Category Archives: Angel Water Elburn

How does clean water change lives?

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Working With World Water Day 2016

Life wouldn’t exist without water. But often times, access to clean water is much easier said than done. The theme of 2016 World Water Day – Better water, better jobs – strives to show how clean water can create work and develop sustainable methods of living.

World Water Day celebrates more sustainable methods of living.
World Water Day celebrates more sustainable methods of living.

For the global workers of the world, water has a direct impact on the quality of life. According to International Business Times, over 340,000 workers die because of inadequate water supply and sanitation. Fishermen, farmers and factories all depend on the quality of water. International Business Times also states that in factories, 38 workers die from water-related diseases every hour, which can be prevented with cleaner water and sanitation.

Women, Children and Water

For women and children, collecting water is a full-time job. Often times a water source is located far away from their residence and making the treck can sometimes take hours. Even though water is essential to life, the woman’s duty is not recognized or appreciated. In addition, these women and children are not getting paid to complete their duties, making it harder than ever to create a stable and autonomous life.

By recognizing the theme of World Water Day, women and children can learn skills that prepare them to enter the work force instead of spending their time collecting water. World Water Day can highlight the way lives are changed if access to clean water is guaranteed.

A girl carries water back to her home in an area for displaced Sudanese in the southern Sudanese city of Juba, SudanSpencer Platt/Getty Images
A girl carries water back to her home in an area for displaced Sudanese in the southern Sudanese city of Juba, SudanSpencer Platt/Getty Images

Using water in better ways

By learning how to use water in better ways, our planet can develop sustainable methods of living and provide a better life for all people. Let’s allow World Water Day to do just that as we work towards better education, better jobs and of course, better water.

 

Military uses water testing to stop contaminants

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How does the military use water testing?

Since December 2015, the EPA has performed water testing at various military sites across the U.S.. These sites have been tested for contamination from a foam used in crash and fire fighting training. In total, 664 sites will be tested.

So far 28 naval sites have been tested with one in New Jersey and one in Virgina showing contamination levels above the EPA’s standards. Military personnel are being supplied with water bottles to prevent further contamination and dehydration.

Why is Water Testing Important?

Testing water on a regular basis is important because it allows consumers to know what they’re drinking. It also ensures that consumers are safe from contaminants that could get into water. Besides chemicals used at military sites, water tests look for high levels of bacteria, nitrates and man-made chemicals.

Reddish Brown Stains by Angel Water Inc.
Water testing with Angel Water can help prevent the spread of disease.

 

Here’s a list of things that could end up in your water:
Radium
Chlorine
Pesticides
Fluoride
Arsenic
Asbestos
Copper
Cyanide
Lead
Barium
Fecal waste (Nitrates and Nitrites)
Uranium
Gasoline

Well-water Testing

Besides groundwater, the EPA is also testing wells in rural areas near the military sites. They are testing for perfluoridated chemicals in drinking water that have been linked to prostate, kidney and testicular cancer.

According to Daily Kos, Chris Evans, of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, credited the Navy with being proactive but said he’s concerned anytime there’s a potential threat to human health and the environment.

“We’ll follow EPA’s lead as this develops,” said Evans, the director of the office of remediation programs.

Water Testing in Illinois

In Illinois, the only way to know that your water is safe is to have it tested on an annual basis. Usually, water problems can be spotted by discoloration or putrid smells, but not all water problems can be identified by the human eye.

Water testing ensures that the water you’re drinking is safe and free of bacteria, fecal waste or man-made chemicals. In Illinois, municipal water sources are tested on an annual basis but private wells are not. This makes testing well water especially important since it is not monitored by the EPA.

Testing Your Water with Angel Water

By getting your water tested by Angel Water, you can identify what’s in your water and you can learn how to remove any unwanted contaminants. We work to educate our customers about purifying water and removing anything that could cause harm.

Bioaccumulation impacts drinking water

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How does Bioaccumulation impact water?
When plastic gets into our water supply it’s not good. Over time, it often causes a buildup of toxic chemicals in everything from the alge floating on the surface to the humans that are drinking it.

This picture shows how bioaccumulation and biomagnification impact the environments around them.
This picture shows how bioaccumulation and biomagnification impact the environments around them.

With the crisis in Flint, Michigan, the EPA’s lead spill in 2015, and the nuclear waste in Fukushima, our planet’s water supply has been absorbing chemicals for a very long time.

This has impacted us by increasing our exposure to chemicals through the food we eat and the water we drink.

Consequences of bioaccumulation
The early consequences of bioaccumulation appeared in 1950’s Japan when a list of neurological disorders appeared in Minamata city’s residents. The incidence was traced back to fish and shellfish that contained high levels of methylmercury.

