The 8 Unique Benefits of Hydration

Do you find yourself easily fatigued, struggling to keep up with the day?

Is your skin lacking in richness and vibrancy, making you come across as dull and tired?

You may think that’s just how you are, but the reality of the situation could be far different – you could in fact just be severely dehydrated. It is estimated that nearly 80% of Australians may be suffering from chronic dehydration – this news isn’t quite as shocking and surprising as you may initially think.

After all, we as a nation have become ever more susceptible to alternatives to water – soda, milk, and coffee have become favourites for many households. Although there’s nothing wrong with consuming these beverages every once in a while, you have to be careful because they could very well be contributing to dehydration.

In order to reverse the trend and regain optimal health make a conscious effort to consume more water – the Institute of Medicine recommends drinking at least 10 cups daily.   The benefits of hydration cannot be understated – this article digs deep into the matter, bringing to light the benefits you can expect to see once you make hydration a part of your daily life.

 

  1. Suffering from a dry mouth? Water is the solution

A dry mouth is known to cause bad breath, not to mention a general unpleasant taste – severe cases of a dry mouth can even cause cavities.

Consuming water can help cure a dry mouth, since water is known to add moisture to both your throat and lips.

 

  1. Water boosts your cardiovascular health

Dehydration is known to significantly reduce your blood volume, meaning your heart has to do more work to pump blood and oxygen to your cells – this is why you may become easily fatigued climbing up a few set of stairs.

Decreased blood volume contributes to a variety of different complications, each complication taxing and harming your overall cardiovascular health.

Water luckily puts an end to decreased blood volume – consuming enough water boosts your cardiovascular health, making it easier for your heart to do its job.

 

  1. Water cools down your body

Do you know why your face gets red during exercise? It’s because your body is expanding blood vessels close to the skins surface in an effort to release heat.

It’s important to keep our bodies cool and drinking water allows for just that.

 

  1. Water helps your body work better

Hydration means your muscles receive adequate nutrients, allowing your cells to easily and efficiently remove waste so your body performs better as a whole. As you can probably imagine, the opposite occurs if you’re suffering from dehydration.

 

  1. Water is great for your skin

If you want to increase the look and feel of your skin, drink water.

Water keeps your skin looking young and vibrant – giving your face a natural and youthful glow.

 

  1. Water is great for cleaning toxins from your body

Water makes it possible for your kidneys to remove waste from the blood– if you’re suffering from dehydration it’s tougher for your kidneys to perform their role – this is why some people go on to develop UTI’s (Urinary Tract Infections) and kidney stones.

 

  1. Prevents fatigue

If you’re not drinking enough water, you’re going to suffer from fatigue, considering water is one of the greatest sources of energy. This is the case because water is crucial for the completion of a variety of different tasks, from restoring the body to eliminating waste – it’s no wonder why dehydration contributes to serious fatigue.

 

  1. Reduces the occurrences of digestive disorders

Dehydration is linked to various digestive disorders, from ulcers to constipation to bloating to gastritis. Drinking an ample supply of water ensures your body easily and effectively purges toxins, allowing you to eliminate and reduce the occurrence of the aforementioned digestive disorders.

 

Conclusion:

The recent report announcing the severe dehydration of Australians has contributed too many cases of fatigue, disease, and reduced health. It’s important that we understand the dangers of dehydration so we can change our behaviour and start consuming adequate levels of water. Schools and workplaces need to lead the movement by implementing more water dispensers and fountains – doing so will greatly lower the number of Australians that are suffering from severe cases of dehydration.

The 5 Stage Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

Introduction

Reverse Osmosis is arguably the most efficient method of water filtration available today. It’s useful for removing almost all types of water contaminants that may be found in home water or water from water bubblers. These range from sediment, bacteria & viruses, mineral salts and organic material to elements like chlorine and fluorine.

Most of the contaminants in the system are removed at the osmotic membrane chamber, with the application of pressure of around 35 psi. The system is reliable for providing high-quality water for water coolers and therefore is a crucial home water filtration system.

