Look up from your screen for a moment and take in your surroundings. How many pieces of plastic did you spot? If you’re reading this blog from a computer or smartphone, you’re probably touching plastic right this moment. Most plastic requires anywhere from 100 to 400+ years to break down.[1] That means all the plastic […] Continue Reading
Access to clean drinking water in schools comes with many benefits. Generally, hydrated students have more energy and stronger immune systems. Yet, when school water is contaminated with lead, the health risks significantly outweigh the benefits. Research shows many schools across the United States have too much lead in their tap water, but most don’t […] Continue Reading
On the surface, water seems fairly mundane. Yet, mix a pinch of hydrogen with a dash of oxygen and you get a substance powerful enough to sustain life itself. In recent years, that ubiquitous liquid has gotten a bad rep in large part due to human activity. If you’re paying attention to the news, you […] Continue Reading
Think back to your time as a kid. Do you remember what an ordeal it was to stay hydrated at school? Maybe you had to stand in a line of 20 other classmates and wait your turn to guzzle down gulps at the water fountain. Or perhaps when you got older you were given just […] Continue Reading
Prominent man-made chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, have been making headlines in recent years and for a good reason. PFAS are persistent in the environment and in the human body, which means they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time.[1] As industries around the world use the toxic chemicals in their […] Continue Reading
What’s the first thing you think of when you hear or see the word ultraviolet? Do images of black-light posters from the ‘60s flash through your head? Do you wince at the distant memory of a bad sunburn? Perhaps you recall a scene from a 2006 dystopian science fiction action film. Ultraviolent light is ubiquitous. You […] Continue Reading
Tap water may seem simple on the surface but zoom down to a microscopic level and you’ll find a lot more than hydrogen and oxygen. Water treated at local water facilities often contains a series of naturally occurring harmless chemicals, minerals, and sediments. Unfortunately, tap water may also have some level of potentially harmful substance […] Continue Reading
Flavorful water might seem like a bit of an oxymoron to the average person. Yet, ask any water expert and they will tell you otherwise. The taste of tap water can vary from one location to another, especially if you do not use a filtered water dispenser. If your tap water tastes a little off, […] Continue Reading
Water, Water, Everywhere—But Not Always Ready to Drink Our planet is covered by 70% water, yet only 3% of that water is fresh.[1] Of that, about 1.2% of the world’s freshwater can be used as drinking water.[2] Climate change is limiting access to potable water even more, causing shortages, droughts, and floods. World Water Week […] Continue Reading
Why does your local water quality matter if you’re going to filter it anyway? In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets and enforces health standards to remove contaminants in public drinking water. Those standards help ensure clean water is delivered to your homes. Yet, accidents happen, and water pollutants from both natural […] Continue Reading
