Water Purification tablets are not important where most of us live. In our fairly comfortable environments, and we take things such as the purity of water almost for granted. But there are plenty of situations around the world, especially when traveling, where safe water cannot be guaranteed.

When safety of drinking water is an issue, Water Purification Tablets  or a Personal Lifestraw are the answer.

Water purification tablets offer one of the most effective techniques that you can use to purify your water.

Without them you will be spending your time building fires, boiling your water and waiting for it to cool before drinking or transporting it.

In the outback you may not be able to wait that long.

First, it’s important to keep in mind that the water purification chemicals will only work on the micro organisms and chemicals in the water.

They are not going to remove the larger particles from your water. To remove those you will need to rely on manual filtration of the water.

What kinds of micro-organisms occur in non purified water?

Stream or creek water may appear to be clear and clean, but it can contain a host of dangerous micro-organisms. These include the following:-

Giardia lamblia: These are likely to cause gastro-intestinal infections or illnesses. It stems from animal or human feces.

E. coli: These are not as harmful but are likely to cause mild stomach upsets

Cholera: This is one of the most dangerous bacteria found in the streams and creeks. Likely to lead to diarrhoea and dehydration.

Salmonella typhi: This is the bacteria that causes the Typhus fever, which can be deadly if not treated in time.

So how do Water Purification Tablets Work?

Water purification tablets mainly consist of iodine or chlorine. These are the most effective agents that are used in the purification process. These ingredients will deactivate the viruses, protozoa or bacteria that are found in the stream, creek or river water so that it is safe for consumption. This is important as these micro-organisms are the main pathogens or pathways through which diseases enter the body to cause illnesses and even death.

Use
It is good to start with the filtration of the larger particles that you can see. Take these out of the water before adding the purification tablets. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for dose. Generally, these will involve the addition of two tablets to, at most, 500mls of water but this varies from one product to another.

After adding the water purification tablets, shake the mixture to ensure effective mixing of the water and the tablets. Once the tablets have completely dissolved in the water, wait for the nominated time before using the water. Wait time can be as long as 30 minutes, or shorter depending on the tablets used.

The main issue with using water purification tablets is that your water will leave a strong taste in your mouth. If you don’t like that, you can also purchase neutralizer tablets. These will give you a more neutral taste free of the chlorine or iodine tastes.

Lifestraw

Another great option is the personal Lifestraw, which removes 99% of harmful bacteria, and allows you to drink directly from a water source

Either way, you will be able to drink safe water, without the risk of debilitating diseases.

The post How Water Purification Tablets work appeared first on HydroBio.org.

In most places you can no longer assume that tap water is clean and filtered for optimum health. For peace of mind it is smart to install the best water filter you can afford.

In an industrialized world, Tap water contains a lot of contaminants that could be detrimental. According to the UK’s “Daily Mail“, these include Chlorine, Bacteria, Pesticides, Fluoride, and Heavy metals.

All of these can impact your health both in the short and in the long term. It has even been reported that Tap water contains chemicals which impact the gender of your unborn child. The taste of you water will also impact on your daily coffee etc

One way to reduce the risks, is to be proactive, and make sure you are drinking cleanest water you can. In your home that means filtering your water just before you drink it. You will find that the best water filters can remove most of the potentially harmful chemicals.

To be considered a “Good water filter”, it must get rid of not only harmful chemicals such as lead and chloroform. Increasingly there are also traces of organic chemicals, and bacteria to deal with.

We look at each  category of filter on the market and recommend for the best water filter in each:-

Best Water filter-Carafes

Carafe water filters (also known as Pitcher water filters) are generally smaller in size, and suit one or two person homes.

They able to remove harmful chemicals such as chloroform and lead while at the same maintaining an excellent flow rate and cartridge life.

These are small enough to keep in the refrigerator to provide cold, clean water as needed.

With Carafe’s, it is best to choose from the top brands as some carafe water filters may have shorter cartridge life.We recommend the Soma 6-Cup Water Filter Carafe

Best Water Filter-Faucet Mounted

You can use the faucet mounted water filters for easy filtration of both cooking and drinking water.

They are also fairly easy to install in the kitchen. With these filters, you can also switch from unfiltered to filtered water.

The main disadvantage with this style of filter, is that they can slow your flow rate and they may not necessarily fit on all kinds of faucets, but if you are in rented accommodation they can be fitted and removed easily..