The 5 Stages

As the name suggests, the systems combine 5 filters in one unit. These filters can be grouped as pre-filters, RO Membrane and Post-filters. The pre-filter stage consists of 3 high-efficiency SED and carbon pre-filters, whose main aim, apart from taking care of large molecule water contaminants, is to protect the RO membrane.

Stage 1: 5 Micron Polypropylene Sediment filter

This is the initial stage in the system and is charged with taking care of all the solid substances that are above 5 microns in size, and removing them from the system. These are usually any sediment that is present in the water, like sand and metals. The filter can last up to 6 months.

Stage 2: Carbon Water Filter

This stage deals with most of the chemical contaminants found in water, like pesticides, herbicides, chlorine, etc. It also removes lead, aluminium, oils and various other contaminants. Chlorine quickly destroys the reverse osmosis membrane pores while oils bring about clogging in the membrane. Eliminating them in this stage effectively takes care of the RO membrane. The carbon water filter is also effective in removing any taste or odour present in your water.

Just like the sediment filter, these filters also last between 6-9 months. They are very useful in the system and therefore should not be used for longer than necessary, lest they lead to the extra cost of a damaged RO membrane.

Stage 4: Osmotic Membrane

This is the most crucial part of the system. It carries out fine filtration. When water reaches the chamber, it is forced through the semipermeable membrane, with the application of pressure. Only the tiny molecules of water can pass through this membrane, and therefore all other contaminants are left behind, together with some water.

This water that contains a significant percentage of contaminants is then piped out, and into the drain. The pure water that passes through the membrane is directed to a pressurised tank for storage. This is about 75-80% of the water fed into the system. The membrane has an approximate lifespan of 18 months.

Stage 5: Inline Activated Carbon Water Filter

This is the last step in the system. Its purpose is to provide further purification of the water, a process known as ‘polishing’. Water passes through the stage only when the faucet of the pressurised tank is opened. This filter then provides quality improvement services to the water, by removing any colour, taste or odour that might have been left behind.

Conclusion

This system is a sure way of providing high-quality drinking and cooking water for your family. It helps you get rid of bottle water, which proves uneconomical in the long run. Aquafil is committed to helping you take care of your health and as well as the environment, and you can, therefore, contact us if you need assistance in any of these.

Substitute your bottled water with a reverse osmosis water filtration system, and save not only your money but also the environment!

 

A New Wave of Drinking Water Options

Dehydration is a leading cause of fatigue and poor mental function, and the impact of dehydration on cognition and mood is particularly relevant for children, who have poor fluid regulation

By Suzy Barry

In a large proportion of mainland Australia, summers are long and hot. Even in southern Queensland, winters are short, and in locations like Darwin and Cairns, they struggle to earn the title of winter with their few weeks of sweater weather.

Government supported initiatives like Crunch and Sip, where state school students have some fruit and water in the classroom between breaks help to encourage healthy eating and hydration. When a child is pounding that playground playing tiggy or climbing on play equipment, water is just about the last thing on their mind. This is especially true if they have to line up for ten minutes for lukewarm water, or ‘walk safely along concrete paths’ back to the classroom for their water bottle. Australian students need water, and they need it to be clean, cool and readily available.

The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines are administered by a federal body: National Health and Medical Research Council. These minimum requirements determine the quality of drinking water in populated areas, with reticulated supplies (also called town water) supplying schools and public places.

Read the full article here

Reverse Osmosis System Maintenance

Reverse osmosis systems play a crucial role when it comes to purification of drinking and cooking water at home for storage in water coolers or for use in drinking fountains. These systems currently stand as the best filtration systems that offer high-quality water production. This is majorly because they are made of different stages of filtration, combined into one unit.
This makes sure that all possible water contaminants present in your water are taken care of. These contaminants range from sediment, mineral salts and other unwanted substances like chlorine. Some are removed through simple carbon filtration, while others are eliminated at the semi-permeable membrane chamber, with the use of a pressure of around 35-40 psi. Only water molecules are small enough to pass through this membrane and therefore the other contaminants are left out and filtered at this stage. The fact that it removes a lot of minerals will mean that the system should also be cleaned and maintained, to ensure continued supply of high quality purified water.

