Did you know – a normal human being cannot survive without water for more than five days. Body temperature cannot be maintained without water and its deficiency can lead to dehydration. In fact, every cell of a human body requires water to function. Children also need water – actually they need fluoride. Hence, tap water is definitely a good option for them.
According to the World Health Organization, over 1.2 billion people across the world do not have access to safe drinking water. One of the countries with safest drinking water is the United States. However, some states are very rigid when it comes to water regulations – or you can say, they are being safer.
Is Direct Tap Water OR Filtered Tap water Safe for Children?
Parents usually ask if filtered tap water is safe for their children. A lot of research and analysis have been done by organizations to understand the safety of drinking water. They say, tap water is safe for children but filtered tap water is definitely better.
Location plays an important role in the quality of available drinking water. And different methods and treatments can be used to treat water depending on the area and the quality of water there.
Besides tap water being certified as OK by many government agencies, water could still not be pure. A new finding has come up that tap water contains micro-plastics. Although it is not known how harmful this could be to humans, how do we take a chance with our kids! However, it is recommended to boil or filter tap water for children. Boiling reduces the chances of illness caused due to contaminated water.
Direct tap water is anyway not recommended for babies less than six months. Boil the water every time you prepare the milk formula for them. This process removes only the bacteria leaving behind other contaminants in the water, which are actually required by the infant body.
Once the baby is six months, direct tap water can be given to them. Water filters are a good way to removes contaminants which include chemicals, germs, radioactive particles, etc. A well-tested carbon block filter can be installed on the faucet.
Purify your Drinking Water
Water from the tap is safe but home water purifiers are recommended to further improve the quality of water. They also enhance the taste and remove odors along with contaminants.
In-house filtration systems usually follow these techniques:
- Filtration Process
- Reverse Osmosis Filtration
- UV Light Treatment
Various other filtration processes are used to purify water such as sedimentation, disinfection process, flocculation, etc.
Purification of water using filters can remove chemicals and contaminants which can be harmful to children. It also changes the taste of water which can be unpleasant due to chemicals or organic matter in it. Various filter systems such as iron water filter or Reverse Osmosis System can be installed in-house to further purify tap water.
Take no chances with your children’s health! They can be more vulnerable than adults. Provide them safe filtered drinking water reducing the risk of getting infections. However, make sure you follow the regulations and maintain the water purification system well.
Also Read: How Safe is Tap Water for Drinking? Water Filtration & Purification – What’s the Difference?