Category: Water Consumption

Hard water is hard because as compared to soft water, it has high calcium and magnesium content. Hard water is not harmful to drink, but it may cause problems for your hair and skin as the minerals in the water create a scaly film. This tends to cause your hair look and feel dry and dull as the film prevents your hair from being moisturised naturally. If you live in a hard water area, this could be particularly disheartening. Here are seven ways to tackle the problem!

1. Vinegar or lemon rinse

Home remedies like using apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to rinse your hair after a hair wash leaves your hair soft and smooth. Mix either a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in three cups of water and apply to your hair after shampooing. Massage into the scalp till it is absorbed and let it sit for a couple of minutes and then rinse. Do this only once a week for best effect or the acidity could make your hair drier.

2. Install a shower filter

A shower filter balances the pH factor in the water and removes limescale, chlorine and other chemicals. There are a number of shower water filters that are attached to the shower or which replace the showerhead. Select one that suits your needs. A water filter in the shower head will give you soft water only for bathing but not in your kitchen where you would need to install a water softener too.

3. Wash hair with bottled water

Washing your hair with bottled water could prove to be rather expensive besides leading to a pile up of environmentally unfriendly plastic bottles! At best this could be a temporary solution if you are on a visit to a hard water area.

4. Use water out of a water filter

If you have water filter already installed in your home then you could use this water for washing your hair. If you live in a cold place, this would mean heating water on gas or stove manually which could be time-consuming.

5. Chelating or clarifying shampoo

Clarifying shampoos that also have a chelating agent helps to remove the layer of mineral build-up on the hair. However, chemicals can be harsh on the hair so use one that has natural ingredients.

6. Rainwater

If you live in an area that experiences frequent rain, you could use rainwater to wash your hair as it leaves the hair soft and glossy.

7. Use a water softener

If you want a permanent solution to your hard water woes, then the best way to do so is to install a water softener like the EWT Water Softeners. Water softeners remove calcium, magnesium and a whole lot of metal contaminants from the water. This will not only solve your hair problems, but you could have the added benefit of saving on maintenance of home appliances like washing machine and dishwashers as there will be reduced limescale build-up.

The human body is more than 50% water and so if the body is not hydrated properly, many of the functions could go awry. Keeping the body hydrated is essential to balance body systems like the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and muscles. Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue and especially when you are working out, proper hydration will keep you from tiring out.

Why is hydration required?

When working out, you need enough water, but how much will depend on the climatic conditions, clothing, the intensity of your workout as well. A person who tends to perspire heavily will naturally require more hydration than one who doesn’t. Some people tend to have high sodium levels, so the sodium depletes through sweat and so hydration then becomes important.

A workout increases the temperature of the body. The rise in the temperature depends on the intensity of the workout and the duration as well as the metabolic rate. To cool down, the body produces sweat which is composed of water, electrolytes and sodium. Excessive perspiration can lead to a loss of all three in the body, so water and electrolytes need to be replaced, or it could impact performance as well as cause other health issues.

How much hydration is needed?

Hydration before and during workouts

You need to drink at least 16 to 20 fluid ounces of water or beverages four hours before you begin your workout. About 15 minutes before you start exercising, have about 8 to 12 fluid ounces of water. If your workout is for 60 minutes, then every 15 minutes you need to drink 3 to 8 fluid ounces of water and if your workout goes beyond one hour, then drink 3 to 8 ounces of sports beverages every 15 minutes. Do not exceed the limit beyond one quart when exercising.

Hydration after workout

The best way to ascertain how much hydration you require is to check your weight after the workout. The second indicator is the colour of your urine post exercise. You need to drink a good 20 to 24 fluid ounces of water or sports beverage for every pound that you have lost. If your urine becomes a darkish colour, then you need to replenish lost hydration. After exercise, hydration should be completed within two hours of working out.

Needless to say that the water you drink must be safe and preferably filtered with the help of an advanced water filter like the EWT Water Filters. EWT Water Filters provide purified drinking water that has no unpleasant smell or taste, at all.

Chlorine as a disinfectant has been in use for decades in ensuring the safety of drinking water. Chlorine is probably the best choice as it helps to virtually remove all microorganisms that can render water unsafe. However, recent research studies show that chlorine may have negative effects on health particularly when it leads to the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs).

