Healthy water for babies

If you have a baby, you need pure water! Baby formula is made with water; eating utensils, bottles, nipples, and so on are all washed with water; you bathe your baby in water; you’ll clean up her spills and hands and mouth with water. Her toys, crib, and all the other paraphernalia that go with babies will all be washed down with water. Yes, you need to be sure about your water supply.

Tap Water

First the good news about tap water: more than 90 percent of the water systems in the United States meet the EPA’s standards for tap water quality.1 And by law, water suppliers must send you an annual drinking water quality report before July 1 each year, telling you what contaminants have been detected in your drinking water and how these levels compare to drinking water standards. Many consumers can access their water report online at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr/whereyoulive.html .

Now the not-so-good-news: in an analysis of tap water conducted by the Environmental Working Group, more than half of the contaminants found in water across the country are unregulated and therefore not considered when the EPA gives high marks to water systems. In fact, the study reports that the EPA has set safety standards for fewer than 20 percent of the many hundreds of chemicals that it has identified in tap water. And it gets worse: forty-one of those unregulated contaminants are linked to reproductive toxicity.²

With good cause, many Americans are concerned. A 2005 Harris Interactive poll found that Americans ranked water pollution as the number one environmental concern facing the country, topping global warming, ozone depletion, and air pollution.³

But you are not totally at the mercy of your local water supplier. You can make sure that the water you drink and give to your baby is pure. You can also have a positive impact on the water supply in your area.

Your Local Water Supply

Even though your annual water quality report (also called a consumer confidence report) may say that your local water supply is safe relative to established drinking water standards, you may still want to have your water tested by a private testing lab, for two primary reasons:

1. The levels of some contaminants vary according to season of the year, so your annual report may not be entirely accurate.

2. The lead pipes, joints, and faucets in your own home may be leaching lead into your water.

If your water comes from a household well, you should definitely have your water tested, as you won’t receive a yearly report and are responsible for your own testing. This is especially important in areas where homes and nearby businesses are on septic ystems. Because many contaminants are colorless and odorless, testing is the only way to determine whether your well water is safe to drink. Wells should be tested annually for nitrate and coliform bacteria to detect contamination problems early. If you suspect a problem, test more frequently and for other potential contaminants, such as radon, pesticides, or industrial chemicals.⁴

To find certified drinking water in your area, learn how to contact your local water supplier

Filtering Water at Home

Even when the annual drinking water quality report gives a thumbs-up to the safety level of your water, it’s often a good idea to buy a bit of “insurance” to further improve the quality. If you haven’t already, this is a good time to purchase a home water treatment unit to increase the purity of your tap water.

Choosing the right water filter will depend on the contaminants you’re trying to filter out. That’s why before laying down your money, you should at the very least examine your annual drinking water quality report; even better, get the water tested yourself. ....read more