Author: USwaterfilter

About 67% of American homes own a pet. A recent study by the American Pets Products Association shows at least one pet living with 85 million families.

Now, more than ever before, pets have become part of families. Pets require care just like humans for their well-being.

Most people spend time researching healthy food for their pets while neglecting healthy water. Filtered water has numerous benefits. If your family takes filtered water, you should consider giving your pets as well.

This article discusses six reasons why you should give your pets filtered water. Kindly read on to learn more.

Pets, just like humans, have a large water composition. Therefore, both pets and humans require water to stay hydrated and cool off.

Because filtered water tastes great, pets will want to drink more of it once they access it. The more pets drink water, the less their chances of being dehydrated after playing in the hot sun.

Furthermore, similar to humans, dogs staying hydrated reduces the number of urinary tract infections they may suffer from. Drinking more water also helps dogs that get sick often get back on their feet in no time. Summarily, by keeping them hydrated, filtered water does your pet a lot of good

The essential importance of filtered water is that it protects you and your pets from toxins. Tap water undergoes its purification process. However, cities and countries have different ways of upholding these processes. Therefore, the tap water that comes out of your sink may not be adequately purified.

Even if the tap water is purified, there is a likelihood of contaminants leaking through. Copper has been known to cause liver and kidney diseases in humans and animals, and it is found mainly in rusty pipes in old homes. Getting one of our water filters will remove contaminants from your water.

Pets tend to eat things without your knowledge, thereby increasing the toxin level in their bodies. Fortunately, drinking clean water can rid pets’ bodies of toxins, keeping them in excellent health. In addition, filtered water is the best option for dogs, especially smaller breeds and older dogs, because they have very delicate digestive systems and weak immune systems.

Clean water also helps cells regrow and thrive, keeping your pet healthy and strong throughout their lifetime. Therefore, drinking filtered water increases your pet’s chances of recovering from illnesses and living a relatively pain-free life.

There has been a myth that cold water causes dangerous bloating and is harmful to dogs for a long time. Nevertheless, the myth is entirely false.

Dogs tend to gulp water down, making them aspirate and choke. Although this is a confusing and scary situation, it is not a result of cold water.

Drinking cold water can stop your dog from drinking a lot too quickly. Therefore, giving your pets cold, filtered water from the refrigerator is much more beneficial than warm water from the tap.

Filtered water has numerous benefits, including reducing the amount of chlorine in drinking water. When you ingest chlorine via tap water, it can cause significant cell damage. Chlorine can also cause breathing difficulties and coughing.

Unfortunately, pets are more sensitive to the side effects of chlorine because their digestive system cannot withstand chemicals like chlorine. Eliminating chlorine from your pet’s drinking water using a water filter is ideal.

Another massive benefit of pets consuming filtered water is that it helps in reducing tear stains. The slight dark marks under a dog’s eyes are known as tear stains. Tear stains are more noticeable in dogs with lighter-colored fur.

Poor diet and tap water containing toxins cause tear stains. The more your dog consumes toxins through food and unfiltered water, the larger their tear stains.

You can buy a water filter for your home, helping you provide filtered water for your pets and reducing the size of their tear stains. Also, filtered water guarantees that your pets are drinking clean water that is not harmful to their bodies.

Although filtering water may incur additional costs, the benefits of filtered water outweigh such costs. You can take care of the health of your family and pets by purchasing a water filter. Your well-being does not have a price tag.

Bottle water drains the environment. The U.S public uses about 50 billion water bottles per annum, with most of it going unrecycled.

Transporting and keeping water bottles cold burns fossil fuels, giving off greenhouse gases. Furthermore, bottled water companies pump groundwater, drawing heavily on underground aquifers and harming watersheds. Also, it is estimated that one liter of bottled water requires three liters of water for production.

Yet, over $100 billion is the global spend on bottled water annually. Many cities in developing countries without a safe tap water source rely on bottled water as a safer option.