If you are looking for this type of filter, we suggest the Culligan FM-25

It’s chrome finish suits all decor, requires no tools to fit, and comes with a two year. Cartridge life is 200 gallons which should last 2 months or more. Included adaptors fit most faucets

Best Reverse-Osmosis Water Filter

The Reverse-Osmosis water filters make use of the normal water pressure of your incoming cold water line. They force water through a series of filters, including a semi-permeable membrane. Water is then stored in a pressurized tank awaiting use. It is often filtered again before reaching your faucet.

They will catch a vast array of contaminants in the water including harmful chemicals and solids that have dissolved in the water.

The main downside with the reverse osmosis water filters is that they are slower, use more space and will create a lot of waste water during the filtration process. The filters will need to be replaced from time to time, as recommendation by the manufacturer and they will need to be sanitized once in a while as well. We recommend the Apec Top Tier 5 stage

Best Counter top water filters

These can be used in filtering a large amount of water without necessarily changing the kitchen plumbing.

Unlike the carafes or the faucet-mounted filters, they do not clog easily. So you will not be concerned about regular maintenance.

Most designs look pretty similar, and whilst they stand on your counter, they really don’t take up a great deal of space.

The Watts 500315 Counter-Top model represents great value.

It also takes most 10 inch filter cartridges, so you have flexibility when it comes time for replacements

Best Under-Sink Water Filters

These have the ability to filter and deliver a constant supply of quality drinking water.

Positioned under your sink, they will not clutter your counter top, and you can chose from numerous systems, featuring 1, 2 or 3 stage filtration.

If you have the room under your sink, in our opinion the 3 stage Apec WFS 1000 is a great option,(it measures 18 inches by 12inches, by 10 inches).

Short of moving to a larger Reverse Osmosis system, this will give you the most complete filtration available. It scores 4.6 of a possible 5 stars from existing customers.

These are our best water filters in each of the main categories.

To find the best filter for your needs, consider your water usage, space availability and ease of installation. If renting, it would be wise to consult your agent before buying under counter or reverse osmosis units, as these will generally require plumbing alterations, and you may not be able to take them with you when you leave.

The post What is the Best Water Filter? appeared first on HydroBio.org.

If you live on a property and rely on a septic or composting waste disposal unit, keeping toxins out of your waste water is essential.

The same is true if you are recycling your gray water for use on your veggie patch or in your orchard.

Whether for these reasons or if you are one of the many millions seeking more Environment-friendly products to reduce the impact of waste leaving your property, we have something you should really check out for yourself.

Some time back a friend told us about Grab Green home and Laundry care products.

We will run through some of the uses shortly, but these are brilliant, non-toxic products for just about everything you need to clean at home.

Firstly, these guys list every single ingredient clearly on their labels so we can make informed choices. Detergents are dispensed via pods, Products are packed in resealable Velcro topped pouches. Even their degreaser and cookware/bakeware cleaners are solvent free.

The Company has spent years on scientific research to arrive at the optimal balance between mineral based, and plant-based ingredients to provide solid cleaning power that is safe for the Environment. All products are non-toxic and concentrated so they are still powerful enough to deliver effective cleaning.

Grab Green are confident that these products surpass other eco-friendly products and will compete head to head with damaging conventional products.

The product list is considerable with laundry products (detergent, bleach replacements and dryer sheets), Kitchen products (Dishwashing Detergent, Bakeware cleaner, Garbage disposal Cleaner, Dish soap, Sponges and Brushes), General Cleaners (All purpose, Degreaser, Countertop, Glass cleaner) along with hand and body soaps, and room fresheners.

They can be purchased in “bundles” so you have a cross section of products to cover your needs, even gift sets are available.

Products can be fragrance-free or choose from 9 natural scents, all carefully blended from essential oils.

Most packaging is recyclable, sustainably harvested ingredients are selected, and resources used in production are minimalized.

Products are biodegradable and there is no animal testing.

According to the Company, there are “No phthalates, solvents, ammonia, phosphates, fillers, optical brighteners, masking agents or dyes. EVER!”

Click here or on the advert to the right, to visit their website and learn more. The company’s intentions are impressive, and the products really work

One more way to protect our waterways, and home grown food supplies without compromising convenience.

The post Keeping Toxins out of your waste water appeared first on HydroBio.org.

Garden Mulch Helps Waterways if enough people use it. Much of the dirt in our waterways is due to storm water picking up chemicals and debris. Many of these items result in damage to rivers, streams,catchments and oceans. We sense that this causes pollution and depletes marine life, and we see it clearly in times of flood, but it only takes a shower.

The post Garden Mulch Helps Waterways appeared first on HydroBio.org.