Formation of Trihalomethanes

Trihalomethanes are chemicals that are formed when there is a reaction between the chlorine used to disinfect water and the natural organic matter that is already present in the water. You are already aware that river and lake water contains a lot of organic matter. So, if your water is supplied from these sources, then you would need drinking water filters to ensure your water is free from THMs.

Exposure to Trihalomethanes

The presence of Trihalomethanes could be at high or low concentrations. The levels are determined by the amount of chlorine used in the water, in different seasons of the years and where the supply of water has originated from. Besides drinking water straight out of the tap, THMs are also absorbed through the skin and from inhaling water that has been contaminated with THMs. So you can absorb Trihalomethanes from

• food as water is used
• showering and bathing
• breathing in steam from hot showers or when washing dishes with hot water

Adverse health effects

Tap water is used on a daily basis for drinking, cooking, bathing etc., so the exposure to THMs may be long term if your tap water has been contaminated. Long-term exposure to Trihalomethanes may have an adverse effect on your health. Since most people think that their water supply is safe, they might not realise that the THMs in the tap water are affecting their health till it is too late. Some of the most common health problems related to Trihalomethanes exposure are:

• risk of certain cancers especially colon and bladder
• problems in reproduction and development in the foetus, miscarriages
• damage to liver and kidneys
• problems of the central nervous system
• respiratory problems

Safe home supply of water

Boiling drinking water removes THMs, but this could prove to be a laborious process. So, most people use tap aeration, and others use activated carbon filters to ensure tap water is free from THMs. A simpler solution to this problem are the EWT GOLD Series Water Filters. They clean, filter and purify your tap water so that it is not only free of Trihalomethanes but all other contaminants as well.

If you would like to ensure that your home water supply is safe, then you need to have a water filtration system installed, preferably a whole house filtration system. This kind of filtration removes the Trihalomethanes the moment they enter your home supply, so your tap water in the kitchen, bathroom and swimming pool is safe. All your washing, cooking and drinking water supply will be free of THMs, and you will have truly purified water, too.

Making the decision to get fit is a great step towards better physical health and is an accomplishment in itself! But it’s also important to ensure you’re taking care of your body in other ways too.

When you’re exercising strenuously and regularly, you’ll need to make sure you’re staying hydrated. Many people who go to the gym or take part in their own forms of exercise underestimate just how important water is to the human body’s system.
Here’s why it’s so important to drink water before, during and after you exercise.

Exercise causes you to sweat and dehydrate.

As you sweat, your body will be dehydrating. Have you ever noticed yourself feeling hot and thirsty along with a dry mouth? It’s a sign your body needs to replenish its water supply.

As your body becomes more dehydrated, you’ll find yourself feeling lethargic, as well as experiencing possible symptoms such as headaches or dizziness. Not exactly what you need whilst getting fit!

Water can help you stay cool.

Drinking water and staying hydrated will help your body regulate its temperature effectively – even during the most strenuous forms of exercise.

This makes you less likely to experience overheating, the stress of the heat on your body and fatigue!

Water is cheap and plentiful – and won’t affect your results!

Water is cheap (or even free on many fitness locations), easy to get hold of and – importantly to athletes – contains no calories, fat or anything else you’d rather avoid, meaning it won’t have any adverse effects on your weight loss or muscle gains.

How much water do I need to drink?

Of course, this will vary between different people and the intensity of their workouts. However, the average rule is around 20 oz in the hours before your workout, 8 oz around 30 minutes before, 10 oz every 20 minutes during exercise and 8 oz after you’re done.
If that seems like a lot, remember that your body mostly consists of water, so it’s important to replenish what your body is losing as you work out.

So, whether you’re hitting the gym, going for a run or even just taking a brisk walk, staying hydrated is essential for staying healthy. EWT can provide water filtration systems and softeners to commercial and residential premises alike, so get in touch to improve the quality of water at your gym or leisure centre or even just provide yourself a better supply to take with you on your workouts!

Motivated employees in an organisation become the assets of a company. They increase the productivity and reduce the attrition rate of the company. Keeping the employees happy makes the working atmosphere healthy and pleasant and thus, improves the punctuality and loyalty of the employees. Now, how to do this?

We at EWT, the water specialists, have incorporated unique HR programs and dedicated resources which take care of employee motivation and employee satisfaction.

