Water is more than a thirst quencher. It is  a vehicle for carrying nutrients to your cells. Water also acts as a natural lubricant to limbs and joints.

Water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in achieving or maintaining desired weight.

Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

Most people drink less water than their bodies require. The most common mild dehydration symptoms are: Dizziness - Sense of not feeling mentally sharp - Minor headaches - Loss of appetite

Bad tastes and odors - These are caused by chlorine, commonly used by municipalities to disinfect the water supply. They are also caused by tea-like extracts of dead leaves, and by metals such as iron and copper.

Bacteria and viruses - They can cause infectious diseases such as typhoid fever and hepatitis. A chemist in a Texas university examined a glass of water under a high powered microscope. He found tiny bits of paper which turned out to be toilet paper, and 85% of the water contained blood- worms and hair shavings!

Arsenic - This can cause damage to the kidneys, liver, and nervous system. It can also cause cancer.

Heavy metals - High levels of cadmium, mercury and lead in drinking water can cause nerve damage, mental retardation, birth defects and cancer.

Lead - It is estimated that 40 million Americans currently drink water containing more than the limit set by the EPA. Lead poisoning can cause mental retardation and birth defects.

Synthetic organic chemicals - One example is pesticides, which are carried into groundwater by rain. They can cause respiratory and nerve disorders

Trichlorethanes (THM's) - These are formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water, such as from decaying leaves. They can cause cancer.

Volatile organic chemicals - Example of these are gasoline, solvents, and industrial cleaners. They can cause many illnesses including liver cancer and leukemia.

Q. Water: why is there a concern?

A. For years, chemicals have entered our water system as waste from the manufacturing industry, leaching from the thousands of landfill dump sites and directly from untreated sewage disposal. Pesticides, herbicides and insecticides used in agriculture enter through seepage and normal drainage. Acid rain, which now affects us globally, continually contaminates our polar caps and surface water supplies.

Q. Where are these contaminants coming from?

A. There have been a half-million new chemicals developed since 1965 alone. Most of these organic pollutants are modern hydrocarbon chemicals such as plastic and pesticides.  Some are no biodegradable. Most are soluble in water, and thousands are known to be toxic.

Q. Is there a quick fix in a bottled water?

A.  A growing number of Americans are turning to bottled water as an alternative to tap water. You've tried bottled water - so you know the expense and inconvenience of having to purchase a new supply every week and carry it home. Furthermore, every year millions of empty bottled water jugs are dumped in our landscape and add more waste to our environment.

Q. Why buy your Water Filters and not some other system ?

A. Our water filters are very effective high capacity filters which last longer and inhibit bacteria growth they are designed to produce healthy,  great tasting  water! The filters are  so easy to use, there are no expensive cartridges to install or replace.

Q. How do I determine when the filter must be replaced?

A. When the unit needs to be replaced, the flow of water will automatically either stop or slow down greatly.

Q. Do you have a filter that removes the fluoride that is added to municipal water systems?

A. Our water filters will remove some of the fluoride (30 to 50 percent) added to municipal water systems.  A special fluoride filter is required to remove all of the fluoride.

Q.  Can you use CRYSTAL QUEST Water filters  for filtering well water?

A. Yes, you can filter well water with our water filters and it is recommended that you use a Prefiltration Filter.

Washable Prefiltration Filter.. Specially designed for use with any kind of water system with an unusually large amount of sediment that can clog up the water filter.

This prefilter helps remove the sediment thus enabling your filter to work more efficiently. Inside is a fine stainless steel filter and an FDA 4 micron filter that are easy to keep clean.

Q. Can the filter get clogged or water output slows down?

A. Our water filters may clog or slow down if there is too much sediment in your water.  It is suggested that you back wash it.

Q. Do the CRYSTAL QUEST filters contain silver, which is known to kill bacteria?

A.  Silver is combined with some carbon filters to inhibit bacteria, but it's not safe to ingest silver. CRYSTAL QUEST  water filters  inhibit bacteria growth throughout the entire unit (They reduce it up to 90%!) and it is safe. If you are concerned a bout bacteria you can also disinfect the unit.

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WATER QUALITY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: How serious a health problem is the contamination of the drinking water in the U.S.?

A: According to recent reports from the E.P.A. and other watchdog environmental groups, between 30 to 53 million people are drinking unsafe, contaminated water. Contaminants include bacteria, parasites, lead, chemicals and other toxic substances. The E.P.A. has ranked water contamination in the top four public health problems.

Q: What high risk groups should be particularly concerned about protecting their drinking water from parasites?

A: Among AIDS patients, cryptosporidosis is regarded as a leading cause of the wasting syndrome that frequently leads to death. Other high risk groups include, individuals suffering from immune deficiency, are undergoing chemotherapy, are HIV positive, organ transplant recipients, people with viral illness and in general children under 2 years of age and the elderly.

Q: What are some of the symptoms of Waterborne Disease?

A: Acute gastrointestinal symptoms such as profuse water diarrhea lasting up to several weeks, also may include nausea, abdominal cramps and a low grade fever.

Q: Why do I need a tap water filter for my home, since water treatment plants are supposed to filter our water?

