If you're surprised to find "water" listed as one of the World's Healthiest Foods, you are not alone. Many health-conscious people don't think about water as being "much" of a food if not at all. It is listed so on the basis of nutrient density: providing you with the highest amount and greatest variety of nutrients for ZERO calories.
And what you can get for these zero calories is nothing short of amazing. Mineralised with calcium, magnesium, and a dozen other health-supportive minerals, in addition to the unique role that water plays as a lubricant and solvent, it is the worlds only guaranteed disease-preventing liquid. It acts as a catalyst for bodily chemical reactions, helps the kidneys remove bodily waste, aids in weight loss, keeps you fit and is important for our joints and skin among many other benefits.
Pollution of water has also been a long-standing part of its history. Without proper attention to sanitation, many towns across the globe experienced health epidemics involving bacteria and other micro-organisms found in water. Water pollution has become a real threat to public health in Pakistan: sources have claimed it causes 60% of infant mortality and is now the country's biggest killer. Around 99% of water supplied to the population is unfit for human consumption due to which over 200,000 children under the age of five die from water-borne diseases every year. Children are the main victims of these viral diseases due to low immunity.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says that one in three people in Pakistan are drinking unsafe water and 20 to 40% of people in our hospitals suffer from water borne diseases. The most common viral diseases and illness caused by contaminated water especially in children are Diarrhea, Typhoid fever, Polio, Meningitis, Cholera, Hepatitis A & E and skeletal problems (skeletal fluorosis), including stiffness and pain in joints. If you or your family have ever experienced any of these illnesses your water may be contaminated and unfit for drinking.
Urban water quality in Pakistan has deteriorated dangerously especially in the heavily populated cities like Karachi. Excessive care must be taken by consumers when selecting their brand of water ensuring it is of the highest quality and purest form. It is a common misconception amongst most households that boiling or filtering water at home is sufficient to eliminate all bacteria from water. Not only are these methods tedious and cumbersome they are unsuccessful in purifying water completely.
Boiling and house water filtering eliminates only limited amounts of microbiological contaminants subject to serious bacterial attack and produces flat tasting water that is stripped of vital minerals that your body needs. Some doctors contend that this can lead to multiple mineral deficiencies within the body. Water cannot be boiled or filtered enough at home to reach a pure state: its needs to go through a proper purifying process under a controlled environment to ensure it to be bacteria free, not in an area exposed to immediate contamination such as the kitchen.
Sanitation and pollution of water is by no means an outdated concern. Today however the average buyer seeks security through price and brand image which is an ignorant mindset. We are all concerned about the health of our family and what water they are consuming but convince ourselves of its standard of quality and hygiene the wrong way. A lot of time is generally spent determining why people should drink bottled water but less effort is put into actually finding a reliable bottled water delivery service company.
Instead of doing a little research and finding the best companies that are dedicated to providing high quality bottled water and reliable delivery representatives the consumer seeks the most convenient option and purchases the brand with the greatest image value and high prices almost as if this somehow confirmed that their quality of water would be just as high and ensured. This is a very wrongly conceived notion as many more important issues must be taken into account when choosing your bottled water delivery service.
Firstly, be sure that your choice of water company guarantees that the water has not only been filtered but purified by reverse osmosis system (a system followed by International Bottled Water Association (IBWA)) and contains all essential minerals and is able to identify the source of the water on the bottle. It's important to ignore the brand name here and focus on the information provided to you by the company.
Many waters sounding natural and healthy come from a city water supply in Pakistan that is not high-quality. Some bottled waters list the minerals contained in them and their amounts on the label, but most do not. In fact those who do cannot entirely be relied on as the mineral content label has become somewhat of a standard tag on all bottles for the sake of the consumers trust and satisfaction even though those minerals may not entirely be present in the water.
Therefore it would be better if the consumer is ensured by the suppliers of high quality water which is why it is recommended to visit the company and inquire of their standard procedures. It's also a good idea to research and observe the training and company standards their delivery professionals must go through. Monitor by what means your water is delivered to you and how hygienic the transport conditions and containers are, especially how the empty containers are taken back to the company such as whether the servicemen have a maintained hygiene level or whether the service delivery van is a clean, closed one preventing any forms of open air contamination. Lastly but most importantly, ensure your water company meets or exceeds the standards required by a certified governmental agency such as PSQCA as well as adheres to international standards such as those of ISO.
So take out some time for the sake of your family and follow these simple steps which will ensure you and your family are safe and living a healthy lifestyle. Your body recognizes only PURE WATER; no brands, no free bottles, no high prices but only 100% pure water and it is your responsibility to make sure that is what you get.
(The writer is Managing Director Siz Bottlers.)
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