I ask them to consider installing a home water filter system. They can fill three 20-ounce bottles in the morning, take the filtered water to work, and reuse their own bottles over and over again. Activated carbon filter systems remove bad tastes, odors, and compounds like pesticides, chloroform and solvents, but don t remove bacteria or some heavy metals. More elaborate and expensive systems, such as reverse osmosis filters, also remove lead, arsenic, and asbestos. Tomczak says that 25 percent of water sold as bottled water is tap water that s been filtered to improve taste and get rid of any smells.
Tap water is treated to kill bacteria, and fluoridated, which is important for teeth.
Tomczak recommends that people living in older homes with older plumbing systems should turn on a faucet for a minute or two before drinking water from the tap. This will flush out any heavy metal residue in the pipes. The information contained in HouseCall may not always reflect the views of individual M-CARE physicians. Please use this newsletter to augment, not replace, the advice and care of your health care provider. HouseCall is published quarterly by the M-CARE Marketing Department.