About the Maintenance

Reverse Osmosis System Maintenance will surely depend on the quality of water that it filters. One of the parts of a reverse osmosis that should be diligently taken care of is the reverse osmosis membrane. This is basically the part of the system that takes care of most of the contaminants contained in water.

Doing maintenance on the system will ensure peak performance of your water filtration system. The system has a normalised salt passage standard and also a standard permeate flow. If the salt passage increases by 15%, you should consider doing a system maintenance. This also applies if the permeate flow decreases by the same ratio.

The RO membrane cleaning can be done in place, or the membranes can be removed and taken to a specialised company that offers RO cleaning services. The latter is usually more effective. This is because certain factors have to be considered in the cleaning process. Some are PH and water temperature. The flows also have to be checked and therefore should be done by a professional company.

Preventive Maintenance

This is a type of maintenance where you have technicians regularly check your system to ensure high-quality performance and effective output. During these visits, any filters that need to be changed will be changed, and any necessary repairs done.

After such servicing, you will be provided with a report of normalised data trends.

The 3 Stages’ Maintenance

Most reverse osmosis systems usually have 3 stages of filtration i.e. the pre-filter, Reverse Osmosis phase and the Post-Filter phase. The 5 stage Reverse Osmosis Systems can also be grouped into these 3 main stages.

Pre-filter Maintenance

This stage comprises of cartridge filters that sift out solid particles. This is to protect the RO membrane from damage. These filters should be changed after around 6-9 months, failure to which it will put the RO membrane at risk, and lead to more cost incurrence.

RO Membrane Maintenance

Since this is the most crucial part of the RO system, its maintenance is of utmost importance. It should be cleaned after a period of 3-4 months, to prevent clogging of the system.

Post-filter Maintenance

This is the last stage of the system, and its main goal is to ensure production of high-quality water, by removing any contaminants like chlorine that may have been left behind in the process. It comprises of carbon filters, which should be changed within a period of 6-9 months.

Conclusion

Reverse Osmosis Systems cost quite an amount, and therefore should be able to provide undoubtedly high purification standards for water to use in office water coolers. However, this cannot be achieved without carrying out scheduled maintenance of the system. Apart from ensuring production of high-quality water, maintenance also increases the lifespan of the system. It makes 10-15 years of efficient production achievable.

You can contact us if you are looking for a reverse osmosis system, or for any assistance in maintenance and repairs. We also supply water cooler filters, water coolers for sale, water cooler dispensers and water bubblers. Just get in contact and we shall be willing to assist you.

Water filters and their effectiveness in reducing water contamination

Water filters are the most efficient way of reducing water contamination and removing contamination in your water. Contaminated water contains sediments and disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. There are filters specialised for filtering certain water contaminants, and there are generalised ones that filter many contaminants. Modern filters come in various shapes and sizes and are capable of filtering chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals and other sediments. The following are some of the types of water filters and how they operate.

Reverse Osmosis (Osmotic Membrane Technology)

This is the most efficient filtration technology, and it’s capable of filtering nearly all the water contaminants including heavy metals, fluorine, chlorine, sediments, and excessive nutrients and minerals. The technology applied here is the use of semi- permeable membrane combined with a pressure of about 35- 40 psi. The membrane has tiny pores, which can only the tiny water molecules to pass through.  All other particles are left behind, washed and piped out to the main drain.

The semi-permeable membrane is usually fitted with other filters in a system known as Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System. 5 stage reverse Osmosis System uses a total of 5 filters to ensure that the water is completely purified. The filters which are usually combined with this membrane include sediment pre-filter, carbon pre- filter and a carbon post- filter.  The pre-filters protect the osmotic membrane from damage while the post-filter is meant to polish the filtered water to ensure it is of high quality. This water can then be stored in filtered water coolers, office water coolers and let out in water cooler dispensers, faucets or drinking water fountains.

