Archive for July, 2010
How Important is Clean Water to Good Health?
Many people underestimate the importance of drinking and bathing in clean water for good health. You can get clean drinking water using a faucet filter such as the ones made by Aquasana. Staying well hydrated is as important as keeping up on oil changes for a car. If you don’t drink enough water, your body won’t function as it should and you can feel your strength sapped and your energy drained.
The problem is that many people react the wrong way to thirst by filling up on sugary drinks or alcohol. Sugary drinks and alcohol can actually dehydrate you and cause you to consume extra calories that don’t give you any health benefit. A substitute for a good source of water is from fruit and all-natural fruit juice, but these, too, entail calories.
You can last longer without food than without water. Dehydration can kill you in a matter of hours whereas starvation takes days. The risks only increase in extreme environments. Hot temperatures cause your body to sweat as a natural way to cool itself off. In addition, water can evaporate out of your open mouth and off your skin.
In extreme cold environments, the cold dries out your exposed skin. In addition, if you are wearing too much clothing, you can sweat just as much as in a hot environment. In either environment, the extreme temperatures can sap your strength. Because water is a life- and energy-giving element, being sapped of strength is one of the early signs of dehydration.
Water is vital to digestion. It lubricates your digestive tract, which in turn prevents many digestive problems such as heartburn. Water also helps break down your food. This means you get more of the health benefits out of your food when you drink healthy and clean water. Exercise and dieting experts agree that clean water is vital to building a stronger, healthy body and without enough water no diet or exercise program can succeed. Drinking clean water combined with proper diet is the core of all successful diet plans.
Another key benefit of clean water is its purifying properties. It flushes out toxins that you store in your body. Clean water is the key to surviving physically difficult conditions. That is why when you are sick, the doctor says to drink lots of fluids. Clean water boosts your immune system. It helps you fight off oxygen starvation at high altitudes and it can even help your skin. Clean water gives your skin a healthy glow and keeps it moist, which is essential for preventing many skin conditions.
Clean water is also important in the shower. Having dirty water can actually leave your skin dry after a shower. This increases the amount you spend on creams and moisturizers to keep your skin feeling soft and healthy. You also may not know that you can absorb toxins in the shower in the same way you absorb water through your skin. Studies have shown that taking a shower is the equivalent of drinking several glasses of water. You can get clean water in the shower by using a shower filter such as the ones available from Aquasana. In fact, Aquasana can be a partner for you and your family to make sure that you have an ample supply of clean water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and taking showers.
Are Government Water Purity Standards Good Enough for Your Family?
It is really upsetting that government water purity standards are so low. Sadly, most people don’t realize the problem. They continue to drink the water that comes out of the tap without filtering it. Others have heard about the problems so they changed to only drinking bottled water. However, the government is even less strict about water purity standards for the bottled water industry. So, in terms of drinking healthy and uncontaminated water, bottled water is not the answer.
Part of the problem is that the types of contaminants as well as the levels of them change in our environment. The procedures used at water treatment facilities are complex and often have many stages. They are set up to remove certain things from the drinking water. It is unrealistic, however, to think that they can remove everything.
You also have to remember that there are good things in our drinking water, including calcium and potassium. These natural minerals in water are good for us and it is important for your health that they remain in the water that you drink. There are numerous types of water filtration that seek to remove additional forms of contamination but at the same time, these water filtration systems can compromise these minerals. It can be a tough call to decide what stays and what goes. It can also be tough to say what safe levels of toxins in our drinking water are and what is too high.
The fact that the number of cases of cancer continues to rise is a concern. Studies have suggested that the cause of this dramatic public health problem could be due to free radicals that get into the drinking water. Most of us drink water because it is good for us. We also give it to our children and our pets. However, it is possible those efforts aren’t good for you when you consider the low government water purity standards that are currently in place.
In many cases the government does agree that changes need to be made. Yet it is a complex process to find out how introducing a new process will work overall for the quality of public drinking water. There is also the cost involved with changing the process and adding or modifying water treatment plants. The price is usually more than $100 million per plant.
When there seems to be troubled economic times going on around the world, many issues like government water purity standards continue to get pushed to a back burner. Most people agree these issues are important but time and funds are not available to deal with them at this point in time.
