Which water is best is actually a simple question to answer: water from a gravity-fed mountain spring is of the highest quality. Mountain spring water is naturally filtered by the earth and usually there is no charge to access the spring. I recommend visiting a site called FindASpring.com which helps you find the closest spring in your area. Of course, there is time and effort involved in this option, but if you are able to do it, this method truly is according to nature’s design.

The next best option is well water. Typically, well water will not have any fluoride and there is far less contaminants. Many wells will still need some form of filtration to optimize the system, however.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t live close to a mountain stream or have a well in our backyard. Most of us live in large urban areas and rely on municipal water supplies and commercial distribution systems that can be loaded with chlorine, fluoride, disinfection by-products and other toxins.

On top of that, the average Canadian fills 12 prescriptions each year. Where do you think all those drugs go? They are excreted in our urine or stools and wind up in the water supply.

Probably the most common and concerning substance that is added to the water supply is chlorine. Chlorine is added to disinfect the water, but does so at a cost: chlorine can combine with organic material in the water and in your body to form disinfection by-products (DBPs). Chlorine itself is relatively harmless, but it’s these DBPs that can potentially be harmful to your health.

DBPs called trihalomethanes have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals; volatile organic compounds can cause central nervous system depression and irritate the skin; haloacetic acid is a human carcinogen and has been shown to cause liver disease in test animals.

You can see what levels of DBPs were found back in 1993 in this national Canadian survey. You may think those levels are relatively low, but check out the potential health effects of these substances.  Should we not adopt the Precautionary Principle and limit our exposure as much as possible? What amount of those substances are you willing to drink knowing they may be potentially cancer-causing?

Based on this information, I think you would agree with me that a water filter is an important investment that you can make in your health – especially if you get your water from a municipal water supply or even a well. Before we explore the types of water filters available, I want to stress that ANY filter is better than none. Remember: if you do not use a filter your body becomes the filter.

Bottled water

Even if we put aside the environmental concerns of bottled water (which are numerous: the fuel it takes to transport the water, the plastics it takes to store the water, etc) this option is not as “pure” and “clean” as the bottled water companies would have you believe.

For one, the bottled water industry is much less regulated than your municipal water supply. The standards that apply to municipal water do not apply to bottled water. In fact, studies have shown that about 40% of bottled water is actually just tap water with no additional filtering.

Secondly, an Environmental Working Group study revealed 38 contaminants in 10 brands of bottled water including DBPs, arsenic, Tylenol and industrial chemicals. In EWG’s words, “the purity of bottled water cannot be trusted.”

The longer the water is stored in the plastic the more chemicals leach into the water from the plastic. And if the plastic is exposed to heat, the leaching process is further accelerated.

Filtered water, of course, is your other option. So, what types of filtered water are there? Here are four of the most common:

Distilled water

In distillation the water is boiled, evaporated and the vapour is condensed. Distilled water is devoid of dissolved minerals. Cooking in distilled water pulls minerals out of the food and lowers its nutrient value. When distilled water comes into contact with air it absorbs carbon dioxide, making it more acidic. Therefore, the more distilled water a person drinks the more acidic their body becomes.

Consider any soft drink. They are made from distilled water. Studies have shown that heavy consumers of soft drinks lose large amounts of calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals in their urine.

The longer you consume distilled water the greater the likelihood you’ll develop mineral deficiencies and an overall acidic state in your body.

Alkaline or ionized water

Alkaline water is not a filtration system, but rather a process that is supplied to water. Electrolysis is used to separate the water into acidic and alkaline fractions and ionized water typically has a pH between 9 and 12.

If you judge the efficacy of alkaline water solely by what appears on the internet you might conclude that alkaline water is the next cure all. However, there are very few high quality scientific studies about the effect of alkaline water in humans and what is available is inconclusive.

Water in nature is not found at pH levels of 10 or 12. I don’t advocate playing with that natural process. Our bodies are not meant to drink extremely alkaline water. And, once again, I want to stress that alkaline water is NOT filtered water.