In the U.S, tap water is federally regulated and screened frequently for dangerous pollutants. However, the public consumes 21 gallons (79 liters) of bottled water per capita annually. The bottled water industry is very thriving; the number of gallons sold outpaces milk, juice, and coffee. However, it is still behind soda and beer.

Reasons why people choose to drink bottled water, include purity, convenience, safety, and taste. Some people consider bottled water to be more premium than tap water which begs the question – is tap water worse than bottled water? Afraid not

Drinking tap water instead of bottled water does not generate waste, and it is single-use, plastic-free. In contrast, the Australian landfill has about 373 million plastic bottles annually. Regarding waste, it takes 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water. Although it sounds outrageous, it is the truth. Therefore, it is advisable to drink tap water to prevent creating plastic waste and wasting water in the process.

Another outrageous fact about bottled water is that it costs 2000 times more than tap water. Let’s demonstrate an equation about how expensive bottled water is in comparison to tap water. Buying 2 liters of bottled water every day will cost you about $2600 at the end of the year. In contrast, drinking 2 liters of tap water every day will cost you about $1.50 in total at the end of the year. Well, it is pretty shocking.

Tap water is more eco-friendly than bottled water in so many ways. First, bottled water requires between 1 and 2000 times the energy consumption for producing tap water. The energy goes into bottle manufacturing, filling shipping, and chilling water in a fridge. Secondly, the plastic water manufacturing industry has over a 2.5million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in a year. On the other hand, there are no emissions with tap water.

It is common knowledge that eating local is better, so it shouldn’t be different for drinking. Most people do not consider that bottled water comes from all over the world. On the other hand, tap water is from local sources. Therefore, the tap water supply is safe, reliable, and sustainable.

Another reason to choose tap water over bottled water is safety. Tap water is safer and healthier for drinking. There are stringent regulations and safety standards regulating tap water. The standards identify and limit water contaminants, including chemicals and microorganisms present in tap water. Furthermore, there is regular testing of tap water than bottled water, making it a safer option.

A myth about bottled water is that it tastes better than tap water. Well, research says otherwise. From several blind taste tests, tap water tasted better than bottled water. Several bodies carried out the taste tests.

Tap water is more eco-friendly than bottled water, and this is true from a sustainability perspective. Many bottled water companies have water sources in countries with depleted water resources—for instance, Fiji water, Aquafina, and Dasani source water from the drought-ridden areas of California.

You can purchase a water filter to purify your tap water if you are concerned about water quality. In contrast, it is pretty unlikely that you will filter water from a plastic bottle. Therefore, you can only trust the acclaimed purity of the water

It is best to stick to tap water if you like chemical-free water. Plastic water bottles are from polyethylene terephthalate or PET, and this material leaches chemicals over time into the water, especially when reusing the bottle. Furthermore, due to the toxic chemicals released in its manufacturing process, PET is an environmental hazard

Taking tap water is much more convenient than bottled water; you only need to turn on the tap. Also, tap water is readily available; there’s no need to walk to a shop to purchase the water before unscrewing the lid. With the numerous benefits discussed, tap water is the clear winner of the bottled water vs. tap water comparison.

Contrary to popular opinion, bottled water is not safer than tap water. After considering safety, convenience, the presence of chemicals, and many factors, it is clear that tap water is eco-friendly, affordable, sustainable, and has a better taste.

With a little practice, you can have a beautiful, healthy lawn while conserving water! The EPA or Environmental Protection Agency’s Stats have shown that approximately one-third of all U.S. Residential properties use water for irrigation but half of (50%) irrigation water is wasted due to poor water practices. You should learn the best ways for using water, whether you want to conserve water or are concerned about the rising cost of water, you will find out you can provide less water and still have a beautiful lawn.

If the grass in your lawn is natural to the area you live in, their water needs are in line with the region you live in, and therefore less maintenance is required. As an example, Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue are excellent choices for cooler northern zones while Bermuda grass or Zoysia grass is perfect for warmer southern zones.

