Elderly and drinking water

Waterborne contaminants are not a new health risk. It has been the topic of discussion for years, inciting debates on policies, restrictions and technology when it comes to the water you use every day. Last year, a study by the University of California-Berkleyโ€™s School of Public Health shed some light on a population that may be more susceptible that the rest when it comes to contamination: the elderly. The report showed while some risk levels are acceptable for the public at large, the โ€œimmunocompromisedโ€ may need to invest in extra precautions. The article Increased Risk in the Elderly from Tap Water Consumption goes on to say, โ€œโ€ฆPOU drinking water filters were found to reduce stomach illness in the elderly (persons over the age of 55). The incidence of highly credible gastrointestinal disease among those with and without purification systems differed by 12 percent, a statistically significant improvement. It is important to note that the supplied water was from a high quality, treated source in Sonoma County, California that met all state federal water quality standards during the survey period. Thus, the additional rate of illness could be even higher in less quality supplies that are not treated at the POU.โ€ The overarching theme of these studies is to simply make people aware of their water. It is up to the individual to watch their faucet, and it is up to the individual to do something about it if there is an issue. source – www.culliganh2pointo.com

What does “TDS” mean to you?

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is a term used to define the amount of all the dissolved minerals in the water. Dissolved solids come from rock dissolved by water. High dissolved solids may have the following effects:
  • Bad Taste – This could be really any variety of tastes, but more common would be salty, bitter, or astringent
  • Scaling – High hardness in conjunction with high alkalinity or sulfates causes scale
  • Spotting – Even with soft water, a residue can be left behind on a surface after the water has evaporated
  • Mineral Fur – Mineral Fur is found around water spigots/faucets due to the accumulation of solids upon evaporation
  • Laxative Effect – caused by high sulfate
The Federal Drinking Water Standard on TDS is 500 ppm. ย  http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/secondarystandards.cfm The best way to treat high TDS is through reverse osmosis.ย  It is important to know your TDS levels ahead of time before you purchase any equipment.ย  Reverse osmosis (RO) will have certain limits as to how much TDS it can reduce depending on make and model.ย  Other important factors in reverse osmosis is feed pressure and temperature.ย  It may be necessary to add booster pumps either before or after an RO depending on those factors.ย  More information on RO can be found here: ย  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis