Is a new drinking water bottle material a great idea?
Late the week of 10-11-20, a San Diego, CA company announced it has obtained FDA approval (underwhelming — remember Thalidomide?) for a biodegradable beverage bottle. In particular, a water bottle to replace the plastic version. Their press release obviously included all of the horror stories about the waste issues of ocean islands of plastic trash and the all-encompassing presence of potentially lethal plastic microparticles in our water, air, and food. In the release they stated a probable consumer product objection being the fact that their bottle is opaque so the water isn’t visible. Further, they tout the use of a new polymer (Greek for many things) material they developed as the biodegradable substitute for clear plastics. Some thoughts.
First, just what is meant by degradable? After a period of time will such a bottle be reduced to natures building blocks of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen or into some particles that replace plastic particles but inadvertently maybe just as environmentally dangerous. If the material is designed to decay, will the process begin after a period of total stability, or does it begin immediately thus imparting some of its constituents to the water?
Secondly, public awareness of the health and environmental issues caused by water bottle waste has been here for over a decade and doesn’t seem to be moving the needle on consumption numbers. Apparently lobbying at a variety of levels has prevented serious legislative action against the bottles from taking place. Could taxing the bejabbers out of the empty bottle sales with proceeds going to a national reelection fund negate the lobbying effort?
Finally, last month’s Consumers Report took quite a swipe at the dangerous chemicals existing in some bottled waters. With the technology available since the late 1960s and process efficacy demonstrated in tens of thousands of installations, home reverse osmosis systems simply obsolete the bottled water concept and eliminate the surprising chemicals detailed by Consumers Report. Most are easily installed under a kitchen sink and there are also countertop and portable units adaptable to all lifestyles. Along with purchasing, there rental and rent-to-purchase plans that appeal to all income levels. Safer, less costly, and environmentally friendly water is available.
The RO Water Purifier
Everyone wants pure water and will go to great lengths to get it. After all, water purifiers come in a variety of shapes, sizes and applications. What most people don’t realize is the power of reverse osmosis water purification. A quality reverse osmosis system has the ability to filter out toxins down to the smallest micron.
In many cases, reverse osmosis is reduced to; “RO Water Purifier.” Often, interested parties submit written and verbal requests from for their homes and businesses. These individuals know the value and quality of a reverse osmosis water filter system. This is the perfect place to start investigating just what these systems can do. RO systems can:
- Filter water down to a particulate size of 0.002 microns or smaller. This is 1/38,000th of a human hair.
- RO systems can prevent passage and filter out bacteria, viruses and cysts.
- Remove up to 99.9% of dissolved minerals, metals, radioactive materials and pharmaceuticals.
This creates water that is clean and on its way to becoming completely pure.
Many designated RO filtration systems incorporate further filtration methods to continue the purification process. These extra filtration steps protect the RO membrane and remove gas phase items like chlorine and chloramines—chemicals found in tap water that can have detrimental effects on the body. These filters also remove volatile organics such as insecticides and pesticides. As an added layer of filtration, ultraviolet light is added to complete the process.
The word pure on its own has a broad definition. When it comes to water, it can refer to water that leaves no residue behind as it dries to water that is fit for medical or lab usage. An RO water purifier can provide for the full spectrum of pure water needs. As clients state their needs, each RO system can evolve with added filtration steps to provide the ideal water.
Whether for the office, the home of the medical lab, starting with a reverse osmosis water purifier will help meet the water needs across a wide variety of specific applications
The Dirty on Clean Water
Having a water filtration system for domestic or commercial use provides a way to have the cleanest water for a variety of applications. However, water filtration is an all-inclusive term that may include dozens of processes and hundreds of process combinations. The best method for purified water isn’t always a straight answer, and when considering water needs, it’s important to consider what the actual needs are. To help you decide we encourage you to first consider:
1. How much water will be treated? For less than 200 gallons daily and/or for flow rates less than 5 GPM, a cartridge system may be the best choice compared to backwashing filters.
2. Utilities available? If considering a filtration system, proximity is key. Will there be an electrical power source and adequate drainage close to the installation point? This can be a deciding factor when choosing. Also, be aware of sewer discharge regulations and costs before buying a new system.
3. Chemical handling? Can the facility handle the weight of regenerating chemicals? Chemical weight and if the treatment location does not favor chemical use your options may be limited. Toxicity and corrosivity should also be considered.
4. Physical size and clearances? Will there be enough room to properly operate and maintain the system? Cartridge replacement requires easy access and clearance for removal. UV lamp replacement also needs adequate clearance for annual lamp replacement.
5. Maintenance cost? The more complex the system, the more money it will cost to maintain. Automatic valves, for instance, have parts that wear down and break. The more moving parts there are, the more that will have to be maintained.
After considering what the actual needs are, it’s time to do some research to find the best water purifier. Visiting the Process Selection Guide at www.vibranth2o.com is a good place to start. If you have questions about these products and services, feel free to call and talk to our engineers at 760-734-5755 or contact us. Vibrant Water builds all types and sizes of water filtration equipment and is committed to creating the best systems for our customers.
