Is Filtered Water Healthier than Tap Water?

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Water is crucial to health and wellness. Among other things, it regulates body temperature, helps flush out toxins, lubricates the joints, aids in blood circulation, distributes minerals to the organs, and keeps the skin moisturized. Unfortunately, there are cases in which the water intended to keep people healthy becomes a source of health problems. To avoid such complications, it is essential to ensure that your drinking water—whether from a tap at home or sourced from commercial beverage equipment—is clean and safe to consume. Still, trying to determine the safety of your water can lead to the question, “Is filtered water healthier than tap water?” And the answer is: It depends.

Although there are many areas where water is regulated and is generally safe to drink, filtering it can offer added benefits depending on your local water quality, personal health needs, taste preferences, and how water is used in daily life. 

 

Is Filtered Water Healthier than Tap Water?

 

Understanding Tap Water

In most developed countries, tap water is treated to meet strict safety standards. For example, in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency regulates more than 90 contaminants in public water systems. These contaminants include bacteria, lead, and pesticides.

While water systems are usually effective, contamination can still occur. Factors such as aging infrastructure, outdated plumbing, and local pollution can impact water quality. For example, lead can leach into drinking water from old pipes in old residential and commercial buildings. Runoff from agricultural activities can introduce nitrates and other chemicals into water sources. In addition, chemicals used to treat water, such as chlorine and chloramine, can affect the taste and produce byproducts that many people try to avoid.

 

What Does Water Filtration Do?

Water filters remove specific impurities from water. Different types of water remove different types of impurities.

  • Activated Carbon Filters: Used to remove chlorine, sediment, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
  • Reverse Osmosis Systems: Used to remove a wide array of contaminants like heavy metals, salts, and bacteria
  • UV Filters: Allow you to kill bacteria and viruses without using chemicals and without changing the taste of water.
  • Ion Exchange Filters: Replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium or potassium to soften hard water

 

Benefits of Filtered Water

There are several known benefits of filtered water.

  • Reduced Contaminants: Filtering water allows you to enjoy water that is free from contaminants such as lead, chlorine, pesticides, microplastics, and heavy metals.
  • Improved Taste and Smell: Many people agree that filtered water tastes better. This is usually because filtered water is free from chlorine and sulfur.
  • Better for Vulnerable Groups: Filtered water with fewer contaminants may be more beneficial and safer for infants, pregnant women, older people, and immunocompromised individuals
  • Fewer Bottles, Less Plastic: Filtering water at home reduces the need to buy bottled water. This can help you save money and contribute to environmental conservation.
  • Removal of Forever Chemicals: One of the most concerning chemicals that may be present in tap water is PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” They can stay in the environment without ever degrading, and they cause a variety of health issues like reduced fertility, cancer, and liver damage, to name a few. Water filters can help remove these chemicals, ensuring you and your family are safe from them.
  • Peace of Mind: Filtering water at home provides added assurance. This is especially true if you are located in an area with questionable water quality.

 

When Tap Water Is Enough

If your area is known for having good-quality drinking water and your plumbing is relatively new, tap water may already be safe to drink. You may also request a water quality report from your local provider to determine what exactly is in your water.

 

Ice Makers

If you use ice makers at home or in a commercial setting, filtered water makes a great difference. Filtered water produces clearer and better-tasting ice. Additionally, filtering your water can also help reduce the chemical buildup that can damage your appliances.

 

What Is Best for You?

So, is filtered water healthier than tap water? In most cases, yes, especially if your local area has a known water quality issue or if you belong to a sensitive population. However, if you can be certain that your tap water is clean and tastes fine, there may be no need to filter it. Remember that there is also such a thing as overfiltering, which may strip water of minerals that are beneficial for you.

If you think you need to filter your water, please get in touch with us through our website so we can discuss how we can help ensure that you have safe and healthy drinking water available at all times.

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Buying Guide for Commercial Water Filters

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concept of commercial water filters

Do you have industrial-grade water machines? Then you need industrial-grade filters. Maintaining them is one of the most important duties of someone who serves beverages in a commercial setting. From the most specific type of filter to generic water suppliers, there are many things you need to know about purchasing and maintaining the best water filters that work for you. Here we have our buying guide for commercial water filters.

Buying Guide for Commercial Water Filters

Our Southern California Beverage Company experts have put together this quick buying guide for commercial water filters to help commercial beverage sellers like yourself know how to buy the right equipment and use it the right way for long-term success.

