By Dr. Lawrence Wilson

Water is not only the most essential substance next to oxygen for human life. It is fantastically complex, often containing hundreds of dissolved minerals and chemicals. It is a marvelous substance whose value is often unrecognized, even by scientists who specialize in the field.



QUALITIES OF WATER




Large textbooks are written about water. Water has a spin, moment, weight, particle size, specific gravity, acidity, hardness, total dissolved solids, boiling point, overall quality and microorganisms. Let us discuss each of these in more detail.



1) Spin. Water molecules spin in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. This influences the waterπs effect on the human body. The spin should be clockwise. When it is reversed, the water pulls minerals from the body and disrupts normal mineral metabolism.



2) Moment. Water has a weight or molecular structure that depends on its moment. Moment is the manner in which a substance behaves in the presence of other substances. Water is, of course, in contact with many substances which influence it and which it in turn influences. Moment has to do with the way water interacts with these substances.



3) Weight. Everyone has heard of heavy water.  All water contains some deuterium as it is commonly present in the earth. The proportion of deuterium gives water its weight. Heavy water is not beneficial as it is radioactive and damages the body.



4) Particle Size. Water contains dissolved particles. These are ions, electrical and protonic particles. The size of these particles also imparts qualities to water that are easily measured with electrical conductivity testers.



5) Specific Gravity. Water has a specific gravity index that also influences its effect on the body. The higher the specific gravity, the more it adheres to cell walls and other structures. This is the viscosity of the water. Ideally, water should have a very low specific gravity. This means the water is wetter and will penetrate the cells better, bringing more nutrients to the cells and carrying away more toxins.



6) Acidity. Water, like all substances, has a degree of acidity or alkalinity that also influences its effects on the body. The higher the pH, the more alkaline the water. Water that is too alkaline or too acid is not healthful. Many people are using machines that alkalinize the water by adding or removing minerals from it. This is often risky as it changes the properties of the water. I do not recommend these machines.



7) Hardness. All naturally-occurring water contains minerals to some degree. Hardness refers to the amount of calcium in the water. I recommend a water that is hard, but not too hard.



8) Total Dissolved Solids. This refers to the total of the minerals contained in the water. This can vary tremendously from various water sources. A good total dissolved solid level (tds) is about 300-400.



9) Boiling Point. Water is said to boil at 212 F. However, the boiling point varies with the altitude. It also varies with the nature of the water. Salt water, for example, boils at a higher temperature. It also freezes at a lower temperature. This is why salt is applied to sidewalks and roads. It causes ice to melt. The boiling point of water is more important than one might imagine. This has to do with vaporization of the water in the body and its excretion through the lungs and skin. Water that boils at a lower temperature will volatilize or vaporize faster. This is beneficial for removing toxic substances from the body. I recommend a water with a low boiling point.

The boiling point depends of course on the minerals in the water. It also depends on the structure of the water and on subtle factors related to the spin, moment, weight and other factors.



10) Overall Quality. This refers to the amounts and ratios of the various minerals and other substances in the water. This is a complex area as there can be over 100 minerals in a particular water plus thousands of toxic chemicals, pesticide residues, pharmaceuticals, solvents and added chemicals in any particular water. Unfortunately, today most water is very contaminated with heavy metals and toxic chemicals.



11) Micro-organisms. All water except perhaps triple distilled laboratory water contains microorganisms. These include bacteria, fungi, parasitic organisms, viri and mycoplasma. Water may also contain insects, larvae, ova, plant matter, animal feces and many other biological compounds. I recommend water than has been filtered by passing through the earth to produce well and spring water.

Artesian well and spring water is generally better, as it comes from deeper within the earth. I do not, as a general rule, recommend surface water due to animal, plant and human contamination.

I also do not recommend drinking rain water. It is distilled, low in minerals and therefore "hungry" water. It has fallen through the atmosphere and picks up many contaminants that are in the air. Also, once it reaches the ground, it attracts whatever minerals happen to be in the gutters, cisterns and other collection devices. These are often toxic metals such as cadmium, lead and others.



