In trying to beat candida, I have learned that I should be drinking filtered water.... not tap water.
I drink Brita water but I know it still has chlorine in it. (at least I think so)
So how can I get some good water without spending a fortune? Is there any water I can buy that's OK? I know there are problems with buying bottled water too!
Thanks for any good ideas here! Posted by opus2828 (Member # 15407) on :
I like the Berkey water filter - it does remove chlorine but leaves the minerals. Google it and you'll get more info.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
If you have a water dispenser at home, you can get the refills for $3.00 for 18 litres at Safeway..Great deal!
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
I buy the Culligan gallon jugs at Wal-Mart. They will last for a while. Then I take them to Wal-Mart and fill them up in their reverse osmosis machine.
Where I live, it's 37 cents per gallon. It's cheaper than buying the water straight off the shelf and it tastes good to me.
I supplement with iodine every day.
From everything I've read, this is a good way to filter your water. It's supposed to get all of the junk out that we don't want.
Posted by marypart (Member # 27012) on :
It lasts a long time. We did need to use the plastic adaptor that came with it. When it started falling off our faucet, we bought a new, metal adaptor from the hardware store for less than $5. Now it never falls off.
The filter lasts a couple of months, and we use if for all our drinking and cooking water.
Mary
Posted by Lauralyme (Member # 15021) on :
You can get a reverse osmosis unit for $300 that installs under the kitchen sink
Though there are extra costs to supplement with minerals as all are removed from the water.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
lulu.. What do you mean by a dispenser??
marypart... This is what it says there:
"BRITA eliminates that metallic, chlorinated "tap water" taste. Rediscover the taste of natural, untainted water."
I just have the Brita pitcher anyway.
kids .. Are the Culligan bottles safe to use? I don't know anything about them and really don't know what you mean.
Laura .. $300 is way too much for me, but thanks!
opus .. I'll check on the Berkey. Thanks!
Posted by marypart (Member # 27012) on :
I think down the bottom it says that it eliminates 99% of the chlorine.
It costs about $23 with a filter. And the refill filters are about $18. It's just so much easier than the bottle.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
WEll, maybe that is good enough?
I hate to put anything on the faucet itself because I live in an apartment.
thanks
I'll bet the pitcher is not as efficient. I may have to check with my manager and see if I can get this filter.
Posted by farraday (Member # 21494) on :
I have wondered about this. My son swears that reverse osmosis under the sink is the only way to go. But what minerals are then missing?
Right now we drink water from our fridge that is filtered. It tastes good. Our town had a terrible perchlorate spill and my office was adjacent to the site. We often wondered if the water I drank daily was contaminated. I am careful never to drink tap water...note anywhere if I can help it.
For what it is worth, our cats will not touch tap water except as a last resort. They prefer at least filtered fridge water. Better than that they like bottled water.
AND even better than that....rainwater from puddles! Isn't that interesting? Maybe they are trying to tell us something!
A doctor in Mexico who seemed highly intelligent and knowledgeable advised us to get a whole house filter. He said that a compromised immune system like mine needed absolutely pure water...even in the shower! It was way too expensive, of course.
Posted by GiGi (Member # 259) on :
Unless you detox effectively any remaining toxic metals in your system, fungi will continue to grow unril you do. The body will grow fungi to protect itself from destruction by the toxic metals, mainly mercury. There is no way around this. As long as allergies persist toward heavy metals, the body will not release them. All food allergies need to be addressed, because if you allergic to the sulfhydril group (garlic, onions, etc.) it is difficult to get rid of fungi/candida.
If you have KPU, as many here, in order to eliminate metal causing fungi, KPU has to be treated with zinc, b6, etc. Listen to the KPU video I posted again recently. It tells you eveyrthing you need to know.
Tammy just reposted the video. Please listen to it. If you correct KPU with so little it takes, you will be able to correct your sulfur problems (allergic to garlic, etc.) which is major for detoxing anything (anti-bacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimetal, etc.)
Take care.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Be careful of the water that you buy from a machine at supermarkets, etc. You know, those big refill machines. I read that some of them are pretty contaminated.
They don't really have people that check them to see if the water is good quality. Some can be worse than tap water.
The Aquasana is OK. Not fantastic but not too bad, either. They attach to the tap. I think they are about $100 or $150. Whole house filtration - that would be nice...
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
Lymetoo- The jugs that I buy are right by the RO machine where I refill them. They are supposed to be safe.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
The refills I buy at Safeway are Culligan and they have a good reputation.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- For a basic filter - I love my ENVIRO ten stage countertop water filter. It's around $100 cost - replace filter every year or so (about $60).
