Bottled Water: Tapping the Truth - Part 2

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Whether you choose tap water, bottled water or both, here are easy ways to lower your risk of contamination.

Let’s start with your tap water:

Before you drink the water in the morning, turn on your faucet and run it for about 20 seconds. This helps to clear out any chemicals that leached from your pipes into the water during the night.

If your water has a strong chlorine taste or smell, fill a container and let it sit open for several hours. Some of the chlorine will evaporate and the water will taste better.

Buy a water filtering system. You want a filter that is approved by the National Sanitation Foundation and which has a high rating. A high rating means that it removes more contaminants.

Check out websites such as Consumer Reports, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Sanitation Foundation. Find out which filtering system is for you.

If you’re buying bottled water:

Purchase your water from a company that’s a member of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA). You can check online at bottledwater.org, click on “What is IBWA?” and then “Brand List”.

Purchase your water from a store that turns over their supply of bottled water frequently. If they sell a lot of water, their supply is replenished more often and not as old.

Keep your bottled water in a cool place instead of a hot garage.

If you open your bottle and don’t finish it, keep it in the refrigerator and drink it within two days.

Whether you drink tap, water bottled water or both, you can take steps to ensure that your water is a clean as possible.