DRINKING WATER



Water used for drinking can be surface water, well water or rain water. Well water is usually the most mineralized water. Research indicates that 'hard' water helps reduce heart attacks, probably due to its higher calcium and magnesium content.

Surface water found in lakes and streams is usually less mineralized as it has not passed through large amounts of rock and soil. It can be excellent water if it is not contaminated with human or animal waste or industrial chemicals.

Rainwater falls in a distilled state. That is, it is mineral-free. However, once it hits the ground, it quickly picks up minerals from anything it touches. If collected in metal cisterns, for example, it will pick up some metal from the pipes and collecting tanks. It can also pick up toxic chemicals and many other substances. It is generally a 'soft' water, higher in sodium, that tends to leach toxic metals like copper, iron, lead and cadmium out of water pipes much more than hard water.



WATER PROCESSING



Humanity has always had a problem with the safety and cleanliness of drinking water supplies. This is still a serious concern in many nations. In some nations, water-borne epidemics sweep through communities including cholera and amoebic dysentery. Many other micro-organisms, as well as toxic metals, toxic chemicals, sewage and today even residues of pharmaceutical drugs often contaminate water supplies.

Mankind has developed many methods to treat water to make it potable or drinkable. These include filtration with carbon, earth and other substances. It also includes distillation, reverse osmosis, magnetic treatments, electrical discharge such as deionization, ozonation (passing in front of ultraviolet lamps), spinning the water to form vortices, allowing particles to settle out, adding chemicals such as aluminum, copper and chlorine for purification, and others.
People who have their own wells must have the water tested at the tap periodically, as contamination can happen easily and quickly, and lead to serious health problems. Pipes, storage tanks, pumps and other equipment can also contaminate even the best well water.




CHLORINATIONAND OZONATION




To remove bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, almost all city water companies add chlorine to the water. However, artificial chlorination is highly toxic to human beings and animals. Some researchers assert that chlorination of the drinking water is a major causes of heart attacks and hardening of the arteries that occurred beginning in the early 20th century. Chlorination of drinking water probably also contributes to cancer and other illnesses, as chlorine is so toxic.

A few American cities including Los Angeles, and many parts of Europe, use ozone to purify their water supply. Ozone is O3, an unstable form of oxygen that is known to kill many pathogenic organisms. Its only drawback is it does not stay in the water as long as chlorine does. While these communities may still need to add some purifying chemicals, ozonation is much safer, cheaper and more healthful. It will come into wider use as scientists realize the damage chlorine has done to humans, animals and plant life.





ADDING ALUMINUM AND COPPER




Towns often add aluminum compounds to water to make solid matter clump and fall to the bottom of holding tanks used at most water treatment plants. While it removes solid matter, aluminum finds it way into the drinking water. Excessive aluminum is found in most people's tissue mineral tests. High levels are associated with memory impairment and dementia.

Water companies may also add other chemicals to water, particularly copper compounds, to reduce the amount of algae and fungus. While copper is a nutrient mineral, many people already have too much of it. Vegetarian diets are high in copper. Weak adrenal glands cause copper accumulation. Birth control pills raise copper and copper intra-uterine devices can drastically raise one's copper level. Copper toxicity causes depression, anxiety, mood swings, panic attacks, fatigue, headaches, skin rashes and even cancer. These are among the most common symptoms in our population. Over half the mineral analyses I see reveal elevated levels of tissue copper.





THE FLUORIDATION ABOMINATION




Although the Clean Water Act of 1974 prohibits adding any substance to drinking water except to make it safe, many communities have been convinced by so-called health authorities to add sodium or calcium fluoride to their drinking water. They are not authorities, or they would never recommend adding fluorides to drinking water.

Large-scale studies fail to show any reduction in tooth decay from water fluoridation. Some studies showed more decay in fluoridated areas. All nations except the United States and some parts of Great Britain and Australia have given up the practice based on the research and on the principle of people's right to choose whether or not to have their water medicated . Adding fluoride has nothing to do with the safety of the water, and in fact makes it much more toxic.

