What types of water contaminants are
there?
Water contaminants are generally grouped into one of four
classes, including microbiological, organic, inorganic, and
radioactive. Each innowave® system performs differently in
reducing contaminants, dependent upon the technologies used.
innowave has prepared technology comparison charts to
explain how each system performs for the reduction of each
class of contaminant. Refer to the product pages on the web
site or innowave literature for specific information.
How do I
know an innowave® system will do what it claims to do?
innowave® systems are tested and certified to the highest
available industry standards. Testing and certification of
point-of-use drinking water systems is not a requirement,
but is strictly voluntary for manufacturers of water
treatment equipment. This lack of standardization can lead
to vast quality differences in water treatment systems. When
making a product selection, be sure to always ask if the
product has been tested and certified. Independent testing
is your best assurance that the product will perform as the
manufacturer claims it will.
What type
of performance testing should I be looking for?
Testing and certification to ANSI/NSF standards and the
Water Quality Association
Gold Seal are two highly reputable programs. Products that
carry the NSF mark or the WQA Gold Seal have been evaluated
to assure that the system or components of the system will
perform as the manufacturer claims they will and the
literature that is being used to sell the product is
truthful.
Do
innowave® systems require periodic maintenance, and by whom?
innowave® systems require maintenance only twice per year.
Dependent on the type of system, preventive maintenance
might include changing a filter, softener or UV lamp. Each
system should also be sanitized once per year. In most
cases, preventive maintenance is routinely performed by an
innowave dealer.
How
reliable are innowave® systems in providing high quality
water over time?
With preventive maintenance performed at six-month
intervals, the quality of the water will be highly
consistent over the life of the equipment. With distillation
systems in particular, water will be of extremely high
quality as water must first boil to convert to steam,
leaving impurities behind.
How fresh
is the water?
innowave® systems produce water at the point-of-use, which
means that the possibility of the water being recontaminated
is minimized. This eliminates concerns associated with
bottled water, where water can sit stagnate for long periods
of time and bacterial buildup can occur. With an innowave®
system, there is not additional plumbing for the water to go
through, the water does not sit stagnate for long periods of
time, and the risk of recontamination is minimized.
What are the differences in the
technologies usedfor treating drinking water?
Distillation, reverse osmosis, ultra violet light, ozonation
and filtration are among the most common water treatment
technologies. You can easily refer to a technology
comparison and compare the differences using a handy
technology comparison chart. innowave highly recommends that
you consider how a system performs against all classes of
contaminants, including microbiological, organic, inorganic,
and radioactive contaminants. You may also want to visit the
Water Quality Association
web site for information regarding various water treatment
options and issues.
Isn't
Bottled Water just as good?
If you are currently a bottled water user, you should know
that the FDA regulates bottled water. FDA standards for
bottled water only require that the quality of the water be
as good as tap water, which is monitored by the
USEPA.
This means that the bottled water you drink may only be
ordinary tap water, and be perfectly legal to sell. About
half of all bottled water is repackaged municipal water,
according to the USEPA. innowave recommends that if you are
currently using bottled water, that you contact your
supplier to find out how and where the water was treated
before delivery.
Why not
ordinary tap water?
Your local municipality's water is of sufficient quality to
meet USEPA standards and not cause you adverse health
effects. As a company, we believe in educating and informing
consumers about our products and treatment technologies, so
each customer can make the best choice for their situation.
However, innowave prides itself in the fact that we always
produce water that exceeds
USEPA standards.
Drinking water quality is an individual choice, just as the
foods you choose to eat.
What are the financial benefits to
an organization providing an innowave® system?
According to the
American Journal of Public Health,
35% of all gastro-intestinal illnesses is waterborne and
preventable. Many of these illnesses can result in sick days
and the financial implications can be significant. In many
instances, the cost of one person being sick at home for one
day due to gastro-intestinal illness can be as high as $500
to an employer. Eliminating just one sick day during the
year as the result of providing high quality drinking water
can often justify the expense of an innowave® system.
If you are currently a
bottled water user, another consideration is the risk of
workman's compensation due to injury caused by lifting
bottles. This can be virtually eliminated by replacing your
bottled water with a bottleless innowave® system.
How
important is healthful water to our employees?
Besides the financial benefits, an innowave® system will
help to enhance the health and well being of your company's
associates through proper hydration. Drinking water assists
the body in the cleansing process. Water also supports our
body's nutritive and digestive processes. With water being
70% of our body, the reason is obvious as to why clean
drinking water is important.
Will water replace sugary soft
drinks and coffee?
On average, people drink 4.5 servings of caffeinated or
alcoholic beverages a day, according to a Nutrition
Information Center survey. In order to remain hydrated
throughout the day, we know that the medical community
recommends we consume 8 glasses of water a day. Insufficient
amounts of water intake - even a 2 to 3% loss of body water
- can cause symptoms of dehydration. Those who rely on
sugary drinks and coffee for their daily liquid intake, are
more likely to suffer from grogginess, dry skin and
dehydration.
Incorporating innowave®
drinking water systems into an overall wellness plan can
help in reducing consumption of coffee and sugary soft
drinks. Many experts will tell you that coffee and sugary
soft drinks are okay in moderation, but not good for you
when taken in excess. Far and away, water is preferred over
any other beverage by medical professionals for keeping your
body hydrated and healthy. Besides smoking cessation,
helping your employees kick the sugar and caffeine habit may
be one of the best preemptive wellness programs you can
implement.
An innowave® point of
use water treatment system will satisfy employees with cool,
great tasting, satisfying drinking water every day. Since
all innowave® systems treat water at the point-of-use, there
are never heavy bottles to lift, store or replace which
eliminates chances of injury and unnecessary time spent on a
non-business activity. Also, incorporating safe, clean water
into employee wellness programs can help reduce employee
absenteeism, therefore increasing work productivity.
Will
water consumption increase if organizations purchase a water
treatment unit?
Water consumption should be a part of our normal daily
routine, since it is required in order to stay healthy and
properly hydrated. With a water treatment system in the
office break room, employees are more likely to drink more
water because of the health benefits associated to purified
drinking water and the growing popularity of drinking water
in general. We are encouraged by health officials to drink
eight 12 oz. glasses of water a day and with placement of an
innowave® system, consumption is more likely to increase,
therefore making a healthier work atmosphere. According to a
survey conducted by innowave® among 500 human resource
managers, the most common types of beverages supplied by
employers were water and coffee. Two-thirds responded their
water quality was bad or fair which also coincides with the
National Consumer Water Survey commissioned by the Water
Quality Association stating that 1 in 3 adults believe his
or her water is not as safe as it should be. One in five is
dissatisfied with the quality of his or her water supply and
nearly 60% believe the water they drink can affect their
health.
What is
the cost of the system?
innowave® systems can deliver high quality water for just
pennies a gallon. Compared to bottled water, it's a definite
bargain. There are various systems to meet your
contamination reduction needs and your budget.
For more information about costs, contact your local
innowave Dealer to discuss a price plan that best meets your
organization's needs. |
