We are made of about 65% water. Through drinking, cooking, and bathing, we consume and are exposed to more water than food.  Using only pure and natural water is key to health.

The DWP water quality report reveals a long list of contaminants in our tap water such as chlorination byproducts and fluoride products.  The DWP published reports are very troubling and action is warranted.

Perhaps the most disturbing issue regarding water is the intentional contamination with fluoride by-products, namely fluorosilicic acid.  In Los Angeles and wherever this toxin is added to the tap water, obtaining healthy water is an even greater challenge.  Filtering out fluoride is actually quite difficult.  Most filters have little or no effect on fluoride.

Water Treatment

There are three well-known technologies for treating tap water, and a few esoteric ones:

• Distillation
• Reverse-Osmosis
• Filtration
• A few more are explained at Holistic Squid.

Things to consider:

• Distillation removes everything from water, including contaminants, and non-contaminants (minerals).  Some believe that minerals in water are important and that drinking mineral-void water might leech minerals out of the body.  Opposing points of view state that pure water is the easiest on the body, and that minerals need to be in food, not in water.  I personally believe distilled water tastes great and is easy on the body.  I use it and enjoy it.
• Reverse-osmosis may not always remove fluoride and is prone to problems such as bacterial growth on the osmosis membrane. It also wastes a lot of water. But if it works, the water quality is theoretically the same as distillation.
• Most filtration systems do not remove fluoride.

After plenty of thought and investigation, I've chosen an approach that combines both a whole-house filter (for sinks and showers) and a kitchen or under-sink filter for drinking/cooking.  I use this system both in the office and at home:

Pure Effect Filters - Drinking and Cooking Water Filter
Pure Effect Filters - Whole House Filter (discontinued and replaced with a new model that does not filter out fluoride).  For a whole house fluoride filter, check out Pelican and other brands.

Remember, most filters do not remove fluoride, but these filters above do remove fluoride safely (without using aluminum). They remove heavy metals, pharmaceuticals (yes there is vicodin and valium in our water!), radioactive compounds, byproducts of chlorination, carcinogens, and more. I've been extremely satisfied with the water quality and taste in my office and my home. More importantly I'm relieved to be able provide contaminant-free, especially fluoride-free, water to my young children for showering, drinking, and cooking.

In addition to the filtered water I also use distilled water.  I use the 300ss model from H2O Labs which is well-made and doesn't have any plastic components contacting the water.

Portable Solutions

Berkey Filters and Clearly Filtered are two good portable options for clean drinking and cooking water. Home distillers are also quite portable.