I use a PUR pitcher and fresh filter when I travel. I have see a new pitcher advertised that looks good but no pitcher filer can equal the ENVIRO counter top as the filter is near as big as a quart pitcher itself. There are better ones but they would cost far more.
Just search at Google for: "ENVIRO ten stage countertop water filter" -
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
ETHAN RARICK, Associated Press Writer (12-10) 00:28 PST SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --
California water-vending machines tested last summer failed to meet state standards for chemicals about a third of the time, according to a report by environmentalists. "Buying water from a machine in California is like playing a slot machine: You can't be sure what will come out," said a report released by the Environmental Working Group and the Environmental Law Foundation, which checked 274 machines operated by Glacier Water, Inc.
The Environmental Law Foundation planned to sue Vista-based Glacier Water Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court for an unspecified amount of restitution for consumers. The complaint also asks that the machines be taken out of operation, said Jim Wheaton, president of the Environmental Law Foundation. Glacier Water is the state's biggest operator of water-vending machines. The company operates more than 7,000 machines in California and more than 14,000 nationwide and maintains its water is safe.
"For the past 20 years, Glacier Water has been committed to providing safe, high-quality drinking water," read a statement released by the company Monday. "Our water vending machines start with federally regulated municipal water which then passes through a comprehensive seven-step process. To ensure the public's safety, we complete over 49,000 tests each year through independent third-party (Environmental Protection Agency)-certified laboratories."
Lea Brooks, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health Services, said the agency will perform random tests on Glacier Water's machines as a result of the environmentalists' findings, but she said the water is still safe to drink. The water-vending machines face a tougher standard than tap water, Brooks said. To use the Glacier Water machines, which are often located at grocery or drug stores, consumers deposit money and fill their own jugs or bottles. The water, advertised as cleaner than water provided by utilities, typically costs more than tap water but less than pre-bottled water available in stores.
The two Bay Area environmental groups said they tested the machines, located in nine major counties around the state, for trihalomethanes, or THMs, chemicals that are a byproduct of treating water with chlorine. Drinking water is commonly treated with chlorine. In a third of the cases, the water exceeded the state standard for THMs of 10 parts per billion for "vended water," or water sold from machines, according to Bill Walker, West Coast vice president of the Environmental Working Group.
Studies suggest that exposure above that level can lead to low birth-weight babies and other health problems, Walker said. Water from about two-thirds of the machines also failed to meet Glacier Water's advertising claims that the company's filtering system scrubs out 97 percent of THMs, according to the lawsuit. "It's a question of consumer protection," Walker said. "We tested their machines to see if they're telling the truth and they're not." Water quality in the tested machines varied sharply by county, according to the groups' report.
In San Francisco County, only one out of 15 machines met the state standard, the report said. In Santa Clara County, all 15 tested machines hit the mark.
Posted by marypart (Member # 27012) on :
Lymetoo,
I live in an apartment, too. It just screws onto the faucet. It is the simplest thing. It is so easy and it has a little switch you use to go back and forth between whatever option you want:
Filtered water Non-filtered water, regular output Non-filtered water, sprayer
It's really great and quite cheap. The green light turns red when you need a new filter. Ours usually lasts about 2 months. A replacement filter is abotu $18 and it just pops into place. Mary
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
Lymetoo, the dispenser stands about 4 feet high and accomodates the large water bottle that you place on top. You can dispense room temperature or cold water. The bottle here are now BPH free which is important.
Its the kind you find in doctors offices.. They're about $60-$80 and a good investment. I just seen one at Zellers for $60 but you can get them at Walmart or any department store.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
OH, I see, lulu... I just can't deal with those. They are too large and cumbersome to handle. I don't really have room for it either.
mary.. that may be my best choice
kids.. I'm not sure I've ever seen one of those at WalMart.. will have to check the SuperCenter... a place I like to avoid!
gigi.. I know.. but I didn't think I had any symptoms of KPU. The garlic causes acid reflux. I don't think I'm allergic to it.
I have avoided dealing with metals due to NOT KNOWING WHO TO BELIEVE. There are two camps on this! I don't want to be just moving the metals around.. or getting them into my brain.
arrrgghh
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
Actually the Brita filter (and other similar ones) does NOT remove chlorine. There has been a lot of talk about that.
Companies used to say that they removed chlorine but then I think there was a crack down so now they have to be more honest.
Those types of filters do NOT remove chlorine. They remove the chlorine taste and smell but not the chlorine itself.
The link that Mary posted was not a United States link so they may still be able to claim that they remove chlorine when they don't.
Here is a link to the Brita USA site. Notice they say they remove the taste and smell but NOT the chlorine.
PS...fluoride in the water is bad too but most filters don't filter that either.
It is really hard to find a good water filtration system that doesn't cost a lot. I don't have one yet.
