When it comes to drinking water, recent surveys have shown that bottled water drinkers choose their drinks based off of taste (99%), quality (99%), and safety (92%). People often turn to bottled water because they think it’s a safer alternative and it tastes better than their tap water. But, is bottled water really as pure as you think?

Unfortunately, recent studies show it may not be. Research recently revealed that while meeting FDA standards, some types of bottled water still contain potentially unsafe levels of arsenic. Over the last decade, Consumer Reports has studied water reports for over 130 bottled water brands. The result? At least 11 bottled water brands had detectable amounts of arsenic.

This issue became even more prominent between late 2016 and early 2017 when Whole Foods’ water brand, Starkey Water, recalled 2,000 cases of bottled water. Tests showed an unacceptable level of arsenic, which exceeded the federally mandated limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb). Just one year later, however, the same company’s internal testing showed that their results were just under the federal limit, but still close enough to create health concerns if regularly consumed.

Today, Consumer Reports is urging another full recall of certain bottled water brands and requesting stricter federal standards in its recent article.

What is Arsenic and How Does it Affect the Body?
Arsenic is a naturally-occurring element found in rocks and soil and is used in the agriculture industry as a pesticide. It can end up in the water supply when certain types of rocks and minerals erode over time or from agricultural runoff.

Arsenic is tasteless and odorless. It can be highly toxic at certain levels, which is why the EPA set the standard for drinking water at 10 ppb or less. It’s not often we have to measure anything by parts per billion, but to put it in perspective we can think of an average 16’x50’ swimming pool that holds 10,000 gallons of water. If you take an eye dropper and squeeze in 10 drops of orange juice, that swimming pool now has 10 ppb of orange juice in it.

Scale that ratio down to the amount of water inside the bottle you just picked up from the grocery store, and the amount of acceptable arsenic inside is minuscule!

According to the EPA, non-cancer side effects of drinking water with elevated levels of arsenic include:

• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Numbness in hands and feet
• Partial paralysis
• Blindness
• Discoloration of skin
• Long-term, chronic exposure has been linked to cancers, says the EPA.

The possible health risks of arsenic are precisely the reason drinking water, such as bottled or municipal water, is required to be tested. It’s also the reason why Consumer Reports and other independent researchers are trying to get the federal limit for arsenic in water to be lowered from 10 ppb to 3 ppb.

What’s the Difference in Bottled Water?
When you go to the grocery store today, you’re likely overwhelmed by bottled water options. Spring water, purified water, distilled water… what’s the difference and how is it treated?

The key differences in bottled water are the water source and the type of filtration. For instance, spring water comes from a natural underground aquifer and goes through a filtration process to remove particles and unwanted contaminants – this is likely a type of carbon filtration to improve taste and odor. Spring water contains natural minerals and contaminants.

Purified or distilled water generally comes from municipal tap water or spring water, goes through an additional purification process such as deionization, distillation, or possibly reverse osmosis that would reduce arsenic content. The problem is that consumers don’t always know how the water is treated because of bottled water brands’ unclear labeling.

At the end of the day, everything sounds like it’s been purified properly, but as Consumer Reports’ research revealed, contaminants such as arsenic may still exist.

What are the Alternatives to Bottled Water?
As a consumer, it’s hard to know what’s pure and what’s not. The good news is that there are alternatives that are not only safer to consume, but come right from the faucet in your home. An R.O. system is the best way to get great-tasting, pure drinking water for your home. With an R.O. system, you can drastically reduce unwanted contaminants.

R.O. systems have a special membrane that filters out many microscopic organisms and heavy metals such as:

• arsenic
• barium
• chromium
• copper
• cyst (cryptosporidium)
• fluoride
• lead
• nitrates and nitrites (hexavalent & trivalent)
• radium
• selenium
• total dissolved solids (TDS)

Lindysprings Impression Series® R.O. systems are tested and certified for contaminant removal.


Say Goodbye to Bottled Water
When you switch to a safe alternative to bottled water, you not only reduce the risk of unhealthy amounts of arsenic consumption, but you reduce a lot of waste that often ends up unrecycled and in landfills. Water bottles can be expensive, and over time switching will likely pay for itself as you only pay pennies per gallon when you filter the water yourself versus individual bottles.

Count On Lindyspring Systems!
Lindyspring Systems offers a wide array of products and solutions to fit every water treatment need. We sell and lease residential and commercial water treatment systems at Lake of the Ozarks. Any type of water problem can be taken care of by us. We also deliver to your home or business 40 lb. bags of coarse solar salt and 40 lb. bags of potassium chloride. Do you want to learn more about the water services we provide? Visit our website for more information.

For All Your Household Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!

Some minerals are important for a healthy body and mind. We can get those essential minerals by consumption of foods and drinks. However, there are some minerals often found in our drinking water that can be harmful to the body when too much is consumed. Lindyspring Systems has come up with a list of the 3 most common minerals found in drinking water that can be harmful if consumed.

