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Nutrition Information |
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Where Does Your Drinking Water Come From?
Have you ever thought about where your drinking water comes from? Most of us never give this question a thought. Yet, the sources of our water tell us a lot about its quality. The Importance of Water Sources Very early in the development of civilizations, people recognized the importance of finding reliable water sources. A clean, constant supply of safe drinking water is essential for every community. Consequently, the earliest civilizations developed near sources of clean water. As time passed, people began to migrate and settle in areas many miles from a reliable water source. So they developed delivery systems that drew water from those distant sources. The Roman aqueducts are an excellent example of such a delivery system. Today, people in large cities frequently depend on surface water sources, such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, for their drinking water. Sometimes these sources are close to the community. At other times, water suppliers get their water from sources many miles away. In either case, when you think about the source of your drinking water, it's important to consider the entire watershed in which the source is located. The watershed is the land area over which water flows into the river, lake, or reservoir. In rural areas, people are more likely to drink ground water pumped from a well. These wells tap into aquifers or natural reservoirs under the earth's surface. These aquifers may be only a few miles wide, or may span the borders of many states. As with surface water, remember that activities many miles away from you may affect the quality of ground water. Both public and private water supplies can be drawn from a variety of sources. Different sources of raw water demand different treatment methods to render it fit for human consumption. Deep Groundwater Sources The water emerging from some deep groundwater sources may have fallen as rain many decades or even hundreds of years ago. Soil and rock layers will naturally filter the groundwater to a high degree of clarity. Deep groundwater may emerge as springs. In places where the water does not emerge as springs, water suppliers will often bore wells to extract it. Usually, groundwater has a very high bacteriological quality. Because the water passed through layers of soil and rock, it may also be rich in dissolved solids including carbonates and Sulfates of Calcium and Magnesium. Depending on the strata through which the water has flowed, other ions may also be present. These could include chloride and bicarbonates. Often, water from deep sources requires special treatment to remove its iron or manganese content to make it pleasant for drinking, cooking, and laundry. Seepage of surface water recharges these deep groundwater sources. This seepage introduces industrial, chemical, animal and human contaminants into these underground aquifers. As these contaminants merge with natural elements in the water, health threats are introduced and disinfection is required. Shallow Groundwater Sources While deep groundwater lays far below ground level, shallow groundwater travels in streams within a few hundred feet of ground level. Access to shallow groundwater is usually through wells or boreholes. The bacteriological quality of these shallow sources can vary depending on the nature of the underground reservoir. A variety of soluble materials may be present including potentially toxic metals such as copper or zinc. In some places, shallow ground water sources contain unacceptably high levels of Arsenic contamination. Upland Lakes and Reservoirs Typically, municipalities place upland reservoirs in the headwaters of river systems, above any human habitation. They often surround them by some form of protection zone to restrict the opportunities for contamination. Bacterial and pathogen levels are usually low, but some bacteria, protozoa and algae will be present. Where uplands are forested or are peaty, humic acids can give the water a brown color. Many upland sources have low pH which requires adjustment before the water enters the supply. Rivers, Canals and Low-Land Reservoirs Lowland surface waters primarily come from rain runoff. As rainwater washes the streets of our cities and filters through landfills and farmlands, it picks up a significant bacterial load. It may also contain algae, suspended solids and a variety of dissolved elements. Conclusions All water sources contribute to water contamination. The source of your water determines the kind of contaminants it carries. While water treatment facilities neutralize most of the contaminants, some escape and end up in your drinking water. Many of these contaminants are harmless and, at most, give the water a bad taste or odor. Other pose potential health threats. To protect yourself and your family from these potential threats, we recommend the use of a home water filtration system to assure that your drinking water is clean. Earl Calvert is a freelance writer. His writings include Bible study curriculum materials and articles for national business magazines. As an advocate for clean drinking water, Earl designed his website on drinking water to educate the public water quality issues.
