Do it Yourself: Re: [DIY] cooties-- was water filtration

Water and milk were the two items I religiously avoided when in Europe and Asia. I did however eat their fruits and vegetables in small amounts and whether I built up and immunity over time I do not know. I'm beginning to think that perhaps part of my immunities may have been passed on from my mother and grandmother who were both born and raised in localities and times when public sanitation was yet unheard of. It is a little late to go back and recover our thousand year history of immunity but about 80 years ago it became fashionable for Western European mothers not to nurse their newborns and this broke the chain of natural immunity that would have been passed down from mother to child through the introduction of the colostrum that is only present in the mothers first milk and which can also only to passed on to the newborn through the lining of the stomach during the first 24 hours after birth. This a well known fact that is carefully adhered to by serious animal breeders but which has been totally ignored by the human population. Fashion often carries its price whether it is bound feet, high heeled shoes or nursing mothers.

Dale in the Flatlands.

Aki wrote:

So true Steve. Having spent many years in the Navy (and being a military brat before that), I can tell you that our water is *significantly* safer than most

other countries. We learned at a very early age to never drink the local water overseas. Sometimes after being there a few weeks/months we built up

an immunity that allowed us to drink the water. However, in some countries, you never, ever drink the water...ever.

Many travelers already know this but what they forget is that the ice cubes in drinks (obviously) is just frozen local water. They think that by ordering

bottled water or soda in a glass filled with ice is safe. Until the next day when they get a screaming case of Montezuma's Revenge. :-)

Have to be careful with bottled water made locally when you're overseas too. Many of them is just overpriced tap water with all the same nasties that

you'll get drinking right out of the faucet.

-aki

From: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Steve Wilson
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2013 9:37 AM
To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [DIY] cooties-- was water filtration

Also not touching any of your mucous membranes while in public until you safely get home and wash your hands. That's where I seem to always get a virus. Its hard not to do. I practice that at work and the grocery store and it seems to work. If you have kids or a spouse you're doomed to be sick if they get sick. No one can be that careful, there is no safe zone then.
There are ways to protect from water born bacteria. A water UV sterilizer is one way but I don't think you'd be happy with the flow rate, maybe the expense too. But using one before a RO system would work. That's not a bad idea if you're on a well. I just know there's a warning on the RO filters that they don't filter bacteria and virus.
Bathing and brushing teeth doesn't offer much exposure to bacteria but consuming a glassful does.
We in the US are spoiled by our good water. Take a trip to Mexico and you'll see what bad water is. You have to avoid anything that's been washed in the water too, ice, etc. I like being spoiled, its a much better way to live. I'd hate to have to be immune to elements like that.
Steve

On 1/13/2013 6:05 AM, Cindi Wass wrote:

P.S. I am also of the mind that exposure to some types of common bacteria will enhance the immune system, so I am not particularly afraid, although I notice that if a person coughs in my face, I tend to get sick. That happens about once every five years or so. Which reminds me, I'm due for something. :-) Cindi

PPS - And handwashing also helps avoid illnesses.

From: Aki <01dyna@gmail.com>
To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 4:37 PM
Subject: RE: [DIY] Whole house water filters

Dale,

With all due respect, I have to disagree. The lifespans and overall health of the average citizen is significantly better than even 100 years ago.

Yes, we have health problems. Obesity is one (and all of the associated issues related to that), however people are living longer, food is safer

and health care is much better than it ever was.

It wasn't that long ago, when the average lifespan was under 70 years. In fact in the 1800's you were considered REALLY old if you lived

to 50. And that was long before environmentally sealed cocoons we call our homes or FDA inspected and approved foods or advanced

medicine. Their exposure to pathogens did nothing except make them sick and die.

