Alkaline Drinking Water Health Benefits Make Alkaline Water at Home

Make Your Own Alkaline Water at Home – Go Bottleless !

Alkaline water is slightly less acidic than regular drinking water and contains alkaline minerals with a pH > 7.  Alkaline water has a higher pH level than most tap water  and well water sources that are used for drinking water. In fact, in Pennsylvania, a primary problem with well water is that water is acidic and corrosive to the piping and it is recommended that a whole-house water treatment system a neutralizer be installed. Most tap water has a pH from about 6.5 to 7.5, but alkaline water may range from 8 to 9. Alkaline water tends to have a high alkalinity and mineral content that includes calcium and magnesium as the dominant positive cations, but in some cases a natural water may be high in sodium or potassium.   As the pH of the water increases, the redox potential (Eh) of the water becomes more negative, but the degree of change is not just a function of the pH it depends on the water ionic chemistry.

In drinking water, “redox potential  is a measure of the tendency of the solution to either gain or lose electrons in a reaction. A solution with a higher (more positive) reduction potential than some other molecule will have a tendency to gain electrons from this molecule (i.e. to be reduced by oxidizing this other molecule) and a solution with a lower (more negative) reduction potential will have a tendency to lose electrons to other substances (i.e. to be oxidized by reducing the other substance).” (Source: Wikipedia)  The redox potential of the water can be measured using an 0xidation‐Reduction Potential  (ORP) sensor.  The Eh of the water is related to the ORP measurement based on the type of sensors used in the ORP meter.

Oxidation‐Reduction Potential (ORP) is a measurement  of the relative oxidizing or reducing condition of water and is typically monitored using a handheld voltage meter that measures the electrical potential between a platinum electrode and a reference electrode.   When the ORP value is positive this indicates an oxidizing environment while a negative value would suggest a more reducing condition.  The Eh, or redox potential,  can be used to estimate the reduction potential for your drinking water.

If the sensor is made using an Ag/AgCl reference electrode with a 1 M KCl fill solution the correction factor is + 236 mv.

If the sensor is made using an Ag/AgCl reference electrode with a saturated KCl fill solution the correction factor is + 197 mv.

For example, the Orp Sensor is a platinum ‐ Ag/Ag Cl electrode where the reference electrode is filled with 1 M KCL and you get a reading on the sensor of  – 125 the actual EH of the fluid is:

-125 mv + 200 mv = 75 mv

DIY Alkaline Water systems are designed to initially provide a physical barrier to remove contaminants and purify the water to remove chlorine by-products, particles 5 micron or greater, and heavy metals.  An alkaline water system manufactured by Crystal Quest has a GAC and anionic resin to pesticides & herbicides, volatile organic compounds, pharmaceutical by-products & other inorganic substances such as petroleum byproducts. The final filter increases the calcium and magnesium content of the water and the water pH.

Alkaline Water Counter Top System

Alkaline Water Under the Counter System

There is a lot of controversy related to the consumption and use of alkaline water and ionized water.   The following is a taste of some of the available information on this topic.

We are not advocating for the consumption of either approach, but we think the user and customer should have the facts and available information and make a choice that meets there needs and their personal preferences.    The Keystone Clean Water TEAM and the Know Your H20 Team are not ADVOCATES or Warriors Just Scientists.  We provided this information to address questions asked as part of our education and outreach efforts.

If you do not want to Go Bottleless and you do not want to buy distillation equipment (distiller) and filtration equipment- you may want to try ” Smartwater Alkaline Water 9+ pH – Vapor Distilled Premium Water”

Controversy

Many health professionals say there isn’t enough research to support the health claims made by alkaline water advocates.

