Let's consider for a moment the long-term potential effects on your health from routinely drinking low levels of toxic disinfectant chemicals. Lon's studies convinced him that disinfectant chemicals may contribute substantially to a reduction of overall health and may be important factors in the high heart disease and cancer rate statistics (and other diseases) that have developed in America during the past 70 -100 years.

Lon's health studies over many years helped him understand that low levels of disinfectant chemicals in drinking water, bathing water, and swimming pools may be significant contributing factors in many escalating disease conditions.  Consider that we have a much higher rate of heart disease, strokes, cancer (several kinds), diabetes, etc. than occurred more than 100 years ago.  Why is this happening?

Scientific studies have linked chlorine and chlorination by-products to cancer of the bladder, liver, stomach, rectum, and colon, as well as heart disease, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), anemia, high blood pressure, and allergic reactions.

The presence of chlorine and ammonia as disinfectants in water supplies can cause chloroamines to develop which may be substantially harmful when ingested daily over a period of months or years. There is evidence that chlorine can damage or destroy proteins in the body and can also cause substantial adverse effects to the skin and hair.

Chlorine is added to municipally supplied drinking water to kill pathogenic microbes, but this highly reactive chemical (a halogen) can combine with fatty acids and carbon fragments to form a variety of toxic compounds, which comprise about 30% of the resulting chlorination by-products.

Many warning statements have been issued by qualified researchers regarding the potential for harmful health effects due to chlorinated water. However, the public at large, and many government officials (state and federal), have not studied these issues adequately; consequently, they are not aware of the potential dangers associated with chlorinated water (for drinking water, bathing water, and swimming pools).

Many years ago, a medical doctor was concerned about these very serious health issues so he investigated some of the potential health problems associated with chlorinated water. The results of his investigation was so important that he wrote a book about his findings so large numbers of people could be informed quickly about what he had discovered.  In his book, CORONARIES, CHOLESTEROL, CHLORINE, (published in 1969, reprinted several times), Joseph M. Price, M.D. summarized the results of his studies and laboratory experiments: "Chlorine is the greatest crippler and killer of modern times. While it prevented epidemics of one disease, it was creating another. Two decades after the start of chlorinating our drinking water in 1904, the present epidemic of heart trouble, cancer and senility began."

"Cancer risk among people drinking chlorinated water is 93% higher than among those whose water does not contain chlorine." U.S. COUNCIL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

"Known carcinogens are found in drinking water as a direct consequence of the practice of chlorination, a long established public health practice for the disinfection of drinking water." MUNICIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY, Francis T. Mayo, Director

Important Water Filtration Information

A good quality single-stage POU water filter can greatly reduce the level of chlorine, ammonia, and many other potentially harmful chemicals that may get into "drinking water" supplies (typical cost is $70 to $110).  Our quality two-stage filter ($150 to $219) or our high quality triple-stage water filtration unit ($329) can do a much better job of cleaning the water, with more reliability than a single stage unit, because Lon can customize the filters with a different type of filter element in each of the stages. 

The combination of the two filter elements or three filter elements offers more reliability and versatility in cleaning drinking and cooking water for a broader range of potential contaminants.  For instance, the two-stage filter and the three-stage filter can contain a special filter element to greatly reduce toxic flouride in the output water.  That cannot be done with a single-stage filter because it takes a separate filter element for fluoride reduction, in addition to the usual filter element that can greatly reduce chlorine, ammonia, and many other contaminants.  Special filter media can be used to remove a certain family of chemicals from water. 

It is difficult to find a water filter unit that can reduce fluoride by 90 to 98%, but we have a filter element that can accomplish this special feat.  Lon Willoughby has studied the fluoride controversy over a period of about 30 years, and he is convinced that fluoride is a very dangerous chemical that should not have been added to municipal drinking water systems throughout America.  Most of the European countries have already banned the addition of fluoride in municipal water systems, but we foolishly continue this very dangerous practice throughout the USA.  You can research the fluoride controversy on the Internet, and we will provide an Internet link for this in the AquaSpace filter information presented later in this article.