Across the board, lawn grasses vary in their water consumption depending on if they are drought-tolerant or resistant. There are grasses that prevent drought by retaining more water, growing deeper roots, or going into dormancy while other grasses can resist dehydration. Choosing the right grass will increase your lawn’s ability to conserve water while remaining healthy and beautiful when there is a limited supply of water.

There are varieties of grass that have been qualified by the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance or TWCA. These grasses use less water, require less maintenance, and give you more time to enjoy your lawn. TWCA has a number of qualified varieties of cool or warm-season grasses that have undergone rigorous testing to prove they are statistically significant drought-tolerant vs other grasses. As an example, these grassed require up to 30% less water year after year than other grasses. They can remain green for up to 3 weeks without water.

Definitely start watering your lawn before it shows signs of browning and stress. Your lawn grass needs 1 to 2-inches of water each week which should be enough to get the moisture to soak into the soil at least 6-inches. To find out if your lawn has enough water, you should purchase a rain gauge or follow our DIY steps:

Understand, the grass gets very thirsty, especially during the summer months. Constantly providing moisture around their roots will help them grow. Therefore, the best way to keep your lawn green and lush during the growing season is to keep it well-watered.

One of the best ways to determine the correct length of time to water is placing a pie pan in the yard and determine how long it will take to fill 1/2-inch in depth. Experts, on the other hand, prefer a more accurate method by taking soil conditions into account. Heavier soil does not absorb moisture as fast as loose or sandy soil which should be watered at longer intervals. During long warm spells, dry soil is your key. Set up your sprinkler and set the timer for 30 minutes., then turn off the water and check the soil for moisture depth. You can do this by pushing a shovel into the lawn and tipping it forward to reveal the soil. You should be able to see how deep the water has penetrated. As moist soil is darker, you can apply enough water to penetrate 3 to 4-inches into the soil. If the water has not penetrated enough, restart the watering and continue to keep an eye on the time. After another 15 minutes, check again. Trial and error is the best way to find the best length of time to water your soil type and water pressure.

You should adjust your watering to meet the conditions in various areas of your lawn. Different areas require either more or less water. Take note and then adjust your watering patterns. For instance, an area with south-facing hills will need more water than areas under trees.

You must keep watering during a drought. Don’t believe the old wives’ tales that grass goes dormant during a drought. The bottom line, if you do not provide your grass with moisture during a drought, it will die. Do not mow your grass during a drought, the cut grass will lose moisture from the blades of grass being cut. The grass will turn brown if you don’t continually water. Rule of thumb, do not cut your grass during a hot, dry summer until it has rained for 2 days straight.

If you can, water in the morning hours. The grass will take in the water all day long. Also, watering in the evening can lead to the growth of harmful fungi.

If you don’t have an in-ground sprinkler system, don’t bother. People with sprinkler systems use more water than is needed because it’s easy! Simply set the timer and let it be.

The Atlanta area is a screaming example. For over 10 years, every new house came with a sprinkler system but there were no thoughts about how much water they needed. At one point, Atlanta suffered a terrible drought and lost its principal water supply. Lake Lanier almost dried up. They needed to reach out to outside watering assistance. The water freak’s lawns dried up and died in a flash.

Drinking enough water is important for your health because it contributes to the normal functioning of all cells in your body. Therefore, it is important that you drink enough fluids throughout the day.

There are many different types of water, with spring water and filtered water being the most popular. You may be wondering how they differ and whether you should choose one or the other.

Purified water and spring water have different health requirements, which is one of the main differences. All impurities in water must be reduced to less than 10 parts per million to be considered purified. The Environmental Protection Agency has ruled that this is much higher than the levels required for normal drinking water, including tap water. Chemicals and pathogens must be removed from purified water, but not microbes.

Often purified water is confused with filtered water. However, this is not correct because all water is filtered to some degree, but purified water must meet higher standards. Purified water can come from any water source, including spring, ground or tap water, as it is subject to strict filtration and purification standards.

