Info For All of Us Through This Corona Virus Pandemic
We are taking every possible precaution to maintain our clients and our employees safety. We are an essential business and prepared to serve our community.
Please see below our policies we have implemented:
- Our staff practices social distancing.
- Our technicians wear gloves, masks, and shoe covers.
- They maintain stringent hand washing and the use of hand sanitizers.
- If they are ill they stay at home.
- Sorry no hand shaking, just our appreciation for your business and safety.
- We clean the surface area or piece of equipment handled during the service.
- We also recommend our customers follow the guidelines issued by CDC.
Our hearts are out with our communities and we will get through this working together. Be smart, be safe.
Respectfully,
Mike Hudson, CEO
Understanding Indoor Air Particle Pollution
Understanding Indoor Air Particle Pollution
Sometimes called PM or particulate pollution; particulate matter describes a combination of solid or liquid particles suspended in air. They range in size, shape and composition. When inhaled, they can cause serious health problems. In this article, we examine the causes, effects and offer some solutions to reduce indoor PM.
Health Impact of Indoor PM
The size of the particles is important. Small fragments are inhalable, and very tiny particles can go deep into the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. They have an especially negative effect on the heart and lungs, so people who already have heart or lung issues are quite vulnerable to this type of indoor air pollution. Some common health risks include:
Irritation of eyes, nose and throat;
Exasperation of heart and lung disease symptoms
Premature death in people with coronary or respiratory disease.
Sources of Indoor PM
Some indoor particulate matter makes its way inside from outdoor sources, and some originate in the home. Indoor matter is often created from cooking, combustion, hobbies, and may even be of biological origin. Common sources of indoor PM include:
- Candles or incense
- Stove
- Fireplace or heater
- Tobacco smoke
The level of indoor pollution varies widely and depends on several factors such as outdoor levels, use of combustibles, and the ventilation system of the home.
Reducing Exposure to Indoor PM
- Fuel-fired combustion appliances should be vented to the outdoors
- For cooking, use exhaust fans vented to the outdoors
- Get a professional to inspect, clean, and repair any issues in your air ducts
- Regularly change filters on heat and air units.
Filtration to Improve indoor Air Quality
Taking the above measures will help reduce some of the indoor pollution, but the improvements are modest. You may want to take further steps to remove particles from your indoor air. There are numerous indoor air quality solutions from which to choose, The two primary categories of air purifiers are:
- Portable air filter
These are typically small units designed to clean the air in a specific room or area of the home.
- HVAC filters
This type of system cleans the air in the entire home or building.
For more information, we recommend reading the EPA’s Guide to air filters
Test Your Air Quality
You can have a professional test the air quality in your home. This is a great way to determine which air purification option is best for you. Some filters target specific particles and might work better for your home. Research shows the most effective method of reducing indoor air pollution is using an air filter. If you are concerned about the air quality in your Tampa area home, Contact Healthy Home today for assistance. We have a wide range of air quality solutions, and the experience to help you select the right one to meet your needs. Call (800) 890-6835
Report Reveals Contaminants Linked to Cancer in Tampa water Supplies
Federal regulations determine if drinking water is sufficient for human consumption. However, just because contaminant levels are “legal” does not necessarily mean they are safe. The current regulations are outdated. They have not been updated in 20 years, and do not match present-day scientific data indicating safe amounts of contaminants.
A non-profit organization, called the Environmental Working Group, completed a comprehensive study of U.S. drinking water. Along with scientists, they analyzed water from all 50 states. Nationwide, the results were troubling, and Florida was no exception. Between 2012 and 2017 96 different contaminants were found across Florida’s water supplies.
Below is a list of contaminants found in Tampa area water supplies detailed in the EWG report published in October 2019. The levels of these impurities meet federal guidelines but are above the EWG’s standards for what they consider safe.
The contaminants below have been linked to an increase of cancer, and some pose risk to the thyroid and kidneys.