Most of the filter elements that we offer need to be replaced only once per year (about 1,000 gallons of output water), and this means that a quality single-state water filter can be less expensive in the long run than the low-cost faucet mounted water filters (Brita and Pur units need filter replacements after about 100 gallons have been filtered).  Consequently, one would likely need to purchase numerous filter elements during a 12-month period.  Our larger single-stage AquaSpace filter would do a better job of filtering the water and would be less expensive per year for filter replacement cost.  It is therefore better and less expensive to purchase our AquaSpace single-stage water filter than to purchase the much smaller faucet mounted water filters. 

Note:  the faucet mounted filters are considerably better than the pour-through filters because water pressure is available to move water through a much tighter filter media - usually contains multiple media materials that are not found in the simple pour-through filter units.  

Calculate the costs for 1,000 gallons of filtered water with a pitcher type filter or a faucet mounted unit - they need filter element replacements at 40 or 100 gallon intervals respectively. Add up these costs and average the annual cost over a three-year period.  Our larger single-stage, two-stage, or even our triple-stage water filter system will likely cost less while also doing a better job of cleaning your drinking water in a more reliably manner.

A sophisticated "water purifier" can do an excellent job, with good reliability, of providing clean and healthful drinking and cooking water in a home or office.  Water Purifiers could be multiple filters and a ceramic filter element or an Ultraviolet Purifier (UV) stage, or a Water Distiller unit with a high quality carbon filter addition, or a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system with an Ultraviolet chamber add-on stage.

HEALTH NOTICE: It is also very important for a water filter to be "flushed" first thing each morning; allow at least one quart of water to flow through a standard size single-stage carbon type water filter each morning before using any filtered water. Bacteria may have colonized in the water filter overnight (or other periods of inactivity), and flushing the filter will wash most of the bacteria down the drain.  It is very important to accomplish this action daily.

"Showering is suspected as the primary cause of elevated levels of chloroform in nearly every home because of the chlorine in the water." ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, Dr. Lance Wallace

ABC has an excellent shower filter which utilizes KDF media to efficiently minimize the toxic chlorine gases released into the air when one is bathing in chlorinated water. (KDF = Kinetic Degradation Fluxion)  This quality shower filter cost about $41.95 and it can last for many years.  The element should be replaced at about eight-month intervals for continued good performance (replacement filter element cost is $21.95). We can explain how this "shower filter" can also be used to greatly reduce free chlorine gas when tub bathing.

Lon believes the chlorine and ammonia added to municipal water distribution systems can contribute to very serious health problems over time, as indicated by the quotes presented above and below. This is a very serious health issue, and a word to the wise is sufficient; please take action to protect yourself.

"A long, hot shower can be dangerous. The toxic chemicals are inhaled in high concentrations."   BOTTOM LINE/August 1987, Dr. John Andelman, Ph.D.

"Skin absorption of contaminant has been underestimated and ingestion may not constitute the sole or even primary route of exposure." AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Vol. 74, 5/84, "The Role of Skin Adsorption as a Route of Exposure For Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) In Drinking Water", Dr. Halina Brown

Consequently, Lon Willoughby believes that an under-the-counter RO water-holding tank should be sanitized at least four times per year and also at any time the owner suspects that the RO output water may be contaminated.  This procedure will help minimize the ongoing potential for microbe contamination of the water-holding tank.  Adding an UV stage into the output water line of an RO system is a very smart idea because it provides powerful UV light rays to damage/destroy the DNA of any microbes that may flow out of the water-holding tank output water.  The UV add-on stage should be installed in the output water line ahead of the RO output faucet.  Some of the most advanced RO Systems now have a UV stage installed. 

Lon generally prefers the above-counter style RO system because it It has an easy to clean open holding tank that can be cleaned frequently, as easily as washing a good size pot.   It does not have a sealed holding tank that can get contaminated over time, as reported above. 