• A study in 2018 on mice suggested alkaline water may help reduce nonalcoholic fatty liver disease symptoms  (Source: “Effects of alkaline-electrolyzed and hydrogen-rich water, in a high-fat-diet nonalcoholic fatty liver disease mouse model”)
• A 1999 study showed an “Increased bile acid excretion and reduction of serum cholesterol after crenotherapy with salt-rich mineral water” (Source)
• A 2017 study  titled “ Natural mineral waters: chemical characteristics and health effects”, reviewed the potential health benefits and side-effects associated with the consumption of natural mineral water, Bicarbonate mineral water, Sulphate mineral waters, Chloride mineral waters, Magnesiac mineral waters, Fluorurate mineral waters, Ferrous mineral waters, and Sodium-rich mineral water. (Source)
• Associations of alkaline water with metabolic risks, sleep quality, muscle strength: A cross-sectional study among postmenopausal women (2022)
• Intestinal ion regulation exhibits a daily rhythm in Gymnocypris przewalski (“Carp”)  exposed to high saline and alkaline water (2022)
• Effects of alkaline-electrolyzed and hydrogen-rich water, in a high-fat-diet nonalcoholic fatty liver disease mouse model (2018)
• Comparative evaluation of alkaline ionized water and normal water on oral microbial flora: An in-vitro study (2024)
• Water Desirable for the Human Body in Terms of Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) to pH Relationship (2006)  They proposed a Vital Water that had the characteristics of weakly acidic and weakly alkaline and similar to the pH of human bodily fluids.
• Mineral waters and bone health (2004) “Since potassium and bicarbonate lower renal calcium excretion, and since the latter improves calcium balance, mineral waters rich in bicarbonate and potassium have been tested. Indeed, they lowered renal calcium excretion and bone resorption in short- and medium-term trials, and they could be of particular interest in the prevention of osteoporosis in addition to calcium-rich waters.”

Drinking Alkaline Water potential side effects??

Personal – Adults get to make a choice and we all have personal preferences and slightly different sensors when it goes to the smell and taste of water.

More Blog Posts

Chlorophyll Water – New Clean Label Certification– Chlorophyll Water is a purified water beverage enhanced by nature with the addition of Chlorophyll, a key ingredient and the vital green pigment in plant life. Chlorophyll Water is a refreshing introduction to the many benefits of Chlorophyll along with the added health benefits of Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C and Vitamin D for enhanced hydration.

Feedback and Analysis on the Safety of Fluoride in Drinking Water -Part of the KnowYourH2O Team philosophy is adherence to the scientific method. We are open to having our existing knowledge and any information we provide examined for the benefit of improving our own knowledge and in turn sharing it with our audience.

The Relationship Between Water and Weight Loss– Drinking enough water is one of the most important things that can be done for one’s health. With the right quantity and quality of water, you can stay well hydrated to ensure that bodily functions run smoothly. This includes weight loss, as numerous sources, including the National Health and Nutritional Examination surveys, reveal that there is a link between hydration levels and weight. Evidence suggests that those who are more chronically dehydrated are likely to have higher body weight.

Home Appliance Warranty Drinking Water Problems Scale Formation Corrosion

Have you read your warranty on that new $ 1500.00 appliance or $ 5000.00 boiler ?

GUESS WHAT?   If you water quality violates the terms of you manufactures warranty, the Warranty on that NEW Water Appliance may mean nothing and may be invalid on day one.    The same goes for the water heater, other heat exchange devices, dishwashers, clothes washers, and other water related appliances.

We suggest you get a copy of critical warranties and review !

When you review your warranty, the warranty will usually list circumstances that not covered, and “scale buildup due to water quality” is typically found on that list. Read the fine print (Source – https://homewateradvisor.com/hard-water-appliance-warranty/) .

We reviewed a warranty for a boiler as part of a water quality assessment and we found the following:   “Water conditions that have caused deterioration or unusual deposits on the heat exchanger”.  We asked one water quality professional and they said this could be a number of conditions, but the most common are corrosive conditions and  scale forming water.   In a few rare cases, the problem may be associated with a high total dissolved solids associated with salts (chloride) or potentially water with high levels of metal oxides like iron and manganese that could create an oxidized residual or coating or a lot of suspended particles in the water that contribute to physical corrosion.

