Hanish Water

World Water Day begins on March 22, 2017 and this annual event is recognized worldwide. Its purpose is to provide education and awareness that there are still areas of our world that don't have access to, or have difficulty finding clean drinking water. It is our goal at Hanish Water to continue to provide insight and to advocate for action on this issue to provide people the world over access to clean drinking water, regardless of their geographic location, economic status or religious or political background.

Global population has risen by 2 billion people in the last 15 years alone. However, the total number of people needing to use surface water as drinking water decreased from 346 million to 159 million. It's a wonderful thing to know that as members of the human race we ARE making progress in seeing that every individual has access to clean, safe water.

Hanish Water remains diligent in continuing to innovate water treatment technologies that are environmentally friendly, compact, efficient and affordable for everyone. We are hopeful that in the coming years, the number of people needing to use surface water as drinking water will continue to decrease.

A few years ago, during Canada Water Week, a video was produced showing the amount of water needed to produce many of the items we use each day from t-shirts to hamburgers. The video reminded us that water touches every aspect of our lives, whether it be cleaning the dishes or washing off the fruits and vegetables we eat. From the crops we grow, to the clothes we wear, to the water we drink, it is important that water maintains sanitary conditions in order for us to live long, happy and healthy lives.

When discussing the topic of water and it's importance in our lives whether it's water conservation, wastewater reclamation, or reducing water use it all boils down to one thing.  Water must be treated as the precious natural resource it is and that access to clean, safe water is at the heart of life on planet earth.

As we join together to raise awareness on this day, lets remember the lives we want our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to live. Lives that revolve around a healthier planet, with access to clean drinking water everywhere.

Healthy Water for Healthy Families!

As with every industry, technology and scientific breakthroughs are allowing the water treatment industry to learn more and more about treating water with a higher level of efficiency and safety.  So why are so many companies within the industry still producing the same old water systems using outdated technology that has been proven not only inefficient, but downright dangerous?

For example, traditional water softeners still require backwashing of the briny solution that results from the RO process.  WHY?  Research has shown that this backwash adversely affects the aquifers, increases the demand on water treatment plants making their systems less efficient, and reduces the amount of water that can be reclaimed for irrigation and other uses?

Most systems are still relying on chlorine to treat for bacteria, virus and animal waste, knowing full well the negative affects chlorine has on the human body.  WHY?  Study after study has shown that chlorine vapors inhaled from dishwashers and while showering in chlorinated water can potentially cause cancer, tooth enamel erosion, candida, and dementia over time.  And almost everyone has experienced the immediate effects of chlorine which include dry skin, increased thirst, dandruff, and even asthmatic symptoms.

So what is the hold up in bringing to the public the innovative, safe technologies that provide safe, treated water without producing waste or introducing harmful substances into the environment, and that don’t rely on harmful chemicals?  Well, the simple answer is lack of public education on these issues.  There is really no where to point the finger specifically except to say that we, individuals, must begin to take our health and the health of our planet into our own hands, and make choices that allow us to remain healthy, safe, and keep our environment safe for the generations that will follow us.

How much can be tackled in a blog?  Not much.  How much of this is new information?  Not much.  However, we (me personally, and the Hanish Water family as a whole) will continue to sound the alarm on this issue.  Here are some reasons we ALL need to care about access to clean water for everyone on the planet:

The number of human beings in Africa who lack access to clean water is greater than the entire population of the United States.  No more on this need be said, we ARE our brothers keepers.

More than 40 billion hours per year are spent by individuals (primarily women and children) collecting water.  This illustrates the fact that access to clean water is more than a mere convenience.  This is a human rights issue, a women’s rights issue and a children’s rights issue.  Time spent collecting and treating water denies these individuals access to education, job skills training, and economic growth.

Reducing the distance to a water source by only 15 minutes results in a 12 percent increase of school attendance by girls.

Nearly 1,000 children under age 5 die every day from diarrhea caused by contaminated water.

Water is Life.  We are continuing to invest in researching and producing the most innovative and efficient technologies in water treatment, and while we are based in the United States, we are a globally-minded organization.  Water is a human right, and access to clean water opens up a world of possibilities and potential for each and every individual born into this world.

We were thankful to see so many celebrities and personalities supporting #WorldWaterDay yesterday, and we’re so thankful that more and more individuals are considering the importance of contributing to providing access to clean water for all.

With so many choices about water, how does the average consumer know exactly what they’re getting?

First of all, consumers can rest assured that BOTH municipal water and bottled water are regulated under the FDA, State and Federal guidelines.  Still, there are many choices when it comes to water.