Water Ionizers:  Lon understands that the Water Ionizer technology offers additional benefits that a quality water filter system, or a distiller system, or an RO system do not inherently provide.  A quality Water Ionizer can greatly improve the Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) of the water that is processed through it - changing water from a positive ORP (oxidative effects) to a negative ORP (antioxidant effects). Oxidants (positive ORP) speed up the aging process and antioxidants (negative ORP) slow down the aging process. 

In Greenville, SC, the municipal water typically has an ORP that is about +250 with Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of about 24 parts for a million parts of water (24 ppm).  Consequently, the water has very low levels of beneficial minerals (our lake water is essentially rain water - no minerals like one might have with well water). However, one should also understand that all minerals in well water are not necessarily beneficial - some minerals and radiation particles can be very detrimental to health.  Well water should be tested periodically to determine what minerals and contaminants are in the water - cost of tests can vary from $100 to $300 or more, depending upon how many items are included in the testing parameters.

A Water Ionizer can reduce the ORP to a negative value (-100 to -300 or more).  The amount of reduction is  dependent upon the amount of beneficial minerals that are added (within the unit) to the water that goes into the ionizer chamber to be "ionized" (improved for more healthful water). 

The ionization chamber can also substantially improve the pH (potential Hydrogen) properties of the water, producing a more alkaline pH value (8.5 to 9.5 is desirable) while also reducing the size of the water clusters (from 12-18 molocules size to 5-8 molocules size).  The smaller water clusters can get into the body cells better than larger clusters, and this very important improvement can enhance the hydration of body cells.   As shown above, a Water Ionizer can provide major improvements in water molecule parameters that can provide substantial  health benefits - better ORP, better pH, and smaller water clusters, in addition  to quality water filtration.  However, as related later in this report, liquid fluoride will not be removed adequately unless a supplementary fluoride reduction filter is added to this water processing system.

If you have an interest in the water ionizer technology and want to learn more about its health benefits, call our office and schedule an appointment with Lon before you buy a unit.  He has studied all of the major water ionizer brands, and he knows which models provide the best value.  He can help you make a wise choice for this more expensive type water processing system for your home or your office ($1,200 - $3,000 cost range).

Hydrogen Water Stick:  This device is a remarkable health breakthrough that can help people obtain health-giving ionized water easily and quickly at reasonable initial cost - if they already have a clean source of drinking water.  It is very important to use the cleanest water available when using the Hydrogen Water Stick - water that has been filtered or purified properly or use a quality bottled water.  Lon recommends that you drink water that has been filtered or purified to remove chlorine, ammonia, and fluoride.  It is important to understand that fluoride will not be removed using ordinary carbon-type water filters.  

This small device is placed inside your portable drinking water bottle; consequently, you can take it with you wherever you go outside the home (or inside the home).  It produces several of the healthful benefits of Water Ionizer with a much lower initial cost ($79.95). 

The Hydrogen Water Stick can be used for about six months before it needs to be replaced.  Lon has tested this unit over a period of several months and it works surprisingly well for such a small device.  It does improve the pH of water (more alkaline) and improves ORP amazingly well - changes the positive ORP into the negative ORP range (antioxidant).  Theoretically, the water stick also reduces the water cluster size, but Lon has no way of measuring this parameter with his water testing equipment.

Best Water To Consume:  Lon's in-depth studies and training related to water processing and purification has convinced him that drinking water that was processed through a high quality water filter or a reverse osmosis (RO) system is generally  better for you than drinking distilled water.  Lon has acquired substantial knowledge about various water processing systems, and he understands that Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP), pH value, and Water Cluster Size are very important considerations, in addition to water contamination and purification issues.  Consequently, the sophisticated water processing features of a quality Water Ionizer theoretically enable this advanced technology to provide the most healthful and beneficial water to drink of all the water processing systems that are readily available to consumers. 

As explained above, the Hydrogen Water Stick can also provide several of these advanced benefits - but at a reduced level from the parameter levels that can be produced with a well-designed quality Water Ionizer (Lon's detailed evaluations proved that some units are much better than others). 

