Areas of the world with the least unsafe drinking water
One of the most surprising things we learn when we get dogs is that even in the lushest parts of the world, it can be difficult to find water that is good for drinking. So what is filtered water and is it safe for a dog to drink?
If you have been to a water park where a drinkable water fountain is conveniently located, chances are that the drink is filtered water. Its a method of maintaining a drinkable water source that has been used for a very long time.
If you are currently serving bottled water to your dog or dog-friendly-located dog bowl, then this is safe because you are providing the drink with filtered water, right?
Well, not exactly. The bacteria in the water may be reduced, but your dog can still get parasites from drinking that water.
For many parts of the world, bottled water is a safer choice since it is tap water that has been filtered.
The chemicals and contaminants that appear in tap water are removed from bottled water.
Did you know: Its possible to filter the tap water in your own home? Using a product such as Zero water? Zerowater gets better results due to a 5-stage filter, most filters only have 2-stage. Zerowater patented technology ensures that you can save money on buying bottled water and ensure your tap water is pure. The 12-Cup Zerowater comes with a free TDS Reader (Total Dissolved Solids).
Some areas of the UK have read more than 300. When water is filtered through the Zerowater filter it will score 0, Meaning you can be confident the water you and your dog are drinking is cleaner.
How to Keep Your Drinking Water Safe
To figure out whether your tap water is safe for you and your pet, consider these recommendations from Pauli Undesser, the executive director of the Water Quality Association (WQA):
1. Obtain a consumer confidence report from your water treatment plant.
Most consumers are on a municipal supply of water, Undesser says. Before that water flows out of the tap, it’s treated at a treatment plant. That plant is required to publish an annual consumer confidence report to give you an idea of what’s in your water. (If you didn’t receive one, contact your water company.)
“There might be things in there that the water treatment plant knows about and they’re working on, but you still may want to go about and do something separately,” Undesser says.
Water treatment plants are regulated at a federal level, but individual states may have stricter regulations. For example, California has laws regulating the amount of chromium-6 in the water. (If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the contaminant Erin Brockovich advocated against.)
2. Test your home water supply.
Hard contaminants cannot be seen or smelled, which is why Undesser recommends consumers test their tap water annually. “Testing at the tap is still something that consumers should do to bring awareness to what might be in their water,” Undesser says. “You just never know until you test.”
Consumers should also have their water tested if they notice any sudden changes in smell, taste or color.
While you can buy a water testing kit from a store and mail it off somewhere, Undesser recommends sending your water to a list of EPA-approved laboratories that test consumer water. Some city governments and departments of health will test water for free, she adds.
“There are over 100 contaminants that [the EPA is] regulating that have to be within a certain amount or below a certain amount for it not to be an impact negatively to health,” Undesser says. “If you test for it and you find it, you don’t have wait for the regulation to catch up with it.”
Basic testing costs anywhere from $20 to $50. A more comprehensive test can cost anywhere from $200 to $300, according to Undesser.
3. Consider buying certified products that can help treat your water.
If the test comes back and confirms the presence of contaminants in the water, you can buy certified products that can help treat the water. You could purchase water pitchers, faucet mounts, or even hire a professional to install a reverse osmosis filter under the sink or a filter that treats all the water in your home, Undesser says.
She recommends finding a water treatment professional, as opposed to a plumber, to ensure proper installation. Those individuals can also recommend products that would be the best fit for you. For example, if your water test shows levels of arsenic, you’ll want a filter designed to remove traces of arsenic from the water.
What you do “all depends on what your water quality tests shows you,” Undesser says. “Your test may show that the water coming out of the tap is fine, and it’s just as good as bottled water.”
You may also decide to treat your water without even seeing test results. “The benefit of filtered water is that you are going to help provide an extra layer of protection for yourself and your family,” she says.
What About Bottled Water for Dogs?
If you opt to give your dog bottled water, Undesser advises pet parents to look for certified products. “In most cases, that bottled water has used the same membrane that is in all these other products, whether it’s a pitcher, a faucet mount, or reverse osmosis,” she says. “They’re using those same technologies to give you the good quality for bottled water. It’s just a different way of getting it.”
Consumers should seek out the WQA gold seal or the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) seal on the label, Undesser advises. “Whether it’s bottled water or a product, you should look for a seal of approval,” she says.
Remember, if you wouldn’t drink the water coming out of the faucet, you probably shouldn’t give it to your dog. And if the city government tells you not to drink the water, your dog shouldn’t drink it either.
“If somebody tests their water or if they smell a change and they’re concerned over it and they’re not going to drink it themselves, then I think it’s logical that they would apply that same thought process to their pets,” Undesser says. But “tap water is still great water, and we should have some confidence of what is there.”
Want to know how much water your dog should drink? Read about the importance of water for dog nutrition.
Should You Give Your Pets Filtered Water?
Whether Rover laps up water from a mud puddle or the toilet bowl, from his perspective any type of water works just fine in quenching his thirst. Fortunately, you can help him make better choices. For starters, it wouldnt hurt if you remembered to keep that toilet lid down. While its true that you probably dont need to purchase any premium H2O for your pampered pooch, consider that bottled water can turn out helpful in many cases.
While water is the most important nutrient Rover needs, not all water is created equal. While tap water containing less than 5000 parts per million of total dissolved solids is considered acceptable for your pooch, consider that depending on where you live, tap water may contain harmful chemicals such as fluoride, arsenic, nitrates and traces of heavy metals. Also, high levels of minerals found in tap water may affect dogs especially those who have a compromised immune system or an underlying medical condition.
If your dog, is prone to developing bladder stones, you might want to stop giving tap water from your sink and switch to bottled water instead. The high content of minerals found in certain types of tap water can play a role in the development of crystals and stones. Providing bottled water is a good idea in this case as this precaution adds a little safety factor.
If you own a poodle, Bichon or Maltese, you may be interested in learning that the water your pooch drinks may be playing a role in the development of those unsightly tear stains these breeds are prone to. In this case, you may want to blame the high content of minerals and iron found in your tap water. You may prefer using a filter to create cleaner water, or providing your pooch with bottled water.
Rovers behavior may at times leave you baffled especially when he refuses to drink water from his bowl, but then readily drinks water from questionable sources such as the toilet bowls, muddy puddles or gutters. In this case, you may want to blame the chlorine content of your tap water which can be quite noxious-smelling and tasting from your pals prospective. If your dog is not drinking adequate amounts of water, but readily drinks non-chlorinated bottled water, then its not a bad idea to give it him.
If you dont feel safe drinking tap water, youre right to be concerned about having Rover drink it. While you may think about using a filter, consider that common charcoal filters do not remove fluoride. A better option may be looking for bottled water that is not chlorinated or fluoridated; however, keep in mind that bottled water doesnt necessarily translate into safe. In an estimated 25 percent or more cases, bottled water is simply tap water in a bottle according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Bottled water is also a good choice for when you travel and Rover comes along for the ride. Dont just assume that just because hes a strong dog that wolfs down anything hell be perfectly fine drinking the local tap water. Because you dont know whats in the water of your destination, and water varies from place to place, bringing along several gallons of bottled water for you and your dog can help avoid bacterial contamination while traveling.
Adrienne Farricelli has been writing for magazines, books and online publications since 2005. She specializes in canine topics, previously working for the American Animal Hospital Association and receiving certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Her articles have appeared in “USA Today,” “The APDT Chronicle of the Dog” and “Every Dog Magazine.” She also contributed a chapter in the book ” Puppy Socialization – An Insiders Guide to Dog Behavioral Fitness” by Caryl Wolff.