Care about your drinking water

Sarah Goldsmith | Sustainability, | Articles

Everyone drinks water just to stay alive, however the better your water the greater the numerous benefits for you and your health. If you are looking to improve your health, diet, metal health or fitness it is important that you include water and water quality, as a foundational element in any nutritional, weight loss, fitness or self-care plan.

Whether in the workplace, healthcare, educational facilities or at home, filtered, clean, drinking water will hydrate the body leading to being more productive, quicker healing, better learning capacity, improved sleep and a healthier, happier home life.

With water being such an intrinsic part of our lives, it’s time to start taking more of an interest in exactly what you’re drinking, where it comes from and what’s in it.

We often care about where our food has come from, favouring locally sourced, natural produce which is better for us and tastes better and water should be no different.

At Borg & Overström we are dedicated to providing filtered, safe and locally sourced drinking water without the requirement for plastic bottles and the risk of microplastics, delivered via premium water dispensers and integrated tap systems. With the choice of drinking water dispensers, it’s an opportunity to elevate the experience of drinking water, through all the latest technologies which are available.

Glass of chilled water with added mint positioned next to a wooden slate with fresh red grapes on top.

In this article we’ll go through the important aspects which need to be considered next time you’re quenching your thirst with water or just trying to get your daily 2 litres in as part of your healthy routine.

What’s the water source?

Understanding the source of the water is crucial. Water can be sourced from groundwater (wells and aquifers), surface water (rivers, lakes, and reservoirs), or municipal water.

Municipal tap water is treated for chemicals such as pesticides and other synthetic chemicals (such as PFAS), phosphorous, nitrates, medicines and organic chemicals. This is achieved through multiple stages of treatment including filtration, activated carbon treatment, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and membrane filtration.

Before it’s bottled, spring water comes from an underground source without passing through a community water system. It’s protected within certain perimeters to avoid pollution and contamination and it can’t be chemically treated. It’s considered fit for human consumption at the source (and kept in that state until it’s bottled).

Purified water refers to water that has undergone a process of purification to remove contaminants, impurities, and undesirable substances. The purification process eliminates substances such as chemicals, pollutants, microbes, and minerals, resulting in water that is clean, clear, and safe for consumption. An example of this is Smart Water® by Coca-Cola.

What’s the quality of the water like?

Water quality encompasses factors such as taste, odour, colour, and clarity. While these attributes may not directly impact health, they contribute to the satisfaction of drinking water.

Does it taste fresh and clean or does it taste of chemicals and chlorine?

Water shouldn’t have a smell so if a chemical smell is detected it’s not as pure as it should be. The pH of the water should be between 6.5 and 9.5, with an ideal target range of 7.0 to 8.5. TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) in water should be between 50 and 150 ppm. Full drinking water standard regulations can be found here.

Is the water safe to drink?

Are you drinking pure, fresh and clean water?

The primary concern is the safety of the water. It should be free from harmful contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemical pollutants, heavy metals, and toxins. Drinking contaminated water can lead to various waterborne diseases and health problems.

Tap water can still hold bacteria and contaminants and recently the European court has ruled that Irish water doesn’t meet EU standards. The court said that chemical compounds trihalomethanes, known as THMs, found in drinking water, were at an unsafe level. Harmful microplastics are found in 72% of tap water in the UK also. Further afield in the USA, Flint in Michigan, lead particles were found in their local water. This crisis led to significant public health concerns and highlighted the need for extra safety precautions with regards to drinking water.

Another risk is dead legs which are found in unused pipework where water can harbour, becoming stagnant and producing pathogens, single water pathways are an important way to combat against this.

Studies have found that single use plastic drinking water bottles contain microplastics which can be harmful to humans* highlighting the importance of having an efficient filtration system ensuring the quality of the water and removing unwanted sediment and microplastics, leaving just great tasting, healthier water that is safe to drink.

How is the water stored?

It’s important to regularly rotate stored bottled water to ensure freshness and prevent stagnation. It should be used and replaced every six months to one year. Containers should be labelled with the date they were filled and establish a rotation schedule to keep track of water storage. Water should never be stored in direct sunlight as algae and mould can develop, instead they should be stored in a cool temperature (50°F and 70°F).

Borg & Overström drinking water dispensers feature DryChill® technology, providing water cooling rapid chill. This tankless system reduces the risk of contamination and the need for sanitising chemicals, as no water is stored in the act of providing chilled, clean water. Clean, drinking water from a Borg & Overström water dispenser is freshly poured with filtered water every time.

Summary of the advantages of a water dispenser

You don’t have the increased risk of plastic from single use plastic bottles
Kinder to the environment
Micro plastics and particulates are filtered out
No need to store water
It takes local municipal tap water and improves it further

If you’d like to find out more about the Borg & Overström product range and just what it takes to get our water tasting so pure and clean, then please get in touch with our sales team who would be happy to speak to you.