I have Deer Park deliver spring water each month and I have a PUR filter (also does not remove the chlorine or fluoride) on my faucet but as of now that is all I have. I don't have a good water filtration system.
Hope you find something that works out for you.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thanks, Pam. I agree that I would like the fluoride filtered OUT.
I'm actually allergic to stannous fluoride .. so I imagine all fluorides are bad for me.
(thanks for info on the Brita too)
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
You're welcome!
That stinks that you have the stannous fluoride allergy. So you are probably right that all fluorides aren't good for you.
This water filtration stuff is tough. I have looked into it several times and there really doesn't seem to be any perfect solution.
Some are really expensive and others aren't that efficient. Some are expensive and not the most efficient.
I have read that whole house filters aren't really enough for the drinking water. Can't remember why off the top of my head.
The reverse osmosis seems to be good but it is pricey and it does utilize and waste a lot of water. Seems to be what most recommend though.
Others don't filter fluoride or other certain things.
Doesn't seem to be an easy and inexpensive solution unfortunately.
Good Luck with your search though. Hopefully you can find something that is good enough for the time being...that is what I am doing for now.
Take Care! Pam :-)
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
Thanks Lymetoo for starting this thread! I have been wanting to do something about our water consumption for a long time... you just pushed me in the right direction!
Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. I decided to go with Keebler's suggestion.
My husband and I figured it out and we spend $60 a month on bottled water. I found the one Keebler suggests on Amazon for $84 with free shipping... add the tax and it was $89.03
Here is a great explanation of the 10 stages of water filtering - seems pretty thorough!
I didn't know that about Britta, PUR, etc. re:chlorine. I have to use one now, temporarily. I can still taste some chlorine. I was wondering why - just today!
To get the fluoride out, you have to get a pre-filter. Google "fluoride pre filter".
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm checking that one out, momlyme!!
Sparkle.. I do think those work!! My nephew sells them as part of his business. They are really cool if you can afford them!
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
Momlyme...I actually saw one like that recently and was thinking about that one as well.
It seemed to be the best option as far as cost and it seems to filter so much.
The one I saw even had an option to filter chlorine and fluoride.
Thanks for reminding us on that. That may be the best bet for Lymetoo.
I was considering that as well.
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi All --
I use a Enviro Water filter --
It has a 10 stage filter --sits on counter top and is hooked to faucet with a small hose so there is no refilling jug hassle -
costs $80 on Amazon --free shipping-- Lasts years -- replacement filter costs $50-
Ice cubes are Cristal clear --Jay--
Posted by ninjaphire (Member # 18234) on :
quote:The one I saw even had an option to filter chlorine and fluoride.
I haven't found one that filters out fluoride, so they must not be common. momlyme, Can you give a link ?
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
A client of mine bought a distillation machine at a very reasonable cost, back in the late 80s.
As I recall, you pour tap water thru an activated charcoal "pre-filter" & it then boils the water and condenses the vapor into pure distilled H2O!
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Just a note...
I don't know if the 10 stage filters are certified. I think this is why I chose Aquasana over the 10 stage ones. You may want to check into it.
They sold the 10 stage filters at the healthfood store & I was considering buying it but I went for the Aquasana instead. It was a few years ago so I don't remember exactly why.
It's good to use a filter that has some kind of certification, as I recall.
If you drink distilled water all of the time, you will become mineral deficient - just what I've read... I don't know if supplementation is good enough to replace the lost minerals.
Posted by Dawn in VA (Member # 9693) on :
We've been using an Aquasauna countertop system for a couple of years now. The water tastes so good! It's got a double filtration system but is pretty affordable; was $99 bucks for the whole system and filter cartridge replacements (every 6 months) are about $50.
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
Lymetoo,
I THINK that the RO takes care of flouride as well as chlorine.
I would have thought that if my Wal-Mart in Tn. has a RO machine, that they would be in every store. Hummm..Maybe not.
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
quote:The one I saw even had an option to filter chlorine and fluoride.
I don't know about that. I'll let you know if there's an option when I get mine in the mail. I don't think so.
Pam08 - do you know where you saw that?
sparkle said:
quote:I don't know if the 10 stage filters are certified.
Who certifies them?
I figure it's gotta be as good or better as the bottled water I am buying and it's definitely less expensive! We go through 2-3 cases of water a week at $5-$6 a case... that adds up!
Posted by Forgetfulgirl123 (Member # 27939) on :
Reverse Osmosis takes care of EVERYTHING in the water- that's why people are saying that you have to add minerals back in.
I love my reverse osmosis. I was drinking smart water and fiji water and it was costing about 200 dollars a month. The reverse osmosis system that I bought cost about 500 dollars I think, but in retrospect it paid for itself in 2 or 3 months and now saves us money.
