ALLERGY TO WATER: GET INFORMATION FROM YOUR WATER COMPANY
Water companies are investigating alternatives to disinfection by chlorine, such as using ozone. In addition, a number of them are installing filtration processes, especially activated carbon filters, in order to remove chemical contaminants. You can find out from your local water company what processes they are actually using. They will also be able to tell you if your water comes from a groundwater source.
Water companies are also legally obliged to supply you, free of charge, with a drinking water quality report – an analysis of substances your water contains. These analyses are not complete, however. They only check for a limited range of chemicals. Ask for this, together with a list of the maximum permitted levels of substances under the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulation, if you want to know something of what is in your water and whether the levels of selected chemicals are high or low.
Bottled Water
Some people who are sensitive to tapwater use bottled water as an alternative, but bottled waters are not always free of problems. Bottled waters are drawn from groundwater sources – springs or boreholes -and some of these can be polluted with chemicals from the environment. If you are exceptionally sensitive, these will trouble you. Some bottled waters are consistently better tolerated than others.
Bottled waters have a higher bacteria count than tapwater which has been disinfected. If you use them for babies, or for children or adults vulnerable to infection, you should boil them for five minutes before using, and keep refrigerated once boiled and cooled.
Mineral waters have high alkali salt contents. If you are on a low-sodium diet, you should take medical advice before using them. Spring waters do not generally have high salt levels.
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