Water Distiller System:  It is important to note that Lon was trained on water distillers at the Pure Water, Inc. factory in Lincoln, Nebraska, in June 1983.  He and his wife Janie personally used a water distiller system for many years in their home, and Lon has many years of experience working with water distiller systems.  Consequently, Lon is very knowledgeable about water distiller systems for home or office use. 

A water distiller should always incorporate a quality filter unit to clean the water that will go into the distiller boiling tank; the filter may be able to remove chemicals that the distiller cannot remove effectively.  Contrary to popular opinion, water distillers do not necessarily take all contaminants out of the water being distilled.  A water distiller works on the principle of boiling water in an enclosed chamber and separating liquified particles based upon the boiling temerature of each particle that may be in the water.  At sea level, regular water boils at 212 degrees Farenheit (F); the steam produced (gas) goes into a condenser tube where it is cooled to convert the steam into a liquid state - thereby producing "distilled water."  Consequently, a water distiller  will remove contaminants that have a boiling temperature significantly above 212 F, such as metals (minerals) disolved in the water.  It is therefore clear that any chemical contaminants that boil at or below 212 F will also be converted to steam (a gas), along with the water steam (a gas).  

This explanation shows why undesirable chemical gases will  be condensed into a liquid state, along with the water steam, and end up contaminating the freshly made distilled water.  Distillers usually have some volatile  gas vents in the condensing tube to help remove the lighter weight contaminant molecules, but this does not help remove the heavier weight molecules - they will contaminate the distilled water. This situation shows why it is very important to use a quality water filter unit to cleanup the water before it goes into the distiller boiling tank.  The filter can remove many chemical contaminants that might have otherwise boiled and contaminated the distilled water. 

Dissolved metal contaminants (and desirable minerals) boil at much higher temperatures than 212 F so they cannot convert into a gasious state; herefore, they stay in the boiling tank water and will be discarded in the kitchen sink drain before the next boiling cycle begins. One can see that a distiller system can easily remove all metal (mineral) particles from water using these very reliable boiling tank principles.  

Use a Distiller System (distiller plus quality filtration unit) in situations where there is poor quality raw water - the water has metal (mineral) contamination problems (cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, etc.) or has significant chemical contamination (many possibilities), or has microbe contamination, or has radioactive particle contamination.  The water distiller system excells at removing metal (mineral) contaminants and killing microbes; it can also reduce substantially some types of radioactive contamination. 

Reverse Osmosis System: The RO system can also do a good job of removing metal contamination, and chemical contamination, but it cannot kill microbes (without a UV chamber stage), and it is not as effective as a water distiller at removing some types of radioactive contamination.  An RO system also uses quality filtration units that are designed into the system.  An RO system has the advantage of not generating any heat (distillers have a heating element that boils the water - causing heat similar to a small portable electric heater), and the RO system does not use any electricity (unless a UV chamber is added to the system).  However, an RO system will use several gallons of "wash water" (goes to the drain pipe) for each gallon of purified water that is produced because (the RO membrane must be constantly washed when the unit is producing purified water.

Speed of Processing Water:  The Distiller System and the RO System are both slow systems, typically taking an hour or more to produce one gallon of purified water (distillers take about 3-4 hours, depending upon the wattage of the heater element).  Whereas a quality Water Filter System or Water Ionizer System can produce a gallon of processed water in about two minutes with a minimal amount of wasted water.

Fortunately, many municipalities do not have a substantial problem with water contaminants (but there are numerous problem prone locations in America). The water processed by the Greenville County (SC) water system provides a very good quality raw water - probably much better than most municipalities in the United States.  People who obtain their water from this system are very fortunate to have an outstanding water system that can draw water from three pristine mountain area lakes that have about 10,000 acres of combined protected watershed around those lakes. This lake water is mostly rain water and it is therefore pretty clean water (no industrial chemical polution like a river or some other lakes might have).  