If you drink purified water from a bottle, you know that it had to meet a legal criterion to be labelled “purified.” That means you can be sure that what you are drinking is perfectly safe.

Any water source, including your own drinking water, can be purified, as I said before. Reverse osmosis or distilled water is less expensive to produce, helps you reduce your use of plastic water bottles, and tastes almost the same as purified bottled water.

Some purified water sources have had minerals added, but purified water has usually had the beneficial minerals removed. Therefore, it may not taste as good as spring water, which contains a higher concentration of minerals.

In this respect, there is not much difference between purified water and spring water. If you buy purified water at the store, you are spending a lot of money and contributing to the dangerously high plastic waste production in the United States.

If you want to drink clean, safe water without having to buy disposable bottles, I highly recommend investing in a system that allows you to purify your own drinking water at home.

If you prefer mineral-rich water, spring water is probably your best bet. However, not all springs are the same, and one underground aquifer can often differ significantly from another. If you are concerned about the quality of springs in a particular area, you may want to consider a purified alternative. However, by EPA standards, both spring water and purified water are safe to drink, so neither option is wrong.

The following methods show three different ways to purify water at home, whether for emergency, outdoor survival, or everyday use, because some of the methods require.

Boiling water is the most basic and widely used method of purification. To be safe, you should heat the water over a stove or open flame until it comes to a full boil, and then continue boiling for at least five to ten minutes (the longer the water is boiled, the purer it becomes).

Since boiling contaminated water removes all oxygen from the liquid, the resulting purified water may have an insipid taste. This is a minor flaw that can be easily remedied by shaking the purified water a bit.

You can also add a pinch of salt to each liter of drinking water to improve the taste.

Water can be filtered in various ways to make it drinkable. In an emergency, porous materials such as coffee filters and cotton cloths can be used, but they are not very effective in removing all unwanted particles.

Commercial filters, on the other hand, are quite good at removing virtually all tannins and sludge from tainted water.

Commercial filters come in a variety of sizes and shapes, including portable filters for emergencies, filter systems that plug directly into your faucet, and filters that come pre-installed in water jugs and bottles.

Water filters come in different sizes, shapes, and prices, but they all work by forcing the water through a carbon or ceramic filter before chemically treating it.

The biggest drawback to this method is that the filters can clog quickly. Some filters can be cleaned and reused, while others may need to be replaced.

When boiling water is out of the question for cleaning, solar disinfection is a quick and inexpensive alternative. Unlike direct, extreme heat, solar disinfection uses the heat of the sun to aid the cleaning process.

For this method to be successful, you will need bottles, contaminated water, and direct sunlight. Be sure to use plastic bottles and fill them about three-quarters full.

Before filling the remaining quarter of each bottle with water, shake the bottles for about 20-30 seconds. Close the bottle tightly before drinking and place in direct sunlight for at least 6-8 hours.

Just like human bodies, plants of all types react differently to various types of water. In fact, what works for one type of plant, may not necessarily work well for another. This is highly dependent upon where the plant originates from, the environment it has grown accustomed to, and more. When a plant has been given something it doesn’t prefer, it also provides a few physical queues to let you in on it’s sufferings. With these details in mind, let’s jump right into the water options available for your beloved house plants.

Natural water sources can be vital to the overall success of growing plants indoors, depending upon several other factors. It may be confusing to determine what constitutes a “natural source” when it comes to water, so we narrowed it down for you. If you have the ability to harvest water from a natural source, ensure you aren’t trespassing or breaking in local laws before doing so.

Because rainwater is not processed like tap water, it lacks the treatment chemicals, minerals, and salts often utilized to make tap water safe. In turn, this provides plants with pure hydration, often unmatched by other sources. Furthermore, the macro-nutrients found in rainwater are quite beneficial to house plants, much like it benefits the trees, grass, and other outdoor plants, and wildlife. If you live in an area that receives quite a bit of rain, it is easy to begin catching and harvesting rainwater for your own purposes. Simply begin by purchasing a barrel specifically design for capturing rainwater, or check out many of the DIY designs online.