In the face of population pressure, urbanization and development have you ever asked yourself Why Protect Wetlands ? Surely those swamps would be better used to house people after all.

Canadian-Geese

Unfortunately that has been a commonly held opinion for far too long. Now population pressure, and developer’s lobbyists are putting increasing pressure on precious wetlands.

This is partly because property developers challenge local authorities and also ask Why Protect Wetlands. But they have a different emphasis, and a lot of money behind them.

How do you convince a developer that the ecosystem of the wetland is more important than a multi-million dollar resort project?

Wetlands, those untidy looking marshes, play a crucial role in the environment. They generally form a part of a large interdependent system in the local ecology. This means that destruction of the wetland will have far reaching effects beyond the wetland itself.

It will start domino-effect that is going to have an impact on everybody.

Wetlands vary in nature from region to region. Broadly they include riverbanks, marshes, swamps and bogs among many others. They even include the old rice fields in some cases.

One of the most important qualities of the wetlands is that they contain very rich diversity. Whether in the Florida everglades or the Australian wetlands, numerous plants, as well as animal biodiversity on the planet depends on the preservation of these wetlands.

When wetlands are destroyed, the result could be an increase in human-wildlife conflict in the areas affected. No one wants to encounter large lizards, alligators or pythons in their backyards, but that could be the result if there is ongoing destruction of natural habitats. The result of these encounters can be potentially deadly.

But its not only the potentially fatal consequences of human wildlife encounters. Remember we also said that these features form part of an interdependent ecological system. For example, they will feed the downstream rivers and streams. These also play an important ecological function such as supplying us with water or ensuring there is good quality water flowing downstream.

Protected Bayou Waterway

They also serve as reservoirs for flood waters which could otherwise cause damage in communities and neighborhoods totaling millions of dollars.

The wetlands also help in replenishing the ground water supplies and help in eliminating pollution. Even social anglers have a stake in wetlands, as   they serve as the habitats and breeding grounds for local fish populations.

In many cases, wetlands and adjoining waterways will also be a major driver of the local economy. Not only do they support recreation such as fishing and boating, but eco-tourism attracts people and pumps money and jobs into the community.

So, Why Protect Wetlands?

Those are some of the ecological, economic and social values that the wetlands provide to the local geography and economy. They should not just be seen as a marginal or unproductive piece of land that is begging for “development”.

Importance for water quality

Water is life and wetlands play a crucial role in ensuring we have a stable and quality water supply. In fact, the primary “selfish” reason we should protect the wetlands is that they help in ensuring good water quality. Healthy wetlands are rich in plant and animal life and these provide natural filtration systems ensuring water coming out of this ecosystem is of excellent quality and free of chemicals.

Fish Breeding Ground

Protection of Wetlands

Municipal authorities should , by now, be well past asking Why Protect Wetlands. They should be part of the solution with low impact, sensible policies.

In some places, local authorities do protect these valuable resources by offering developers incentives to give up the wetlands for conservation purposes.

Authorities can also pass laws that will restrict activities that are likely to lead to the destruction of the wetlands. Local resident advocacy by aware citizens can also be highly effective in ensuring the wetlands and habitats are well preserved for posterity.

The post Why Protect Wetlands? appeared first on HydroBio.org.

Where water is concerned, most of us are only interested in quality of the water that we use. But we all have a role in keeping waterways clean.

We hope that somehow, the water that flows into our homes will take care of itself. But just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to care for water. Here are ten tips for keeping waterways clean.

The volumes of storm water going into our waterways is Huge. Sadly, it collects a lot of waste, chemicals, and litter as a result of human activity. This water flows directly into the ecosystem including our streams, lakes and rivers without any filtration?  You can we help to ensure this water is relatively clean to help in preserving the biodiversity that it supports.