Activated Carbon Filters

Just as the name suggests, these water filters are made up of special carbon. The type of carbon used here is the one that has been activated to attract a large number of impurities present in water. Activated carbon filter can be found as a complete stand-alone filtration or in complex systems like the reverse osmosis system. Its design technique allows it to have large bonding sites for organic impurities.

These filters work by a process known as adsorption. This is the process through which the impurities found in water chemically bond with the activated carbon. After water enters the filter, these impurities typically attach themselves to the activated carbon. The level of filtration depends on some factors such as the speed of water flowing through the filter and the concentration of carbon.

Alkaline/Water Ionizers

The alkaline water ionizers water filtration technology works through a process called electrolysis, which raises the water PH. Usually, water is subjected over electrically charged plates that separate it into its acidic ad alkaline components. The negatively charged electrodes attract the positive ions hence leading to reduction. The positively charged electrodes attract the negatively charged ions hence resulting to water oxidisation. The reduced water is ideal for cooking and drinking while the oxidised water can be used for laundry, cleaning utensils, cleaning wounds and even for sterilisation.

UV Filters

UV filters make use of ultraviolet radiation to get rid of pathogens that may be present in your water. In this process, water is usually exposed to UV rays which are then absorbed by the microorganisms found in water. The UV rays alter the DNA of these microorganisms hence destroying them and leading to their death. This is the best way of eliminating waterborne diseases to provide safer drinking and cooking water.

Infrared Filters

Infrared water filters are commonly used for water softening. They depend on light and heat to give water a softer feel. Soft water is usually free from heavy metals and excess minerals and nutrients.

Conclusion

The type of water filter you choose depends on the level of water contamination. When purchasing a water filter, you should consult an aquafil expert since different water filters come with different filtration technologies. Aquafil will advise you on the best system that will solve the water problems in your area. Get in touch for information on water filters, refill statins and other  products including bubblers, water coolers Sydney, office water coolers, and water cooler dispensers and drinking bubblers among other quality products provided by aquafil. These are better solutions than buying single use bottled water every day, which will prove expensive and environmentally unfriendly in the long term.

We are committed to promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle to you and your family, as well as protecting the environment around us.

Lead in your Water; Causes & Removal Techniques

Introduction

There are different water contaminants such as heavy metals, lead, excessive minerals, and nutrients. The various water contaminants have various methods of finding their way into the water. In this article, we are going to look at lead as one common and dangerous water contaminant.

What is Lead?

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that exists almost in all parts of the world. It is classified in the group of carbons and contained in most of the equipment we interact with and use in our day to day activities and functions. It is a threat to both the health of children and even adults, though children are the most to its effects.  Children affected by lead suffer from constipation, fatigue, learning difficulties, slow growth rate, and development, vomiting, and loss of appetite among other health problems. For an adult, you may experience abdominal pains, memory loss, headache, muscle pains, reduced sperm count in males, joint pains, high blood pressure among other symptoms.

How do you know that your water is contaminated with lead?

Unlike chlorine, lead does not have a taste or smell, and neither can it be seen. The best way of determining the presence of lead in your water and the level of contamination is by testing your water. This is the only reliable way to enable you to protect yourself and your family members from consuming lead-contaminated water.

How does Lead get into the water?

Plumbing is the primary source of lead contamination in water. In most cases, the pipes used in transporting water are usually the cause of lead contamination. Older homes are likely to suffer from lead contamination in their drinking and cooking water. This is because some of the pipes used in transporting water in these homesteads were laid several years ago before the community realised the dangerous health effects of the substance.

How to remove lead from water

It is important to know the level of lead contamination in your water before deciding on the best method of lead removal. The following are some effective methods of removing lead contamination from water. They can be used alongside your office water coolers, water drinking fountains and home water cooler dispensers.

Using a Lead Water Filter

Lead water filter is the best way of protecting yourself and family members from lead ingestion. Filters can be installed in water cooler dispensers, office water coolers, drinking fountains and water bubblers. A water filter can be placed under the sink, on top of the counter, on water pitches or you can just attach it to the faucet.  Filters come in various types and forms including water filter coolers, water cooler filters, and others. Before purchasing any water filter, always ensure that it is NSF certified for Lead Removal.