The methylmercury was coming from Chisso Corporation’s Minamata factory, the largest Japanese producer of acetaldehyde, a chemical used in manufacturing plastics. It turns out the factory was discharging excessive amounts of methylmercury into the Yatsushiro Sea.

What about BPA’s?
BPA’s are today’s biggest concerns when thinking about bioaccumulation. According to Mayoclinic, “bisphenol A is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s.”

BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as plastic water bottles. When plastic is not recycled properly and ends up in our water supply, it poisons us.

Here’s a list of problems that  plague people who have been impacted by BPA’s:

Hormone levels: BPA could act like a hormone in the body, disrupting normal hormone levels and development in fetuses, babies, and children.

Brain and behavior problems: The National Toxicology Program at the FDA expressed concern about BPA’s possible effects on the brain and behavior of infants and young children.

Cancer: Some animal studies have shown a possible link between BPA exposure and a later increased risk of cancer.

Heart problems: Two studies have found that adults with the highest levels of BPA in their bodies seem to have a higher incidence of heart problems.

8 Tips for the best hydration

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Did you know that your brain is composed of mostly water? Have you ever thought about the way water helps you digest food? Are you aware of how drinking water impacts overall health? In case you didn’t know, check out this list of 10 tips for staying hydrated.

1. Calculate how much water you need
The best way to find out how much water you need is to multiply your weight by 0.5. For example, a 200 pound man would need 100 ounces of water to drink on a daily basis. The amount of water we need to drink varies by the size and the activity level of a person.

2. Carry water with you everywhere you go
One of the best ways to stay hydrated is to carry water with you everywhere you go. This allows you to drink water whenever you need to it and to also keep track of how much water you drink. By carrying your own water bottle, you won’t have to spend money on plastic water bottles and contribute to excessive waste.

Use water bottles to stay hydrated.
Use water bottles to stay hydrated.

3. Infuse your water with fruits and vegetables
The taste of plain water can get boring when you’re drinking it on a regular basis. That’s why infusing fruits and vegetables can add a hint of extra flavor while you’re getting refreshed. Try adding combinations like cucumber and lemon, celery and lime or cilantro and mint.

4. Avoid alcohol and caffeine
Alcohol and caffeine are two things that dehydrate the body. It’s okay to drink them in moderation, but an excess of either could cause heart problems, headaches and overall fatigue.

5. Drink extra water before and after getting physical
Throughout out the day we lose water naturally. After a strenuous workout, it’s especially important to replace the water we lose. Not only does your brain need water to restore itself, your muscles need to rehydrate in order to grow and heal.

6. Use Reverse Osmosis
Using reverse osmosis will ensure you hydrate your body with water free of contaminants and disease-causing pathogens. Angel Water’s reverse osmosis works differently by remineralizing the water before it exits the spout.

7. Don’t chug water to get hydrated
The best way to get hydrated is to take small sips of water throughout the day. This allows your body to absorb the liquid rather than release it through waste. Taking small sips of water is the preferred method of Ayurvedic practitioners.

8. Drink warm water with lemon in the morning
Drinking warm water with lemon each morning helps to alkalize the body and remove toxins. It also aids digestion by warming the intestinal tract and flushing out digested food.

Alkaline Water: Fact or Fiction

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The facts and fiction behind alkaline water

Whether it’s reverse osmosis or straight from the tap, water is an essential part of life. But what does it mean when the water you’re  drinking is alkaline water? Some experts have disputed the benefits of being alkalized but others have experienced its health effects.

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What is alkaline water?

When you turn on the tap and water flows from it, it’s filled with dissolved solids like dust, salt and minerals. These impurities influence the pH of the water and also the quality. Pure water, or water without impurities has a pH level close to 7. Reverse osmosis water has a pH level close to 5.

Alkaline water is different from tap water and reverse osmosis water because it retains a pH above 7. Because of the alkalinity in this water, some people believe the body will become less acidic while creating an internal environment that fights disease.

Possible Benefits of Alkaline Water

Gut health: The negative charge in ionized water could protect your immune system and improve the environment of your stomach and intestinal lining.

Boosts athletic performance: If a body’s environment is acidic, fatigue will set in. That’s why athletes and professional athletes will opt for alkalized water. It can help boost performance and decrease the effects of dehydration.

Cleansing properties: Drinking alkaline water can help remove fecal matter from the colon. This helps decrease the constipation, bloating or other issues related to digestion.

Problems associated with Alkaline Water

Health experts and doctors are skeptical of alkaline water because the human body is already designed to manage its own pH. Each organ system can regulate itself and adding alkaline water can disrupt the fragile balance.