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MORE RESOURCES: Maui’s vacation rental conversion bill remains in limbo The Garden Island Newspaper No appeal of ruling for vacation rental program Anna Maria Islander Vacation Rental Reform Advisory group Cape Coral Breeze Judge stops Hermosa enforcement of short term rental ban easyreadernews.com A stormy season for short-term rentals on Nantucket Rhode Island Current Newman-Dailey Resort Properties Celebrates Summer Road GlobeNewswire Why People Are Turning Their Homes into Vacation Rentals Right Now The North Star Monthly Maui Panel Starts Deliberations On Short-Term Rental Phase-Out Honolulu Civil Beat Owner-occupied vacation rentals approved for Niagara Falls neighbourhoods Niagara Falls Review Inside The ‘Out-Of-Control’ Debate Over Axing Maui Vacation Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat A novel idea for Maui’s housing crisis: Using vacation rental profits for residents’ down payments Maui Now Vacation Renters Waste $2 Billion in Food Each Year ScienceBlog.com Maui Council hears another 70 testifiers on vacation rental phase-out bill; still more to come Maui Now Capital One Travel Adds Vacation Rentals — And You Can Earn 5x Miles on Venture Cards Upgraded Points Maui Backs Off Rental Ban As Tourism Stalls Out Beat of Hawaii Maui vacation rental bill continues to draw passionate testimony from both sides Hawaii Public Radio Maui Gets $1.6B—Can Vacation Rentals Survive What’s Coming? Beat of Hawaii Plan To Convert Maui Vacation Rentals To Long-Term Housing Delayed Honolulu Civil Beat Honolulu Sees Doubling Of Vacation Rental Registrations Under New Rules Honolulu Civil Beat Study: Maui Should Be Cautious In Phasing Out Vacation Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Honolulu Hasn't Fined Airbnb, Vrbo for Illegal Short-Term Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Here’s Why Honolulu Doesn’t Enforce Law Against Short-Term Rental Companies Honolulu Civil Beat Key amendments proposed for vacation rental phase-out bill ahead of Council committee hearing Maui Now Vacation Rental Study in Goleta Tells More About the Neighbors The Santa Barbara Independent Spain, Italy, France, Portugal Join Forces in Crackdown on Airbnb Rentals: The Domino Effect Begins Travel And Tour World Chase Travel Launches Vacation Home Rentals — What To Know Upgraded Points Owners claim Maui residents can’t afford converted vacation rentals, UH study says otherwise - Yahoo Maui Council To Take Up Bill Phasing Out Vacation Rentals This Summer Honolulu Civil Beat Vacation rentals in southern Gran Canaria: the judge does the work for the Canary Islands government. Maspalomas24h Emotions Are High As Maui Considers Phasing Out Short-Term Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Board recommends new education programs, property management rules for vacation rentals The Palm Springs Post Vacation Rentals of the Desert Accused of Owing Millions; Riverside DA Launches Investigation After Public Outcry NBC Palm Springs Vacation Rentals of the Desert Accused of Owing Property Owners, Renters Over $1 Million NBC Palm Springs Opinion | Airbnb and Vrbo are going downhill like a hippo on a water slide The Washington Post Couple who owns Manasota Key vacation rentals welcomes first renters since Hurricanes Helene, Milton FOX 13 Tampa Bay Supreme Court: cities cannot limit vacation rentals based on owner occupancy Idaho Public Television City has no mercy for illegal vacation rental operators Hawaii News Now Community invited to briefing about proposed registration process for short-term vacation rentals Big Island Now Vrbo offers last minute deals on vacation rentals Short Term Rentals - News Uncertain Economy Contributes to Slow Summer Rental Bookings The Vineyard Gazette Fire district wins vacation rental assessment lawsuit Anna Maria Islander Santa Cruz County moves to rein in vacation rentals Lookout Santa Cruz How to tell if your Oʻahu vacation rental is legal Hawaii Public Radio Vacation rentals may face new taxes as WA lawmakers eye housing fix The Center Square Maui mayor's plan to phase out vacation rentals would increase housing but shrink the economy AP News Maui vacation rental bill draws support, opposition at heated hearing The Garden Island Newspaper Housing panel looks at new rules for rent-setting algorithms, vacation rentals - Evanston RoundTable Housing panel looks at new rules for rent-setting algorithms, vacation rentals Evanston RoundTable The Short-Term Rental Hosts Spending Big to Trick Out Their Vacation Properties - WSJ The Wall Street Journal Resources for Vacation Rentals for Springs Protection Alachua County Committee votes 5-0 against couple’s vacation rental request advancing Evanston RoundTable The Best Vacation Rental Travel Insurance for 2025 U.S. News & World Report Manatee County Commission votes to pursue regulation of short-term vacation rentals Sarasota Herald-Tribune Everything You Need to Check in Your Vacation Rental Before Unpacking a Single Bag Better Homes & Gardens Hawaiʻi County Council seeks more oversight with passage of vacation rental bill Hawaii Public Radio Aspiring vacation rental hosts in Mission Beach may have a shot at getting a coveted license San Diego Union-Tribune |
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