Replacing Lead Water Pipes

Most of the plumbing lines, especially water pipes that were laid several years ago, have high levels of lead. Knowing the type of pipe that supplies your domestic water is imperative when it comes to protecting yourself from lead. You can determine the presence of lead in your water supply system by yourself using very simple methods. One of the best ways of detecting the presence of lead is by using a coin to scratch the pipe and then check the colour. Pipes made of copper have the colour of a penny while those made of lead have the colour of nickel. It is easier and cheaper to replace lead water pipes that have been used for private home plumbing. However, for public plumbing, it is relatively expensive and arduous, and you may resort to other methods like water filters.

Flushing out Water before usage in the morning

Though it is a wasteful practice, it may act as a short term solution to lead contamination. If you rely on public plumbing for your water supply, you may opt to flush water in the morning. Flushing out is meant to get rid of the water that has stayed in the lead pipe overnight hence increasing chances of lead leaching from the pipe into the water. This method may not be very effective, but it reduces the level of lead contamination in water.

Conclusion

Lead contamination poses great health dangers. It is, therefore, important to detect the presence of lead contamination in your water then reduce it, or remove it altogether. Aquafil are your partners in safe drinking water. Contact us today for assistance on lead removal techniques from your water supply system as well as for the purchase of water coolers Sydney, office water cooler, filtered water coolers, and drinking fountains among other quality products.

 

A Better World with Reusable Water Bottles

For Our World, Our Nation, and Ourselves

Plastic is ubiquitous in our society. It is everywhere, in multiple formulations, thicknesses, usages, and packaging of everything from food to diapers. It is formulated from both non-renewable sources as well as renewable sources.

Ingredients in plastic

Plastic is made from natural gas, crude oil, coal, salt, and cellulose. They also contain a wide variety of chemicals to make them soft, hard, malleable, or rigid. According to a study published in 2011 in Environmental Health Perspectives, the majority of plastic products can release estrogenic chemicals that can harm us. This study included everything from sippy cups to plastic water bottles to food wrappings, and was done on many BPA-free plastics.

Three plastics to steer clear of that leach toxic chemicals when they are heated, pressurised or worn are polycarbonate, polystyrene, and PVC. Most fast food restaurants still put food in polystyrene, and most homes built in the last 50 years have PVC water pipes.

A better way for water bottles

Plastic water bottles are everywhere nowadays. The impact they are having on our health and environment is toxic.  from the absorption of harmful chemicals into our bodies to the floating masses of garbage in our oceans that are threatening marine and bird life.

To help stop this unnecessary waste, there is a better way to rehydrate. Metal or glass water bottles that are refillable are a wonderful alternative ingesting the chemicals from plastic water bottles. Shop Naturally and Biome both offer glass water bottles with some coming with their very own fashionable carry cover.

What makes these reusable water bottles a wonderful idea and easy to use is the range of Water Bottle Refill Stations and Drinking Fountains offered by Aquafil of Sydney, These water bottle refill stations are available with chilled or non-chilled, filtered or non-filtered  water options.

Aquafil is committed to helping protect our environment and the people who live in it. We offer drinking fountains, water bubblers, water cooler dispensers, office water coolers, and filtered water coolers in Sydney and Australia wide, so let’s switch to reusable water bottles for our world, our nation, and ourselves.

 

Why Chronic Dehydration is a Serious Issue

Your body needs food in order to survive, but it also needs water. While there is some water available in foods, your body needs more than that to stave off dehydration. Your body requires water to function effectively which results in water loss. To remain healthy, you must replace this water.

When your water intake is not equal to your water loss, you can become dehydrated. Chronic dehydration can affect many parts of your body:

  • Your organs, possibly leading to kidney stones
  • It can cause cholesterol problems
  • Constipation can be a result of dehydration
  • It can cause liver, muscle and joint damage
  • It can even be a life-threatening condition.