Lon understands that our Greenville, SC watersystem is one of the best municipal water systems in America, and we are very fortunate to have this excellent quality water system.  Even so, it is very important to understand that it is necessary to add chlorine and ammonia to kill microbes (could be pathogenic and dangerous), liquid fluoride (hydroflorosylicic acid), and also adds caustic soda and polyphosphate (two chemicals that help protect about 20,000 miles of pipes in the Greenville municipal water distribution system).  We are proud of this excellent water system; many dedicated men and women worked very hard for many difficult years to help develop the high quality system that we enjoy today.

Minimizing chemical contamination in water:  Even though we have an excellent water system in Greenville County, South Carolina, Lon's extensive health studies convinced him that it is wise to minimize consumption of chlorine, ammonia, chloroamines, fluoride, and trihalomethanes, etc.  Chlorine and ammonia are used together (team work) to minimize pathogenic microbe contamination of the water, but we should filter these two toxic chemicals out of the water before drinking it or bathing in it.  Is the fluoride in our Greenville water another toxic chemical that we should try to remove as much as possible?  See the fluoride information provided below to help you develop your own answer to that very important question.

Fluoride Info:  Liquid hydroflorosylicic acid (fluoride) is a toxic chemical, but it is being added to the Greenville municipal water system.  The liquid fluoride is added due to the eroneous belief that it will help protect children's teeth from decay (reduce the number of cavities).  The readily available scientific data shows that adding flouride to drinking water does a lot more harm to the long-term health of children, teenagers, and adults than any benefit that it might provide for childrens' teeth. Lon believes that it is outrageously foolish for municipalities to add this very dangerous chemical to the Greenville water system (millions of gallons of water processed daily). Lon has been trying to minimize his consumption and contact with fluoride for about 30 years.  An Internet link will be provided later in this report to help you easily research data about the harmful effects of fluoride in the human body.  

Unfortunately, liquid fluoride is not filtered out with the quality activated carbon filters that can substantially reduce chlorine and ammonia in drinking water (better than 90% reduction).  Fortunately, Lon has learned how to substantially reduce fluoride contamination of our Greenville County municipal drinking water by using a special fluoride reduction filter.  We stock the best consumer fluoride reduction filter that is available to the public (better than 90% reduction of fluoride).   

A visit to these important Websites will enable you to see some of the quality products that we can provide for our customers. These are excellent companies that produce quality products at reasonable and competitive prices.  We have been selling Aquaspace Water Filters and Sprite Shower Filters for more than ten years so we know from experience that these are very good companies that produce quality products.  

 + + +  Additional Water Information and Website Links  + + +

Aquaspace Water Filters   Western Water International produces the Aquaspace line of water filtration products.  They are committed to providing high quality water filtration products and they have an excellent line of products.  ABC has been a dealer for their excellent water filter units for many years.  We really like this company and its quality water filtration products.  Lon believes their filter products are some of the best (and probably the best) available at a reasonable prices.  The AR-100 and AR-100F filters are engineered to minimize channeling of water through the filter media - which is a common problem with many loose-packed filter cartridges.  Channeling can substantially reduce the effectiveness and reliability of the filter's performance capabilities; consequently, it is very important to purchase high quality filters that have been engineered to minimize channeling conditions.  

Fluoride Reduction:  The Aquaspace fluoride reduction filter is the best filter that Lon has been able to find in the marketplace to remove fluoride from drinking water; consequently, it is the only fluoride reduction filter that Lon recommends to our customers.  Lon's extensive research and study regarding the fluoride controversy (in drinking and bathing water, toothpaste, dental procedures, etc.), over a period of more than twenty-five years, has convinced him that it is wise to avoid fluoride as much as reasonably possible.  Adding fluoride to municipal drinking water systems is probably one of the most foolish health-related procedures ever perpetrated upon the trusting American public (millions of people affected - primarily in metropolitan areas).  

