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I’ve just installed a reverse osmosis system and full-house filter after discovering fairly high levels PFAs, Bromodichloromethane, and chloroform in my water a

I’ve just installed a reverse osmosis system and full-house filter after discovering fairly high levels PFAs, Bromodichloromethane, and chloroform in my water after a test. I didn’t realize moving here how bad it was, but the testing company said it probably wasn’t safe to bathe in lol. All these chemicals leech into the water from various factories and farms. I imagine dumps have a similar issue. In terms of the environment I’m far FAR more concerned about this than climate change. It’s an imminent risk. I personally switched to glass containers for storage of food and water. I also use cast iron for my food, non-stick has a lot of chemicals. It’s slightly less convenient, but easy enough. I also get satisfaction from the cast iron and regularly bake steak and what not.

zamfi 4y ago
> discovering fairly high levels PFAs, Bromodichloromethane, and chloroform in my water after a test Out of curiosity, how did you have these tested?
- lettergram 4y ago
  There are lots of companies that’ll test water for you. I picked two, one test was on Amazon (was like $300 for all the trace chemicals). Then I selected another test I found online. Both came to the same basic conclusion so I trusted the results.
  - pixl97 4y ago
    Hmm, some group needs to come together to crowdfund a series of tests by these companies versus a laboratory test to ensure we don't have a 'Everybody hosts on AWS' problem where all these tests actually go back to one or two labs across the entire nation.
    - lettergram 4y ago
      The way it works is that the NSF (and other groups) certifies labs then you can go to them. Mine had the results of two different labs. I’m sure they could be cheating in some way, but seemed legit enough
rgrieselhuber 4y ago
The only problem I’ve heard about reverse osmosis is you end up lacking in trace minerals. It sounds like straight filtration is the way to go and you can also buy special filters to greatly reduce other industrial waste such as fluoride.
- jazzyjackson 4y ago
  There's also the water waste factor, you send a few gallons down the drain for every gallon dispensed.
  - Dylan16807 4y ago
    Wow, I would have expected the opposite ratio. But you can use that water if you set your system up for it.
  - lettergram 4y ago
    Where I live there is no shortage of water. Opposite problems really… That said, if you drink 10 gallons a week, you’re talking 10-30 gallons of waste water depending on the system (mine is 1.5 waste for every 1 gallon). The average bath is 35-50 gallons. It doesn’t seem like a huge impact.
  - emodendroket 4y ago
    That is definitely true... on the other hand, if you were thinking of buying bottled water that is worse.
- pfdietz 4y ago
  I find the trace minerals claim dubious. Trace minerals are easily obtained from diet; the drinking water shouldn't make any difference. I have heard of a case of a well drilled through unfortunate mineralization and yielding water with so much arsenic the home's residents developed symptoms.
  - lettergram 4y ago
    Yeah, I don’t really see much support that it’s an issue. The trace minerals likely have very little impact and if you eat food you’ll have plenty. You can also get drops to add minerals, add a very tiny pinch of Himalayan salt, add a remineralizing filter, etc
emodendroket 4y ago
It's at the point where it's in the rainwater.
ravenstine 4y ago
Cast iron is pretty awesome, and they're plenty "non stick" if you use plenty of butter. The argument for coated pans kinda goes out the window if you're not trying to cut out fat, other than that cast iron is heavy. I also love keeping glass jars. I use them to drink out of, containing food, distilling, etc. They're way tougher than actual drinking glasses too. Eventually I might toss some in recycling if I've got too many, but I don't buy all that much canned food in the first place so it kinda works out. In terms of water, I still need to get an RO filter, but in the meantime I've been using a regular water filter and also distilling my own water. Don't believe the hype around distilled water being bad for you, because it's not. RO water is pretty close to distilled anyway, but nobody handwaves about it eating your bones or other such nonsense.
- za3faran 4y ago
  Yep, cast iron is great. For something lighter weight, there's also carbon steel. Both of these need some amount of simple maintenance, but they last generations when taken care of properly.

zamfi 4y ago

> discovering fairly high levels PFAs, Bromodichloromethane, and chloroform in my water after a test Out of curiosity, how did you have these tested?

lettergram 4y ago
There are lots of companies that’ll test water for you. I picked two, one test was on Amazon (was like $300 for all the trace chemicals). Then I selected another test I found online. Both came to the same basic conclusion so I trusted the results.
- pixl97 4y ago
  Hmm, some group needs to come together to crowdfund a series of tests by these companies versus a laboratory test to ensure we don't have a 'Everybody hosts on AWS' problem where all these tests actually go back to one or two labs across the entire nation.
  - lettergram 4y ago
    The way it works is that the NSF (and other groups) certifies labs then you can go to them. Mine had the results of two different labs. I’m sure they could be cheating in some way, but seemed legit enough

rgrieselhuber 4y ago

The only problem I’ve heard about reverse osmosis is you end up lacking in trace minerals. It sounds like straight filtration is the way to go and you can also buy special filters to greatly reduce other industrial waste such as fluoride.

jazzyjackson 4y ago
There's also the water waste factor, you send a few gallons down the drain for every gallon dispensed.
- Dylan16807 4y ago
  Wow, I would have expected the opposite ratio. But you can use that water if you set your system up for it.
- lettergram 4y ago
  Where I live there is no shortage of water. Opposite problems really… That said, if you drink 10 gallons a week, you’re talking 10-30 gallons of waste water depending on the system (mine is 1.5 waste for every 1 gallon). The average bath is 35-50 gallons. It doesn’t seem like a huge impact.
- emodendroket 4y ago
  That is definitely true... on the other hand, if you were thinking of buying bottled water that is worse.
pfdietz 4y ago
I find the trace minerals claim dubious. Trace minerals are easily obtained from diet; the drinking water shouldn't make any difference. I have heard of a case of a well drilled through unfortunate mineralization and yielding water with so much arsenic the home's residents developed symptoms.
- lettergram 4y ago
  Yeah, I don’t really see much support that it’s an issue. The trace minerals likely have very little impact and if you eat food you’ll have plenty. You can also get drops to add minerals, add a very tiny pinch of Himalayan salt, add a remineralizing filter, etc

emodendroket 4y ago

It's at the point where it's in the rainwater.

ravenstine 4y ago

Cast iron is pretty awesome, and they're plenty "non stick" if you use plenty of butter. The argument for coated pans kinda goes out the window if you're not trying to cut out fat, other than that cast iron is heavy. I also love keeping glass jars. I use them to drink out of, containing food, distilling, etc. They're way tougher than actual drinking glasses too. Eventually I might toss some in recycling if I've got too many, but I don't buy all that much canned food in the first place so it kinda works out. In terms of water, I still need to get an RO filter, but in the meantime I've been using a regular water filter and also distilling my own water. Don't believe the hype around distilled water being bad for you, because it's not. RO water is pretty close to distilled anyway, but nobody handwaves about it eating your bones or other such nonsense.

za3faran 4y ago
Yep, cast iron is great. For something lighter weight, there's also carbon steel. Both of these need some amount of simple maintenance, but they last generations when taken care of properly.