During an energy expo focusing on renewable energy, one of the professionals and guest speakers indicated the following:  “The local groundwater or drinking water quality is a significant factor in ensuring the long-term performance and efficiency of any water related appliance.   One significant problem is water that is classified as very hard with a high alkalinity.  When this water is heated, a portion of the carbonates are converted to CO2 (carbon dioxide) gas and the water becomes supersaturated with calcium and magnesium carbonate.  The calcium and magnesium come out of solution as a solid particle and then this particle becomes a coating or scale in the water piping and appliance components that are in contact with the water.  As the scale accumulates, the pipes become clogged and the efficiency of the appliance is reduced.  This is very common with boilers, on-demand tankless water heaters, and storage water heaters that use gas for fuel or high temperature units. ”

An independent study (pdf)  commissioned by the Water Quality Association showed that “water heaters operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime. On the other hand, hard water can lead to as much as a 48% loss of efficiency in water heaters.”

One common question  is why is the hot water appliances more vulnerable to corrosion?

“Corrosion is more likely and more rapid at higher water temperatures. The rate of corrosion triples or quadruples as water temperature rises from 60°F to 140°F. Above 140°F, the rate of corrosion doubles for every 20°F increase.” (Source (pdf) )

At an Eastern Regional Water Quality Conference, I meet Kris Toomey from LH Brubaker Water Conditioning.  He told me a bit about his business.

“Appliances and water treatment go hand in hand. The benefits of soft water for appliances are plentiful.  It is a perfect marriage between providing an appliance that improves the quality of life for a family and offering  water treatment equipment to ensure the long-term reliability of the state-of-the-art appliances and at the same time providing a barrier to protect the family.  Providing the appropriate water quality treatment of the household water is like offering an additional “insurance policy” for the house, family, and the appliance. 

Not only are you protecting their investment, but you are helping with soap savings, skin and hair benefits as well as protecting the plumbing system, water heater, and plumbing fixtures.   In many cases, this action is necessary to protect the warranty on the new equipment.  There is no better feeling than ensuring that the family walking through your door making an investment in their home is given the right information to ensure the reliability of the appliances. Every fridge that leaves the store has an opportunity for an RO system to provide the highest available purified water option and this additional barrier protects not only the appliance, but also the family.”

For example:  Depending on the hardness of your drinking water, the concentration of the total hardness or  hard water  or the corrosiveness of the water may void or invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty, the HOME Warranty,  and any extended warranty of your water related appliances, such as: dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine or water heater due to its corrosive nature of the drinking water.  A typical water heater warranty could state that the heater is covered for anywhere between 6 -12 years. If you read the warranty, it will likely list specific water quality parameters that should not be exceed or water conditions, such as scale formation due to water quality or corrosive water.

Therefore, if you buying a water appliance from a business that does not recommend getting your water tested and you are on a private well or on city water that has occasional problems or you have not had your water properly tested, you should ask about the terms of the warranty and get your drinking water tested (City TApWater  / Well Water).   Regarding basic treatment, the Know Your H20 team recommends the installation of a whole house particle filter (Well Water Particle Filter) or (City Drinking Water Filter (basic approach / advanced approach) to protect home water appliance from corrosion related to the presence of particles in the water that could damage piping.

Impact of Water Quality on Water Heating Equipment     “The local water quality is one of the factors that contributes most significantly to the long-term performance and longevity of water heating equipment. Specifically, highly alkaline water will lead to the accumulation of scale, which will impact the efficiency of tankless and gas storage water heaters and can lead to decreased equipment life.”

The Know Your H20 Team recently reviewed a Warranty for a boiler.  The warranty did not list specific water criteria for specific parameters, but the warranty stated that the warranty was not valid if these conditions were present: “Water conditions that have caused deterioration or unusual deposits on the heat exchanger”.  This condition could include a number of situations that could include corrosive water, scale forming water, water with high salts, especially chloride, and/or drinking water with a high concentration of metal oxides like iron and manganese that could create an oxidized residual or coating.

