Which Water is Healthy?
By Andrew Cunningham

I was given a crash course on water by Dr. Tat Chee Tam, from Grander Technology, who is in the business of water revitalization.  He has been operating this business for over 17 years in Hong Kong, so if anyone has his share of knowledge and opinions about water, it’s him.

HT: First, what is water revitalization? 

Dr. Tat: This is the process of taking normal tap water and returning it, as much as possible, to its natural and healthy state. Think of a natural spring somewhere without pollution. This would be the definition of natural and healthy water.

HT: Is this the same as filtered water? 

Dr. Tat: Not at all. Having water filtered is only the process of taking out dirt or other impurities. This has nothing to do with making the water healthy. Remember, drinkable and healthy are two different things.

HT: In what ways is revitalized water different or better than normal or filtered water? 

Dr. Tat: Revitalized water will have an enhanced freshness as a result of altered microbiology. 

Other differences include:

• Improved taste
• May increase sense of well-being
• Feels softer
• Better appearance (clearer)
• Better growth and more colour in plants
• Great for pets’ drinking water, as they are particularly attracted to revitalized water

HT: Alright, let’s talk about Hong Kong water. 

Dr. Tat: This is an interesting topic for many people who live here as there are many theories floating around.

HT: Is Hong Kong water safe to drink and without bacteria? 

Dr. Tat: Actually, yes. It is without bacteria and so technically it is safe to drink.  However, you should know that the water department uses chlorine to kill the bacteria in the water. Drinking this highly chlorinated water isn’t very good for long term health.

HT: What about boiling water? 

Dr. Tat: Boiling water is a good way to eliminate the chlorine, but don’t over-boil.  As soon as the water begins to boil, stop and let it cool down.  To take it a step further, we can place the cooled down water in a jar and put it in the refrigerator for later drinking.

HT: What happens if we over-boil or re-boil water? 

Dr. Tat: Well, when we do either of these things, the process produces a bi-product of chlorine.  This is called Trihalomethane, or THM, which is cancer causing (yes, yet another thing to add to that list of things that cause cancer).

Another thing that Dr. Tat suggests is that we regularly check and maintain our water systems and pipes in order to avoid any kind of corrosion, which leads to poorer water quality.  I for one know it’s easy with my busy life to forget about things like that and just assume that if I leave it alone, it will be fine.

For further enquiries on water revitalization, or other ways to improve your drinking water at home or work, you can contact Grander Technologies.