Water - bottled or from the tap?

Mineral water is taken from the springs, at re-birth. But the expert reassures me. The water that we get at home from our taps, is not only perfectly safe to drink, it also has a good balance of the minerals our bodies need.

Water purification processes are well advanced in this part of the world. In lucky mountainous countries, the water only needs bit of chlorine to make sure there are no impurities left. In countries crossed by rivers at the end of their course, after visiting factories, nuclear plants, farms, crops and abattoirs, the treatment includes more chemicals (ozone and oxigen) and filtration through sand and activated carbon. All the contamination is removed: pesticides, traces of medicines, hormones from the anti-contraceptive pill... By the time water arrives at our taps it is pristine. But this does not mean that is stays this way in the rivers, before and after the water purification plant!

Some bits of advice,

- If you prefer to drink mineral water, change brands every so often. Each one has a different composition of minerals and by drinking different waters there will be no deficiencies.

- Think of all the plastic bottles you are using and buy glass ones instead. Be careful of reusing plastic bottles too many times. When plastic is exposed to sunlight (wether on your desk or earlier on its way to the warehouse) it leaches some of its chemicals into the water you will drink. With glass you are safe

- Some companies are bottling tap water and selling it as mineral water. EVIAN-NAIVE, it makes you wander. :o)

- The water companies are only responsible for the water they provide, up to your counter. If you live in an old house, you should check your water pipes are not still old lead-pipes, that you could be drinking.

Cheers!