Tap water may be a health risk for some seniors says the latest issue of Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.*

Municipal water that has been treated and meets standards for safety may still contain organisms that can make elderly people very sick. The study looked at the hospitalization rates of people aged 65 years and older who were admitted to the hospital with gastrointestinal illness. A link was determined between the patients drinking water and their illness. The drinking water of all the patients met local regulations for safety at their time of hospitalization.

Not only the elderly are at risk, those with weakened immune systems may also be affected by contaminated drinking water.

Relying on municipal services to deliver safe drinking water may not be a realistic possibility. In spite of the fact that your tap water may meet or exceed local regulations, it may not be healthy for you. Bottled water is not a viable alternative either. Government regulations regarding bottled water widely vary, and many bottled water products fail purity testing.

One of the best methods of assuring safe, clean drinking water for you and your family is a compressed-carbon water filter in the home. A high quality, NSF certified unit can remove many compounds from water that municipal treatment does not. Home water filtration units are also less expensive and more practical than buying bottled water. With a home water filter, crystal-clear, safe drinking water can be at you fingertips any time you need it.