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Ever wondered how much water to drink a day for optimal hydration? While there are blanket recommendations for how much water a person should drink every day, the amount that is right for you will depend on several factors including who you are, what climate you live in, how often you exercise, and at what intensity.

What Role Does Water Play in the Human Body?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), proper water intake is crucial to prevent dehydration. Proper fluid intake also has numerous other health benefits.

Water doesn’t contain any calories. When it is swapped in place of other calorie dense beverages like juice, sweet tea, and caffeinated beverages like soda, it can be helpful for body weight management and controlling calorie consumption.

Making sure you stay properly hydrated also helps your body to keep joints lubricated and cushioned, maintain a stable body temperature, and protect sensitive and delicate tissues like the spinal cord. It also helps your body manage the removal of waste. Another bonus to getting enough water is that it helps keep your skin hydrated.

When Do You Need Even More Water?

There are some instances when your body will use more water than normal. If you’re in a warmer season or hotter climates, (we’re talking to you Dallas, Fort Worth) you might lose water more quickly through perspiration. This is also true if you’re more physically active. You’ll also want to drink more water when you’re sick or running a fever. Intake guidelines for nutrients and water, created for maintaining health and reducing the risk of chronic disease, are established by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for Americans and Canadians.

Water is Vital for Sustaining Life

The cells in our bodies rely heavily on water to stay balanced, and ultimately to keep us alive. We can, however, get our total daily water from more than just the water we drink. Water rich foods like watermelon, canteloupe, and cucumbers are great options for helping us meet our daily fluid intake.

It’s common knowledge that dehydration can lead to health issues, but there is a lack of scientific evidence to prove drinking more plain water can prevent chronic disease. Rather, the guidelines have been put in place to mitigate the immediate effects of dehydration such as muscle cramps, fatigue, and metabolic problems.

Standard Recommendations for Daily Water Consumption

The daily water intake recommendation for healthy healthy adults ranges. For women aged 19 to 30, it is about 2.7 liters or 11.4 cups per day. Healthy men falling in the same age range should aim for about 3.7 liters or 15.6 cups per day. Keep in mind that this can include water from both drinking and foods containing liquid water. It has been noted by The National Academies that minimal daily water requirements do depend on an individuals diet, age, activity level, and environment. Those who participate in rigorous activity or living in hot environments, like we do here in Texas, should be drinking more water.

Symptoms of Dehydration

The Mayo Clinic indicated that thirst isn’t always the first or only sign of mild dehydration. Some individuals like the elderly won’t feel thirsty until they are already experiencing dehydration. Other warning signs in addition to thirst are reduced urination, dark-colored urine, tiredness, lightheadedness, and disorientation.

Mild to moderate cases of dehydration can usually be mitigated by drinking more water. However, more severe cases of dehydration require attention from a medical professional.

Mild to moderate dehydration can generally be resolved by drinking more fluids. However, severe dehydration requires medical attention. Extended dehydration may result in health issues such as heat-related injuries, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, low blood volume, and, in some severe cases, seizures.

The Importance of Quality Drinking Water

While getting enough water every day is important, drinking clean and safe water is crucial to our health. Drinking water contamination can cause potential health issues such as gastrointestinal issues, fertility challenges, and brain-related concerns. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to illness from drinking contaminated water than others.

Drinking water from taps in the United States is considered to be some of the safest in the world, but according to the CDC there is still a risk of water contamination. There are numerous potential sources of contamination, such as sewage discharge, naturally occurring chemicals and minerals like arsenic, agricultural activities involving fertilizers, pesticides, livestock, heavy metals from manufacturing, faulty wastewater treatment systems, and breaches in the existing infrastructure. For instance, local municipalities often lack strict regulations for monitoring and maintaining the pipes that deliver water to our homes. This means that water may meet safety standards when it leaves the treatment facility but it might not meet the same standards by the time it reaches your tap.

The Influence of Contaminants on Hydration

Germs and bacteria along with other potential contaminants in water can cause symptoms that could lead to dehydration like diarrhea and vomiting. At Elders Pure Water, we have an extensive relationship with the water quality in the Dallas, Fort Worth Westoplex area and we’ve made it our mission to help our local community learn about the common contaminants in their water supply and provide them with the knowledge and expertise helps them make the best decision for their family when it comes to treating their water.

Common Indicators of Poor Quality Water

There is only one sure way to know what’s in your water, and that is to have it tested. Elder’s offers a free basic water test. We can also help you arrange a more detailed water analysis if one is needed. Not all contamination in your water can be seen, tasted, or smelled. However, there are some indicators:

  • Water should not have a smell. Any type of order such as chlorine, rotten eggs, or sulfur could indicate potential contamination.
  • Water should not have a definable taste. If your water tastes bad, there is a possibility that it could be contaminated.
  • Water should not have any color or tint. Your water should be clear. Discolored or tinted water could indicate contamination.
  • If your appliances have a shorter than expected appliance life or you see buildup on your water-dependent devices and fixtures, it could indicate contamination.
  • Dry or irritated skin can be an indicator of hard water or other potential contamination in your water supply.

Why Should Filter Your Water?

A filtration system can greatly reduce impurities and contaminants in your water supply, making it safer to drink and much less likely to cause an issue for your health. Filtering your water also makes it taste better, which means you’ll be more likely to drink it and can avoid dehydration as we discussed above.

Using filtered water can also save you unnecessary spending on bottled water. Single use plastic bottles wreak havoc on our environment and are often no better than tap water.

What Steps Can You Take to Filter Your Water?

There are multiple options for filtering the water in your home. Whole home water treatment is one popular choice in the Dallas, Fort Worth Westoplex area for tackling both contamination and hard water. Water softening systems are also a great solution for those who are dealing with hard water alone. There are other systems to choose from as well such as reverse osmosis systems, carbon systems, ozone systems, and more.

The method you choose for your home is going to be dependent on your specific water quality, how many people live in your home, what kind of water pressure you have, regulations set forth by your local authority, your budget and personal preferences, and more.

The best option is to rely on a local water treatment professional like Elder’s Pure Water for a recommendation made by taking your family’s specific needs and desires into consideration.

How Can Elder’s Pure Water Help You Get Cleaner Safer Water?

You’re on the right track if you’re making an effort to drink more water and stay hydrated. Keep in mind that while hydration alone does matter, the quality of the water you’re drinking is vital to your health. Also, keep in mind that not everyone will have the same hydration requirements and that being thirsty means you could already be mildly dehydrated.

At Elder’s Pure Water, we have years of experience serving the Dallas Fort Worth Westoplex area and we know the water intimately. Our purpose is to provide our community with cleaner, safer water and help educate them about the quality of their water so they can make the right decision for their families.

Give us a call at 817-631-4967 or contact us here to find out more about your water quality and to start the journey toward cleaner, healthier, more enjoyable hydration.