Adjust Our Diet 14: Drink Clean Water

Water is one of the most important foods for our daily consumption. The source of home water consumption is mainly derived from rivers and lakes. The water may pass through agricultural and industrial areas where wastes are discharged into the river directly and indirectly. To ensure safe drinking water for household consumption, in full treatment plants this source is normally treated with aluminium sulphate (to purify water), chlorine gas (to kill germs), lime (to increase pH to 7.0–7.5) and sodium fluoride (to strengthen teeth). Occasionally, the piped water is brownish in colour, especially after heavy rain. What my family did was to install a water filter next to the water meter outside the house. In the kitchen, we installed another water filtering machine to further clean the water for cooking and drinking.

Some people feel that filtering piped water may result in the loss of certain minerals. Since our body only requires a small amount of minerals daily, this could easily be obtained from vegetables and fruits. It is better to avoid drinking water containing chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals which can affect blood circulation, digestion and nervous function as well as reduce susceptibility to infection and other disease (Kushi & Jack 2003). We do not want to drink chemicalized water for the sake of its mineral contents. See Kushi, M. & Jack, A. (2003). The Macrobiotic Path to Total Health. New York: Ballantine Books.

During the process of forest certification in various states in Malaysia, I came across some villages continue to use clean forest hill water for home consumption besides the normal chemically-treated piped water. These are the lucky villagers as they have the chance to consume safe, clean and naturally treated water. In the urban areas, such source of hill water is increasing in demand. People are willing to pay for such source of water. How clean is this source of water? In 2009, I came across a Malay village where villagers also use the forest hill water for modern fish farming. Accordingly, the arowana fish farmed needs this type of clean water to grow healthily. A 6-cm in length arowana fish is exported to China, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong for RM1,000 after 1 year of culture.