Step 1: Know Your System

The type of water filtration system you have can largely determine its maintenance and replacement needs. Some of the most common water filters used in a commercial setting include:

Carbonless Filter

Carbonless water filters are some of the newer options on the market, but they are useful for sterilizing water coming from a tap source. Also, carbonless filters do not cause scaling, which is something that can damage ice machines and other pieces of equipment irreparably over time. While carbonless filters may come with a higher price, they can offset plenty of repair costs in the future.

Activated Carbon Filter

A popular type of filtration system uses activated carbon filters to treat water coming through. These filters are good at catching lint, dust, spores, and other types of contaminants that might otherwise remain in the water. These types of filters are available through a number of accessible and common manufacturers.

Reverse Osmosis Filter

Reverse osmosis filters are highly recommended on a personal level because they can get rid of almost all contaminants. They are also found in commercial settings as they can use applied pressure to remove contaminants using a natural water process. The result is just pure water molecules, leaving nothing else in the water. Most reverse osmosis systems not only guarantee, but are legally required to remove at least 90% of all dissolved solids that are filtered through it.

When Do You Absolutely Need a Water Filter?

Not all products and pieces of equipment require a water filtration system. However, many machines come with water filtration systems that you should know how to operate. Whether carbon-based or reverse osmosis system, you will probably find water filter systems in the following:

  • Coffee and espresso machines
  • Ice machines
  • Soda fountains, beer taps, and other beverage dispensers
  • Dishwashers
  • Combi ovens
  • Steamers
  • Sinks and drains

It goes without saying that having a water filtration system is imperative to the health and sanitation of your business. Not only does filtered water taste better, but it also smells better and gets rid of contaminants while preventing your equipment from getting damaged too soon.

Keep Your Water Clean with the Best Filtration Systems Today

Water filtration may seem like an additional or fanciful feature that isn’t always necessary, but it could not be more core to the positive operations of your beverage company. From coffee machines to ice makers, it’s important that your biggest pieces of equipment filter water in the correct way. Let SC Beverage be your number one choice for commercial water filters in Southern California, from specialized filtration systems to common industrial-grade filters that you can install and maintain on your own.

Get in touch with one of our beverage company experts whenever you have questions or concerns about maintaining your beverage machines. Our supply of commercial water filters will help you make the perfect choice that works for you. Maintaining the daily operations of your restaurant or bar business has never been easier!

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Is Your Business up to Code? Restaurant and Bar Safety Guidelines

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When your business serves food and drinks, there are certain regulations to which you must adhere to ensure consumer health is protected. The regulations pertain to employee behavior, food storage, alcohol, and water safety. SC Beverage provides water filters in Orange County which exceed industry standards, so you can rest easy knowing your customers are protected.

Providing Safe Drinking Water

All business owners in the United States– restaurants and bar owners included– are responsible for providing his or her employees with clean drinking water to keep them hydrated throughout their shift. To protect employees, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set forth drinking water standards and guidelines.

OSHA Drinking Water Standards

● Provide potable drinking water in adequate amounts. [Note: “potable water” does not mean filtered water. For water filters in Orange County, check out SC Beverage.
SC Beverage offers brands like Everpure, OptiPure, and Selecto– just to name a few.
● Provide employees with potable water only used for employee health and personal needs.
● Have a drinking fountain, single-use water bottles, or “dispense drinking water from a covered container with single-use drinking cups stored in a sanitary receptacle.”
● Not allow employees to “share drinking cups, dippers, or water bottles.”
[naturawater.com]

Adding a Water Filtration System

“Potable water” must meet its own safety standards and is therefore generally considered safe to drink. However, if you care about your employees, you may well want to go a step farther and install a water filtration system for their drinking water. SC Beverage offers water filters in Orange County from one to triple filter to meet your filtering needs. Providing filtered water ensures your employees will drink clean, fresh water free from many contaminants that are often found in potable water.

Filtered water dispensers can hook up directly to your water line and remove impurities from treated tap water like chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals, and even bacteria. When your staff has clean water to drink, they are encouraged to stay hydrated. This will make them more healthy and productive throughout the day.

Contact SC Beverage to find out more about your options for water filters in Orange County.

Food Storage

Store food items must be stored separately and labeled by date received, using the first items received first and the last, last. You must have a working thermometer and the refrigeration must be below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Alcohol

You have to contact your local city office for a license to sell alcohol. There are different types of licenses depending on the type of alcohol you are selling, and whether or not you are producing it on-site.

Employee Cleanliness

Employees should stay clean at all times, wash their hands regularly, and keep their hair pulled back and out of the way of food and beverages.

Employee Safety

Employers must abide by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. OSHA will visit and inspect your location to make sure you meet their health and safety standards for employees.

