Health & Lifestyle

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has responded to the recent blog articles that we have published on the subject of PFAS “forever” chemicals and other dangerous contaminants in the mains water.

When water comes out of the tap, it isn’t always as transparent as you’d expect it to be. There are a number of things that can make it go decidedly “off-colour.”

Birmingham University researchers have discovered that widely used PFAS “forever chemicals” can be absorbed substantially through human skin and get into the bloodstream after just 36 hours of exposure.

In a study of 17 types of PFAS that commonly exist in non-stick pans, cosmetics, waterproof clothing and even our water supply – 15 of them were found to permeate the skin and enter the blood supply.

Top health officials have come down hard on water companies who say they should be doing more to tackle the issue of sewage in the water supply.

Although our tap water doesn’t contain lavatory waste sewage, the Environment Agency says plans are in place to have “toilet-to-tap” drinking water in place by 2030. Thames Water may be even quicker off the mark, with recycled toilet water possible by next year.

The parlous state of Britain’s water ways has been exposed following an investigation by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Across the country, they’ve uncovered a number of horror stories about toxic, life threatening substances in rivers and lakes, including traces of e.coli bacteria, viruses, toxic chemicals and even radioactive substances.

Fruit and vegetables are an integral part of our daily diet. But when you buy them from the supermarket, grocers or elsewhere they are highly unlikely to be in a healthy, ready-to-eat state.

Unwashed fruit and veg could contain numerous bacteria and pathogens, which could be extremely bad for you.

Filtered water has many health benefits over its bottle equivalent, which is known to contain harmful PFAS contaminants. The quality of bottled water can also vary considerably but is very rarely pure – despite what manufacturers may claim.

Despite mounting evidence of serious health issues arising from exposure to PFAS-related chemicals in water, the UK Government still doesn’t test the purity of the nation’s water supply. But, as consumers, we can take decisive action to ensure the water we drink is safe.
Research shows that reverse osmosis (RO) filtration is the best way to remove the overwhelming number of contaminants from our drinking water.

Harmful PFAS chemicals are everywhere – in the air, in food and food packaging, in cosmetics and clothing and – worst of all – the mains water supply. Here we’ve itemised six key areas where you are likely to be most exposed to PFAS, which is known to cause numerous, harmful health issues.
Above all, water filtration should be your top priority.

This article provides an overview of the widescale and potentially dangerous contaminants present in the mains water supply and the risks that this exposure can have on our health. From chlorine to PFAS forever chemicals, UK water is an unwitting source of harmful substances – despite the country’s reputation for having one of the world’s safest public water supplies.

What scientific evidence exists to support these claims about hard water?
Well, from a dermatological standpoint, if you regularly wash your hair in hard water, which contains lots of calcium and magnesium mineral deposits, these deposits will build up on the scalp and in the hair strands. This can prevent moisture from being absorbed.

In order to get the best from your culinary activities, the water quality has a really key role to play in determining the outcome. Not just the water you use in cooking and heating the ingredients – but also the water you have access to for washing and preparing the food. This applies equally to hot or cold dishes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdRY45yB0hc&t=189s As a rule of thumb, the harder the water you wash with, the tougher this will be on your hair. For a start, you may well have found that it’s difficult to get a nice lather from the shampoo and conditioners you...

This article is Scott Jenkins’ personal experience of how he managed to find an almost immediate cure for his young daughter Maisie’s eczema condition through softened water. Prior to installing a water softener at home – which meant being exposed to very hard West Sussex mains water – the condition persisted despite regular steroid cream treatment.

If you enjoy luxuriating in a bath full of lovely bubbles, are you being constantly disappointed by the lack of lingering lather? Bubbles that disappear as quickly as they arrived. And you’re left lying there wondering where they all went.  You might question the...

Limescale. It can be a complete pain in the derriere! In our previous blog, we provided some helpful tips on how to remove unsightly limescale stains from laminate countertops, granite surfaces, porcelain and stainless sinks and even bath tubs. Here, we provide some...

So what’s all the fuss about having soft water? Why would you want to invest your hard-earned money on a water softener? Will it be worth it? Will you notice any difference from the water currently coming out of your tap? These are all perfectly valid questions. The...

Some people love to shave, whilst others find it a complete pain in the butt which has to be endured to keep you looking presentable to the world at large. Whatever camp you fall into, as sure as eggs are eggs, the whole shaving experience will be improved by using...

Research shows that conditions such as eczema and dry skin are worsened by hard water. You can protect your family from the discomfort of these skin conditions and others by installing a water softener. How does hard water affect your family? Hard water contains...

For the majority of us, no, it isn’t. But that doesn’t mean to say that everybody should drink soft water, or that they’d even want to. It is worth remembering that the primary function of having a water softener is not to provide you with nice soft water to drink....

Why are water softeners good for kitchen taps and sinks? If you live in a hard water area and you have a stylish, black sink – or any shade other than white for that matter - it isn’t going to stay looking nice and clean for long, if it is continually being subjected...

We have seen it on countless occasions… Clients who’ve spent a packet on upgrading their property with an all-singing, all-dancing new kitchen, with state-of-the art ovens, spectacular island features, wonderful work surfaces. Everything looks magnificent. Out with...

These days plastic is a dirty word. It didn’t used to be. We once thought of it as a wonderful invention – which is why it is so abundant in our everyday lives. But world plastic production has doubled in the last 50 years and the effects are taking a heavy toll....

Whether you’ve owned properties previously or you are a first time buyer - there’s nothing quite like the anticipation of moving into a brand new property. The pristine appearance of kitchens and bathrooms, free from the tell-tale signs of previous occupants, now...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K_K4NPJbBg&t=87s What water should I use in my iron? You’d be surprised how many times I get asked this question. But, I can completely understand why, given that Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire are, by and large, exceptionally hard...

If you live in notoriously hard water areas like East and West Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey, central heating systems can take a real pasting. Boilers and pipework face a constant battle against limescale and other hard water impurities. The fall-out from can be...

When you’ve got used to having a water softener and wouldn’t really want to be without one if you are moving house, is it possible to take your soft water system with you to the new property. The answer is yes, you can! There’s no need to start again from scratch. If...