4 min read
Start Here: Water
In this edition of our Start Here series we consider the impact of water in the home and provide simple swaps that make a lasting impact.
WORDS Elissa Rose
We drink it, cook with it, bathe in it, clean with it, and yet we often overlook it. Water flows through nearly every aspect of home life, from what we consume to how we care for our bodies and spaces. And while we tend to assume the water coming from our taps is clean, what’s legally permissible in municipal water isn’t always what’s healthiest for long-term exposure.
Contaminants like lead, chlorine, PFAS (also known as ‘forever chemicals’), pesticides, pharmaceuticals and microplastics have all been found in drinking water across the US. While most meet federal safety thresholds, that doesn’t mean they’re risk-free. Exposure can happen through drinking, of course, but also through skin contact and inhalation, particularly during activities like showering, cooking and cleaning.
At WLLW, we think of water quality as a foundation for wellbeing. Just as we pay attention to air quality or light exposure, water deserves the same level of care. And while systemic change is essential, there’s plenty we can do at home to reduce contaminants, soften the burden on our bodies and restore a sense of clarity to something we often take for granted.
1. Start With What You Drink
The first step is to understand what’s in your local tap water. Your city’s Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) can reveal which contaminants are present and in what concentrations. A certified lab test or home water test kit from a company such as mytapscore can give more detailed results for your specific pipes and fixtures. From there, choose a certified water filter that matches your needs, whether that’s a pitcher filter for chlorine and taste or a reverse osmosis system to reduce heavy metals, PFAS and microplastics. Look for WQA certifications to ensure effectiveness.
2. Don’t Forget That Water Impacts The Air
Many people are surprised to learn that chlorine and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in water can turn into airborne contaminants during hot showers or cleaning. This is especially relevant for people with asthma or sensitive skin. Shower filters can reduce chlorine, trihalomethanes (disinfection byproducts) and some VOCs. Showerhead filters are an easy way to mitigate exposure but even small changes like turning on a bathroom fan or cracking a window can reduce what’s released into the air. Inhaling is a less obvious pathway, but no less important.
3. Think Beyond Drinking
Water quality also matters in the kitchen, laundry and garden. Washing produce with filtered water can reduce pesticide residue. Choosing non-toxic dishwasher and laundry detergents reduces the load of pollutants entering both your home and local waterways. Watering houseplants with filtered water can even benefit soil health over time. Small, repeated choices add up, whether you’re rinsing a cup or filling a kettle.
Simple Choices, Better Water
Water gives life and in the home, it also shapes experience. From drinking and bathing to washing and restoring, its quality matters. When we treat water as part of our interior environment, we design homes that support the body’s natural balance and wellbeing.
A few places to start:
- Install a certified drinking water filter: Match your filtration system to the contaminants present in your local water.
- Use a shower filter: Especially if your water contains chlorine or disinfection byproducts.
- Ventilate during hot showers: Reduce airborne exposure to volatile compounds released from heated water.
- Wash produce with filtered water: Especially for fruits and vegetables with porous skins or surface residue.
- Choose non-toxic cleaning and laundry products: Minimize chemical runoff and reduce the waterborne pollutant load inside your home.
- Tap water database: Input your zipcode into the EWG tap water database for details about your local water source and any detected contaminants in your area.
Clean water doesn’t just quench thirst, it supports every cell in our bodies. By choosing safer habits and tools, we turn an invisible input into a powerful source of health and renewal.
Photography: Alex Reyto courtesy of Silent Living