Following are the 10 effective ways to motivate your employees:

1. Keep an hour of joy on a weekly basis: Fix an hour of joy once in a week where the employees are made to play games, exhibit their talents and have fun at office. This eases the tension at the work. Also, it develops a friendly attitude among employees.

2. Reward employees: The employees' work should be recognised and rewarded in the group. The rewards can be in terms of money, gifts or surprises. The employees' work or talent can be displayed on the bulletin board of the office where everyone can see it and recognise it.

3. Recognise employee’s individual contribution: Even as an individual, the employee should be given attention, and his/her work must be rewarded well. This creates a sort of connection with the seniors and the management.

4. Provide homely work atmosphere: The office environment should be made homely and pleasant. The employees have to be allowed to take breaks and work on their own phase. There must be cafeterias and coffee/snack areas where the employees can munch and work in a relaxed way.

5. Have a flat hierarchy culture: There should not be too many hierarchies followed. Any small decisions and plans done at the junior level should not need approval from the top management. They should be given space to design and implement some of the ideas which they think can work for the welfare of the company.

6. Make way for personal flexibility: Personal flexibility is one of the important factors that should be considered by all organisations. The employees should be given freedom of speech and freedom of working hours. The swipe-in time and swipe-out time of the employee should not be fixed, but flexible. Until and unless, the employee does not meet his target on time, he should be given flexibility for working hours and also taking leave.

7. Provide clear roadmaps of career: Career roadmaps are to be given by the top people in order to let the employees know what is in store for them in the next six months to next one year down the line. This defines the employees' career, and they can set a personal goal for themselves.

8. Conducting exciting social events:This is very much necessary for creating fun at work. There should be a different department to take care of all the social events. Every year, you should plan special events and make them exciting. There should be surprise lunch outs, surprise trips for employees. The annual day celebrations should be made exciting. With all this, the employees can get connected with the company.

9. Give space to employees to work within their own style: Each employee will have his/her own style of working. They should be given free space to work with their own style, which actually increases the productivity and efficiency of the employees.

10. Fix a casuals day: Once in a week, have a casuals day, where the employees do not have to adhere to formal wears.

By practicing these methods, we are making our work culture very interesting, thereby, increasing the productivity and efficiency of our employees. We hope these tips will help you too!

Bottled versus tap has been an ongoing debate for years, but both are still popular for their own reasons. So, which is really better? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons, before moving on to how you can ensure you’re getting the best possible water supply.

Bottled Water

Bottled water is readily available at supermarkets, convenience stores, cafes and even street vendors, making it easy to grab on the go. Some people buy larger bottles for their refrigerators too!  But while it has its perks, there are cons to consider.

The Pros:

• Bottled water is easy to ‘grab and go’.
• It’s usually bottled at the source, ensuring it’s completely natural.
• It can often taste better than tap water.

The Cons:

• Bottled water costs significantly more than tap water.
• Some consider bottled water a waste of packaging and plastic – the use of which could be bad for the environment.

Tap Water

Tap water can be easily accessed through the taps in your home. Many people use it every day; however, few disagree that it’s the best choice. Here’s why:

The Pros:

• Tap water is easy to access in your own home at any time, ensuring you stay healthy and hydrated at all times.
• It’s also highly affordable, and will be reflected in your monthly water rate.

The Cons:

• You’ll need to invest in a travel bottle if you want to take water with you on the go.
• Tap water can vary depending on the area you live in. Different supplies have different levels of hardness, varying chemicals, different mineral levels and more – all of which affect the taste and quality of the water.
• Many say that tap water simply ‘doesn’t taste good’, but this is largely down to the elements above.

It seems that taste and chemicals are the main reasons some people tend to stay away from tap water, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are ways to ensure a great tasting, healthy supply.

How can I ensure my tap water supply is the best it can be?

The best way to ensure the quality and safety of your tap water supply is to have a water filter professionally fitted into your home. The filter will remove all unnecessary chemicals, resulting in clearer, better tasting water.

Or, if it’s purely just the hardness that’s a factor, consider having a water softener fitted. Some people don’t enjoy the taste of hard water due to the minerals it contains. A softener will improve the taste if a harder supply isn’t for you!

If you’re considering a water filter or softener, don’t hesitate to contact EWT Water Specialists. We’ll be able to advise on the perfect product for your needs based on our extensive range of options.

In a place where your customers will be spending their time eating and drinking, it’s more important than ever to ensure they are not consuming any harmful bacteria.