Fluorides are very toxic chemicals, considered as toxic as mercury or lead. Also, the compound often used, hydrofluosilicic acid, is not pure fluoride but rather a smokestack waste product from fertilizer plants that is about 30% fluoride. It contains heavy metals, kerosene, radioactive substances and other toxins.

To be putting smokestack waste into drinking water is, in the author's opinion, criminally insane. Anyone who drinks it is foolish. The facts are available to anyone who cares to learn about them. Naturally occurring fluorides are almost as bad and should be avoided at all cost.




WHICH WATER IS BEST?



I do not recommend drinking city tap water. One can either treat the city water to improve it, or use spring or other bottled water. Methods to improve water quality include carbon filtration, distillation, reverse osmosis, deionizations and others.



Carbon Filtration. Carbon is an excellent filtering material. It mainly filters out organic chemicals, including some chlorine. However, it will not filter out fluoride or toxic metals. Also, carbon readily supports bacterial and fungal growth, which can occur within days of placing the filter in use. Some fungi are extremely toxic, though they are tasteless and odorless. One cannot tell without expensive testing whether oneπs carbon filter is contaminated and when to change it. Manufacturer's recommendations are not necessarily useful. It depends on the water source and other conditions.

A dirty carbon filter is worse than no filter at all. Some manufacturers state that the filter must be used with chlorinated water in order to help reduce bacterial and fungal growth.

Some carbon filters contain silver or other metals to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. However, the metal leaches into the water to some degree. This is not desirable.

Carbon has another problem. In order for it to work, water must pass slowly over the carbon. If it passes quickly, toxins will not be absorbed nearly as well by the carbon. In most carbon filtering systems, the water passes through the carbon much too rapidly to be really effective.

A related type of filter is called a carbon block. It consists of activated charcoal that has been compressed at high pressure. It is much more dense than simple carbon. The advantage of the carbon block is the water is exposed to more carbon. Also, the tightly compressed carbon can trap larger particles, including some heavy metals. As a filtering material, it is far superior to simple carbon.

Problems with the carbon block are similar to those of regular carbon filters. It can become easily contaminated with fungi and bacteria. There is no simple test to tell if your filter has become contaminated or how efficiently it is filtering the water. For these reasons, I consider carbon filters definitely second best, although better than nothing if changed frequently.



Reverse Osmosis. This method involves passing water at high pressure through a plastic membrane with tiny holes in it. Most substances are too large to pass through the membrane and remain behind. The design includes a way of back flushing the membrane to prevent excessive buildup of solid matter on the membrane. Reverse osmosis units also contain carbon pre- and post-filters. The pre-filter extends the life of the membrane by removing larger particles and certain chemicals. The post-filter further purifies the water, removing chlorine and other gases that may pass through the filter.

Reverse osmosis and deionization are used in most commercial "drinking water" facilities, water stores, supermarket machines and bottling plants for soda pop, juices, beer and many other drinks. It is much cheaper than distillation. Membrane technology continues to advance, enhancing the amount of water that can be produced per hour and lengthening the life of the membrane.

However, eventually the holes in the membrane become too large, or become clogged and it must be replaced. One can test this to some degree with a total dissolved solid (TDS) meter. However, the reading is only a general indicator of the integrity of the membrane. There is no simple way to test the quality of the water. This means that oneπs water may or may not be as pure as one thinks.

Also, the carbon filters become contaminated, as discussed above. Manufacturers suggest replacing the carbon filters at specified intervals or after a certain number of gallons have been produced. However, these are just averages. Other than the taste, it is most difficult to assess the cleanliness of the carbon filters.

Reverse osmosis also does much more damage to the water. The interaction of the water with the plastic membrane alters the spin and moment of the water. A sensitive person will notice that reverse osmosis water has a slightly different texture or feeling than either spring or distilled water.

Also, deuterium particles (heavy water) passes through the membrane easily. Lighter water that is bound to contaminants is stopped. The effect is to increase the weight of the water, an undesirable change.