Fluid losses are more likely to occur in:

  • Warmer climates and seasons
  • During strenuous exercises
  • At high altitudes, and
  • In older adults or anyone whose sense of thirst is not as keen.

What dehydration does to the body

Dehydration upsets the body’s delicate balance, and can cause the following malfunctions:

  • When your body is dehydrated, it is more difficult for it to control its temperature
  • Dehydration can lead to a lowering of the volume of blood that is in your circulatory system. This means your heart has to work overtime to get the nutrients and oxygen to your extremities, organs, and brain. Thinking becomes tougher, and fatigue sets in faster
  • Dehydration can prevent the body from making enough saliva, which leads to bad breath and cavities
  • Dry skin is another side effect of dehydration
  • Muscle cramps occur due to changes in your electrolytes, sodium and potassium
  • Fever and chills are often the body’s way of signalling a dehydrated condition
  • Food cravings are a definite sign of dehydration
  • Headaches can also result from dehydration.

The answer to dehydration

Easy and convenient access to safe drinking water encourages people to stay hydrated. Drinking fountains, water cooler dispensers, office water coolers, refillable water bottles, and refillable water bottle stations are all great answers to the dehydration issue. Aquafil Water Refill Stations and Drinking Fountains have a range of products to help keep dehydration at bay. Get in contact now!

Surprising Benefits of Water: 3 Things You Need to Know

No doubt most adults have heard time and again the benefits of drinking water throughout the day. The human body runs on, and even craves, pure water and in fact is made up of water; on average, the adult body is made up of between 57 percent and 60 percent water. Staying hydrated helps the world play longer, work more efficiently, and feel more refreshed. But there are surprising benefits of water that may be news to many.

Youthful Skin

Drinking 8 or more glass of water per day can make skin more hydrated, smooth, and less flaky. Skin also acts as a barrier to protect fluids from being lost. Water is good for the skin, so drink up!

Healthy Heart

When the body receives an adequate amount of water each day, blood circulation increases, allowing the body to get rid of toxins. With sufficient hydration, cells do not have to rely on the blood system for water, allowing that vital organ to work properly. Raise a glass to a healthy heart!

Bigger Wallet

It is hard to fathom that bottled water is consumed at almost 62 billion gallons per year on a global level. That number equates to not only money wasted, but plastic bottles filling up landfills all over the world as well. Why pay more than you have to for something so readily available?

Aquafil can provide solutions to offices, businesses, and tourism locations with office water coolers, a cost effective and convenient way to change water habits everywhere. These eco-friendly solutions ensure fresh drinking water is always available to employees and guests without making a negative impact on the environment. Aquafil water coolers encourage the use of reusable water containers while also providing what the body needs to function at an optimal level.

Office Water Coolers: A Practical Solution for the Workplace

There are many options today when it comes time to decide what to drink, especially in a fast-paced society where people are often busy and rushed. It may seem easier to stop and grab a soda or a bottled beverage, but those are not the healthiest or most beneficial options. The beverage our body requires to continue functioning at a maximum level and at its full potential comes from the earth itself and is not only refreshing, but required for good health: water.

Although drinking water is a better option than consuming soda, bottled water can actually cause more damage that we realise. The dangerous chemical inside the plastic, the waste that crowds landfills as bottles continue to accumulate, and the money wasted are all reasons to move toward a different solution: office water coolers.

A Solution for the Office

Employees today are busy and often pulled in different directions and may not always be mindful of how much water should be consumed each day. An easy solution to this challenge is a water cooler dispenser; beyond providing safe drinking water, it also makes water taste great and refreshing. Office Water coolers can also serve to encourage employees to utilise reusable solutions when it comes to water bottles as opposed to a disposable option, which will ultimately end up in landfill or waterway.

What other benefits can an office reap when investing in a water cooler?

  • Less waste
  • Cost savings-no more purchasing water bottles for the office
  • Healthier options for all-replace soda machines with water coolers
  • Eco-friendly

Office water coolers from Aquafil offer a smarter way to provide a healthy option to employees and guests. With an easy installation and setup process, the choice is easy. To find out more, contact Aquafil today.

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