Many countries in Europe have banned the addition of fluoride to municipal drinking water systems, but Americans continue allowing an extremely toxic waste product to be disposed of conveniently (and profitably for the producers of this toxic by-product) by adding it to water processed by most of the larger municipal  treatment facilities in the United States.  This is done using the presumption that it is good for children's teeth.  Lon's studies of this issue found that the countries that do not add fluoride to their drinking water have had about the same rate of decline of tooth decay during the past many years as American who had fluoride added to their municipal water.  It appears that people in general, throughout the more advanced countries, have been using better mouth hygiene for their children during the measured period, whether or not fluoride was in the drinking water, and the better hygiene practices accounted for the reduced tooth decay.  

If you tend to disagree with these statements, or do not know much about the dangers of consuming fluoride, visit the famous health information Website at Mercola.com and do a word search for fluoride.  You can review the very important science-based fluoride reports available at this remarkable Website to obtain a better understanding of this exceptionally important health-care issue.  Fluoride is a very toxic chemical, and you would be wise to learn how to avoid this dangerous chemical in toothpaste, mouthwash, dental treatments, etc. - check it out for yourself at Mercola.com.

You can also visit Decluster.com to learn about the exciting benefits of the remarkable Aquatomic magnet units that can improve the structure of large water molecule clusters for substantial benefit to humans, pets, and plants.  We stock the Aquatomic magnets produced by AquaSpace - you can find information about these remarkable magnetic devices at the AquaSpace Website.  Lon and Janie (wife) use the Aquatomic magnets daily on their drinking water containers, and we believe they are well-worth their modest cost.  

Hydrogen Water Stick  Please take time to visit this very important Website and learn about the amazing benefits of free hydrogen atoms and how they can benefit your health by simply drinking hydrogen infused water.  This is truly amazing health information.  You can purchase the Hydrogen Water Stick at our health store or you can purchase from the Website if you use our Hydrogen Friend code number: 1971. 

Ask us about the advantages of becoming a Hydrogen Friend and helping us spread the good news about this remarkable health advancement. Lon is excited about this remarkable product because it can provide some of the most important benefits of a Water Ionizer at a much lower initial cost, and it has the big advantage of being portable - put it in your drinking water bottle and take it with you throughout the day.  The cost is $79.95 in our store, and there is no shipping charge involved and no waiting for the shipment.   

Sprite Shower Filters  Sprite is the original manufacturer of quality shower filter products, and they are still a major leader in this industry. Our training has convinced us that a shower filter is usually more important for health preservation than a drinking water filter in situations where chlorine has been added to the water.  The information in the first part of this pure water article explained why a shower filter can be very important if one is bathing in water that contains chlorine (can greatly reduce that amount of free chlorine gas that would get into the bathroom air while bathing). The water information presented previously reported the danger of chlorine in bathing water; consequently shower filters can be very beneficial to your long-term health.  If you use a tub-bath that also has a shower head, a shower filter can be used to reduce free-chlorine in tub water. 

NOTES:  We can provide competitive prices for products distributed by the companies that we work with, as identified herein.  You can telephone or E-mail ABC to inquire about our prices for equipment products that you may want to purchase, after you have visited the website links provided in this article.  Lon knows how to provide personalized information and service that can be very valuable to you - daily for the rest of your life.  He can help you select the right equipment for your personal situation, and he can probably show you how to save money by purchasing the best value equipment.  Call us and talk with Diane Owen to set an appointment with Lon about your water processing concerns because he is not always available at the ABC health store.   

You may contact ABC's of Health & Justice via E-mail to inquire about information related to your health concerns, various nutrition products, air filtration and purification products, shower filters, water filters, and water purification products.   Diane knows a lot about water filtration issue  but Lon Willoughby is our resident water consultant, and he will be happy to respond to E-mail questions about your water-related health concerns.   We are here to help people learn the ABC's of Health so they can live a longer, happier, healthier, and more productive life.  Would you like for us to help you with your concerns about drinking and bathing water quality?  Wouldn't it be wise to give us a call today, while this exceptionally important issue in on your mind.  Procrastination is not in your best interest.