe and clean, but healthy as well.

Oh...and this is cool! The company that I purchased the appliance from produced an instructional video, watchable from their web site, for installing the under counter water filter appliance. It was so easy to understand and follow. It hardly took any time at all.

The best part is that I have a workable, pleasing family kitchen, with less clutter and more convenience. All of this courtesy of my under counter water filter.

If you want to make a pleasant, healthful contribution to the hub of your family activities, then I highly recommend you check out multi-stage filtration under counter water filters. You can even check out what they look like if you stop by my web site. I've also got more helpful water purification information there.

About the Author

Article written by water purification researcher, Olivia Romero, who cautions, "There are many reasons why we need clean, healthy water but there's one that has to rank as the most important of all." Visit http://www.cleancoolwater.com to find out what it is.

NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 13 June 2010
All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Sunday - Crew rest day. Ahead: Week 2 of Increment 24.

Counter Water Filter