Please Note: Some local ordinances ban the capture and use of rainwater. Please check with the laws in your area before collecting rain fall.

If you had no other options, melted snow could serve as a watering resource. The problem, however, lies with the contaminants often found within surface water and groundwater. Why doesn’t it affect outdoor plants in the same way, you might wonder? Well, in a plant bed, groundwater has the ability to spread out thereby lessening the impact chemicals have on said plants. Potted plants, by comparison, are confined to smaller containers, which completely neglects the groundwater’s ability to disperse as a result.

If you are into reusing items as often as you can, you might be pleasantly surprised to learn of the ways you can use wastewater. In fact, wastewater comes in many forms we may otherwise overlook, and each one provides a great source of water for house plants.

If you are a fish hobbyist, you understand the necessity for regular water changes. By doing so, you rid your aquatic environment if dangerous bacteria and elements that may otherwise harm your fish. Nitrogen may help plants grow, as well as trace nutrients, but fish may die with high levels. Did you know that the elements found within used fish tank water are often utilized in commercial fertilizers? This means you will not only be hydrating your plants, but providing the essential nutrients necessary to grow, and thrive.

A Reverse Osmosis system is a great way to provide your family with filtered water. As a result, RO systems typically produce a specific amount of wastewater during normal operation. Because it lacks minerals and impurities, it may or may not benefit specific types of house plants. This is where it is extremely important to know the needs of your plants before you begin watering or utilizing products. One positive aspect to utilizing RO water is the ability to control pH levels. This will benefit plants, aquariums, gardens, flowers, people, and more.

There’s nothing easier than running your tap to fill pitchers, watering cans, and plant containers. For certain types of plants, such as those within the Marantaceae family, it’s very beneficial to run water over the soil to the point that it drains from the other side. A sink is helpful in this situation, because the water can drain directly, without extra work. As such, here are our favorite in-house methods for watering your house plants.

Depending on your place of residence, you may utilize local municipal water, well water, or enjoy a built-in mode of filtration. Regardless, there are details you need to know before using it on your plants. Through a simple test kit, you can determine the elements currently present in any type of water, from tap, to well, filtered, and even rain water. If you’re utilizing tap water from your local treatment plant, you can contact them directly for an annual report. Because chlorine is one of the main modes of sanitizing tap water, you may damage your house plants. While allowing the water to sit out for up to 72 hours may enable chemicals to gas off, it is not a complete solution. This further highlights the importance of testing tap water before using.

Delicate plants often require softer water sources, whereas others are well equipped to utilize hard water. Once you understand your plant’s needs, you can better match it up with any given water source. Filtered water can be beneficial in areas where the tap is treated with heavy chemicals, which impart damage to house plants. Typically, a residential water filtration system does not have the means to remove essential minerals, salts, etc. It’s primary focus remains steadfast on the removal of dangerous microbes, chemicals, and more. If you are a plant enthusiast, and not a serious hobbyist, filtered tap water can serve as a great solution to watering your plants.

Through the process of condensation and evaporation, distillation efficiently removes chemicals and minerals from tap water. This form of water purification boils away water, capturing the vapors. When there is a concern over toxicity build-up, distilled water works well for water plants. This form of water is free of impurities, which is most beneficial to plants with a small amount of soil. Unfortunately, distilled water contains no nutrients whatsoever. As a result of using distilled water, however, you may notice these plants don’t grow as quickly compared to those enjoying rain water, or bottled spring.

Water systems can be intricate and finding the cause of the water’s taste can be even more difficult. Bad tasting or smelly water can affect you every single day. If you are brushing your teeth, drinking a glass of water, or cooking, you just can’t get away from the taste and smell. Finding the source of the taste or smell is the first step in getting the right water filter for you. Once you find the right filter, you will discover why your tap water smells or tastes so bad!