Why do I need a water filtration system for my restaurant?

Drinking water with your meal is an essential part of healthy digestion, helping to break down the food so the body can take in its nutrients.

Most people know this, so it’s very common to see people request water at the table. Often, this is plain old tap water – which most people are happy to drink in addition to other drinks at the table.
But aside from drinking numbers, it’s also worth considering all the other ways water comes into contact with your customers.

Water is used to clean and maintain the areas they sit in, wash the dishes and cutlery, and even add to certain foods! There are plenty of ways diners could come into contact with water, so making sure it’s clean is key.

Taste is also a factor

As a restaurant, you place great importance on the taste of your delicious dishes. So why would drinks be any different? When nasty chemicals and toxins build up in your water supply, they may affect the taste in a way that’s unlikely to impress your customers.

A good water filtration system will remove chemicals, sediment, minerals and organic matter to ensure taste and odour are completely unaffected.

It’ll protect your equipment

The lack of these harmful elements also reduces the chance of your equipment breaking down or experiencing maintenance problems due to build up that may otherwise lead to limescale and similar issues.

If you have an ice machine, this is another reason to consider filtered water. Filtered ice breaks up easier than non-filtered ice, as well as has an overall better taste that won’t affect the flavour of the drink. Similarly, filtered water is better for steam equipment and coffee machines!

How you can get a water filtration system for your restaurant

Having a high-quality water filtration system installed doesn’t have to mean a huge project. A trained water filter installer here at EWT will be able to provide a fully functional water filtration system in no time, ready to serve your commercial premises from restaurants and cafés to schools and hospitals.

Stay and look around to learn more, or please contact us at your leisure to discuss your needs!

Water recipes and infusions for detoxification and cleansing are one of the hottest trends in healthy living, with many fans even choosing to post their creations on their blogs and social media pages.
So with all the hype to consider, what are the best combinations? Here are seven delicious flavours to enjoy whilst staying hydrated and living a healthier lifestyle.

Orange and Blueberry

Blueberry is known for its ‘superfood’ properties. They are natural antioxidants which help to neutralise free radicals within the body – helping to protect you from certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases and more.
The orange adds a little something extra for a great citrus flavour!

Lime and Mint

If you’re in the mood for a cocktail but looking to avoid the alcohol associated with the classic mojito, why not try a lime and mint infusion?
The sweet, citrus flavour of the lime combined with refreshing mint will be just the thing on a hot summer day, plus the lime will naturally promote a healthy digestive system.

Strawberry and Cucumber

Strawberry and cucumber work great together for a sweet yet subtle flavour. Cucumber is a natural anti-inflammatory, whilst strawberries will encourage the natural cleansing of the liver and kidneys.

Raspberry, Rose and Vanilla

Reminiscent of sweet Turkish Delight, the blend of rose petals, vanilla and raspberry, feel like an indulgent treat whilst still being good for you! You may be surprised to learn that rose infusions can be especially helpful for fighting coughs, reducing stress, calming allergies and healing headaches to name a few!

Watermelon and Coconut

For a tropical twist, try a watermelon and coconut infusion. Coconut is known for its ultra-hydrating properties such as electrolytes and minerals, whilst watermelon is full of antioxidants, vitamins and amino acids.

Mango and Lime

We’ve already outlined the benefits of lime, but let’s take a look at Mango. Mangos are ideal for alkalising your body and maintaining a healthy pH level, as well as providing immune-boosting vitamins A and C!

Lemon: Plain and Simple

Sometimes the classics are the best, and lemon is a great one to start with! You may be surprised at something so simple, but there are lots of benefits to this citrus infusion!

• Lemons are a great source of potassium.
• It’ll give your immune system a boost.
• Your breath will stay fresh.
• Your skin will become less prone to blemishes.
• Lemons naturally cleanse your system.
• Lemon water can help aid weight loss.
• It can improve digestion.
• Inflammation of your joints will be less likely.
• You’ll get a healthy burst of energy.
• It can help you give up caffeine.

Wow, so much goodness from one small fruit! All the more reason to add some to your daily h2O.

How to make water infusions

These are one the simplest recipes out there! All you need to do is add the fruit to the water and leave it to infuse in the refrigerator overnight. Easy!

No matter which recipe you try or how you choose to jazz up a plain glass of water, the most important thing is that you’re making an effort to boost your water intake and take care of your body. Keep up the great work!

