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I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

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Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#141

Post by mousethatroared »

cypherpunks01 wrote: post #13

A surprising amount of Americans refuse to drink tap water entirely, in their own suburban homes with quality municipal water, or anywhere else they travel, holding the opinion that plastic bottled water is safer and better. Of course bottled water is regulated far less than tap water, and contains an ungodly amount of microplastics from manufacturing and storage. Under-sink RO systems seem pretty great to me, anywhe…

A surprising amount of Americans live in cities that cheaped out on the water infrastructure and found out their water had lead.

Like me.

Luckily, I am very unreasonably distrusting of government and never drank the stuff.

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#142

Post by mousethatroared »

jandrewrogers wrote: post #123
mousethatroared wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If water is giving you any nutrient in a significant manner, change your diet.

Some essential micronutrients such as arsenic are primarily sourced from water. You don’t need much so most natural sources contain enough. There is actually a valid concern that obsessive over-purification of drinking water can lead to deficiencies of some trace minerals.

Eat a serving of rice, preferably American, without rinsing it.

Enjoy your 10000% recommended daily intake of Arsenic.

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#143

Post by mousethatroared »

lxgr wrote: post #96
mousethatroared wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its extremely unlikely that German water isn't chlorinated. Perhaps you are thinking about fluorinated? Chlorine in water is actually fine and tasteless at the concentrations it reaches at the taps - it's basically extremely diluted stomach acid. The problem is chloramines caused by chlorinated organics. These give water the swimming pool smell and are bad for you. The solution is easy - reduce the organics in the wa…

Chlorination of drinking water is indeed uncommon in Germany. If it’s done, the level is often imperceptible, contrary to the US (I actually had to look this up – I’ve never tasted it in German drinking water in various cities myself).

How do they sterilize it?

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#144

Post by jandrewrogers »

rsync wrote: post #129
jandrewrogers wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some essential micronutrients such as arsenic are primarily sourced from water. You don’t need much so most natural sources contain enough. There is actually a valid concern that obsessive over-purification of drinking water can lead to deficiencies of some trace minerals.

Wow this has gone off the rails quickly. To wit: Arsenic is not an essential micronutrient. "Trace quantities of arsenic have been proposed to be an essential dietary element in rats, hamsters, goats, and chickens. Research has not been conducted to determine whether small amounts of arsenic may play a role in human metabolism." [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic

There is substantial evidence that arsenic is a required micronutrient in all mammalian biology. This is not even controversial, you can reliably induce deficiency syndromes in a broad spectrum of animal models, and the operative pathways exist in humans. The effect was first observed in animal husbandry in parts of the world with very low background arsenic levels.

It has the same toxicity and micronutrient profile as selenium, another extremely toxic but nonetheless essential micronutrient. Unfortunately, activists with an unrelated agenda have been spreading unscientific misinformation about arsenic to advance that agenda.

Same story as fluoride outrage actually. Being anti-science is fashionable and most people are ignorant about chemistry.

It is one thing that makes me glad I am no longer a practicing chemist.

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#145

Post by vel0city »

Xss3 wrote: post #132
Xss3 wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A properly working RO system will prevent viruses and bacteria from passing. For the extra paranoid you can get systems with a UV sterilisation step.

Just to add, most municipalities chlorinate the water slightly, so its highly unlikely youll find anything alive in it. My water is fairly heavily chlorinated where i live compared to my previous county. Letting the glass of water sit in open for a few minutes after pouring helps with taste because the chlorine evaporates.

If you have a lot of chlorine taste just having a pitcher in the fridge will nearly eliminate the chlorine taste.

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#146

Post by malfist »

mousethatroared wrote: post #134
bilsbie wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a chance it can get contaminated with bacteria? I worry about the water sitting in there.

I've thought about this, but I don't think so. My last two paragraphs addresses what I think are RO's risks. First there has to be bacteria in the municipal water. The city does a pretty good job there, Second there has to be organic matter for the bacteria to grow. Again, cities are good with that. But even if you have bacteria in your water, a good RO system's pores should be smaller than a virus (really smaller th…

From someone that keeps aquariums, municipal water that is stripped of it's chlorine by carbon has the ingredients to grow bacteria. They need three things, carbon, phosphate and nitrogen, all of which will be present to varying degrees. Particularly nitrates and phosphates. They're not harmful until concentrations are really high but certainly enough to grow bacteria.

Also consider what your holding tank and supply to the water, either through leaching, accumulation or simply time

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#147

Post by jandrewrogers »

mousethatroared wrote: post #142
jandrewrogers wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some essential micronutrients such as arsenic are primarily sourced from water. You don’t need much so most natural sources contain enough. There is actually a valid concern that obsessive over-purification of drinking water can lead to deficiencies of some trace minerals.

Eat a serving of rice, preferably American, without rinsing it. Enjoy your 10000% recommended daily intake of Arsenic.

Background levels are much higher than current standards with no observable effects in many parts of the world. This is well-studied. There is a threshold but it is higher than people assume.

Plant-based arsenic often has poor bioavailability. Quite a few plants people eat are natural accumulators but it just passes through. Pesticides and geology are the primary bioavailable sources.

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#148

Post by tomatotomato37 »

Barrin92 wrote: post #42
porphyra wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if safe, municipal water where I live (San Jose, California) contains a ton of chlorine and is super hard, making it unpleasant to drink. In contrast, bottled water consistently tastes fine.

sorry if this is a stupid question because we don't have chlorinated water in Germany, but do people brew green tea or good coffee with tap water? Doesn't it taste god awful? One of the things which I remember from my holidays in Spain as a kid, which is one of the few countries which adds it here, is that the water tasted like pool water.

Yes, water quality matters a lot in coffee enthusiast land. They actually make little mineral packets that you add to a gallon of distilled water to get a "perfect" brewing water - I know since I actually use them for my espresso machine to fight scale buildup from my +10 grain tap water.

Note this excessiveness is really needed for espresso though; a regular Brita jug handles more tolerant methods of brewing perfectly well (and to be honest most people murder coffee enough that the water is the least of their concerns)

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#149

Post by laex »

tomatotomato37 wrote: post #148
Barrin92 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

sorry if this is a stupid question because we don't have chlorinated water in Germany, but do people brew green tea or good coffee with tap water? Doesn't it taste god awful? One of the things which I remember from my holidays in Spain as a kid, which is one of the few countries which adds it here, is that the water tasted like pool water.

Yes, water quality matters a lot in coffee enthusiast land. They actually make little mineral packets that you add to a gallon of distilled water to get a "perfect" brewing water - I know since I actually use them for my espresso machine to fight scale buildup from my +10 grain tap water. Note this excessiveness is really needed for espresso though; a regular Brita jug handles more tolerant methods of brewing perfect…

Do you have a brand name or amazon link for the mineral packets ?

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#150

Post by tomatotomato37 »

laex wrote: post #149
tomatotomato37 wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, water quality matters a lot in coffee enthusiast land. They actually make little mineral packets that you add to a gallon of distilled water to get a "perfect" brewing water - I know since I actually use them for my espresso machine to fight scale buildup from my +10 grain tap water. Note this excessiveness is really needed for espresso though; a regular Brita jug handles more tolerant methods of brewing perfect…

Do you have a brand name or amazon link for the mineral packets ?

I use "Third Wave Water" but there are other brands out there
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