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 15% of people in the United States use well water. That means their water is not from a municipal source but from their well. The rest of the populations (around 85%) get their water from municipal systems. Because most well water is groundwater, municipal water comes from surface sources including rivers and lakes or a combination of sources. This water faces a long journey going from the treatment plant, through underground pipes, usually below city streets, then finally through pipes into homes.

The condition and makeup of the pipes along with the source of the water will have an effect on the taste of the water coming out of the tap. Usually, the taste of the water is not the issue. Most tastes are coming from the odor of the water.

Water that smells like rotten eggs can be caused by a variety of bacteria in the system or from hydrogen sulfide which takes place naturally in water systems due to the decay of organic material. Most water agencies do not consider this a dangerous issue but hydrogen sulfide can cause the corrosion of plumbing and lead to blackened water, Bet that’s a big issue with you!

Sulfur causes the taste and smell of water. Even though sulfur is well below dangerous levels, the taste and smell is well beyond offensive. In most cases, this is usually caused by sulfates or hydrogen sulfide gas.

According to England’s Southern Water, this is a unique taste that comes with difficult solutions. The taste comes from anti-oxidants found in plastic pipes. The only thing to do is replace the plumbing.

During the summer months or the fall, you might notice a musty or earthy taste in your water supply. This is caused naturally by algae along with higher water temperatures in lakes. As an example, Lake Ontario can cause this to happen due to temperatures. Even though it’s not dangerous to drink the water, it doesn’t taste very good during that time of year.

Chlorine is added during the water treatment phase to ensure tap water is safe to drink. Chlorine is regulated by the various agency including the Province of Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act. The water is continually monitored but some people might be very sensitive to the taste. You can try placing a pitcher of water in your refrigerator and let it stand overnight.

Algal Bloom is an alga the leaves a moldy taste to your tap water. Blooms are most common during the spring months. You will probably experience a musty or moldy taste during that time of year. Municipal water is treated with a disinfectant to eliminate the algae before it reaches your tap but the taste can linger if it gets into your line.

A bitter taste in water is usually caused by copper in the water from corrosion of copper plumbing. Iron, zinc, and manganese can all lead to a metallic taste in your water. When the level of iron and manganese rises it can cause aesthetic issues such as staining laundry, or fixtures. It can build up in water heaters which will have to be drained to get rid of the mineral deposit.

In some cases, this can be complicated but most likely it’s caused by high levels of chloride ions. In case you don’t know, sodium chloride is common table salt (NaCl ). Other chlorides include potassium chloride (KCI) or calcium chloride (CaC1). Reasons for this rise of chloride could be due to:

Seawater entering your water supply

Industrial waste entering the water supply

Melting snow and rain carrying road salt into local reservoirs.

Even though chloride ions are the most logical culprit for salty-tasting water, sulfates may also play a part. Many sulfates happen naturally in some soils and rocks. As groundwater moves through the earth, sulfates can make their way into local water supplies.

Also, if sewage enters the water supply, sodium and chloride levels will spike causing tap water to taste salty.

Salty-tasting water is not just miserable to drink but can damage your pipes. Although it’s not hazardous to people, it can cause diarrhea. If you are someone who is on a reduced-sodium diet, you might want to be careful.

This is sometimes caused by high levels of naturally occurring minerals including calcium or iron. Sweetness may be attributed to an imbalance in your water’s alkaline or pH levels. All waters have a taste but not the same taste. The taste is subjective and influenced by your own biology and the water source.

There are many people who do not like to drink enough needed water because they do not like the taste. There are ways to make water taste better:

Squeeze in some orange, lemon, or lime to add flavor and a good level of vitamin C.

Add some fruits such as strawberries, mint, or raspberries. Crush them up for a better taste.

Use sparkling water instead of tap water if carbonation is something you prefer.

Create flavored ice cubes with fruit juice.

Try some sugarless flavor packets if you want to flavor up your water

Better yet, buy a water filter to eliminate all tastes and orders we have gone over.