According to the FDA, bottled water can be labeled under the following guidelines:

The terms “bottled,” “drinking,” “spring,” and “purified” can all refer to bottled water.  However, “purified water” is a term that refers to water that has been mechanically processed to remove impurities.  Distilled water refers to water that has been purified via the distillation process.

Another form of water treatment is “deionization” or “demineralization,” which is exactly what it sounds like.  All minerals found in the water naturally are removed. This process is essential when the water is being used for the manufacturing with other chemical compounds, such as in cosmetic processes.  It is necessary that the minerals be removed to prevent any adverse reactions with any other compounds introduced into the mixture. However, during demineralization, the water is "softened" replacing the undesired minerals with different salts (NaCl).  Because these salts have no ionic charge, they will not bond with any chemicals added into the mixture, making demineralized (or deionized) water perfect for mixtures of a chemical nature. The reverse osmosis (sometimes knows as RO) method of demineralization renders water potable but not necessarily purified, so RO must be used in conjunction with other purification processes.

Recent research by the World Health Organization has revealed that “... in humans...demineralized water increased diuresis and the elimination of electrolytes, with decreased serum potassium concentration. Magnesium, calcium and other nutrients in water can help to protect against nutritional deficiency.”  This makes sense as demineralized water will “seek” to restore itself to it’s natural state, therefore likely taking necessary nutrients from the human body resulting in adverse effects.  More and more people are seeking technologies, like WaterCrest, which can provide water treated for scaling, yet retaining the minerals naturally found in the water.

Artesian water is a type of spring water which has been drawn from a confined aquifer with no natural outlet until tapped by a well.  This groundwater is under “artesian pressure,” meaning it is water trapped between layers of poorly permeable (or impermeable) rock, such as clay or shale.

Water obtained from a mineral spring source can be labeled “mineral water.”  Some mineral waters can be “sparkling” or “effervescent” if they contain gasses.  Mineral water can be naturally occurring, containing naturally dissolved salts, minerals and gasses, however water into which these minerals have been added may be labeled “mineral water” as well.

If you are a WaterCrest owner, you know what you’re drinking! Purified water, treated for chemicals, pharmaceuticals, virus, bacteria, odor, color, taste, and scaling (meaning the ionic charge has been neutralized), but you are drinking the beneficial minerals which are present in the water as it arrives to your home.  We are passionate about educating people about water, because Water Is Life.

According to recent EPA research, we are making improvements in the important efforts to reduce the amount of resources which are lost to landfills.  In fact, the latest per-person figure is 4.4 pounds daily (with 1.53 pounds of that recycled or composted).

While this is a tremendous improvement over the pithy 6% rate of recycling of 1960, municipalities on average still only recycle 35% of their waste, with the remaining 65% still going into landfills.  Collectively, we are gaining ground in the awareness and concern for preserving our natural resources and reducing landfill waste, but there is still room for improvement.

Thankfully, humans are natural innovators.  Globally, many countries have found ways to utilize their recyclable materials as an economic resource by selling materials outright, or by creating facilities and processes which recycle or repurpose materials, creating jobs and economic growth in addition to supporting the health of our planet.  Some municipalities here in the states (like San Francisco and Dallas) are taking legislative measures to reduce the consumption of non-organic materials such as plastic and styrofoam.  But to move towards zero waste, we must truly continue to innovate and create NEW MATERIALS and NEW PROCESSES which utilize NEW TECHNOLOGIES that will completely eliminate the need for these compounds altogether.

Reducing plastic consumption is a very simple way to start, and a way in which we all can participate towards reducing waste and the amount of materials which are ending up in landfills.  We’re thankful to be part of the solution as we continue to share the innovative technology WaterCrest uses in order to provide treated, safe, clean water right from the tap in your home or office, eliminating the need for bottled water.  Even during most boil water advisories, WaterCrest continues to provide peace of mind, and allows life to continue without disruption, and (in most cases) without the need for the purchase of bottled water.

With the return of Astronaut Scott Kelly from the ISS only hours away, there are many articles about the 1000 images he sent, the funny practical jokes and humorous moments he experienced, and the research he did while on board. One article which was particularly interesting related to the ISS was, of course, about WATER!

The BBC article features Engineer Jennifer Pruitt, one of the primary researches who’s work is devoted exclusively to extracting and recycling the H20 molecules found in the urine, sweat and exhalation of ISS residents.  While this sounds disturbing, this is actually very, VERY important technology.  Why? Because conserving water is  becoming increasingly important here on Earth too.  The work being done by NASA may eventually be adapted for recycling water in your own home.

