Most of us know how important it is to ensure our animals have access to fresh water 24/7. Water is vital to all living beings – it keeps the body hydrated, enhances cell and organ function, aids the lymphatic system, and flushes away toxins. “Water is probably the most important nutrient in the body,” says veterinarian Dr. Paul McCutcheon of Toronto. “It’s absolutely essential to the maintenance of good health.” Inadequate water consumption can lead to many disorders, from skin problems and constipation to urinary tract infections and kidney disease. In fact, it’s not an exaggeration to say that water is the true elixir of life, especially when you consider that both humans and animals can live a lot longer without food than they can without water. But there’s a problem.

Widespread environmental pollution, along with overworked or outdated water treatment facilities in many regions, is undermining the quality of our drinking water. The water coming from your tap may look and taste pure, but chances are it contains chemicals and contaminants you may not even be aware of. Along with the ubiquitous chlorine, tap water has been found to contain varying traces of everything from lead, nitrates and salts to fluoride, arsenic and numerous pesticides. Even if these toxins appear in only trace amounts, they can accumulate in your animal’s body and contribute to health problems, including cancer and neurological conditions. And because our animals are smaller than we are, they’re more at risk from the effects of these toxins.

Put your water to the test
“We were stunned when our cat, Cisco, was diagnosed with cancer when he was just seven,” says Marjory. “We were feeding him a natural diet, and never used chemical cleaners or pesticides. It wasn’t until we had our water tested and found it had traces of agricultural chemicals that we made the connection.” Marjory and her husband subsequently invested in a reverse osmosis system that would remove these harmful substances from their water. “We can’t reverse Cisco’s cancer, but we can at least help protect him from more damage, and protect our own health too.” Marjory’s story isn’t unusual. No matter where you live, whether you’re on a well or a municipal system, a water purifier is a wise investment in the health of your human and animal families.

The first step is to get your water tested. You can either buy a home testing kit, or have the analysis done by an independent water testing laboratory. For the best accuracy, the latter is the best way to go, but it can be costly depending on what you want done. A basic coliform test costs around $10 or $12, but a comprehensive analysis that covers the gamut of toxins, pesticides and metals can run into the hundreds of dollars, since a separate test has to be done for each contaminant. To find out what options are available in your area, contact your local health department or water utility. Make sure the lab you use is certified, and carefully follow their instructions for collecting and delivering the sample.

Home water testing kits vary in quality and what they test for. Some only look for bacteria, iron, chlorine or lead, while others can also detect nitrates, arsenic and up to a dozen different pesticides. Many also test the hardness and pH levels of your water. The kits cost from around $10 to $40, so they’re an economical investment, but they won’t give you the same level of accuracy as a lab test.

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