Turn on any tap and watch the water flow out in front of you on demand. It’s something we take for granted in our daily life but when you stop and think about it, it’s a truly amazing thing! But do you actually know what’s in the water you use? How can you tell if you’re using good quality water to help your day flow smoothly.
The average New Zealander’s water includes...
● Fluoride
Fluoride is a natural element found in air, soil, fresh water, seawater, plants and lots of foods.Adding fluoride to public water supplies is a proven health measure to reduce tooth decay and strengthen teeth.
Watercare adds fluoride to the metropolitan supply, except for the Onehunga and Huia Village districts.
The amount of fluoride the Ministry of Health recommends is between 0.7 and 1.0 parts per million in drinking water.
(Did you know…..adding fluoride to water has been listed by the United States Centre for Disease Control as one of the top 10 greatest health achievements of the 20th century!)
● Chlorine
During the treatment process, chlorine is added to kill any harmful bacteria. Chlorine evaporates quickly and has been used effectively around the world for over 100 years.
● Lime
Lime is added to protect the water supply pipes from corrosion, which means you’re protected from diseases associated with rusty metal like Tetanus.
● Filtration chemicals (Poly Aluminium Chloride & Polyelectrolite)
Five sand filters are used to “polish” the water to a high degree of clarity and remove any residual floc particles. The filtered water is then piped to a covered clear water pond. The water is then chemically filtered to remove dirt, clay and fine silt to make the smooth, clean and fresh resource us and our families depend upon every day!
Each of these plays a very important role in making your water safe to drink.
Although the World Health Organisation rates New Zealand as having almost universal clean water access, only 77% of New Zealand’s water sources are safe to drink from.
So here are some top tips to make sure you know what water you should put in your bottle:
● If your water looks cloudy or has a colour to it, it’s unsafe to drink.
● If your water has a strong smell to it, it’s not safe to drink.
●If your water has a slightly metallic taste, it’s not safe to drink.
Clean water should be:
●Clear in colour
●Odourless
●No strange taste
If you find yourself near an unclean water source or are unsure about the quality, sealed bottled water is a safe alternative to keep you hydrated and on the go!
If you are concerned your water source may not be safe to drink from, contact your local water provider. If you have consumed or come into contact with water you believe to be contaminated, consult a medical professional as soon as possible.