City of Tampa Water Department:
- Radium
- Arsenic
- Chromium
- Nitrate
- Total trihalomethanes
Northwest Utilities, Tampa:
- Radium,
- Total trihalomethanes
Pinellas County Utilities:
- Chlorate
- Arsenic
- Chromium
- Total trihalomethanes
Clearwater Water System:
- Radium
- Arsenic
- Total trihalomethanes
- Chromium
, New Port Richey Water Department:
- Radium
- Total trihalomethanes
Hillsborough County South-Central Service Area:
- Chromium
- Vinyl chloride
- Radium,
- Total trihalomethanes
Northwest Utilities, Tampa:
- Radium
- Total trihalomethanes
- Chromium
Hcpud/Eastlake, Tampa:
- Nitrate
- Radium
- Total trihalomethane
- Arsenic
University of South Florida, Tampa:
- Uranium
- Nitrate
- Radium combined
- Chromium
- Trihalomethanes
Seaboard Utilities, Tampa:
- Chromium
- Total trihalomethanes
Pinellas Park Water Department:
- Arsenic
- Chlorate
- Chromium
- Total trihalomethanes
City of St. Petersburg, Odessa:
- Arsenic
- Chromium
- Total trihalomethanes
Remove Contaminants from your Tampa Drinking Water
The first question people have after reviewing this report is, “How can I remove these materials from my water?” The EWG recommends using a reverse-osmosis filtration system. The list above is a small sample of the FL water systems included in the study. If you do not see your area listed above, visit the EWG tap water database and search by zip code to find the results of your water supply.
Talk to Elected Officials
Water filters are the first line of defense. However, the root of the problem is with the water supply its self. Make your local elected officials aware of your concerns. Ask them why the contaminants are present, and how the water is treated. What is being done to protect the source water, and are they investing in advanced water treatment technology? We need to bring these issues to the decision makers in order for things to improve.
We Can Help
If you find your water department has high levels of a specific substance; Our water professionals can determine which filter will best remove that contaminant. We have a wide variety of waterquality solutions. We are dedicated to helping Tampa Bay residents receive healthy, safe drinking water.
Contact Healthy Home today at (800) 890-6835
Is Tampa Tap Water Safe?
Is Tampa Tap Water Safe?
There is increasing concern about the quality of tap water in the United States. The EPA has clear guidelines about the water provided to citizens. It is the municipal water company’s responsibility to ensure our water is suitable. We put a lot of faith in these entities, so it’s important to understand exactly what they consider “safe” and how we can determine for ourselves if the tap water in Tampa is safe.
Problems with Tap Water
Reuse
10% of tap water has already been used. This may not seem like a lot, but when you are consuming it, this fact is alarming. Recycled water contains a number of chemicals and toxins. Keep this in mind the next time you go to the sink for a glass of water.
Chlorine
The water companies must treat and disinfect all tap water. The primary chemical used in this process is Chlorine. So, there are large amounts of chlorine present in our drinking water. The EPA allows for chlorine levels high enough to maintain a swimming pool.
Lead
You can’t see, smell, or taste lead when it is present in water. The most common cause of this type of contamination is lead pipes. Exposure to lead is very dangerous, especially for young children.
Insufficient Filtration
The water plant does its best to filter out harmful bacteria and chemicals. Nevertheless, it is simply too large of a task to properly handle. Consumers leave themselves open to danger when they do not properly filter their own water. Invest in a quality water filter to give your family the safe drinking water they deserve.
Look for Contaminants
Your senses are great tools to detect contaminated water. While many toxins are not obvious, some are quite conspicuous. Ideally, water should be clear with no particular taste or odor. If your water is cloudy, has a sharp chemical taste, or smells strange, it may very well be contaminated.
Water Testing
Fill a glass of water and let it sit for a few minutes. If it is completely clear from top to bottom, then any previous cloudiness was probably just air bubbles. However, if it remains opaque, especially at the bottom, this is a sign of a problem. Because many contaminants are impossible to detect with the human senses it is recommended to have a professional water evaluation.
The Water Crisis in America
The news is full of stories about contaminated water and the awful consequences it carries. We don’t need to look any further than Flint, Michigan to see how poor water quality can devastate a community. When this type of gross negligence occurs, the public is typically notified long after the damage has been done. In 2015, North Carolina residents discovered high levels of toxic heavy metals in the majority of wells near Coal Ash Pond. Sadly, they dealt with these problems for over a year, which caused a disproportionate number of brain cancer and tumor cases in the region. While some heavy metals cause your water to taste metallic, others may not leave any obvious traces.
Tampa Water Safety Solutions
The best way to maintain safe Tampa tap water is to choose a quality filtration system. Here at Healthy Homes Tampa, we provide a wide range of solutions to fit everyone’s needs. Contact us today to speak with one of our water quality professionals. Call 800-890-6835
Choose Illness Or Awareness: Why You Need To Take Control of your Water Quality
Can you see which glass of water fills with you with contaminants as it quenches your thirst? Can you see which glass of water is nothing but pure H2O? The truth of it is this: if you don’t know exactly how your water has been treated from source to sip (whether bottled or from a well or tap) then the safety of that water is completely out of your hands.
Harms of Tap Water – Raw and Treated
Water that reaches municipal homes is acquired, treated, dispensed, and recycled from waste, retention, and sewage water by local water treatment facilities.