Think it’s gross?  Think again.  “It’s the cleanest water,” says Pruitt, “cleaner than anything we’ll drink on Earth.”  Currently, systems remove ALL particles in the water, including salt, calcium and other minerals, and of course all bacteria. In the future, however, as we are learning the importance of retaining these minerals as a mixture with the water, there may be ways to filter out bacteria and unwanted contaminants while retaining the minerals necessary for life.

We have integrated some NASA derived technologies into the development of WaterCrest and other products, and we expect that as technologies continue to improve and new innovations are made, whole house water treatment systems will become more efficient and offer more health benefits as well.  Who knows what the future will bring?  But for now, WaterCrest owners know their water treatment system is using the best most innovative technology available.

If your traditional water softener is draining into your septic tank, you could have a problem.

Because salt brine from traditional water softeners is so heavily saturated, it could be displacing the sludge that should be at the bottom of the tank, allowing sludge to escape into the downstream.  Ignoring the fact that this will potentially increase expenses related to pumping, sludge could potentially be dangerously leeching into the drain field prematurely.

A great explanation of the potential for problems can be found in this NESC article on traditional water softener systems, "...the salt water dives to the bottom of the tank occupying space that is designed for the settling of heavier solids. In addition, the sludge in a septic tank is mostly liquid with a density very near that of the clear zone. The heavier salt water can actually lift the sludge from the bottom of the tank, displacing it and washing it into the downstream components such as an ATU, media filter, or the soil dispersal field.”

Why are we still relying on outdated technology to provide us with one of the most important elements of life, namely WATER?  Why trust your water another minute to technology that requires an incredible amount of maintenance and which is also becoming increasingly ineffective and environmentally irresponsible?  We understand that public education on these matters is important, and that’s why we strive to provide simple explanations and simple solutions to very real problems.

One of the biggest culprits is, of course, water bottles.  I truly believe that WE CAN address this problem in this generation and turn the tide (so to speak) on the rising issue of plastic pollution.  I expect to see more and more cities and municipalities following the example set recently by the city of San Francisco in banning the sale of plastic bottles.  There ARE alternatives, and we must continue to attempt to promote reusable containers and responsible consumerism

I’m not just the owner of Hanish Water.  I’m not just a guy who developed technology that offers a whole house treated water system that is affordable and environmentally responsible.  I’m a father, a husband, and most importantly a human who has the responsibility of leaving this planet in a safe and healthy state for my grandchildren and those who come after us.

What exactly is a boil water advisory?  Well, that's a good question, and the answer actually poses more questions.  This is an explanation of a BWA offered by a municipality: "Boil Water Advisory (BWA)

What is a boil water advisory? A Boil Water Advisory is a preventative measure issued to protect the health of the community from water borne infectious agents.  A Boil Water Advisory is issued only after careful consideration from public health, regulatory agencies and municipal departments.

What should I do under a BWA? Create a supply of water for cooking, drinking and tooth brushing.

*Boil the water for 3 minutes. *Cool the water then place in clean containers for use or refrigerate.

Hot soapy water can be used for dishwashing and kitchen/bathroom surface cleaning.  As a precaution, add one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water.

Laundry water does not need to be treated.  

Unless otherwise instructed, water for showering does not need to be treated.

If water is not safe for drinking because of bacteria, hand washing with soap and water followed by disinfection with an alcohol based disinfectant is recommended."

We’re so thankful that we have highly educated and trained professionals who make it their life’s work to protect the drinking water for residents, but this explanation begs several more questions:

“Why add bleach?” “Is it really safe to shower in water that I can’t brush my teeth in?” “While boiling water does kill bacteria, it doesn’t actually remove them, does it?”

We respect the work and diligence of all those in the EPA and local municipalities, but we are still determined to get the word out to individuals and families that IT IS POSSIBLE to safeguard the water coming into your home.  Infrastructure will continue to fail as pipes and treatment facilities continue to age and need maintenance, but individuals can still feel secure about the water coming into their homes.  Water for cooking, bathing, brushing teeth, and drinking can STILL be safeguarded regardless of unexpected and sudden failures along the pipeline to your home.

Good question!  Recently there have been many concerns, based on research by the World Health Organization and others, over articles written on the potentially detrimental effects of drinking water which has been completely stripped of naturally occurring minerals.

