VIDEO: Tips on achieving healthier water from a filtration expert

Finally! I finally had a great conversation with a water filtration expert.

After researching effective water filtration for my home throughout the years, I was always unsure whether I chose effective filtration for my local tap water. I suspected that there was probably a better solution for my household.

And I spoke to various experts whenever I could, but I still felt unsure. However, I finally feel comfortable after speaking to water filtration expert Matt Kaye of Better Waters.

Matt was recommended to me by a respected professional who had been evaluating high-quality water filtration for high-end commercial real estate projects in Manhattan. I've been so impressed by Matt's knowledge and ability to explain water quality issues in a way that's easy to understand. It was fascinating to learn more about water before it's released through our kitchen faucets, especially because I drink lots of water and I know that not all water is the same.

In our most recent online video conversation, which is especially timely given growing concerns over elevated lead levels that the Flint water crisis is raising, Matt and I discussed the best strategies to learn what's in your water supply, which filters are practical options, if bottled water is healthier than tap, and key steps to achieving healthier water.

The full video, as well as an overview and helpful links on water filtration, are available below.

On Monday March 14, Matt and I will talk about one filter he thinks will work great for most municipal drinking water, and is definitely great for NYC drinking water. Join us, and please ask questions! On Wednesday March 16, I'll also be talking about mattresses: How and why to choose an organic mattress. Subscribe to my Blab channel to receive an automatic reminder once we go live!

If you can't join the free, live Blab conversations (during which you can also participate), then subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the recorded conversations, which are also available on Blab.

Practical Water Filtration To Reduce Contaminants in Your Water

Guest: Matt Kaye, President of Better Waters.

Better Waters, founded in 1998 by its current President Matt Kaye, supplies building-wide filtration and storm water reuse systems to the great majority of real estate development companies active in New York City, supports the work of perhaps every mechanical engineering firm specifying water tech for new residential projects, and supplies its high performance drinking water filtration technologies to a growing population of consumers passionate about taking control of their consumable water quality.

Topics covered:

• Should your water be filtered?
• Which filter options are best for your water supply?
• Is bottled or tap water better?
• What key steps should one take to achieve healthier water?

Helpful resources: 

Finding information on your water supply:

• Community water systems are required by the EPA to offer annual drinking water quality reports to their customers by July 1st of each year, including results of lead testing. Check out the EPA website to access links to such data.
• The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a trusted source for information on contaminants and health, offers tips for safe water, help on choosing a great water filter, research, and a list of cities with the best water.
• New York City Environmental Protection offers helpful information on NYC water supply systems and water quality reports.
• The American Dental Association recommends avoiding fluoride when reconstituting formula for babies. For more information, visit the EWG.
• NSF, or the National Sanitation Foundation, is an independent global health and safety organization, that tests and certifies products and writes standards for the food, water and consumer goods industries. Their website features helpful resources for better water, including a guide for understanding lead in drinking water, a list of NSF certified water filters, and the importance of changing filters.
• National Testing Laboratories offers various tests for both city and well water. The staff is very knowledgeable, and is willing to provide a very thorough overview of what to expect from the test, what important details to keep in mind, and how to analyze your test results.

Considering filtration options:

• Reach out to Better Waters to explore whether Matt can help you with your filtration needs. If you're in an affected area, then Matt has generously offered to sell water filters at a 50% discount! More details can be found in my next post.
• The Environmental Working Group offers resources to help you find a filter that suits your water.

Accessing the quality of bottled water:

• Check out the EWG's Bottled Water Scorecard to learn more about which brands are safe.

If your water contains lead that exceeds the EPA's action level of 15 ppb:

• The CDC offers helpful tips on what to do if your water contains elevated levels of lead.