If the body’s pH is already out of balance, identifying the underlying cause is essential. Adding alkaline water can cause serious harm if imbalances are left unchecked.

Angel Water Inc.
214 South Hager Ave., Barrington, IL 60010
Tel: (847) 382-7800 

 

 

 

Aquafina Pays the Price for Plastic

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How much money have you wasted on plastic water bottles?

"P.W.S" will now be printed on the Aquafina water bottle to show that the water comes from a public water source.
“P.W.S” will now be printed on the Aquafina water bottle to show that the water comes from a public water source.

After pressure from Corporate Accountability International, Aquafina will be adding the phrase “P.W.S” to their plastic water bottles. This lets consumers know that the bottled water comes straight from the tap.

“P.W.S.” is short for public water source and by revealing the secret ingredient in their water, Aquifina will be held more accountable for marketing practices while identifying their use of a public water source.

“If this helps clarify the fact that the water originates from public sources, then it’s a reasonable thing to do,” PepsiCo pep spokeswoman Michelle Naughton said Friday.

According to the American Water Works Association, “almost 2/3 of all bottled water sales are single 16.9oz (500 mL) bottles” which means consumers are paying inflated prices for bottled tap water while rapidly increasing rates of pollution.

As an alternative to plastic water bottles, Angel Water offers a reverse osmosis water filtration system. The reverse osmosis water filtration system will remove pollutants from your water while reinfusing it with minerals like calcium and magnesium.

To curb the negative impact plastic water bottles have on our planet, corporate accountability group is also encouraging other plastic water bottle companies like Dasani to reveal the original source of their water.

Inverse reports that Aquafina responded by saying, “It originates from public water sources and is then purified through a rigorous, seven-step purification process called Hydro-7™. That is not the “same water you get in your bathroom sink.”

A 2013 study commissioned by World Wildlife Fund International questioned whether the final products of professionally bottled versions were healthier noting that there were “are more standards regulating tap water in Europe and the United States than those applied to the bottled water industry.”

Regardless of the quality of tap or bottled water, avoiding plastic water bottles will not contribute to the 35 million plastic water bottles that are dumped in landfills each year.

Mr. Fix It talks Water Quality with Andrew Wilson

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Andrew Wilson and Lou Manfredini discuss the benefits of water filtration on WGN 720AM

Have you ever wondered about the benefits of reverse osmosis or how water testing could impact your life? Lou Manfredidni asks the important questions about water filtration with the owner of Angel Water, Andrew Wilson.

Listen to the podcast here or download the original version.

Q: What is driving the trend in water filtration?

Andrew’s Response: “Knowledge. The internet is so prevalent, we learn so much so fast. The more we learn about water, the more we study it, the more we see what’s in it, the more we go, wait do I really want to drink that?

Q: In terms of water quality, what are some of the things you deal with?

“We deal with Chicago water and well water. Chicago water drove a lot of interest after people found out about Chromium 6. Chromium 6 is a cancer-causing agent that has been found in the water supply. The suburbs have their own problem, there’s usually radium in their water.”

Q: What are some options for in-home filtration?

“Less than one percent of water is used for drinking. The first thing we look at is the levels of chlorine n the water. As you become more educated the next step for a drinking Water system is a reverse osmosis system. That’s the type of thing I lean a lot of customers to.”

Q: What is Reverse Osmosis?

“In a membrane, the water molecule is stripped and discharges water along with waste. And then it purifies one droplet of water and it is put into a holding tank. Some of these systems are small enough to fit underneath a kitchen sink. A council on cancer says the best thing humans can do is filter their tap water.

Reverse osmosis also reduces the plastic impact that we have on our environment. They’ve outlawed plastic bottles in California because it’s so bad for the environment.”

Q: What do I do to maintain my reverse osmosis system?

“The unit must have the filter changed once a year. A less expensive system will need a filter replaced every three months. The more money you spend up front, the better the system you will end up with.”

Hidrate Smart Water Bottle: A Better Option for Hydration

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Hydrate smarter with an environmentally effective water bottle

Without water, your heart can’t beat, your lungs can’t breathe and your brain can’t function. It is the essence of life and more often than not, people don’t get enough of it. Avoid dehydration by hydrating better with the Hidrate smart water bottle.

The Hidrate smart water bottle integrates technology into your daily routine. By setting up personal parameters like height, weight and activity level the Hidrate app calculates your daily water goal and displays how much water you drink from the Hidrate bottle.