The only enforcing body for this water treatment is the federal law of the Environmental Protection Agency, and is mainly driven through the guidelines of the Safe Drinking Water Act[3]. While poised to strengthen public health protection from contaminants in drinking water, the EPA only regulates 91 contaminants – despite the observations that there are over 60,000 chemicals ingested in the United States (and thus excreted into the water supply). This 60,000 estimate, by the way, comes from (you guessed it) the Environmental Protection Agency [1]. Your water quality level may not be violating the law, but there’s no way it’s been cleaned to a level ensuring a minimal amount of chemicals or disease causing pollutants interact with you and your immune system.
If you’re surprised at the notion of “bare minimums” in a government regulated facility that concerns the safety of the public, here is the head of a Florida Utility Authority letting his words stand for themselves:
“ ‘If it doesn’t violate the law, I don’t really pay much attention to it,’ said Stephen Sorrell, executive director of Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, which serves Pensacola, Fla. Data show that his system has delivered water containing multiple chemicals at concentrations that research indicates are associated with health risks. The system has not violated the Safe Drinking Water Act during the last half-decade.The Times examined concentrations of 335 chemicals that government agencies have determined were associated with serious health risks. The analysis counted only instances in which the same chemical was detected at least 10 times for a single water system since 2004, at a concentration that the government has said poses at least a 1-in-10,000 risk of causing disease.That is roughly equivalent to the cancer risk posed by undergoing 100 X-rays. “
– New York Times
Tap water drinkers might need to pause and accept this reality; take a brief moment. When anybody hears it for the first time it’s a shock – water is the fluid of life! The same percentage of water in the world is the same percentage that our bodies consist of – it is innate in nature![2] Everyone needs water each and every day, but it’s a hard fact that the publicly available water is in no way as clean as can be.
And if the level of removal isn’t to your liking, you won’t believe the dangers of what they’ll add to the water. Long story short, adding fluoride to water for fighting tooth decay doesn’t necessarily outweigh the research documented effects of lowered fertility, lowered IQ, and pineal gland calcification in subjected populations [2]. Like most points of scientific inquiry, do your in-depth research and you’ll find there’s a lot to swallow.
Harms of Bottled Water – The Whole Story
Now I’m sure anybody who was #TeamTapWater may be thinking of jumping ship right now. Slow your roll, however, if your next turn is toward a cold, hard, shiny bottle of pre-packaged water. You might not be in the clear just yet.
It is a little known fact that the norm since 2009 was nearly half (48.7%) of bottled water facilities using municipal tap water supplies[4] all the same. So right there the idea of a “safer source” can be thrown out the window as often as “heads” on a coin toss. And as far as the path it takes along the way… there’s not much to say on that. Running as private corporations they are inherently regulated even less than public tap water (and we just saw how thorough that can be) and in fact only 3 could be found to publish purity information at the same level as public facilities[4].
When it comes to the point of quenching your thirst, know that you may still be subject to foreign chemicals. Both Nicotine in significant quantity and 58 active pharmaceuticals were detected in 5 of 10 randomly sampled of bottled mineral water brands[1]. Independent testing of bottled water conducted by the Environmental Working Group in 2008 also found that 10 popular brands of bottled water, purchased from grocery stores and other retailers in 9 states and the District of Columbia, contained 38 chemical pollutants, with an average of 8 contaminants in each brand[4].
Bottled water may offer the impression of a pristinely sourced, purified, and single-serving dose of clean water, but is all that worth:
- The energy equivalent of 32 and 54 million barrels of oil to produce and transport plastic water bottles used in just a year’s time
- A pollution rate of 75 percent, leaving empty plastic bottles in our landfills, lakes, streams and oceans
- Small towns around the world exploited for water resources to feed the manufactured demand of giant corporations re-selling public water
- The estimated that two liters of water needed to bottle every liter on the store shelf, resulting in approximately 72 billion gallons wasted annually worldwide
There are COSTS to leaving the responsibility of your drinking water quality up to a private corporation, a secluded and distant authority, who couldn’t possibly have the health and wellness of YOUR family at the forefront of their mind.
Take back Control to gain Awareness of what’s in your drinking water
If you don’t know for sure, then the only thing you can be sure of is that you have no influence on the ones who actually know the whole story of what’s in every sip you take; the composition of each drop that flows through your home. Your eyesight won’t tell you, you have to get deeper than that for yourself. And like every unseen element of nature, we never understand it until we test, ask questions, and find out just what it’s made of.
Take control today and Know Your Water by obtaining a free water quality test from a Life Enhancement Consultant.
References
- Environmental Protection Agency
- GreenMedInfo
- The New York Times
- Food & Water Watch