Since the government water purity standards aren’t high enough, it is important to be part of an advocate group for clean water. Get involved so that the message to our leaders is loud and clear. Let them know you want to have stricter guidelines in place when it comes to the quality of the water your family is consuming.
Such efforts are going to take time to get moved forward and for action to be taken. However, there are steps you can take right now to ensure your family is drinking safer water. One of the most effective and affordable methods is to get a water filtering system from Aquasana. They are a leader in this industry with products that can help you feel better about the current drinking water situation in your home and for your family. While that will not cure the bigger problem of water purity standards nationally, a home water filter system from Aquasana can give you reliable, clean, and healthy water at home. That is a good start.
Can Pure Drinking Water Help You Live Longer?
The length and quality of your life heavily depends on how you take care of your body. Dehydration can cause a lot of harm to your body, both short-term and long-term. Fatigue and headaches are symptoms that can be felt that signal that your body is out of water. Heart attacks and osteoporosis that usually appear in the later years of your life can also be caused by lack of proper hydration.
There is no question that just as eating right leads to a long life, consuming only contamination- free water is a key strategy for a long and healthy life as well. The question for all of us lies in how we can go about making absolutely sure that the water we drink and that our families drink is pure, clean, and healthy water.
Just because the water you drink is transparent doesn’t mean that it clean. In the same manner, just because the bottled water you drink has a brand name and an attractive picture on the outside, that doesn’t automatically mean that it is clean. Pure drinking water is important and, unfortunately, it is not a given that you will be getting healthy water when you draw it from your tap.
While it is true that tap water in the U.S. is cleaner than tap water in most countries, that doesn’t mean that it is always safe to drink. Actually, the U.S. government only regulates 91 chemicals in tap water when there are actually 60,000 of them that have been found in the public water supply. The federal government regulations on bottled water only have to be met when the water crosses state lines. Studies have found significant evidence of water contamination in bottled water products which should be a source of serious concern.
It is up to you to take the necessary steps to ensure that your family only uses pure drinking water. The best way to do this is by purchasing a water filter system to filter out all possible contaminants in your water, not just the 91 the government regulates. Tap water may contain pesticides, metals, pharmaceutical chemicals, chlorination byproducts, and numerous other forms of contamination that you would not want your family to drink.
There are many types and technologies used in water filters available today, and they don’t all work the same way or produce the same type of water. Distillation and reverse osmosis were formerly viewed as the best filtration processes. In reality, these technologies were designed for industrial purposes. They strip water of the natural minerals that are beneficial and healthy to individuals.
Because of the stripping of those chemicals from the water, the pH balance drops and the water become acidic. This causes our bodies to release minerals from the organs to balance the water. In the end, our bodies are robbed of minerals when our water has essential minerals filtered from them. Remember the saying, too much of a good thing can be bad? Well, that definitely applies to water filtration using reverse osmosis or distillation technologies in a home installation.
So when you purchase a water filter, choose one that uses “selective filtration,” which is able to differentiate between beneficial minerals and harmful water contaminants. To be absolutely sure that you only have the best water filter system available, purchase your water filter from Aquasana, the country’s leading water filter provider. Aquasana has been in the water purification industry for many years. They have tested their filters to give you only the best. Remember that to live a long and healthy life, you deserve the best.
Will the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009 Help Regulate Water Quality?
One of the goals of the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009 is to help regulate water quality in this country. We can all agree that there are too many problems with water purity that are taking place right now. There are too many times when homes aren’t getting the right quality of water through the tap that people need to drink.
It is no secret that many people deal with water contamination in their homes. In many cases, however, they don’t realize that their water is contaminated and how much of a threat it is to their health. They assume government regulation and their local water treatment processing procedures that are in place will protect them. That isn’t always the case, though. There are studies that show that dangerous chemicals and even pharmaceutical drugs are showing up in the tap water we drink.
While we are aware of the problems of water contamination, the question of what is going to be done about it still remains. Hopefully the information gained through the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009 well help society become better informed about water safety issues. The goal is to offer sufficient evidence to the president of the United States and the congress that will prompt them to regulate water quality by establishing a national office to help coordinate efforts to help us overcome the crisis we have with clean drinking water.