10 Tips for keeping waterways clean

• 1. Clear the plant rubbish: Even rubbish such as your grass and leaves can have an adverse effect on waterways. So,when they build up and begin decomposing, they will absorb the oxygen and decimate aquatic life. The answer is to sweep these up and compost them. By doing this ,you not only help keep our waterways clean, but magically develop quality garden soil as well.
• 2. Bin the cigarettes butts: Millions of cigarette butts are dropped haphazardly by smokers every year. These are easily carried by storm water into the waterways. As a result, they not only pollute but they kill the aquatic life. All cigarette butts should be placed in the bin and disposed of properly.
• 3. Clean up after your dog’s. It is essential to clean up after our dogs, at home and in public places. In most places now, failure to collect droppings in public areas can lead to fines. The reason is simple, if you ignore dog droppings, they are swept into the water catchments. . Rather than ignoring them, just pick these up and place them in the garbage bins.
• 4.Wash your vehicles on the lawns: Care should be taken when washing your car. Avoid doing it on the driveways and pavements as the water easily flows to the waterways. Also, try to use environmentally friendly detergents when washing your car.
• 5. Proper disposal of paint: Do not clean paint brushes or rollers where the run-off goes into your drains. Paint is chemically laden, and if it  flows into the waterways it will poison aquatic life. It is safer to wash them off on the grass or lawn.
• 6. Minimize use of chemicals: Do you use chemicals such as pesticides and detergents a lot in your home or business? Try to minimize that or simply use chemicals which are biodegradable and have been certified safe for the environment.
• 7. Responsible use of motorboats or yachts: When using motorboats or yachts in the waterways, it is important to be aware of your responsibility to keep the waterways clean.
• 8. Don’t over water your lawn: If you are over watering your lawns or gardens will release the pesticides and fertilizers from the ground into the waterways which can have adverse effects. Use natural fertilizers, mulch well and do not over water.
• 9. Avoid littering:- Litter, including packaging, cans, bottles etc can have adverse effect on the waterways and must be disposed of properly.
• 10. Use grey water properly: Be mindful of the chemicals and paints that could potentially be in your grey water. Where possible the installation of a grey water recycling system will not only help waterways. It will boost your gardens, reduce overall water usage and

As more of us adopt these simple and sustainable steps daily, the health of our waterways is improved. As a result, we, and the biodiversity around us that we depend on, all benefit from a healthier environment.

The post Keeping Waterways clean-Ten easy tips appeared first on HydroBio.org.

Storm water poses a serious challenge to many communities. Unchecked, it will run off from your roof or the driveway and onto the streets. From there it moves into the drainage system and finally into the waterways. Rain Gardens can help.

The post Rain gardens help environment appeared first on HydroBio.org.

The idea of “going green” is now mainstream. It’s no longer a movement of idealistic individuals, with an exaggerated concern about effects of a modern lifestyle.Eco friendly fertilizer is playing a big part in the transition.

Since organizations like Monsanto are being exposed, many people are realizing that going green is the only healthy option available.

Organic or “green” product options are popping up everywhere including the products that we use in our gardens, and our homes.

Because of the harmful effects of synthetic fertilizers, Eco friendly fertilizer, usually organic, is growing in popularity with backyard gardeners and commercial producers.

Farmers, gardeners, and hobbyists now have numerous choices when it comes to Eco-friendly fertilizers. These can generally be classified into three main groups:-

• Naturally occurring Eco-friendly fertilizers
• DIY organic or Eco-friendly fertilizers
• Manufactured organic fertilizers

Naturally Occurring Organic or Eco Friendly Fertilizer

There are numerous kinds of natural, Eco friendly fertilizer that you can harvest and use at almost zero cost.

Examples of these include peat, animal wastes, and seaweed, along with various naturally occurring, biodegradable waste and manure. Other naturally occurring Eco friendly fertilizer includes rock phosphates, limestone, and potash. All of these can be purchased cheaply from retailers and distributors.

DIY Organic or Eco Friendly Fertilizer

You make these from readily available organic materials, such as manure and decomposing plant material. If you are already taking a sustainable approach to gardening, a little chicken manure (or purchased manure) can be added to plant waste to generate rich compost. making it yourself costs little or nothing. By adding the compost to your soil, you are replenishing nutrients and increasing the harvest from your vegetable, fruit of flowering “crops”.

Slurry waste: Another form of naturally based Eco friendly fertilizer that you make at home. All you do is take solids, (mainly domestic waste), and immerse them in water. The mixture is added to the soil to boost productivity or yield. Slurry waste can be prepared at home, by adding solid domestic waste to a water tank continually. As a result, you end up with a nutrient rich fluid, which you can draw off and add to your soil. As a liquid, it is quickly absorbed by the soil and taken up as nourishment by your plants.

Worm castings: This is what you get when you break down organic materials in a worm farm. It is nutrient-rich, and can be used to produce a liquid form called “Worm Tea”. You can make it in a similar way to the Slurry. Again you will have a liquid that you feed to plants. You are also encouraging an increase in worm populations. Worms are essential for healthy soil.

Manufactured Eco friendly fertilizer.

You can easily find companies that specialize in organic and Eco friendly fertilizers. These are made on a large scale from natural waste. Examples of these include compost or brown manure.

