Water Basics
What’s in our water, why it’s there, and what “safe” actually means
Water is one of the most fundamental inputs into the human body.
It’s also one of the least examined.
Municipal drinking water is designed to be safe, consistent, and scalable. It is not designed to be personalised, optimal, or especially pleasant. Understanding that distinction explains most of the confusion and frustration people feel about taste, additives, and filtration.
This page covers the basics.
What town water is designed to do
Public water systems exist to prevent waterborne disease at scale.
Their priorities are:
- killing bacteria and viruses
- remaining safe across long pipe networks
- working for entire populations, all the time
Taste, skin feel, and individual tolerance are secondary considerations.
This approach has saved millions of lives globally. It is a public-health success story — but not a wellness strategy.
Why substances are added to drinking water
Disinfectants (commonly chlorine)
Added to:
- kill harmful microorganisms
- prevent contamination as water travels through pipes
Trade-off:
- highly effective protection
- noticeable taste and smell
- irritation for some people (skin, eyes, airways)
Chlorine is added because it persists. That persistence is what keeps water safe at the tap, not just at the treatment plant.
Fluoride (in some regions)
Added to:
- reduce tooth decay, especially in children
Trade-off:
- population-level dental benefit
- universal exposure, regardless of age or choice
Fluoride is not added for hydration or nutrition. It is a public-health intervention.
Other adjustments
Water may also be treated to:
- control corrosion
- balance pH
- protect infrastructure
These changes serve the system, not the body.
Taste vs safety
Strong chlorine taste does not usually mean unsafe water.
It often reflects:
- seasonal dosing changes
- warm weather
- long pipe networks
- recent maintenance or flushing
“Safe” water and “pleasant” water are not the same thing.
This is why filtered water often tastes dramatically better, even when the unfiltered water meets all standards.
How water additives behave
Standing water
- Free chlorine dissipates over 12–24 hours
- Chloramine (used in some places) dissipates much more slowly
Boiling water
- Removes most free chlorine
- Does not reliably remove chloramine
- Does not remove fluoride
Hot water and showers
- Increase inhalation of chlorine vapour
- Increase skin exposure
- Often where people notice irritation most
Heat reduces some exposures, but does not eliminate them.
How the body is exposed
Water additives don’t only enter the body through drinking.
Exposure pathways include:
- ingestion (drinking)
- inhalation (steam, showers)
- skin contact (bathing, washing)
This explains why some people notice:
- dry or itchy skin
- scalp irritation
- eye sting
- airway sensitivity
Even when water meets regulatory limits.
Filtration: what it is (and what it isn’t)
Filtration does not mean rejecting public water systems.
It means refining water that is already safe.
Drinking water filters
- Activated carbon filters remove chlorine, taste, and odour
- Simple, inexpensive, effective
- Highest return for most households
Shower filtration
- Reduces chlorine exposure via steam and skin
- Often improves comfort noticeably
- Low effort, optional upgrade
Whole-house filtration
- Removes chlorine from all taps
- Improves bathing, laundry, and plumbing longevity
- Higher cost and maintenance
Filtration is about comfort and exposure reduction, not fear.
Minerals and “pure” water
Most basic filters:
- remove disinfectants
- leave minerals largely intact
Advanced systems (RO, distillation):
- remove almost everything
- require intentional remineralisation
For most people:
Reducing chlorine matters more than chasing ideal mineral profiles.
A grounded way to think about water
- Public water is designed to keep people alive
- Personal water choices are about comfort, taste, and tolerance
- There is no perfect water — only trade-offs
Understanding the system allows you to choose where refinement makes sense, without drama.
How this site approaches water
At Organic Food Together, water is treated the same way as food:
- understand how the system works
- respect public-health gains
- reduce unnecessary exposures where practical
- prioritise simplicity and affordability
No extremes. No fear. Just informed choices.