This particular effort to regulate water quality is definitely a step in the right direction. Perhaps some pressure from federal authorities will help those contributing to huge water contamination concerns to change their ways. It can also help get everyone aware of the real impact of unhealthy water. Too many consumers are oblivious to what is really going on.
The efforts of the National Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009 to regulate water quality can make a huge difference. It puts the issue of clean water on the agenda for the president and for congress. It can’t be pushed aside as has been the case for a very long time in the past. The Obama administration has been sincere in their efforts to make changes so we need to give them the benefit of the doubt.
One of the huge problems in the past is the lack of accountability. This act, though, is going to ensure that there is accountability on many levels. With this in place, a system will evolve that will help agencies share the responsibility and get things moving in the right direction in order to regulate water quality on all levels.
Even though the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009 will help regulate water quality, we aren’t out of the woods yet. It is going to take a very long time for studies to be conducted and data evaluated. It is going to take time and money to see the implementation of positive changes.
In the meantime, your household is still very vulnerable to drinking water contamination. You need to take steps now that will help you regulate water quality on your own. It doesn’t have to be difficult or cost you a ton of money. Aquasana offers many types of water filters. You can install one yourself and start to benefit from having drinking water that is healthy for you and for your family as well.
How Can We Learn from Success Stories from Communities with Great Clean Water Management Programs?
The last thing you would think would harm you is your water. If you experience cramps and diarrhea, you may think you have the flu or a bug. You would naturally suspect the contacts you may have had with people who have the same symptoms. You would review what you ate during the day. You would try to connect the symptoms to the cause of your discomfort. You would never expect that it might be contamination in your drinking water that is causing your problems.
Contaminants in your drinking water can cause diarrhea, cancer, and other health issues. It all depends on how effective your water supply company is in treating the pollutants in the water. In America, chlorine is added to remove bacteria and viruses from the drinking water.
While there has not been a huge problem in the United States, Canada has had its own troubles with clean water management. May 26, 2010 marked the ten-year anniversary of tragedy for Walkerton, Ontario in Canada. They had a reputation for bad water. The city’s drinking water was contaminated with E. coli and campylobacter bacteria. Seven people were killed and over 2,300 people suffered through the symptoms because of poor clean water management problems in that community.
E. coli and campylobacter are two different bacteria with similar symptoms. They both produce cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting that can become severe. Both can be deadly in children and in the elderly. You can also catch an E. coli infection by eating undercooked meat, drinking unpasteurized milk, and working with cattle. Its symptoms start about seven days after coming in contact with the germ.
Dr. Murray McQuigge, a local medical doctor in Walkerton, stated that the deaths could have been prevented. He said the Walkerton Public Utilities knew about the two bacteria in the public water supply and did not inform the public. The water supply standards had become lax with the previous governance. The chlorine levels in the water treatment supply should have been monitored more closely. Chlorine is a chemical that has been used for centuries in water treatment. It’s an effective tool because it disinfects water.
A decade later, the city in Ontario is no longer thinking about bad water. It is now known to have excellent water. Veolia Water Canada is now providing for the city’s water needs. Mayor Charlie Bagnato of Brockton, the new name for Walkerton, said, “Ten years later, we know that the quality and supply of our water is safe, that costs have been dramatically reduced, and that we can focus on the future, which includes water system excellence and education.” That is a dramatic turnaround and a success story for clean water management.
Much can be learned for this successful turnaround in clean water management. The residents learned the importance of proper professional water management. Ontario also learned from the tragedy ten years ago. The Province of Ontario has since established a commission that developed steps to protect and produce healthier water for Ontario citizens.
Ontario used what they learned from the Clean Water Act of 2006. The steps include prevention of contamination and improvements in water treatment, distribution, testing, and training. Every community is required to develop a clean water management plan for protection for their drinking water and follow through with those steps.
For example, Veolia Water Canada uses chlorine and ultraviolet light to purify water they treat. Communities also have to test the water plants and water treatment systems to make sure they are still working effectively. They are required to train their personnel in the plant and treatment systems to make sure they are competent in protecting the public water supply.
This story shows how safe water treatments systems can be if they are under the authority of a quality clean water management program. A great clean water management program to implement within your home is to purchase a water filter device. Aquasana designs water filters that remove all types of contaminants such as particles, pesticides, chlorine, heavy metals, and bacteria. Aquasana has been rated a “Best Buy” by Consumers Digest magazine six years in a row and Health magazine’s “America’s Healthiest Buys for 2010.” They are a reliable water filter system provider that you can trust in to help protect your family from any dangers that may be in the public water supply in your community.