1. Fluoride

You use your home's water source every day, but do you know what's in your water? Contaminants such as iron, manganese, hardness minerals, or acidic water can damage your plumbing and appliances. Not only that, but some contaminants can even be harmful to your health! So how can you tell if you have water issues with your home's water supply? Ask yourself these questions:

What Does it Smell Like?

• If your water has an earthy or musty odor, this could be an indication of Iron bacteria.
• If it smells like a fish tank, your water is possibly contaminated with Barium, Cadmium, or Chloramines
• If you've got the wet dog smell, there is likely bacteria or metal in your plumbing pipes.
• Rotten egg smell indicates Hydrogen Sulfide contamination.

What Does it Taste Like?

• If your tap water tastes like a swimming pool, you could have high levels of Chlorine in your water supply.
• Sweet tasting water indicates high Iron or Calcium levels.
• If your water tastes like metal, you probably have an Iron or Manganese problem.
• A medicinal or bitter taste could be caused from Copper.

Does it Look...

• Orange colored water is an indication of corrosion or excess Iron.
• Cloudy water means you have high turbidity or air bubbles in your supply.
• Blue/green water means there could be Copper or Algae in your water.

If You Have Hard Water...
Many people who bathe with hard water notice dry skin and even hard or bumpy patches. The minerals that are present in hard water means that the cleansing products used while showering don’t completely rinse from your body. You could be experiencing soap scum buildup, dry skin and hair, faded laundry and spotty dishes. Hard water also causes scale buildup which causes appliances to wear out faster. Minerals in hard water can also affect the texture and appearance of food. Keep in mind, if you don’t like the flavor or odor of your tap water, it could be making its way into your food, too. When you cook dry food like rice, noodles, and beans, it may be absorbing that same flavor. The same goes for boiling or blanching your vegetables.

Invisible Water Problems:
Some water problems are undetectable by human senses and may be a serious contamination issue. Some of these common and hazardous issues are:

• Lead
• Arsenic
• Nitrates
• Chromium

Water problems can be a real mystery. Let one of our specialists check things out for you with a free, in-home water analysis. Contact us today to have a water treatment professional come out to test your water supply. Whatever your water problem is, we've got a treatment system to solve even the toughest of water problems!

For All Your Household Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!

Pets are family members. We make every effort to ensure their safety and health. We take them to the vet, we feed them healthy food and we try to give them plenty of exercise. But have you thought about the water you're allowing them to drink? If you're filling their water bowl from the tap with untreated, unfiltered water, you could be putting them at risk for illnesses. Water from the tap, if untreated, can be very hard and have lots of contaminants in the water as well, such as lead, copper, fluoride and chlorine. In today's blog, the best water treatment company at the Lake of the Ozarks explains some of the reasons why you should give your pets filtered water.

1. To Avoid Contaminants
Tap water has many different contaminants. A filter can get rid of all of these contaminants, making the water safe for all who drink it. By giving your dog filtered water, you can help to prevent illnesses that may occur if your dog were to drink unfiltered water. The fewer contaminants that your pet ingests, the better chances it has of maintaining a strong immune system. Giving a dog filtered water can also reduce the number of allergies. If you are out and about with your pet, fill up a water bottle with filtered water for them to drink.

2. To Help Regulate Water Intake
Water is an important part of a dog’s diet. Much like humans, if dogs don't get the appropriate amount of water, they can incur serious ailments. Not drinking enough water can cause them to become dehydrated and make them sick. However, too much water can cause stomach issues like bloating. Having cold, filtered water can help them control the amount of water they intake and keep them healthy.

3. Because It Tastes Better
Pets can be finicky when it comes to the water they drink. And while you may be thinking 'my dog drinks from the toilet, there's no way he/she is picky about their water', that's actually WHY they're choosing to drink from the toilet. Believe it or not, pets sometimes prefer to drink out of the toilet than the tap water that has been sitting out in their drinking bowl because it's fresh and cold, and typically has fewer chemicals. If you want to ensure that your dog is drinking clean water, not from the toilet, be sure to give them fresh, cold filtered water.

Clean Filtered Water For Your Pets From Lindyspring Lake of the Ozarks
If you are not drinking the tap water, why would you give it to your pets? Make sure you give them clean drinking water from Lindyspring Systems. We offer a variety of different ways to ensure your home has healthy, clean water, such as drinking water systems, water softeners, water filtration systems and total home systems. To learn more about our water treatment services at the Lake of the Ozarks, visit our website or call us at 573-348-5044.

For All Your Household Water Conditioning and Treatment Needs Count on LINDYSPRING!

Your body relies on certain minerals for maintaining a healthy heart rate, building strong bones, making hormones and boosting brain power. Minerals are important for a healthy body and mind. We can get those essential minerals by consumption of foods and drinks. However, there are some minerals often found in our drinking water that can be harmful to the body when consumed. Lindyspring Systems has come up with a list of the 3 most common minerals found in drinking water that can be harmful if consumed.

1. Fluoride