Your Potential Problem- Is it Corrosion or Scale Formation?

Corrosion

Corrosion is where the water reacts with the household metal plumbing piping and fixtures  and these reactions are typically associated with the release of copper, lead, nickel, chromium, and zinc.  The common problems associated with Corrosion include:  water that has a bitter taste, intermittent discolored water, coatings that may be blue, bluish green and sometime brown, low water pH, high water acidity, low hardness and low alkalinity, discolored laundry, deterioration to piping, fixtures, and appliances, and ultimately the failure of equipment.   For this condition, we recommend the Corrosion Check Kit.

Scale Formation

Water can contain two general types of hardness, i.e., temporary hardness and permanent hardness.  Scale formation in water appliances is typically associated with temporary hardness, because the scale is normally formed after the water has been heated.   The scale is normally composed of calcium and magnesium carbonate that has a white to gray appearance.    If the water company adds a sequestering chemical like phosphate to the water, the scale may include other metals such as copper, lead, zinc, aluminum, nickel,  arsenic, iron, and manganese.  The initial scale coating if uniform on the pipe may protect the piping from localized corrosion or physical damage, but as the scale increases the user may experience problems with the system.   Scale formation can reduce efficiency of hot water related appliance, reduce pipe diameter and pressure, reduce the water flow, block intakes to water appliances, and cause valves to not properly or completely close.  For this condition, we recommend the Corrosion Check Kit or the Problem Checker (if you suspect a nuisance bacterial problem and have an iron or manganese potential problem) . 

One engineering calculation based on water quality testing can be used to conduct a preliminary assessment for the potential for corrosion or scale formation is the Saturation Index (SI) calculation.

High TDS and Salts

High Iron and Manganese

Note:

Learn about the warranty when purchasing a water related appliance and Get Your Water Tested (Well Water or City Water) Requires Different Testing!   You may not need a whole house filtration system just a water treatment system on the water going to the on-demand water system or a POU Water device, especially on city water that may contain water treatment chemicals that create chemical scales.

Written by: Mr. Brian Oram, PG/ Soil Scientist – Know Your H20 Program

Manager for Keystone Clean Water Team

Waterdrop Drinking Water Treatment Systems Reverse Osmosis System Water Purifier

Waterdrop Water Filtration System
Special Stainless Steel Filtration Systems

Waterdrop was founded in 2015 with the wish to provide trustworthy water purification solutions. The brand is dedicated to providing people around the world with the high-quality products to truly purify their drinking water. The name Waterdrop comes from the desire to deliver clean, safe, and healthy drinking water from the first sip to the last satisfying drop.

Now Waterdrop is one of the world-leading manufacturers of water filtration appliances.  They always adhere to the brand concept of technology leadership with intelligent water filtration, focusing on the R&D, design and production of water filtration core technologies and professional equipment. They keep it in mind how important pure water is to everyone, and are willing to provide users with better water wherever they need it.

Their Brand Promise – “Unveil The New Stage Of Better Life With Water “

“We provide customized water purification solutions for families around the world, keep drinking water safe and healthy to make your life comfortable and warm. “

They are part of the Water4Smile Program

Where does the Water4Smile program initiative come from?

“Taking a shower in the morning or enjoying a relaxing bath at night is something many of us take for granted, mostly because it is a basic human right to access safe water. Yet, I’ve read a data report by the World Health Organization that 61% of people in this world lack access to safely managed sanitation, and 28% lack access to a secure water supply. A more astonishing fact is that millions of people die from diseases caused by unreliable water supply and sanitation. Among those people who suffer, kids make up a large portion. Based on a 2018 UNICEF report, 31% of schools lack access to clean drinking water. My heart was aching when I read about those statistics, and I deeply felt the responsibility to take action and make a difference.”

