The Importance of Tap Water Filters: An Eco-Superhero’s Guide to Saving Your Health

Tap water filters are mission critical! Listen up, heroes! Since we're all supposed to drink 11.5 (for women) and 15.5 (for men) glasses of water per day to support  healthiness, it's time to take action and protect ourselves from the villains lurking in our tap water. 

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization fighting for environmental and public health issues, clean water standards and legal limits on chemical contaminants in our water haven't kept pace with the latest science on contaminants.  In fact, public water safety standards haven't been updated in more than 50 years! 

That's like relying on technology from the Stone Age to save the world.

Sure, we need to filter out the pesky microbes that can make us sick, but it's not enough to just trust that our water is safe. EWG has been shouting from the rooftops about the importance of clean drinking water and health standards. It's time we take notice and .

Bottled water is no Superhero either! It turns out that bottled water companies are not required to share safety data with the FDA/EPA or label their source or water treatment methodologies on their label and lab studies found contaminates in bottled water (see articles below). So, we consumers are in the dark on bottled water quality, too. 

We need to take our health into our own hands and move into action mode!

Leveraging the resources of Environmental Working Group (which anyone can use) I dove deep into my city's water supply (which has a pretty good scorecard) and discovered that there are many contaminants created as byproducts when using chlorine to treat water. Such byproduct chemical compounds are not listed on my water utility's score card. However, they do show up on EWG's Tap Water Database as exceeding health guideline limits (as determined by current scientific studies). 

One category of compounds called Haloacetic Acids (HAA9) are found in our tap water at a level that exceeds health guidelines by 455% and found to contribute to the growth of cancer cells.

This tap water filter deep dive inspired me to do more to protect my family and pets from cancer and neurological damage caused by those sneaky contaminants and to share this information with you. Because you deserve to have the chance to decrease your personal toxins so you can live healthier & longer.

Lucky for you, I've got a 20-minute 4-step process below to assess the water quality in your city, your current water filters and some recommendations for water filters straight from the EWG water filter guide.

Did you also know that your tap water could be riddled with contaminants like Prozac, Atenolol, ibuprofen and chemicals that municipal water suppliers can't even filter out? 

Yes, you read that right. We also have the likes of 3M handing over $3 billion to municipalities to rectify forever chemical-tainted water. These chemicals can cause all sorts of health problems like altered immune and thyroid function, liver disease, lipid and insulin dysregulation, kidney disease, adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes, and even cancer. 

But don't despair!

While we wait for regulation to catch up to best available science and better protect our health, the good news is that there are Switches you can make now to filter out these chemical villains from your tap water. 

Epic Water Filters offers an array of super-powered filtration systems that are favorites of the Environmental Working Group (EWG). I've been "test driving" the Epic Water Bottle Filter---the only one that currently removes PFAS/PFOS (forever chemicals) and Epic Pure Pitcher, so that our family can drink with peace of mind.

What's more, Epic Water "Everywhere Filters" not only remove chemical and biological contaminants, but also forever chemicals and microplastics. Why does this matter? Because you only need one Epic Water filter for both urban and rural water filtration and Epic Water filters the most at the most affordable price.

Now, who needs the slow-moving EPA & FDA when you can have super-powered tap water filter systems at your fingertips?

Filters all Seattle water contaminants, microplastics, nitrate, arsenic, heavy metals, lead, forever chemicals & microplastics.  

Replace filter every 3 months. 

Watch my 12-minute video on care.

As of this blog post, Lifestraw Go Series bottles and the Brita bottle filter cannot tackle contaminates like chlorine-by-products, pharmaceuticals (Yes! They show up in a lot of drinking water!) or forever chemicals.

Decrease Your Chemical Footprint: Each "Everywhere Filter" eliminates the use of 550 plastic water bottles!

***For tap water filter systems for sinks, please consult The New York Times or Epic Water Filters, who say their systems can be installed without a plumber.

Don't let these villains win, eco-heroes! With the right tools, we can ensure that clean water is a right, not a privilege.

Want to learn more about Ditch & Switch alternatives for clothing & cookware containing forever chemicals? Request my top 25 Ditch & Switch Low-Toxin Products list with bonus smartphone toxin-busting apps list.

Since we're talking water and decreasing our toxins, consider adding 1-2 drops of doTERRA's lemon oil to your water each day to flush your body of contaminants. Read the study:  "Citrus limon (Lemon) Phenomenon—A Review of the Chemistry, Pharmacological Properties, Applications in the Modern Pharmaceutical, Food, and Cosmetics Industries, and Biotechnological Studies" - NIH National Library of Medicine. (Click here to buy doTERRA's 100% pure lemon oil)

Health Effects of PFAS/PFOS: "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Toxicity and Human Health Review: Current State of Knowledge and Strategies for Informing Future Research"

2020 Duke University Environmental Health School Study of PFAS Filtering Systems

PubMed Study: Epidemiological studies have revealed associations between exposure to specific PFAS and a variety of health effects, including altered immune and thyroid function, liver disease, lipid and insulin dysregulation, kidney disease, adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes, and cancer.

EPA: "Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS

Consumer Reports, What’s Really in Your Bottled Water?

Consumer Reports found toxic PFAS chemicals in several popular water brands, especially carbonated ones.

Environmental Working Group, Bottled Water Quality Investigation

10 Major Brands, 38 Pollutants

Reuters: "PFAS settlements: Future of PFAS litigation landscape to be determined by upcoming decision"

In August 2023, 3M (manufacturers of water- and stain-proof coatings among other "convenience chemicals") a settled $10.3 – 12.5 billion case to municipalities to remediate forever chemicals from 440 public water supplies (4-6,000 more are eligible to participate in the settlement).