When looking at water options for your facility, you may have noticed water cooler systems on the majority of sites – including here at EWT. But is that something you need to consider? It could be! Read on to find out.

What is a water cooler?
A water cooler is a water dispenser that’s usually used in places of work or recreation. A plumbed in water cooler specifically is one that draws from your building’s main water supply and provides cool, filtered water to the end user.

How does a water cooler work?
As the water is passed from the supply into the cooler, it flows into an internal reservoir that holds and cools the water, ready to be dispensed. If the cooler features a filter, the water will also be passed through a built in filtration system to remove impurities and ensure a high-quality supply.

Who can benefit from a water cooler and how?
Businesses are one of the main markets for water coolers, as it’s important to provide a healthy supply of water to everyone in the office.
Others who may wish to order a water cooler include public places such as schools or hospitals, or even gyms, public pools and libraries to name a few! Where there are people, there’s a need for water.

There are plenty of reasons to consider a water cooler, and plenty of ways you could benefit! Here are just a few:

• A water cooler will give you superior quality drinking water, whenever you need it. Plumbed in water coolers from EWT ensure great tasting, cool water that you and those around you can enjoy.
• As a business, you’ll likely be looking to save money wherever possible. Save up to 50 percent on your water costs by making the most of a plumbed in water cooler. You’ll be spending less on water storage, and the water itself!
• Water from a plumbed in water cooler is not only cool and refreshing, but it’s also better for you! EWT Water Specialists provide water coolers with sophisticated built in water purification systems, resulting in cleaner, safer, better-tasting drinking water.
• All businesses are required by law to follow the Welfare at Work regulations. This includes providing accessible drinking water!
• It’ll save you time and money that you’d otherwise spend waiting for deliveries and collections of water bottles. Your water will simply be right there in the office!
• Once plumbed in, you won’t have to store and carry heavy water bottles. Instead, it’ll simply flow through your system the same way a tap would. Easy!
• Water coolers from EWT Water Specialists are environmentally friendly and reduce waste caused by plastic water bottles.

Ready to go ahead and order a water cooler? EWT Water Specialists can help! Simply get in touch with EWT Water Specialists to learn more.

You may or may not have heard that having a water softener installed could save you money as a homeowner, but why exactly is that?

Read on to discover the pros of water softeners, and how they could result in a more affordable water supply – as well as improving its quality and taste too!

How could a water softener save you money?

In most homes, you’ll find that electricity is the highest of all the utility bills. When you factor in heating and cooling the home, combined with a typical water heater, this shouldn’t come as much for a surprise. Water heaters, in particular, may take up around 25 percent of your household’s total energy consumption!

Many homeowners try to combat this expense by purchasing a new, efficient water heater. However, they don’t realise that this alone won’t make much of a difference. No matter how efficient a heater is, it will not function as well as you’d like it to if the conditions aren’t right. So what is the condition that reduces water heater efficiency, you ask? It’s simple – hard water.

Hard water can reduce the efficiency of your heater by around 48 percent! As your heater functions, it will begin to accumulate calcium carbonate – in other words, limescale. As this limescale builds up, it will begin to cause clogged water lines, blocked plumbing and damage to internal components of your heater, not only reducing its efficiency but also risking permanent damage.

As a result, you will find yourself paying higher utility bills, as well as potentially having to fork out for repairs or replacements of parts – or even a full new heating system!

So, what can you do about this hard water?

Firstly, you’ll need to determine whether or not you actually have hard water, so that you can ensure hard water is the cause of the problem.

Take a look at your taps and shower heads. Do they have any spots or limescale build up on them? If so, hard water is more than likely the culprit.

The next step is getting rid of it, and it’s easier than you might think to switch your supply over to soft water. All you need is a water softener!

What can a water softener do?

A water softener will not only help with the issues detailed above, but will also:

• Result in cleaner kitchenware and fixtures.
• Be kinder to your hair and skin.
• Use less soap to get a good lather.
• Keep your clothes soft, clean and longer lasting.
• Protect your appliances from damage.
• Taste better – although this one is down to opinion, most people prefer the taste of softer water!
• And far more!

If you’ve been convinced that a water softener could be the best choice for you and your home, why not get in touch with EWT Water Specialists? We’ll be able to advise on the best water softener for your needs, as well as install it ready to improve your supply.