Special features include:
• 24 fl.oz.
• BPA Free Tritan Plastic
• Dishwasher Safe
• iPhone, Android, and Apple Watch compatible
• 1 Year Battery Life, Replaceable battery

When it’s time for you to take a sip and rehydrate your body with the fluids that have been lost, the Hidrate bottle will subtly glow to remind you to take a drink if you’ve forgotten. The app also has the option to send reminder notifications via your mobile device.

It connects with other popular health apps including Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, Jawbone, and Misfit.

Benefits of Hydration

Hydration is important because it helps your body maintain balance and remove impurities. Water helps the blood transport oxygen and other essential nutrients to your cells and can give you a boost of energy if you are feeling down.

If you’re suffering from constant headaches and enduring physical aches and pains, you might be suffering from chronic dehydration. Drinking more water could not only eliminate those pains but also improve pulmonary function and reduce inflammation.

By carrying the Hidrate smart water bottle, you have the option of drinking water on a regular schedule. You are also making the environmentally effective choice by reducing plastic consumption and eliminating necessary waste.

Make the right decision for yourself by checking out the Hidrate smart water bottle website at: http://www.hidrate.me/preorder.

Jordan’s water crisis impacts Syrian refugees

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What happens when a country runs out of water? 

Jordan, a country facing chronic drought and the consequences of a refugee crisis is one of the most water scarce places on the planet. According to a report by Mercy Corps, the country’s water source is also impacted by extreme waste and overuse.

Northern Jordan hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees and has been hit the hardest by the water crisis. According to a report from the Guardian, hospitals and schools don’t have enough water to maintain sanitation standards and mosques cannot perform the necessary daily ablutions.

More than half a million Syrian refugees are now living in Jordan, already one of the world's driest countries. Water shortages have reached emergency levels in some areas, where the supply is as low as 30 liters per person per day — one-tenth of what the average American uses. Photo: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps
More than half a million Syrian refugees are now living in Jordan, already one of the world’s driest countries. Water shortages have reached emergency levels in some areas, where the supply is as low as 30 liters per person per day — one-tenth of what the average American uses. Photo: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps

“Not having water adds a lot of pressure to people,” said Um Omar, a single mother living in northern Jordan. Sometimes she would go to neighbors to ask for water, but often they were nearly as desperate.

To curb this problem Jordan intends on signing a water-sharing agreement with Israeli and Palestinian authorities in December. By mid-2018 the agreement intends to stabilize size of the Dead Sea by pumping brine into it.

“There is no other way Jordan can address water scarcity, given the increasing population and challenges brought by climate change,” Nabeel Zoubi, project manager for the Red-Dead Sea program said.

Faulty pipelines and outdated infrastructure also impacts the water shortage of Jordan. According to the Guardian, the amount of water lost nationwide every year could satisfy the basic needs of 2.6 million people, or more than a third of Jordan’s current population.

Mercy Corps has been working with citizens since 2006 and has helped families and schools install rainwater catchments and greywater treatment systems.  By investing in long-term development, Jordan can maintain existing infrastructure and hopefully improve the water crisis as well as the quality of life for Syrian refugees.

The investments Mercy Corps has made not only help sustain Syrian refugees, but also citizens of Jordan as well.

What’s in Chicago Water?

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Protect yourself from what’s in city water

The Department of Water Management is responsible for delivering nearly 1 billion gallons of fresh water to the residents of Chicago and 125 suburban communities every day. But, with bacteria like E Coli and organisms like coliform floating around, is city water as clean as it claims to be?

Is deadly bacteria lurking in your Chicago water?
Is deadly bacteria lurking in your Chicago water?

Chicago tap water comes from one of two sources: surface water or groundwater. Surface water comes from rivers and lakes and reservoirs while groundwater comes from man made wells. With two different places of origin, all water sources are chlorinated before entering your tap.

But still, that doesn’t mean the water is safe. If you’re living in a home, condominium or apartment complex that was built in the 1970’s, the pipes could be corroded with lead and copper. Not only does this pollute drinking water, it pollutes water used for bathing, dishes and laundry as well.

The city of Chicago publishes annual reports on city water. While there is a list of over 35 chemicals that Chicago water tested positive for, the city still declares it is safe for consumers to drink. Here’s a list of what the test found:

1. Nitrates
2. Fertilizer
3. Pesticide runoff
4. Arsenic
5. Barium
6. Copper
7. Lead
8. Sulfate
9. Calcium
10 Magnesium
11. Industrial waste
12. Radioactive Waste
13. Aluminum
14. Cyanide
15. Mercury

If you are interested in protecting yourself from these impurities, consider scheduling an assessment with one of our technicians. We can provide a free water test to help educate you on what’s in our water.