Other Restaurant Inspections

Usually, restaurant inspections are done by the County health department — but each state has its own restaurant health inspection procedures. There are many violations for which restaurant and bar licenses can be, and have been, suspended.

How to Find Out More About Specific Regulations

All businesses have to obtain certain state and federal licenses and permits, and the food and beverage sector is no exception. In fact, it is commonly thought the stakes are higher in this industry because your choices affect the consumer and his or her health and safety.

To find out which licenses and permits you are required to get, visit the state and federal agencies’ websites. You can find many helpful links on the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) food and beverage guide.

Another good way to find specific information is to contact your industry association. In California, the California Restaurant Association can give you information about issues related to restaurants and bars. If your business is in another state, contact the National Business Association for a list of state restaurant associations. If you can, you should try to meet with a representative so you can have a full conversation and get completely filled-in on all the details you need for your business.

Water Filters in Orange County

SC Beverage is a preeminent company providing sales and distribution of any beverage need. For all the systems we provide, clean water is one of the most important. With innovative ideas, exceptional customer service, and high-quality products, we pride ourselves on giving you the best experience on the west coast. SC Beverage provides engineered water filter systems for both commercial and residential sites. When you need a water filter, SC Beverage is the clear choice. Call (562)463-8918 or leave us a message here to request more information.

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Why You Need Water Filters in Your Restaurant

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If you want to run a successful restaurant business, don’t make the mistake of skipping out on water filters. Water filters are a crucial part of keeping your equipment clean, serving the highest quality food and beverage, and preventing waste and unnecessary repair costs.

Not All Taps Are Created Equal

After being seated, the first items you are greeted with at any restaurant are menus and water. Water is always a part of the meal — whether you choose to drink it or not, it is undoubtedly being used to cook or sanitize your meal. While most tap water is safe to drink, it’s not always the healthiest. Guidelines for safe water drinking are often overlooked and contain harmful contaminants that can affect your health and mental well-being. In addition, if your restaurant is in an old building, the pipes that hold your water may also be old. Out-dated pipes run a higher risk of lead contamination. It’s important that you ensure the safety of your guests by making sure their water is free of chemicals and bacteria. Adding an extra layer of protection with water filters in Los Angeles does the job of making sure your water is safe and clean. Fresh tasting water is also always a sign that a restaurant is sanitary, setting the customer at ease by providing reassurance that their food will be sanitary too.

Water Is Used Everywhere

Not only is water used for beverage consumption, it’s also used for cleaning, cooking, and filtered through other machinery to make ice or coffee. In a restaurant it is the staff’s job to ensure all tables are wiped down before guests are sat and that all visible areas are free of clutter and mess. Often restaurants will avoid using cleaning sprays, as they contain chemicals unsafe for consumption, and will instead apt to use water and sometimes a little sanitizer. A clean table is essential to providing the best dining experience. If someone is seated at a dirty table, or a table that was wiped down but still omits a rather pungent stench, you are already painting a picture of uncleanliness for your customers. Using water filters in Los Angeles ensures that tables are being cleaned effectively and efficiently.

Protecting Your Machinery & Saving You Money

Water filters are not only imperative for tap water, but also the many machines that are used to run a restaurant.

Ice

Ice is not made on its own — it needs water! Ice is used to chill the cocktail your customer just ordered, fill other beverages, and keep food cold. The same taps that are used in your water system are also used to make ice. Using a water filter for your ice machine clears any possible bacteria from forming and keeps your machine working more efficiently. Without harmful chemicals weighing it down, ice machines produce ice more quickly, use less energy in its production, and tend to have a longer shelf life.

Coffee

Coffee machines, from a simple drip brewer system to an espresso machine, all require water. In either scenario, to produce a cup of coffee or espresso, water is pushed through a filter filled with coffee grounds. The taste and cleanliness of that water undeniably affects the taste of the coffee. Therefore, water filters are crucial to making a clean, delicious cup of coffee. Without them, sediment buildup can cause coffee machines to break down or create a bitter flavor in your cup.

Repairs and Replacement

Often restaurants that don’t use water filters in Los Angeles end up having to purchase new equipment earlier than expected. Using a water filtration system can prevent you from these unnecessary expenses and keep your machinery running longer and stronger.

Ensuring the health and safety of your customers is just as important as impressing them with a delicious meal. Both are a part of providing a memorable dining experience and both should be highly considered. Using water filters is a reliable way to guarantee the safety of your guest’s health and protect your restaurant from avoidable, excessive costs. Here at SC Beverage, we pride ourselves on the quality of our service and products and would like to help you do the same. Contact us to find out more on how water filters can add to the success of your establishment.

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