Why did they choose to partner with The Water Project?

“After we decided to take action, we did our research and recognized sub-Saharan Africa has the greatest need, Uganda in particular. The nation of Uganda struggles to provide even the most basic of human needs to many of its citizens. A history of war, AIDS, a lack of clean water, poor nutrition and a struggling economy present a population where the majority is under the age of 18. There are a great number of nonprofit organizations that are doing similar works every day, so transparency is our first concern. It is vital to know how the money you donate is being used on real, specific projects. We’d learned that The Water Project has years of experience in providing reliable water projects to communities in sub-Saharan Africa, and they offer a high level of transparency to all their projects with daily reports, which we believe as a very good fit for our company.”

Product Line includes Reverse Osmosis Systems, Refrigerator Filters, Faucet Filters, Countertop Filters, Ultra-filtration Under Sink Filters, Whole House Filters, Water Pitchers, and Outdoor Filters.

This Waterdrop RO system is tested and certified by NSF International against NSF/ANSI standard 58 & 372. Products with NSF certification are considered to have better quality. NSF/ANSI 58 &372 Certified -94% TDS reduction – Waterdrop RO system has passed 400+ chemical lab tests.

We’ve teamed up with a variety of select partners to help support the KnowYourH2O Path to Clean Water mission in regards to Testing, Treatment and Training. Click on the link below to learn more about Waterdrop and the products and services they offer.

Our Other Partners

Are you looking for a qualified Water Industry Professional in your area? Check out our Water Professionals Directory.

Get Your Drinking Water Tested

Healthy Drinking Water and Healthy Homes – Communicating to the Public: What is a Drinking Water Advisory?

Healthy Drinking Water and Healthy Homes – Communicating to the Public
What is a Drinking Water Advisory?

DO NOT PANIC !  What are Drinking Water Advisories and What Should You Do ?

Drinking water advisories let customers know that their tap water or drinking water could be contaminated and make them sick.  There are no advisories for private well owners or drinking water systems that are NOT regulated. Advisories are used to send a message to users, customers, individuals, business, schools and other institutions that there is a potential problem with the water and how to act without getting into the details that are part of a Community Water Supply System or a regulated Non-Community System like a school, gasoline station that serves food, etc.  One thing we learned from Flint, Michigan and other case studies is that the citizens and most users do not really know what a “Drinking Water Advisory Means” and most Authorities or Water Companies DO NOT Know How to Explain the Situation.

The drinking water advisories typically fall into one of these 3 categories:  “Boil Water Advisory”, “Do Not Drink Advisory”, and “Do Not Use Advisory”.   Just to confuse you a little more, there is also something called a  Health Advisories that are published by EPA and we will deal with these separately.

Boil Water Advisory

If your local health officials, water company, water provider, or Authority issues a boil water advisory, you should take the immediate action of not using your drinking water for consumption (DO NOT DRINK !).

The boil water advisory means that the water may or does contain a pathogen, i.e., a disease-causing agent.   The primary actions would include establishing another temporary water source, such as bottled or bulk water, or boiling the water prior to use and consumption.  (Please Note:  I did not say filter the water or Microwave the water and I did not say drink hot water. I said BOIL!)

Boil water advisories the details.

1. Use bottled water, bulk drinking water, or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cooking food, feeding the pets, brushing your teeth, and making baby formula.
2. If bottled water is not available, bring your tap water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute for elevations below 6,500 feet and if you live at an elevation of over 6,500 feet a 3 minute rolling boil is needed.  After boiling, allow the water to cool before use and while it is cooling give a good shake to try and “re-aerate” the water, it will taste better.
3. If a boil water advisory is issued, you CAN NOT just filter your water through a particle filter or install or use a Class B UV water treatment system– this is NOT adequate. The verb in the sentence is “BOIL” not filter, but it is ok to boil and then filter (YES).   They make some very good home water coolers
4. Do not use ICE comes from your automatic ice maker even if the unit has a filter or inline UV unit, the water must be cooled and then cooled and then you can make ice.
5. Breastfeeding is the better choice. If you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, if possible, or the water must be boiled (not Microwaved or heated) and cooled.  The boiled water should be used within 72 hours (Source: Allinahealth.org)
6. You a water screening test on your temporary water source and your water source when it comes off the boil water advisory.