Is it bad that I haven't been adding minerals back in though? I've had it for almost a year now. I just started a thread about that and got conflicting opinions, because some say that you get all of your minerals from food, while others believe that drinking demineralized RO water leaches the minerals from your body. I'm not sure who is right!
So anyone with RO (Lauralyme, etc.) how much of the minerals do you add back in? I'm thinking of using Dr. K's Biopure liquid minerals, but I don't know if they're enough?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by kidsgotlyme:
I would have thought that if my Wal-Mart in Tn. has a RO machine, that they would be in every store. Hummm..Maybe not. [/QB]
I'm in a tourist town and we still have one of those older small WalMart's in the middle of town. I like it way better than the big Super Center. So that is where I usually go.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
forgetful, I don't bleeve U have t'worry about minerals bbeing "leached from your body" by consuming reverse-osmosis purified water (basically equiv to distilled water).
But adding a pinch of hi-Q "pink" sea salt from the nat. food store to each quart wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
We just got this bottleless water system at work a few weeks ago. I have to say the water tastes really good... I wouldn't even go near the water cooler we used to have, and still bring in my own Fiji water..
You might want to look into KDF filters to see if this would be a suitable solution for you. See: The Water Exchange for info. (I have been a customer of theirs for many years and got quite a bit of personalized help from them when I set up our system.)
The KDF filter removes chlorine, among other things, but does not remove minterals. To remove fluoride, you would buy a dual-housing unit, one for the KDF and one for the fluoride. They have both under-counter and on-counter units.
The way they explained it to me, it makes more sense economically to add in the exact filters you need rather than to buy a unit that filters out things you don't even have.
In my case, we have well water which is high in sediment, so our dual unit has a sediment filter first, then a KDF filter which we need for possible bacteria (rural area) and other contaminants. Because of the sediment we have to change filters more often, but even so, this solution is much, much cheaper in the long run than other solutions.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Can someone explain, really briefly (like bullet points), what's so wrong with just using a Pur or Brita filter? (carbon filtration)
From what I gather, the Pur:
-takes out most of the chlorine
-takes out 99.99% of microbes (aka, buggers)
-takes out lead and contaminants
-while leaving minerals
So besides leaving the fluoride, what is wrong with this scenario? The only other potential problem I see is that a small amount of chlorine is left in the water? Are those the only two negatives?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I think the problem is "MOST of the chlorine"... I'd like for all of it to be gone!
sillia.. That looks pretty good! Kind of high in cost for me right now...but hubby just got a new gig...sooooo.... Posted by sillia (Member # 23994) on :
Hoosiers, I think one criticism of the brita filters is that they don't last very long, ie they do their best filtering when fresh, so it can be an expensive way to provide all your drinking/cooking water, added up over time.
Lymetoo, you can email the guy at Water Exchange with any questions--I found him very helpful, and he was honest (could have sold me more unit than I needed, but instead told me just what I needed for my specific purpose). I thought the money was well spent--we've had this unit for maybe a dozen years with no problems at all.
The KDF filter is similar to a carbon filter but much better--some links on that site to very good reports about it.
Posted by lymemila (Member # 23433) on :
www.poly-bio-marine.com Their "kold steril" water filter is the best of both worlds...Zero waste water and retains all the minerals ...unlike an R/o which strips out the good stuff....HTH
Posted by PhillyLyme (Member # 26468) on :
what about boiling the water? is what my mom used to do back in the day
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
up for Tammy N
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thanks Lymetoo. I just read the whole thread. Now I am going to go back and check out some of the links.
Did you end up with the Enviro? Happy with your choice?
Thanks:)
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I did nothing! Still have my Brita. I hope to buy the Enviro soon.
(or maybe the aquasauna??)
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
I understand! I still have my Brita, but want to make a decision soon. Now with the new additive that will be added to our town's water (chloramine), I'd like to see what system will remove it. I'd love to also get rid of the flouride, but I'd like to keep the minerals. Oh well, can't have it all.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
MultiPure makes one of the best filters (NSF certified to remove VOC's, chlorine, heavy metals, etc.). I think it also takes out chloramine. And their RO unit removes fluoride too.
The problem with Brita (and similar cosmetic filters) is they use granular carbon in the filter, which can grow bacteria because of the large gaps between granules.
Solid carbon block filters are superior for that reason.
Posted by heiwalove (Member # 6467) on :
thanks for this thread lymetoo. i have the same questions.
a multipure filter is about 400 dollars as far as i can tell. RO filters cost the same. no can do. i think i might buy a new wave enviro.. does anyone know if the unit can be removed and transferred to another faucet? (i rent and never stay in one apartment for more than a year or two.)
Posted by heiwalove (Member # 6467) on :
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