Do not Drink the Water — What the..!
If you live in the Waimate area of South Canterbury, this week, health officials have issued a "Do not drink the water notice".
I am horrified that this kind of pollution exists in clean, green New Zealand and is on the increase. This is due to the intensification of agriculture, using nitrogen-based fertilisers and their residue getting into the water table. Once it is dribbling into the aquifers, levels may remain elevated for many years even if using these fertilisers was ceased overnight, which will not happen.
Health Risks
Nitrates are incredibly toxic, especially to pregnant women and babies.
Blue Baby Syndrome — This is not about having a sad infant, but rather a serious condition called methemoglobinemia, where the blood's ability to carry oxygen is compromised. Babies under six months are particularly at risk, looking rather blue, as their name suggests.
Increased Cancer Risk — Studies have been whispering (and sometimes shouting) about a potential link between high nitrate intake and cancers like colorectal, ovarian, and bladder cancer. It is like your body's internal alarm system for saying, "Hey, could we maybe cut down on the nitrates?"
Prostate Cancer — For the gentlemen among us, long-term exposure to nitrates in drinking water might be waving a flag of concern for prostate cancer.
Thyroid Function — I would say about 80 percent of the women, and 60 percent of the men who seek my assistance for their health have thyroid-related issues. Does this have anything to do with exposure to toxins that include nitrates? I think so.
Other Health Niggles — There is chatter about other health effects like hypertension, fatigue, all kinds of immune disorders, headaches, and even an association with preterm birth or low birth weight. It is like your body throwing up its hands and saying, "Enough with the nitrates, please!"
Bottle-fed babies!
Indeed, they are like the front-runners in the race to the "blue baby" finish line when it comes to high-nitrate water:
Methemoglobinemia - Bottle-fed babies under six months are the most likely to get this condition because their small bodies have not figured out how to change nitrates to nitrites correctly. This can lead to oxygen shortages in the blood.
Why Them? - Their higher water intake relative to body size means more nitrates per pound of baby, and their digestive systems are not as efficient at dealing with these compounds yet.
I worry for anyone young or old, who works and exercises hard, sweating away and, thus drinking large volumes of water. This concern applies not just to water that is contaminated with nitrates, but also to water that is fluoridated.
Remedies
So, if you live in an area of New Zealand that has anything other than minuscule levels of this toxin, what do you do about it to protect your family? Of course, the best solution is to have water that is from a source that is not contaminated by nitrates. Demand of whatever agency supplies your water that it is pure and not contaminated — after all, it is clean water that you are paying for. Put the onus on them — do not let them off the hook while you put in place short-term remedies, such as what I am recommending here. Sadly, remedying the source of the problem may take years, so you must take action yourself to protect your family from this and other toxins, such as fluoride.
First Action
If you live in an area where elevated levels of toxins such as nitrates are known, or where a "no drink" notice has been issued, then find a replacement source of water for drinking and cooking. This may include purchasing bottled water — an option I am very reluctant to recommend because of the environmental impact of plastic bottles. Besides, how can we ever accept that we cannot drink our tap water in NZ!
Second Action
Fit a water filter system to reduce toxins from your tap water for drinking and cooking. We have done this with our water here in Wellington to remove fluoride. I sweat a lot, so end up drinking so much water that I risk far exceeding safe limits for fluoride intake (safe should be zero, or close to it for fluoride, by the way).
But do not just rush out and buy any kind of filter — make sure you get an affordable setup that does the job for you. Like painting and decorating a room, it is the preparation that is crucial for a good job to be done. I recommend you seek the advice of water treatment specialists, such as the good people at Purewater Products, who I have been recommending people consult because they give good advice. I asked Julie of Purewater for a few words of advice for this article, and this is what she wrote:
We certainly have issues in some areas of New Zealand with higher than acceptable ground water nitrate levels.
Any Nitrate level exceeding the Maximum Acceptable Value (MAV) in the NZ Drinking Water Standards is a real concern for the health of individuals and families consuming this water. To this end, we do a huge amount of work in the removal of nitrates from ground water supplies to ensure the water is safe to drink. We have a range of solutions and are working with clients constantly around the testing of their ground water supplies to measure their actual nitrate levels and other contaminants that may impact on health.
If households have concerns around higher than desirable Nitrate levels either from a private domestic supply or any treated municipal water supply, then they can contact us to gain advice on how to treat these high Nitrate levels. This includes anyone on a ground water supply, including spring, bore, and well water supplies.
In terms of filtration solutions, we have a range of products that are effective in reducing Nitrate levels. However, the correct set-up and installation is critical, and we can provide advice on this. To achieve good results in terms of Nitrate removal, we consider factors like how high the nitrate level is, and the flow rate and capacity of each filter system being recommended. So, solutions are formulated on a case-by-case basis.
Our preferred starting point is always a reliable ground water test for those on domestic self-supplies. It is also important to ensure the process of taking the water sample is correct. I would suggest completing a full water test through an accredited laboratory to find out what contaminants may be in the water supply. This can affect what we recommend and how the system is set up. We also consider if the ground supply is going into storage, as this brings other factors into play such as potential bacterial contamination.
At Purewater Products, we are happy to answer any questions and make recommendations for the most suitable filtration to remove nitrates from any water supply. Ongoing maintenance is key to maintaining performance, so this needs to be considered with any solutions provided.
In a nutshell, we have extensive experience in this area and can achieve good results regarding the removal of Nitrates. However, the chosen system, set up, and maintenance are all key.
Julie Cleaver
Support Natural Body Detoxification Processes
In today's world, we are constantly facing harmful toxins, whether we want to or not. It is essential that we take steps to reduce our exposure, but it is just as crucial to maintain good health and proper nutrition to counter and eliminate these toxins quickly.
My Citrus Peel Drink recipe is a nutrient-packed, health-promoting beverage made by blending organic citrus peels with filtered water, a touch of natural sweetener like manuka honey, and optional herbs such as kawakawa or dandelion. This drink harnesses the potent antioxidants, flavonoids, and oils found in citrus peel, offering benefits like improved digestion, detoxification support, and enhanced immune function. By making it fresh at home, you can avoid the chemicals often found in commercial beverages while enjoying a revitalising and delicious drink that aligns with natural wellness principles.
Conclusion
It is shocking that in a country as renowned for its "clean, green" image as New Zealand, water contamination remains a serious and growing issue. The Waimate crisis is a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of agricultural intensification and inadequate oversight of our water sources.
Families need to act quickly, especially to protect their pregnant women and children from these toxins. They need to find safe water and install the right filters. They also need to demand that those responsible for making sure the supply chain is safe — from rain to the tap — and are held accountable for their failures.
We saw this coming.
We must hold water providers and policymakers to higher standards to ensure that clean, safe drinking water is not just an expectation but a guarantee for all New Zealanders.
Yorumlar