Handwashing – (After COVID you should be a PRO)

1. In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands during a boil water advisory. DO NOT wash your hands in boiling water or hot water. Follow the guidance from your local public health officials.
2. Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Then, rinse them well under running water, but make sure to dry your hands.
3. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol (Source: CDC).

Bathing and showering

1. Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
2. Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water. You do not need to use bottled water, but you can if you wish.

Brushing teeth

1. Brush teeth with boiled water that has cooled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled. You may want to then store your toothbrush in some saline or salt water to prevent bacterial regrowth.

Washing dishes

1. If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.

1. Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if:
   • The water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66°Celsius), or
   • The dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.
   • At the end of the boil water advisory, we recommend running a sanitizing cycle and using a dishwasher cleaner tablet approved by the manufacturer.
2. Sanitize all baby bottles.
3. To wash dishes by hand:
   • Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
   • In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
   • Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
   • Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.

Laundry

Washing Clothes  (Assuming the drinking water is not discolored or turbid)

1. Assuming the water is not discolored or turbid, it is likely safe to wash clothes as usual, but I would clean the unit by using chlorine or a citric acid cleaner or a clothes washer cleaner tablet approved by the manufacturer.

Do Not Drink Water Advisory

Local health authorities issue a do not drink water advisory when your community’s water is, or could be, contaminated with harmful chemicals and toxins, and when boiling water will not make it safe.

Authorities may recommend limited use of tap water for some tasks, depending on the harmful chemical or toxin contaminating the water. Follow health officials’ advice carefully to protect your health and your family’s health.

During a do not drink water advisory, use bottled water for: drinking and cooking, brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing food, mixing baby formula, making ice, and drinking water to pets and livestock.

In some instances, it will be safe to wash hands, flush toilets and shower; in other instances, it will not. You should be cautious when bathing a baby and young children; they might swallow water.

Do not drink or use water from any appliance connected to your water supply lines. This includes the water and ice dispensers in your refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher.

Do Not Use Water Advisory

Local health authorities issue a do not use water advisory when your community’s water is, or could be, contaminated with germs, harmful chemicals, toxins, or radioactive materials. Under this advisory any contact, even with the skin, lungs, or eyes, can be dangerous. Do not drink or use tap water from the impacted system for any purpose as long as the advisory is in effect, including for bathing. These types of advisories are rare.

EPA Health Advisory (HAs)

HAs primarily serve as information to drinking water systems and officials responsible for protecting public health when emergency spills or other contamination situations occur. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) authorizes EPA to issue HAs for contaminants that are not subject to a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) (Source:  42 U.S.C. §300g-1(b)(1)(F)). HA documents provide technical information on chemical and microbial contaminants that can cause human health effects and are known or anticipated to occur in drinking water. HA values/levels identify the concentration of a contaminant in drinking water at which adverse health effects and/or aesthetic effects are not anticipated to occur over specific exposure duration (e.g., 1 day, 10 days, a lifetime).

HA: Health Advisory- An estimate of acceptable drinking water levels for a chemical substance based on health effects information; a Health Advisory is not a legally enforceable Federal standard, but serves as technical guidance to assist Federal, state, and local officials.

“One-day HA: The concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse noncarcinogenic effects for up to one day of exposure

Ten-day HA: The concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse noncarcinogenic effects for up to ten days of exposure.

Lifetime HA: The concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse noncarcinogenic effects for a lifetime of exposure.”