We want every consumer to be as educated on this subject as they feel they need to be, and we therefore will make no effort to either convince or disparage the benefits of pH balanced water or mineral water.  Everyone’s body has different needs, and the treatment of health issues should always be determined with the help and oversight of a qualified professional.

What we will do, however, is offer the most comprehensive education to the consumer on the innovative technology in the WaterCrest whole house physical water processing system which treats for scaling without removing minerals naturally occurring in the water.  We WANT an educated consumer because we know that an educated consumer is our best customer and our best advocate.

The advanced technology in the WaterCrest which accomplishes this very objective is called “Scaleinhibitor.”  The Scaleinhibitor media allows the essential naturally occurring minerals in the water to remain, and yet not bond (scaling) with hard surfaces or metals in you fixtures.

When calcium and magnesium ions come in contact with the ScaleInhibitor media, an ionic change takes place that neutralizes the ions in the water from their natural state to an inert state. As a result, the calcium and magnesium ions will not bind with the carbonate anions in the water. So there is no formation of scale. This technology will not remove the calcium and magnesium ions from the water, but instead changes their chemistry so that they can remain in the water but not negatively affect hard surfaces that they come in contact with, such as your plumbing, hot water heater, fixtures, dish washer, washing machine, shower, tub, or any other water using appliances. If the hardness is tested before and after the installed WaterCrest-10, the hardness level will be the same. Since the media inside of the ScaleInhibitor cartridge is insoluble in water, it does not add any unwanted chemicals into your working, bathing and drinking water.

It’s disturbing to report that just over this past weekend, there were at least FOUR boil water advisories across the country, and all were the result of aging or malfunctioning infrastructure.

We support the efforts of the hardworking people at the EPA and municipalities all across this nation who work hard and make it a priority to provide safe water to the public, but the fact remains that infrastructure does fail, and the result can be catastrophic.

The crisis in Flint is sickening, to say the least, and we are praying for the residents of that area, and thankful that organizations like local churches and Feeding America are stepping in to help.  On our end, all we can do is continue to attempt to share with people that there IS an affordable and effective whole house water processing system that can treat the water as it enters home or office.

Water is life, and a secure accessible source of safe water is the most important basic need of every human being.  What more can we do other than try to share that it is possible for people to protect the water coming into their homes?

Did you know that several recent scientific studies have shown that stripping water of the natural presence of calcium and magnesium can have a negative effect on one’s health?

While Reverse Osmosis IS effective for treating water for scaling, it is SO effective that it removes, on average, 99.8% of the calcium, magnesium, chromium and other naturally occurring minerals that the human body needs.

In fact, a recent study by the World Health Organization confirmed that water treated by Reverse Osmosis can actually have detrimental effects on a person’s health when consumed over the long term.  The WHO Position Paper titled “The Health risks from drinking demineralized water” concluded that “not only does completely demineralized water (distillate) have unsatisfactory organoleptic properties  but it also has a definite adverse influence on the animal and human organism.”

Recently I read a blog that talked about the differences between filtered water, and purified water.   Long ago in my career, I was told never to use certain words when attempting to explain how the system that I happed to be representing at the time, functioned.  One word in particular was “purify”.  One of my old bosses told a group of us managers that there was no such thing as 100% as it related to pure in the world of water treatment.  Pure is like infinity…. you can never get there…. it doesn’t exist as far as we know because no one has seen it.   A suitable definition of water purification might read something like this;                                                                                                                                                                            “Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids and gases from contaminated water. The goal of this process is to produce water fit for a specific purpose.” That was from Wikipedia.  Note the words “for specific purposes”.  This means that I manufacture the grade of water that I need for the task at hand.  For example, if I need laboratory grade water, then pure to me might mean that I need distilled water.  If I am a computer chip manufacturer, then pure to me might mean that I need 18 megOhms water.  If I own a powder coat paint line, pure might mean that I need low TDS water.  So the word pure has specific meanings for specific purposes.   This particular blog did not define water purification in any scientific terms.  It simply stated that the difference between filtering water, and purifying water is something like the difference between then and now, right and left, up and down.

The point is this..... be suspicious when any company uses words like 100%, or pure.  These are salespeople talking about their products.  I want to talk about my product too.  But I'm not going to call it a purifier.  Although I think it's the greatest water treatment system in the history of the world....... I will not use words like that to describe it's performance capabilities.

But who am I?  I manufacture a product.  I want you to buy it.  I think it's the best.  Why?  Because there's nothing like it on this planet... anywhere.  It is completely unique, and it does all of the things we say it will do, and we guarantee it with a money back guarantee if it doesn't perform as we say it's going to perform.