Pure Water

Just as important as obtaining pure water is the material of the container in which you store your water. I drink my water out of glass bottles. Have you ever noticed when drinking water out of plastic bottles that you can sometimes taste plastic? That is because the plastic has leached into the water. Many people use Lexan Polycarbonate Nalgene bottles because they are clear, lightweight, and sturdy. Polycarbonate plastic bottles are standard equipment for millions of hikers and babies. (They are usually labeled #7 on the bottom; Nalgene is the best-known producer.) Since polycarbonate bottles don't impart a taste to fluids, many users assume they are safer than bottles made out of other kinds of plastic. But now an accidental discovery has cast doubt on their safety (www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200311/lol5.asp). The amount of leaching increases as the plastic ages and is degraded by use. A separate study published in Environmental Health Perspectives confirmed this finding, and also detected leaching from new polycarbonate plastic.
Many studies have shown that the plastic residues leached from water bottles can wreak havoc in our bodies. If you must drink out of a plastic water bottle, be sure to keep it out of the sun as the sunlight has been shown to increase the amount of chemicals leached. For detailed information on toxic free choices for storing water on a large scale, I suggest the book, Water Storage, by Art Ludwig www.oasisdesign.net/water/storage. If you are unable to carry a glass water container, then stainless steel containers seem to be a safe choice.
The chemicals commonly added to water in the USA should always be avoided. For the reasons to avoid fluoridated water see the Minerals section.
Chlorine, although effective in killing some of the disease-causing bacteria, provides the drinker with byproducts that are known carcinogens. Chlorinated drinking water causes at least 4,200 cases of bladder cancer and 6,500 cases of rectal cancer a year in the United States
Tap water in the United States usually contains toxic and inorganic minerals that the body cannot use such as; copper, iron, lead, and other naturally occurring heavy metals.
Chemicals that leach into our water may include; asbestos, cyanides, fertilizers, herbicides, industrial chemicals, and pesticides.
Biological contaminants that can show up in our water supply include bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
Pharmaceutical drugs have been showing up in tap water recently.
As if those contaminants weren't enough, most of the ground water in the United States has been polluted with a highly carcinogenic and immune system depressing chemical called MTBE. (Balch and Balch pg. 37) MTBE (an additive in gasoline) cannot be removed from drinking water with either reverse osmosis or carbon block water filters. The only way that I am aware of easily removing MTBE from your drinking water is through distillation.
Distillers are available with glass or stainless steel holding tanks to store the water. To add minerals back to the water that distilling has removed, squeeze a few drops of lemon or lime into the water or add a tiny pinch of unprocessed sea salt.
Because not everyone has the ability to own a distiller or a reverse osmosis filter, I suggest doing the best that you can. Reverse osmosis filters are the second best type and solid carbon block filters are the third. Experts agree that the most important thing is that we do not drink tap water. Always use cold water for the purposes of rinsing foods if you are not using filtered water. Hot tap water can leach higher amounts of lead or other metals from plumbing or the hot water tank. If you're concerned about elevated lead levels in your water, run the tap until the water becomes colder before using it. In my opinion, the best resource for deciding what type of water filter suits you best is the book, Water the Ultimate Cure by Steven Meyerowitz. Steven also explains the harmful effects of dehydration.
For those that live in unpolluted wilderness areas outside the USA, I suggest using spring water that flows from deep within the earth.
Dehydration can cause numerous symptoms which include headaches, muscle aches, loss of energy, and eventually diseases which can be life threatening. The book, Your Body's Many Cries for Water by F. Batmanghelidj M.D., has more detailed information on the effects of dehydration. Every time you consume a caffeinated beverage you increase your body's need for water because caffeine acts as a diuretic. Most experts suggest that we consume at least 8, 8 oz glasses of pure water every day. We need approximately Yz our bodies weight in ounces of pure water every day.