Clean Water

We all know that drinking enough water each day is important to overall health and wellness. We've been taught to drink at least half of our body weight (in ounces) each day. But drinking water isn't enough... drinking QUALITY, CLEAN water is a must!

Here at our little homestead we are on a well, and thankfully, no farmers/neighbours in our local vicinity use pesticides or other toxins, but we have livestock. And livestock come with  manure, and the run-off from their manure could impact our drinking water, and our health significantly! (We're currently reviewing the housing of our animals and manure management in order to ensure safety for my family.)

But manure, for most families, isn't a concern. However, forever chemicals (or PFAs) contaminate nearly every source of  drinking water.  Why is this significant? Because PFAs are linked to reproductive, circulatory, and neurological toxicity, as well as cancer! PFAs are, unfortunately found in commonly used household products like:

• non-stick cookware,

• fire retardants,

• stain and water repellents,

• some furniture,

• waterproof clothes,

• pizza boxes and take-out containers,

• food packaging,

• carpets and textiles,

• rubbers and plastics,

• electronics,

• dental floss and

• make-up!

 

We willingly, though unknowingly, expose ourselves to PFAs and we need to make changes to limit our exposure to the best of our ability. 

But PFAs aren't the only contaminants in our drinking water. In a peer-reviewed study published in the journal Heliyon , the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that 22 carcinogens commonly found in tap water – including arsenic, byproducts of water disinfectants and radionuclides such as uranium and radium – could cumulatively result in over 100,000 cancer cases over the span of a lifetime. 

The study, funded by the Park Foundation, compiled a list of 22 contaminants with carcinogenic risks present in 48,363 community water systems in the United States, which EWG estimates serve about 86% of the U.S. population. Based on a cumulative risk assessment, EWG found that per 10,000 people, four will have cancer over the span of the lifetime due to the contaminants in water.

Cancers aren't the only thing to worry about. Bacterial, viruses, and even trace amounts of drugs can be found in our water. 

And Canadians, we aren't in any better shape here. From the generous spraying of Glyphosate over our watersheds, to the dumping of faecal matter into our rivers, we need to be sure to protect ourselves and be aware of the water we drink.