Should you Provide Filtered Water to Your Household Pets?
Which kinds of water are bad for pets, such as fish, frogs, and other amphibians, and which kinds are good? Is it appropriate to provide filtered water that comes from your Aquasana home water filtration system for these types of animals?
Regular, unfiltered tap water can be deadly to fish, frogs, and other amphibians. This is because unfiltered water contains two major contaminants, chlorine and copper. These kinds of water pollution can kill these types of pets. Bottled water, unfortunately, is not much better and can be too expensive to keep up on hand to provide a healthy living environment for pets that live in the water.
Chlorine is used in tap and bottled water as a disinfectant. According to the Fish Lore website, to avoid killing your fish, frog, or other amphibian pet, chlorine must be removed from their aquarium and drinking water. Fish Lore also warns against copper in water. They state on their website that, “copper can be very harmful to fish and invertebrates.” These are just the contaminants that can easily be tested for in your aquarium water.
Unfortunately, as stated on the Think Fish website, “not all pollutants can be easily tested for and there are many chemicals and substances that are poisonous to fish at certain levels.” This means that there could be chemicals in your tap or bottled water that are at a small level safe for humans but they could kill your fish, frog, or other amphibian pet.
For this reason, it is best to use water that has been filtered in your aquariums. Water that is filtered through any one of Aquasana’s filtration systems is going to remove the chemical contaminants that may be harmful to your aquatic pets. The water that is produced through the filtration systems made by Aquasana is not only what is best for the health and well being if your pets, it is essential for a healthy lifestyle for humans as well.
Just as you need to protect your loved ones from the dangerous contaminants and chemicals that are in your tap water, you need to protect your fish and amphibious pet as well. After all, they live all or most of their lives in this water, so it needs to be as free of danger as possible. By installing a reliable Aquasana water filtration system, you will have an unlimited supply of filtered water for your pets and for all of your household needs as well and that supply will not represent a serious financial setback. A good Aquasana water filter is an efficient solution for the health of your pets and for the humans that love them as well.
How do You Get the Most Cost Effective Value from a New Water Filter?
You get what you pay for. That is a common mantra when trying to shop for anything. People have a tendency to think that simply because something is more expensive that it must be far superior to a cheaper option. There here is some truth to the saying that usually the cheapest purchase isn’t the best purchase. It is also not accurate to say, however, that something is better simply because it costs more. As it turns out, this is also true with new water filters.
Value is when you get a high-quality product for a low price. Aquasana water filters provide a value that other high-quality water filters simply cannot match. A new water filter from Aquasana is a perfect example of a product that is at the top of the line for quality and effectiveness while still being the best value in a new water filter that you can find.
Aquasana provides high quality new water filters that can take water which is absolutely putrid and turn it into a drink which tastes dazzling. However, this does not mean that others cannot match this ability. There are other filters which can match this cleaning ability. For example, the Culligan SY-2300 can match Aquasana’s ability to provide a high-quality water filter. These two filters are just as effective as each other, so what makes Aquasana better?
The simple answer is price. Aquasana water filters cost one fifth of the price of an equivalent Culligan new water filter. This is where the value of an Aquasana water filter comes makes a new water filter from Aquasana stand out. For mere peanuts compared to the competition, high-quality Aquasana water filters can provide clean water for a minimal price. No other new water filter is as cost effective as Aquasana. When the quality of water that you will get from a water filter is the same and the value leader in water filters delivers a product that is durable and effecient, there is no good reason so spend more for a more expensive water filter when a cost effective new water filter from Aquasana will do the job just as well.
It is possible for you to easily verify these claims. Every water filter manufacturer is required to provide you with a performance data sheet, which lists how well the filter can clean water. When choosing between high-quality water filters, there is no reason to spend more than you need. By purchasing a high-quality Aquasana water filter you will get clean water for a low price.
Are Chemical and Industrial Companies Deliberately Ignoring Clean Water Laws?