The Amazing Results of Reverse Osmosis
Clean water for drinking, commercial or industrial purposes can be achieved in a variety of ways. One way in particular is to utilize reverse osmosis to create purified water. Local reverse osmosis water treatment San Diego systems provide clean water that has a variety of applications, but the main job of the RO process, with its very important associated pretreatment, is to:
- Remove chlorine, chloramines, insecticides, and pesticides
- Remove 99% of everything dissolved in the water including minerals, metals, salts, and compounds. This includes, but not limited to, hardness, iron, manganese, sodium, arsenic, lead, fluoride, sulfate, alkalinity, and pharmaceuticals.
- Filter suspended solids to 0.002 microns for the removal of silt, bacteria, viruses, and cysts. This is augmented with ultraviolet light after storage to be certain that all microorganisms are dead or unable to reproduce.
The net result is water quality superior to distilled water done in an efficient and cost-effective way.
After the water is purified it is reconstituted within the whole house system. This reconstituted water is clean and pure making it “better” for the human body. With the whole house system, the purest water is available on-tap for drinking, washing and food preparation. Some of the added benefits of the whole house reverse osmosis system include:
- Adding bicarbonate alkalinity to the water, increasing the pH to produce an alkaline water
- Adding magnesium to the water with trace calcium. Essential electrolytes that support health at a cellular level. Magnesium is also helpful for the GI and endocrine systems
- Adding a small amount of molecular hydrogen to the water which acts as an antioxidant as the ORP becomes negative.
- The elevated pH and calcium decrease the corrosiveness of the water to protect household plumbing and fixtures.
The water produced by the whole house system isn’t just cleaner, it is also superior to more mainstream water filtration systems. The pure water has the right amount of beneficial minerals added to help increase the health of all who use it.
Reverse osmosis may not be as common as more mainstream filtration systems. The plain fact is, RO systems provide exceptional water quality, far superior to more popular models. The Dime Water whole house reverse osmosis system doesn’t simply create pure water, it creates superior water.
The Office Water Cooler
Seldom is a business able to provide something to all employees that is appreciated and healthy while simultaneously saving the business money and helping the environment. Office water coolers rented or purchased from VibrantH2O offer a business this opportunity, our cooler does the water filtration for you and never have to buy a refill bottle.
Having a dedicated water cooler tells employees that the boss cares about their health.
Providing fresh, purified drinking water for employees means upper management wants their employees to have access to refreshing, healthy hydration. Office water coolers also cut down on unwanted wandering around the building looking for a water source or heading out to find a drinking fountain. Water coolers add health and efficiency.
Never need a water bottle refill service again.
Unlike other local commercial reverse osmosis water systems, the office water coolers VibrantH2O provides have built-in state of the art Reverse Osmosis filtration systems that produce refreshing, healthful drinking water. The water is chilled to the perfect beverage temperature PLUS a hot water dispenser for making that perfect cup of tea with the same fantastic water.
Another perk of having an office water cooler is the location.
Employees and employers will find the social aspect of a water cooler an appealing break to the sometimes-monotonous work day. While idle chatter shouldn’t be the only reason to have a water cooler, having a space to meet and take a short break will lead to happier employees. If they know they have an unofficial meeting place where they can take a few minutes off, get hydrated and chat with fellow employees or even management, the work staff will be much happier and much more productive.
Whether purchasing or renting an office water cooler, it is less costly than the delivery of huge bottles. With the large bottle system, the finished bottles sit empty, collecting dirt and littering the office. Not the best look for a busy office.
The VibrantH2O office water cooler is also better than bringing in cases of small bottles that are served warm. The quality of the water is often marginal at best and the taste is lacking.
Equally important, the office water coolers eliminate the environmental mess of discarded plastic bottles and the fuel consumed by the huge trucks delivering the large bottles.
No mess, no waste and happy employees all at a cost saving!
Yet Another Bottled Water Concern
Regarding bottled water, the BPA issue has been put to bed — or at least that’s what has been written– and now a new problem has presented itself. According to researchers at the University of New York at Fredonia plastic microfibers are appearing in bottled water. Not so good.
250 samples from a list of who’s who in bottled water were tested. Samples from 9 countries and representing 11 brands were included and 90% had an average of 10.4 of these fibers per liter of water. This is twice what was found in tap water based on an earlier test. Bottled water is more expensive than tap water and now you know you’re possibly getting something more for the money — wanted or not.
The unknowns at this time are the composition of the plastic, its source, and the adverse health effects. Drink up— someday the study will wind its way through layers of bureaucracy and we’ll know if plastic microfibers are a viable dietary supplement. Or you can take charge, eliminate this whoops and other unknowns in bottled water, save money and help the environment by installing a VibrantH2o Water Reverse Osmosis unit in your home. It will:
– Filter your drinking water to 0.001 microns 1/75000 of a human hair. Plastic microfibers be damned.
– Remove 90%+ of dissolved solids from your water along with chlorine and chloramines
– Reduce bacteria, viruses and cysts to virtually zero
– Protect you from pharmaceuticals, insecticides, pesticides, radioactive materials
Enjoy great water and stay healthy!
Drinking Water Purification
Exactly what impurities are present in drinking water?
In General there is not really such thing as naturally pure drinking water. In nature, almost all drinking water possesses various toxins. Since water passes in rivers, rests in lakes, and filters by way of layers of earth as well as layers of rock in the ground, it disintegrates and absorbs the chemicals which it contacts. Most of these chemicals are usually harmless. In fact, some people choose mineral water specifically due to the vitamins and minerals and for the pleasing taste.