Reverse osmosis

Reverse osmosis filters are able to remove most impurities, including arsenic, fluoride, nitrates and many of the DBPs.

Unfortunately reverse osmosis also removes many of the beneficial minerals. You can add some minerals back into the water by using a ¼ tsp of sea salt or Himalayan salt per gallon (3 to 4 litres) of water, stirring well, and placing the salt water in the fridge (colder temperatures help restructure the water.)

Carbon filter

Carbon filters are probably the most common type of water filter. Activated carbon chemically bonds to contaminants in the water that is filtered through it. Carbon filters are better at removing organic compounds like herbicides, pesticides and industrial chemicals; however they are poor at removing inorganic substances like fluoride, nitrates and perchlorate.

There are two varieties of carbon filtration: granulated carbon and carbon block. Carbon blocks are typically more effective than granulated because they utilize a greater surface area of activated carbon.

One structural addition that can be beneficial to look for in a water filtration system is what’s called a “sub-micron pore structure.” This provides the added benefit of cyst reduction – it filters dangerous microorganisms like Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

So many options – Which do I choose?

The carafe or pitcher style filters are generally the least effective. They are designed primarily for taste and odour improvement and generally do not filter trihalomethanes, volatile organic compounds or cysts.

Ideally you want to look for a system that utilizes a combination of methods to remove the most contaminants, including organic and inorganic compounds, cysts, sediment and heavy metals.

The combination of reverse osmosis and a high quality carbon filter will remove the most contaminants possible in comparison to other filtration options. To prevent clogging, look for a dual cartridge system over a single cartridge system. The dual system filters the larger debris first and allows a faster flow of water.

Tips for choosing a water filtration system

Check your water. Know what contaminants you need to remove.  Check with your municipality or local water treatment facility and ask them to send you a copy of their Water Quality Report or Consumer Confidence Report. Some municipalities, for example the city of North Bay, offer the reports online for easy download.

Find a filter that is certified to remove those contaminants. There are a few resources that may be helpful:

• EWG’s Water Filter Buying Guide – scroll down to step 4, select the contaminants you are looking to filter and hit “find a filter.” It will bring back a list of filters certified to remove those specific contaminants.
• National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) – NSF is a third party testing organization that certifies products according to aesthetics (taste, odour), as well as health effects. It’s a good sign if a product is NSF certified; however you do want to read the fine print to make sure that it is certified to remove contaminants and not just improve the taste of the water.
• Water Quality Association (WQA) – WQA is a non-profit organization who applies their “golden seal” to products that meet stated claims.

Reference Consumer Reports water filter report to find a good quality water filter within your budget. The most expensive filters aren’t always the best.

Consider that your exposure to disinfection by-products comes not just from the water you drink, but also your shower, sink, toilet, washing machine, etc. Chlorine vaporizes and unless you have a whole house water filter you’re exposed to it every time you take a shower, flush the toilet or wash the dishes. You can install filters on each of your taps and appliances or choose a whole house filtration system. If you don’t choose a whole home system, at the very least I recommend ventilating your home. Open the windows, ideally from opposite sides of your home to promote cross ventilation, for at least 5 to 10 minutes each day.

A whole home system that filters water as it comes into your home, combined with a point of use system (under sink or on-counter) for drinking and cooking water that also ensures filtration of any contaminants from your pipes will cover “all the bases.”

There are a lot of water filtration options available, and aside from the purest mountain spring water, none of them are “the best.” They each have their pros and cons, but hopefully the above information will help you choose the best filter for your health needs.

Remember, any filter is better than none.

Candice Esposito, aka Sault Naturopath, is a naturopathic doctor and director of Algoma Natural Healing Clinic located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Candice helps people with chronic health conditions like depression, hormone imbalances, obesity and fatigue, overcome these concerns using gentle, effective natural therapies. Learn what is a naturopathic doctor and access other articles written by Dr. Esposito.