Oftentimes we take our tap water for granted knowing that the water we are drinking won't make us ill. It's a luxury that millions are not so privileged to enjoy. However, when we take a closer look at our water, perhaps there is reason to pause before declaring our tap water perfectly safe.

The Environmental Working Group compiled over 20 million state water test records and found 315 different pollutants in standard city tap water. The question then becomes How can you protect yourself?

Start by getting a free water test. Our water consultants can come to your house and complete a standard water test that will identify the quantity of hardness, or liming, and iron in your water. We also have copies, provided upon request, of your most recent local water tests provided by the city. This service valued at $79 is free to you if you call in and mention code WAEN611. Do you know someone who might need their water tested? Click here to email them this information.

If your concerns run deeper than our standard tests, we can always provide an in-depth laboratory analysis of your water. You should familiarize yourself with the contaminants that are in your drinking water, their effects and what you can do to remove those contaminants. Our water consultants are well versed regarding the different types of filtration systems that can be employed to remove a large variety of contaminants found in both tap and well water.

Across the United States, 75% of the water filtered for human consumption comes directly from surface water which tends to be heavily polluted. Nitrates from farm run-off, gasoline additives and dissolved pharmaceuticals are all common elements found in many city drinking water samples. City water filtration systems are only able, and required, to take out certain contaminants from raw water.

The purpose of city water filtration systems is to treat groundwater or surface water into potable water for consumption purposes. These filtration plants remove turbidity, or visible particles that cause cloudy water, and they add chemicals to kill viruses and bacteria. The other purpose of these plants is to test, maintain and attempt to reduce an already enormous and growing array of harmful contaminants that can actually poison our bodies. Heavy metals and organic compounds easily slip through standard filtration systems and in many cases our cities are not required to try to remove these contaminants but only to monitor to ensure that they remain under certain levels.

It is time to take your health and well-being into your own hands. Educate yourself about what is truly in your water and have our water consultants walk you through the contaminants, what they mean and how you can protect yourself. This promotion expires on June 30th, 2011.