Reverse osmosis water also produces a water with very low mineral content and a more acid pH.. As with distilled water, it is a hungry water that leaches minerals from the body and does not supply needed nutrient minerals. As with distilled water, it should be used, if at all, for only limited periods of time for detoxification.

Another problem with reverse osmosis is it wastes a tremendous amount of water. Only a small percentage of the water that enters the filter passes through. The rest is flushed out and wasted, unless it can be recovered. However, the waste water is far more contaminated and therefore hard to recycle or reuse.

Another problem with reverse osmosis is the longevity of the plastics used in the membrane. The polycarbonate plastics degrade slowly in the landfills. Filled with toxic substances, they represent as source of long-term pollution. Extremely high-temperature incineration, which is gaining in popularity, is a much better form of disposal of the membranes.


Distillation consists of boiling the water and then allowing the steam to condense. This is a fairly natural process, as it is what occurs during evaporation. All solid matter is left behind, except chemicals that volatilize at a lower temperature than the water. Some distillers have methods to capture these substances to prevent them from remaining in the water. Distillation is probably the best treatment of water to remove pathogens, metals, chemicals and heavy water molecules. Evaporating the water does not significantly damage the spin, moment, weight and some other subtle qualities of the water.

Distillation, however, produces a more acid water. It also creates a "hungry" water. Devoid of minerals, the water tends to pick up whatever minerals it touches. Even stainless steel distillers can give up some chromium, nickel, molybdenum, arsenic, cadmium and other metals to the water. It is not a lot, however, as most is bound in the steel. An all-glass distiller would be superior if such is sold.

Also, distilled water lacks nutrient minerals. Everyone today is deficient in trace elements. Drinking distilled water, especially if one does not supplement the diet with a mineral supplement, will tend to cause even more mineral deficiencies. For this reason, I do not recommend drinking distilled water for long periods of time on a daily basis. It is excellent, however, to assist toxic metal removal. Distilled water will tend to attract many minerals to itself and some will be excreted with the urine. If one continues using it longer than six to twelve months or so, however, one will usually develop subtle mineral deficiencies even if one supplements minerals.




SPRING WATER



My first choice for daily drinking is a high quality spring water. It supplies many needed minerals, has been filtered through the earth to remove most toxins and microorganisms, and has not been damaged by processing.

Problems with spring waters include its higher cost, inconvenience of hauling bottles, pollution from plastic containers and possible leaching of plastics into the water. Also, not all spring water is healthful. However, I feel the problems are offset by the superior quality of good spring water. One can buy it by the case from food coops and warehouse stores to save money. Glass or the clear plastic containers have less chance of leaching pthalates and other compounds into the water.

A partial list of good spring waters includes Crystal Geyser, Evian, Calistoga and Poland Springs. Arrowhead spring water is a mixture from various springs, and is generally quite good. Please avoid Trinity water which is much too high in fluoride. Do not be fooled by fancy sounding names like Dasani and Aqua Fina. These are inferior "drinking waters" produced by reverse osmosis. Always read labels.

Also, I do not believe most people need to pay extra for water that has been altered by adding ozone, special minerals or by other processes.



HOW MUCH AND WHEN TO DRINK?



The amount of water is often not as important as the quality of the water. More of a poor quality water will actually do more damage. Drinking a high quality water, one will need much less to hydrate the body. In general, an adult needs about two to three quarts of water per day. More is needed in hot weather, dry weather and if one is more physically active. Drinking too much water is not necessary or healthful.

As part of one's water intake, it is fine to include tea or water with lemon or lime. However, fruit juices, soda pop, coffee and protein drinks do not count as water intake as many of these actually cause water loss. Bottled beverages such as soda pop, beer, reconstituted juices, bottled ice tea and others are often made with reverse osmosis water. This is an inferior water and also does not count as your water for the day.

Drink a glass of water on arising and two glasses between meals. Keep the amount of water at the meals low, so as not to dilute the digestive juices.

Dr. Lawrence Wilson
P.O. Box 54
Prescott, AZ 86302-0054
              (928) 445-7690       
Visit http://www.drlwilson.com/ for books, and audio tapes from Dr. Wilson.