I believe, that the safety of well water for example, is directly relevant to your environmental surroundings. In rural areas, the water table

is probably more pure. In suburban settings where there can be considerable chemical runoff and pollution, you're running a serious risk of

any myriad of water borne illnesses if you drink it untreated. Heck in the metro DC area, you'd have to be absolutely nuts to fish, let alone

drink any water from the Potomac. :-)

-aki

From: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dale S
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 4:23 PM
To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [DIY] Whole house water filters

Most doctors will tell you that unless you are exposed to a pathogen you will never develop an immunity to it. I personally have never worried about the water in our wells nor the dust in our air. I did not however drink the water when I traveled Europa and Asia in the 50's and 60's, but with the prices of adult beverages why would I wish to. I have probably had less than a dozen colds and no more than 3 bouts with the flu in the last 60 years. The honest truth is that we as a society are too sterile, and our people have never fully developed their immune systems. There is a bigger problem with the air tight buildings and homes we work and live in where these pathogens can incubate until their concentrations overwhelms our immune systems. Overtly tight homes are also the reason for the high concentrations of radon gas. Hey folks, a few germs and a little fresh air now and then will not kill you. I know folks who never open their windows and they are some of the most sickly among us.

Dale in the Flatlands.

Aki wrote:

I honestly don't think that city provided water (or any government provided water service) is dangerous to drink or bathe in. The

chemicals and filters that are used is quite extensive. However, most people I know (including myself who uses

an under cabinet filtration system in the kitchen), use filters to remove the chemical test and/or smell. For fresh

ground/brewed coffee, filtered water really REALLY makes a difference in taste.

I would be more concerned with well water because you don't know what you're pumping up or what may have seeped

into the water table.

-aki

From: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of cleanboost2
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 3:33 PM
To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [DIY] Whole house water filters

My cousin is a researcher at Harvard and was involved in some research for water quality. He also says the RO is the best water filter. I will consider having that installed for my drinking water in the kitchen. Although it's a small city we live in, the drinking water is presumably not the greatest. My fear is also with bath water, and even taking sips of the water in the bathroom when I brush my teeth. I have a Brita water filter that I use to make my coffee, but aside from that, I'm wondering just how good is that type of filter anyway to remove harmful substances. Lots of questions here. thanks, cindi

P.S. Someone told me that you have to watch yourself even with the bath water. I don't know how truthful this is. that is part of my concern.

--- In mailto:DoIt_Yourself%40yahoogroups.com, Steve Wilson wrote:
>
> All a whole house filter usually is, is a sediment filter. It wouldn't
> do much for drinking water quality except for removing particles in the
> water. It would help faucets with screen filters and such from clogging
> so fast from sediment. But they don't do much for lime buildup, if you
> have a dissolved solid content in your water. Adding a carbon filter
> would clarify and remove a lot of odor from the tap water but would
> likely restrict flow too.
> For drinking water a Reverse Osmosis system is what really works. But
> they have limitations too if your water supply has bacterial matter in
> it. I've had RO for years now. It strips just about everything out of
> the water, leaving it at or below 10ppm dissolved solids. (ppm is parts
> per million) That water is always good. I haven't changed my filters for
> at least 5 years and the water is still good.
> Every region has its own properties in the water. Here, in Southern
> California, the water is hard, alkaline and has, at times, dissolved
> solids content of over 400ppm. It leaves water deposits on everything.
> Almost nothing dissolves in tap water here. Other regions have soft
> water with an acidic property. All the situations above and below a PH
> of 7.0 are caused by dissolved solids of one type or another. Acidic
> water is usually caused by water near a peat bogg or rock formations
> that are acidic in nature. RO will solve both situations for drinking
> water. Only the water gets through them.
> Steve
>
> On 1/11/2013 8:15 AM, cleanboost2 wrote:
> >
> > I am thinking to install a whole house water filter, but I wonder if
> > any of you have had experience with a water filter like that. Does it
> > really make drinking water better? Because we live in an area with
> > city water, but as I understand it, the water quality is awful. So
> > wondering if a water filter will really help the content of
> > particularly the drinking water so as not to pass on junk and that I
> > don't have to continually carry bottles of water into the house. Thanks.
> >
> >
>