Do it Yourself: RE: [DIY] Whole house water filters

I think we're in agreement that the living conditions have certainly improved in the last 100 or so years.

I took a look at the life expectancy statistics for the Australian life expectancy trends only because they provided a very detailed

report on how life expectancy has changed since the 1800's. They also included how they compare to the rest of the world.

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features10Mar+2011

It's fascinating reading and I provide the following quote:

"A major reason for increased life expectancy in the first half of the 20th century was the falling death rate from infectious and parasitic diseases. Between 1922 and 1924, infectious and parasitic diseases caused 15% of all deaths in Australia. By 1966, they caused less than 1% of all deaths. This reduction is generally believed to be the result of medical advances, and an overall rise in living standards including improved nutrition levels, better sanitary, water and sewerage control, and better control of infection in hospitals."

..so *quality of life* has had the most significant impact on life expectancy.

My apologies for hijacking this subject so in the interest of getting back on topic, my earlier comment that municipal water, although maybe not as odorless or tasteless as filtered water

can provide, certainly isn't unsafe to drink or bathe in.

-aki

From: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dale S
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 5:09 PM
To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [DIY] Whole house water filters

There certainly are advantages to the style and conditions of today's living standards. My point however being that there are limitations and in many cases we are driving ourselves into a heightened state of infectious fear. Average life expectancy in the earlier years was diluted by high rates of infant mortality as well as early deaths from child bearing and working conditions. People back then also wore their bodies out much quicker just due to the way in which they used and abused them. I believe research will show that the longest life expectancies were found among those living in successful rural environments, barring accidental deaths. Much of the urban population prior to the 1900's lived little better than rats, crowded into flimsy wooden structures, living close to the highly polluted environments of their places of work in mills and factories, and often not even enjoying the rudimentary basics of personal sanitation. Almost all of my grandparents and great-grandparents lived well into their 80's except for those who met with early accidental deaths, but they were also agrarians and small city dwellers, a couple who worked in the mines died young.

Dale in the Flatlands.

Aki wrote:

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 DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.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.
> >
> >
>