A: Often tiny bacteria, parasites, and other contaminants slip through and infect your water after it leaves the reservoir. Then sediment and lead enter the water as it flows through the pipes to your tap. In addition, chlorine by-products (known carcinogens) form as chlorine mixes with organic matter in the water.

Q: Doesn’t chlorine kill the germs in the water supply?

A: Chlorine kills a lot of the bacteria, but it cannot kill the parasites cryptosporidium and giardia--these spores are resistant to chlorination. The only way to filter them is through mechanical, not chemical means (a filter with an extremely small pore size). Also, the chlorine that is initially used to disinfect our water actually poses one of the biggest potential health hazards. Scientists learned only in the 1970's that while chlorine kills bacteria, it alsointeracts with organic materials from toilet waste to leaves, and creates hundreds of toxic new compounds called "chlorination by-products." Studies have shown that drinking chlorinated water contributes to around 10,000 cases of rectal and bladder cancers every year.

Q: What was responsible for causing the water scares and boil alerts in Milwaukee, New York City, and Washington, D.C. last year?

A: A parasite called cryptosporidium is responsible for the contamination in both Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. and E. Coli bacteria was the culprit in New York City last summer. These contaminants are unable to be killed by chlorination and therefore must be removed with a home filtration unit and is the only method that can take out 99.99% of these contaminants. Over 50% of the municipal water supplies tested across the U.S. have Crypto, according to water experts.

Q: Does any filtration method remove parasites and bacterial contaminants?

A: Yes. The new EPA/CDC guidelines recommend only filters with a one micron or less absolute pore size to reliably remove parasites and bacteria. A 0.5 micron rated ceramic filter removes bacteria and parasites (even resistant Cryptosporidium and giardia). Leading water expert, Dr. Lemley of Cornell University, recommends only filters that meet NSF standard 53. Other filters have pores that are too large to stop dangerous microorganisms. Ceramic also protects the carbon inside it from breeding bacteria which is a problem with standard carbon filters.

Q: Is there any other way to take out the parasites from the water?

A: The only way to remove parasites is by boiling the water for at least 10-15 minutes. However, this does not remove chemicals, chlorine or lead and actually concentrates them. Also, boiling is not a practical way to produce clean water. Other methods such as ultraviolet treatment, ozone, and reverse osmosis are not rated as effective for treating parasites.

Q. Why can’t I just drink bottled water?

A: Even bottled water contains impurities. The FDA has no regulations on the bottled water industry for cryptosporidium. (On Dateline NBC, on 9/28/94, the head of the EPA, Carol Browner stated that "bottled water is not tested"; there are no requirements to test for crypto.)

In fact, a 1989 report published by the Environmental Institute asserted that one-third of bottled water is straight from the tap! And another study found that more than half of all bottled water contains chemical contaminants.

Plus, bottled water is far more expensive than tap water that is purified with a residential filter unit. Bottled water can cost you hundreds of dollars a year, and you even have to lug the heavy bottles home. And, of course, it’s too difficult to use bottled water for things like rinsing fruits and vegetables.

Q: How will a person know if they have bacteria, parasites or other harmful contaminants in their water?

A: First they can call their water supplier and ask for the yearly test results on their drinking water supply. If they have well water it should be tested for bacteria and chemical contaminants. If they are experiencing any intestinal symptoms then they should suspect either bacteria or parasites in their water.

Q: What are reasonable precautions to take if one is not certain about the quality of their water?

A: If you smell any unusual odor or taste anything objectionable in your drinking water, then a certified filter is recommended. If the tests show any bacteria, then a ceramic filter is advised.

Ten Tips for Proper Hydration

• Drink at least eight 8-ounce servings of water each day. The more active you are, the more water you need to replenish lost fluids

• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water. By the time you feel thirsty, you have probably already lost two or more cups of your total body water composition.

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Convenience is a must, so carry a bottle of water with you as you commute to work, run errands or enjoy a day at the beach. While at work, keep a bottle of water on your desk, or visit the office water cooler and take a water break rather than a coffee break.

• Don’t substitute beverages with alcohol or caffeine for water. Caffeine and alcohol act as diuretic beverages and can cause you to lose water through increased urination.

• Once you start exercising, drink water throughout your workout. Keep a bottle of water with you and take frequent water breaks.

• Don’t underestimate the amount of fluids lost from perspiration. Following a workout, you need to drink two cups of water for each pound lost.

• Start and end your day with water. Your body loses water while you sleep, so drink a serving before bed and again when you wake up.

• Common colds and the flu frequently lead to dehydration. Keep a large bottle of water next to your bed so you can sip it throughout the day without having to get up.

• Cool water – not carbonated beverages or sports drinks – is the best fluid for keeping hydrated when it’s warm outside. Cool water is absorbed much more quickly than warm fluids and may help to cool off your overheated body. If you’re going to be away from home or outdoors, make sure you keep a bottle of water close by.

• Make sure your children drink enough water. Children need water to balance their intake of other beverages – especially during activities. Packing bottled water in a child’s lunch instead of juice or regular soda can also help prevent childhood obesity.