Health Update

by Ching M. Alano

Long time ago, there was just one kind of water — the one that you drank straight from the tap or faucet. No fuss, no muss; no fear, no tears. Life was pure and so much simpler then.

Fast-forward to today: Most people dread drinking tap water like the plague. Which is probably why even at home, everybody drinks bottled (mineral) water (we do!). Fact is, some people never leave home without a small bottle of water stashed away in their bags; they bring one anywhere they go it’s almost an indispensable accessory.

Bottled water or tap water?

Of course, the choice is crystal clear, especially in areas where tap water may be contaminated. Barring that, the only difference between some bottled water and tap water, according to the International Bottled Water Association, is that one is distributed in bottles while the other comes from the pipes.

Of course, when you’re traveling, even chlorination won’t protect you from some enteric viruses and parasitic organisms that cause amebiasis, according to Carol Turkington, author of Protect Yourself from Contaminated Food & Drink. So, when in doubt about the safety of the water, especially if you’re a first-time visitor to the place, these are the only safe things to drink, according to Turkington: boiled water (but more on that a bit later); hot beverages made with water that has been boiled, like coffee or tea; canned or bottled carbonated beverages (I have a friend who used to work at Coca-Cola and was brainwashed by her boss to drink only Coke when she goes on assignments to far-flung provinces like Tawi-Tawi); beer and wine — we’ll drink to that!

But because you like your beer or soft drink ice-cold, you ask for some ice. Here’s hot warning from Turkington: “Don’t use ice that may have been made from unsafe water (wish we knew). If you’re drinking directly from a can or bottle, wipe it off first so that it’s clean and dry, because water on the surface of the container may be unsafe (we’re also warned about rat urine that may have collected on the lids of soft drinks coming from rat-infested factories). Don’t brush or rinse your teeth with water that may be contaminated.”

On the other hand, for people in the lower income bracket, the World Wildlife Fund says that boiled or filtered water is still the best bet.

How to treat water?

Try this: Boil vigorously for a few minutes, or use a chemical disinfectant. You can chemically disinfect with either chlorine or iodine (chemical disinfectants are available in drug stores).

Allow water to cool on its own before drinking (don’t add ice to cool it down). To improve the taste, add a pinch of salt or pour the water from one container to another.

So go ahead — eat, drink, and be wary.

Source: Philippine Star