There may be many clean water laws in place but they are often ignored. Many companies that work with chemicals and industry just don’t feel that they have to live under clean water laws. Since the government isn’t enforcing them, they feel they don’t have to take on the responsibility. It isn’t an ethical decision but it is one that allows them to continue making lots of money.
It isn’t just drinking water that can be a problem when clean water laws are ignored. Clean water laws help to prevent issues such as arsenic coming in through the shower. When you take a bath or shower, those contaminants can enter your open pores. However, there are high levels of arsenic and many other types of harmful elements found in the water going to homes all over this country.
Many children experience a high level of dental problems at an early age. It has been blamed on parents letting them eat candy and drink soda. However, many experts are now taking a close look at the quality of the water that these children are drinking. Clean water laws have to be enforced if such problems are going to be rectified.
Some citizens are taking steps to hold various chemical and industrial companies liable. However, lawsuits to try to make corporations obey clean water laws can be expensive and time consuming. These companies have expensive lawyers that know how to find loopholes that can be used to dodge clean water laws. They can also afford to drag the lawsuit out for years.
There are people suffering from serious health problems due to clean water laws not being enforced. They don’t have the time to wait for a lawsuit to fix the problem. They need help with their medical care right now. They don’t want to be unable to work or to care for their children due to their tap water being laced with different forms of toxic contamination.
There are more than 500,000 documented incidents of chemical and industrial companies deliberately ignoring clean water laws. They have continued to dump toxins, release emissions, or allow chemicals to get into the water. Until the government stops them in their tracks with harsh fines, by closing them down, or even giving jail terms to those approving such activities, it is going to continue to happen.
Those clean water laws out there are meant to protect us all. However, there are so many loopholes that allow industrial and chemical companies to ignore them that many clean water laws are simply useless. It is up to the citizens who need to take up the battle on all levels. Be a driving force to put pressure on the government to enforce the clean water laws that have been passed and to close those loopholes
In the meantime, do all you can to make sure your own family has the quality of drinking water they need. With one of the water filters that Aquasana offers, you will be able to secure your ability to consume healthy water. This will help your family to avoid various problems that can develop from toxic contaminants in your drinking water.
Questions and Answers About Aquasana Water Filters
Is the AQ-4500 suitable for well water? I have a whole house filter for sediment already installed for all the water in the house, but want to have a drinking water-specific system at the kitchen sink.
Aquasana systems are designed for municipally treated water supplies or potable water supplies, meaning it needs to be free and clear of bacteria. As long as there is are no harmful levels of bacteria in your well water the drinking system will be fine to use. If, however, bacteria is an issue, we would recommend using a UV water purification method at your point of entry and the AQ-4000 in conjunction with that.
Can a countertop system be retrofitted into a marble countertop?
I am interested in buying the Complete Countertop Filtration System Model # AQ-4000. However, I have a commercial 3-compartment sink in my kitchen. I am wondering how long the hose is. I am concerned it will not reach and I will have no place to set the filter. An under-the-sink filter will not work, that is why I am looking at the countertop (to set on the drainboard).
The AQ-4000 deluxe countertop system comes with a diverter hose assembly that is 26″ long. However, we also have a longer hose that is only $10 more.
What level of PSI are the whole house filter system and fittings rated for? The local water company has our water pressure very high. Also, does the filter decrease the level of water pressure and, if so, by how much?
The EQ-300 Rhino is rated for a minimum pressure of 20 psi, not to exceed 100 psi. One system is sufficient for a home up to 3,500 square feet and can handle up to 3 1/2 bathrooms with no loss in water pressure. If your home is larger than that, you would require a second unit that would be installed in parallel. This doubles the capacity of the system putting you at a flow rate of 14 gallons per minute. Below is some additional information on the system as well.
The whole house units (point of entry) are not set to the same standards as the drinking filters (point of use). The reason is because the point of entry systems filter at the point of entry; that water runs back through your plumbing so some portion of whatever your plumbing contains, i.e., lead, will be reintroduced into the water supply. Therefore, we are tested and certified by Under Writers Laboratory for the removal of the most prevalent contaminate, which is chlorine. However,
because of the activated carbon that is used, we know that things such as herbicides, pesticides, and industrial solvents (VOCs, SOCs, and THMs) are reduced at least 90%. Our testing info from UL can be found here: http://www.aquasana.com/assets/Rhino_Whole_House_Water_Filter_Certified_Performance_Data.pdf
The system itself is tested and certified for 300,000 gallons, which for an average family (4-5 people) will last 3-5 years. Of course, the less people in your home, the longer the system will last. Once you use the capacity of the system, you will replace the main filtering system, which you can easily do yourself.