Drinking Water Advisories – Water Standards and Health Advisory Tables (2018)

Listing of Drinking Water Contaminants

EPA Health Advisory’s for PFOA, PFOS, GenX Chemicals– Hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) Dimer Acid and Ammonium Salts, and Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid and Potassium Salts (PFBS)

Drinking Water Health Advisories for Two Cyanobacterial Toxins

Water Treatment Systems

Crystal Quest – Point of Use, Point of Entry, Whole House, Coolers, Pitchers
US Water Systems – Disinfection, Iron, Manganese, PFOS, Taste, Odors

Healthy Homes, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Drinking Water Initiatives or Programs

Healthy Drinking Water and Healthy Homes

The Healthy Homes, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Drinking Water Initiatives or Programs

The Healthy Homes Program / Healthy Home Initiates

“Environmental hazards in the home potentially harm millions of children each year. The Healthy Homes Program addresses multiple childhood diseases, exposures, and injuries that may originate in the home. The Initiative has a focus on housing-related hazards and educating and informing the public.  This was one of the key factors missing in the Flint Michigan Drinking Water Crisis. In response to Congress, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched its Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI) in 1999.  The objective of the program was to protect children and their families from housing-related health and safety hazards.

HUD has developed a new Healthy Homes Strategic plan that lays out the next steps their office will take to advance the healthy homes agenda nationwide. The HHI builds upon HUD’s successful Lead Hazard Control programs to expand its efforts to address a variety of environmental health and safety concerns including: mold , lead , allergens/ asthma, air quality gases and VOCs , pesticides , and radon .”

Learn More – https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/hhi

New Healthy Homes Strategic Plan  -https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_13701.pdf

Healthy Communities

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) developed the Healthy Communities Program (HCP).  The program uses local, state, territory, and national partnerships to attempt to prevent chronic diseases and reduce health disparities (Note: For me this is a buzz word related to equity, we will never have equal outcomes in communities because of genetics, individual choice, and economics, and lifestyle issues, but we can attempt to treat all individuals equally).

Nearly 50% Americans die of one chronic disease, such as: heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer (polycythemica vera/ radon), obesity, and arthritis.

Chronic diseases make up 7 of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States and based on our recent experience with COVID, these diseases made individuals more vulnerable to the negative and adverse impacts associated with COVID-19. Not only can these diseases result in death, they can also be associated with chronic pain, inability to function and support an individual or family, limit daily activities, and significant impact a family’s budget and health care costs.

The Healthy Communities Program attempts to raise awareness and provide fact-based information, but also encourage citizens to make better choices, increase physical activity, make better food choices, and reduce the use of tobacco. These efforts addressed key factors that raise the risk of disease, including: CDC funded 331 communities and 52 state and territorial health departments through HCP .

Healthy Drinking Water/ Water Initiatives

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) implemented an education and information about healthy water, including drinking water, swimming / recreational water  , diseases related to poor sanitation and hygiene and waterborne disease , and and how to make water safe to drink in emergencies for outbreaks, preparedness, and response.

The Know Your H20 Program started our education outreach efforts in 1985 and created a formal program known as the Homeowner Outreach Program in 1989 and part of our program includes educating users about current and historic hazards in their communities (Neighborhood Hazard Report), community outreach efforts, asbestos, “Forever Chemicals (pfos, pfoa)“, and fact based information on drinking water and other environmental contaminants.

Drinking water comes from a variety of sources including public water systems , private wells , or bottled water. Ensuring safe and healthy drinking water may be as simple as turning on the tap from an EPA-regulated public water system. Other water sources may need to have point-of-use or whole house filtration systems, citizens educated and informed, water quality monitored, water distribution systems flushed and septic systems need to be serviced or inspected. It is important to know where drinking water comes from, how it’s been treated, and if it’s safe to drink.  Therefore, it is important to Know Your H20 and Get on the Path to Clean Water.

Call to Action:

Step 1: Get Informed
Step 2: Get Tested
Step 3: Get Treatment

Learn More at https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/index.html