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We all know by now that hydration is key to health—how could it not be, when up to 60 percent of the human body is made up of water? Add Hong Kong’s blisteringly hot summers into the mix, and it’s imperative to make sure that you’re getting enough water at all times. For some people, however, drinking water is a begrudging necessity rather than something they’re really thirsty for.
Whether that’s because they simply don’t like the taste of plain water or because there’s something in the water source that’s affecting the flavour, here are some things to consider when trying to improve the flavour of drinking water, courtesy of the water filtration experts from Pluvial Plus.
More often than not when people complain about tap water tasting bad, it’s due to high concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) made up of inorganic salts—sodium, chlorides, and sulphates, to name a few—and organic matter, which can taste bitter or salty. Not only does water with a high concentration of TDS taste unpleasant, but it could also indicate the presence of other more harmful contaminants, like nitrate, arsenic, or lead.
Another reason for bitter or metallic-tasting water? Copper from aged pipes leaching into your drinking water. And while some copper is beneficial, consuming excessive copper long term—for example, through tainted water—can cause lasting damage to your kidneys and liver.
Maybe you just don’t like the taste of plain ol’ H2O. Some people—especially children—find the taste of distilled or tap water to be boring or lacking. If that’s the case, these people may reduce their water intake or reach for sugary flavoured drinks instead, neither of which are exactly healthy options.
If you’re missing your sweetened drinks (but trying to cut out processed sugars or avoid single-use plastic), one option is to infuse your water with fruit or herbs. For those who enjoy fizzy drinks, using an at-home carbonator to turn regular water into sparkling water may be the solution. Of course, you should ensure that your drinking water is safe first, which brings us onto our next (and most important) point…
If you suspect your problem is being caused by contaminants, it’s imperative to get your tap water tested. If it’s an issue with your pipes, boiling the water won’t do anything to remove heavy metals—in fact, it might exacerbate the problem.
Given that drinking bottled water is both financially and environmentally unsustainable, we’d recommend investing in a good standalone water filter. With standalone or countertop filters, the system can be a lot more complex than tap attachments, resulting in cleaner water with fewer impurities—and since they don’t require installation, they’re more convenient for renters.
When it comes to finding the right water filter, there are a lot of factors to consider—effectiveness, affordability, portability, and availability. Thankfully, there is actually a filter that ticks all those boxes—two, in fact. Hong Kong-based company Pluvial Plus’ countertop and dispenser-style filters are gravity-fed (meaning that they don’t require a power source), well-priced, and surprisingly compact despite their 15-litre capacity.
Pluvial Plus uses a seven-stage filter comprising ceramic, activated carbon, volcanic zeolites, and other minerals, which remove substances such as chlorine, volatile organic compounds, parasites, and heavy metals. What sets them apart, however, is that their filters also add healthy minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, and magnesium back into the water, giving it a naturally sweet flavour that appeals to children and adults alike.
And at just $1,599 for an all-inclusive starter kit and $295 for replacement filters (which only need to be switched out every six months), it’s one of the most cost-effective choices on the market. The average Hong Kong family of four consumes 10,000 litres of drinking water per year—meaning that even after factoring in the costs of purchasing and maintaining a Pluvial Plus filter, they can save over $5,000 a year on bottled water costs.
For orders made directly on their website, Pluvial Plus offers free delivery to anywhere in Hong Kong and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind—so what are you waiting for? Check out their website to learn more.
Pluvial Plus is a Hong Kong-based, online-only water filter company. Their goal is to provide affordable, effective, and convenient drinking water solutions to Hongkongers. Their name, which is derived from the word for rainfall, is also the inspiration for their gravity-fed “waterfall” filters, which remove harmful or unpleasant-tasting impurities before adding beneficial minerals back in for a naturally sweet taste.
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