Where can I buy one of your systems in Alberta, Canada? Will it be as good of quality as reverse osmosis water? How much for replacement filters, how long do they last, etc.
http://www.aquasana.com/assets/Performance+sheet.pdf and our California Health Department Certificate here: http://www.aquasana.com/CA_Cert.pdf.
Can your water filters be used in conjunction with a salt-based water softener?
A water softener does not replace essential minerals. It pulls them out and replaces them with sodium. According to Hamilton and Whitney’s Nutrition, “soft water [water with the minerals removed] appears to contribute to a higher incidence of hypertension and heart disease in areas where it is used. Hard water [that retains its beneficial, naturally-occurring minerals] may oppose these conditions.” Our system does not use salt. It is a carbon-based system which actually removes the contaminants and leaves in the naturally occurring minerals so you can maintain your pH balance.
Our system will help with the hardness although it is not a water softener; it is a filtration system. It doesn’t necessarily reduce the calcium per se, but it inhibits the effects of the calcium. The media in the top canister is KDF55 – a mineral alloy which changes the structure of the calcium. Changing it from a calcite form to an argonite form prohibits scale build up caused by the calcium.
You can use a softener in conjunction with the unit. However, many times the unit itself negates the need for the softener. I would also recommend a .35 micron filter that would come after the whole home unit which will reduce the calcium whereas the .5 micron filter will not.
I just had a whole house water softener installed in our home. I am considering your shower filter, and would like to know if the salt from the water softener will interfere with the functionality of the shower filter. I would appreciate any technical information that ensures me that this filter will or will not work for our use. If it would work, would the filter need replacing more often due to the salt? Would you please send me a copy of performance testing of this shower filter?
There are no standards that are currently set for shower filters, therefore there is no testing data available at this time.
Are There Hidden Drawbacks to Drinking Ultra Pure Water?
It is very important to have drinking water that is clean, pure, and healthy. Many people understand that the water they get from the tap is not clean or pure, so they make ways to have their water purified. You must also know that what is clean, pure, and tasty is not necessarily healthy. Cleanliness is good for you. Too much cleanliness is not. Remember the saying too much of a good thing can be bad? Well in this case, it is.
You want pure water but not ultra pure water. Water purifying companies have been trying to do their best and beat all the other competitors in providing the filter than can remove the most contaminants. There are many options out in the market such as distillation, reverse osmosis, and bottled water. These are the three most common types of solutions people use to avoid drinking contaminated tap water. No matter what kind of filter you use, make sure you do not have ultra pure water.
Ultra pure water is very expensive. Reverse osmosis and distillation are some of the most popular filtration methods used to produce ultra pure water. With a reverse osmosis water filter, strong water pressure is needed for the unit to function properly. This requires lots of water and constant maintenance as well. Because this process is also slow, meaning that it takes a long time before water is cleansed, you would need a storage tank to store water during the slow process. If you include a carbon filter system to reverse osmosis as most water filtration experts recommend, that can cost a lot and would also require costly and frequent maintenance.
Ultra pure water strips important minerals from the water that your body needs. One of the good things we get from drinking water is the essential minerals that our body needs. Our body needs these minerals from the water. When the filtration process releases ultra pure water and you drink it, your body becomes acidic. It craves for the minerals that it doesn’t get from the water.
These minerals include magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Once your body is acidic, it takes the minerals from your bones to make up for the loss it has from the water. In essence, your body is stripped of minerals when you drink ultra pure water. When your body is acidic, your body weakens because it tries to neutralize the acidity. As if that is not bad enough, an acidic body lacks free radicals. In a body with low free radicals, cancer cells can multiply rapidly.
Now that you know how important it is not to drink ultra pure water, you need to make sure that your water does not cause you to lose essential minerals. Take a good look at your water filter system and make sure that you are not drinking ultra pure water. Aquasana is one of the country’s leading water filter providers. The water filter systems that Aquasana supports only remove contaminants from the water and leave the minerals that you need in the water.
