by Charles B.
(Metairie, LA)
If you have your own well water supply, then you're in control. But if you live in a M.U.D. (municipal utility district) your water supply is treated (by law) with a variety of chemical additives.
The intention behind this is laudable but the practical fact is that many of these chemicals may be harmful to your health over time.
Flourides are added to help prevent tooth decay and chlorine is added to kill harmful bacterial contaminants. Other chemicals may also be added.
Many MUDs across the country have recently switched to adding "chloramines" instead of chlorine to the water supply claiming that they are more effective. However, chloramines will kill acquarium fish. A special dechlorinater must be added to the tank water to prevent this.
Chloramines are much more toxic than chlorine and they cannot be removed from the water supply by most water filtering systems. Purchasing very expensive water treatment equipment is the only way to remove chloramines from the water.
Chloramines have been tested and declared safe by civil authorities. However if you don't trust the gov'ment to know what's best for your health, it's a good idea to purchase distilled water for drinking and for cooking, just to be on the safe side.