So now you know that Eco friendly fertilizer, homemade or purchased is readily available. You will find that commercial products cost more than their synthetic counterparts.However, they will not destroy our waterways, damage the Hydro-Biology in our aquatic systems, or threaten our health.

In short the extra cash paid, or time spent generating an Eco friendly fertilizer is a self-fulfilling investment.

Finally, the easiest way we know, to combine Composting with making Eco friendly fertilizer is with an Envirocycle Composting Tumbler Bin

This stunning composting system allows you to tap liquid fertilizer right from the compost.

It comes in 17 gallon or 35 gallon sizes,

Most of all this is made in America, from safe materials, and comes with a 5 year warranty. That’s why it came up #1 in our search for the Best Compost Tumbler.

The post Eco Friendly Fertilizer Options appeared first on HydroBio.org.

Can frogs measure water health?  According to National Geographic the answer is Yes.

Frogs act as biosensors and help us in detecting polluted water

Frogs produce an unmistakable croaking sound that is associated with their mating behavior. There is a natural frog croaking sound that occurs when the environment, (water), is not affected by any toxins. However, scientists have discovered that this sound changes according to the level of pollution in the river. So clearly in their own way frogs measure water health.

How environmental factors impact the croaking of the frog

The condition of our lakes and rivers, especially close to population centers, is often impacted by a variety of factors. There is often industrial effluent  released into the river Added to this is a large amount of human waste that finds it’s into the water ecosystem. A lot of the substances in the water are going to affect the hormonal balance of animals. Not only humans using the ecosystem but also of the aquatic life such as frogs. In fact the effect is particularly pronounced on the smaller animals.

The kind of substances released into the waterways is quite varied. Ranging from pesticides to medication and even human waste. While the substances may not be well known, their impact on our hormones is unmistakable and the same applies to their effect on frogs.

The Effect of Estrogen on the Mating Calls

Estrogen is a female hormones that is used in the contraceptive pills. A large amount which pass on to the natural environment through urine or simple disposal. These are effectively filtered out by the sewage treatment plants. So it is safe to assume that there is a substantial amount of estrogen in waters close to the major population centers. The addition of estrogen into the water is sufficient to change the male croaking sound.

While the change in the croaking sounds may not be easily discernible by the human ear, the frequency can be easily measured with the right instruments. After recording the normal “croaking frequency” in unpolluted water, scientists compare this to the croaking sound in the rivers over time. In this way they can estimate whether the river is heavily polluted.

Changes in Hormonal Development

Mating calls are not the only way of utilizing frogs in order to determine the health of the water they inhabit. It has also been determined that frogs in polluted water develop differently to those in healthy water. The skin of the frogs, for example, is very sensitive to chemicals in the water. The presence of toxins in the water will alter the color of the adult frogs living there.

Frogs Measure Water health like Natural Biosensors

By recording these changes, it is possible to rely on the way frogs measure water health. It is a way to quickly determine the overall level of pollution in the rivers and streams without testing the water in the laboratories. This can be particularly useful in the developing countries where communities do not have access to sophisticated testing equipment that can be used in determining the health of the water.

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According to Wikipedia Hydrobiology is “The science of life, and life processes in Water”

Part of the broader studies of our Ecology, Hydrobiology looks at the the health of living , water based organisms in both flowing and still water, and includes studies in Economic Biology, morphology, taxonomy,Industrial Biology and others.

For us the significant feature is that all these studies focus on the health of the aquatic creatures, which in turn rely on the health of the water itself.  This study ties in closely with both sewerage management and water purification, as well as management of Rivers, Lakes water catchments etc

One significant area of modern study is Eutrophication, looking at the bioticinteractions in plankton and the factors influencing water blooms.and phosphorous levels in lakes.

Longer term studies focus on the ionic composition of river, lake and reservoir waters, which are impacted by Fertilizers, Acid Rain, and Agricultural runoff.

A central focus of studies is the ecosystems in reservoirs which remain critical to water quality. These follow on from the earlier focus which was more to do with the processes involved in sewerage treatment, and in sand filtration of drinking water.

Hydrobiology also studies studies the impact that our human activities are having on biological communities along with re-establishing damaged ecosystems.

As such the study is critical to Aquatic, Marine, Human and all other living cultures on Earth, as each is dependent in one way or another upon clean water.

Anything we can do as consumers to minimize the amount of pollutants entering waterways and oceans is critical and should form a part of our buying decisions regarding household products, and appliances used in all aspects of our daily lives.

The post The Significance of Hydrobiology appeared first on HydroBio.org.