Tweet. Drink. Repeat.

The Culligan Man loves the social media movement – for a few reasons. First off, the sheer amount of information keeps us better educated and better connected. News pours through my Tweetdecks like water over Niagara Falls. Secondly, it allows Culligan to ask consumers what’s important to them – and guess what? They answer. So in keeping with the invisible social media rulebook, it’s up to us to provide solid answers to consumer questions.

Now, I am proud to announce the unveiling of our first Tweet-generated blog post:

Twitter: @Local_Social
Where: Chicago
Question: “Do I really need bottled water in my home?"

Answer:

The Water Wise Guy crew will respond with a little help from our friends, a.k.a the Culligan dealers from around the continent. We’ll chime in to emphasize a point here and there.

From Steve Rangel, Rock Valley Culligan

There are a few variables to take into consideration when it comes to bottled water. There is a difference between need & want. Depending on the water source, i.e. well water, municipal water, etc you may be better off with bottled or reverse osmosis water.

The best way to find out would be through a water analysis.

(WWG thought: Private wells serving less than 25 people are not covered by the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act. Arsenic and nitrates are fairly common contaminants in the Midwest, and it’s up to the individual to test, so bottled water offers a worry-free drinking water option.)

Paul Moorman from Culligan in Belleville, Ontario breaks down why he has bottled water in his home:

This is in addition to just drinking great tasting water.

- I use it in my ice cube trays – makes harder, clearer cubes that last longer and don’t mess with the taste of the drink I put them in.

- My wife uses it in her iron to prevent blocking the steamer.

- It keeps our coffee maker clean and working better. And the coffee tastes better too!

My dog likes it better than our tap water!

(WWG: They can talk to dogs in Canada.)

- I sure can’t get high quality drinking water when I’m on the go. Only bottled water lets me do that. Having it at home to fill re-usable bottles saves time and money!

- My daughter fills her eco-friendly stainless steel bottle with mineral free, high quality Culligan water for her high school basketball games.

This article is from last year, but gives you a good flavor of the time and energy it takes to create these outdoor masterpieces. The bottom of the post is where you can find Culligan's role.

From the Ottawa Citizen
2008

For the past half dozen years or so, the National Capital Commission has stocked Winterlude with blocks of ice from a company called Iceculture, based in Hensall, Ont., just southeast of Goderich on the southeastern shore of Lake Huron.

Iceculture claims to be possibly the world's largest supplier of crystal-clear ice, and certainly North America's biggest. Each year, the company makes 25,000 blocks of ice for clients around the world. Apart from Winterlude, for example, the company recently hauled 90,000 kilograms of ice -- roughly enough to fill a school bus, and also the amount of water a fin whale draws in a single gulp -- to Dubai and then spent two weeks building an ice lounge, called Chill Out, inside a shopping mall. Next month, they'll head to Thailand to construct a similar one there.

This year, Iceculture will ship 1,800 blocks of ice to Winterlude, each weighing about 140 kilograms (300 pounds) and measuring 100 centimetres by 50 centimetres by 25 centimetres. That's enough ice to cover an NHL rink to a thickness of 15 centimetres. Its total weight of about 245 metric tonnes is roughly equivalent to four times the weight of all the players currently on NHL rosters.

But what makes the ice blocks clear?

According to Iceculture general manager Heidi Bayley, the secret is in the freezing process, which is designed to remove the trapped bubbles of air that typically make the ice cubes in your freezer so cloudy.

"It's very simple, but it's really sensitive," she says. "We have tanks that freeze the blocks from one side through to the other -- the cooling elements are on the bottom of the machine. At the same time, we circulate the water so that, as it freezes from one side, the circulation actually pushes any air out.

"The second thing we do," adds Bayley, "is we run it through an RO (reverse osmosis) system, a really giant Culligan water system that removes any impurities and minerals, such as calcium, which can add white spots to the blocks."

There are a lot of people out there frustrated that no matter what they do, their dishes and clothes do not get clean. Maybe you’re one of these people? And maybe you’ve tried all of the tricks and old wives tales to fix this problem – different laundry detergents, changing dishwasher soap, possibly even the purchase of a new appliance?

Like most bad situations, it’s important to get to the root of the problem. In this particular situation, often the root of the problem is the water being used. Problem water is full of minerals and sediments, that over time, cause scale buildup on dishes, clothes, plumbing and appliances. It’s one of those, “I should have known this” moments we're all guilty of.

The decision of whether or not to invest in a household of better water, through a water softener, is dependent on different factors. Water is an essential part of our everyday life; therefore, it makes sense that we use the best water out there. It’s like any other major purchase; you want the best, and you hope that it improves your quality of life.

Here is a list of the effects of better water:
• Use of less detergent
• More efficient and longer lasting appliances
• Clear glasses and dishes
• Laundry that is cleaner and softer to the touch

So rather than trying out a different brand of laundry detergent, or investing in a new washing machine, consider the option for better water.

With cold weather quickly approaching, and the days getting shorter, it is no doubt that people are feeling the winter pains. Lots of people eat food to cure these pains; it seems to be a natural reaction.

Luckily, a recent study by The University of Chicago Medical Center, shows that drinking water (and eating chocolate, but we're not going to emphasize this!) can blunt pain. This natural form of pain relief may contribute to overeating and obesity in humans. 

Researchers studied how rats, given either a chocolate chip, sugar water or regular water infused directly into their mouths, had a delayed response to pain. They also found no difference between delayed responses due to the rat’s chocolate-eating and water-drinking. Exciting news for mice... not so exciting for humans who have easy access to ridiculous amounts of fatty foods.

Peggy Mason, PhD, professor of neurobiology, said that the painkilling effect “can be turned to our advantage." So take advantage of what we've learned from the mice! Substitute that bag of chips for a tall glass of filtered water! And why not start today?

I just listened to journalist Charles Duhigg, report on the "worsening pollution in American waters" — and regulators' responses to the problem on NPR. 

It is an interesting and informative interview on the breakdown of the changing nature of water pollution. 

He reported on many current issues concerning drinking water. I know the Water Wise Guy team blogged on the New York Times "Toxic Waters" section previously, however the interest in toxic drinking water is still incredibly high. The following issues he reported on are worth noting:

• 1 in 10 Americans have been exposed to drinking contaminated water-- water that contains dangerous chemicals, parasites, bacteria or viruses, or fails to meet federal health standards.
• Unknowingly drinking toxic water causes chemicals to accumulate in the cells of your body— and can take years for anything to show, eventually becoming a cancer.
• Millions of gallons of cow manure waste acts as fertilizer, but if the amounts are excessive, bacteria and chemicals can flow into the ground and contaminate residents’ tap water. In a small farm town in Wisconsin, more than 100 wells were polluted by agricultural runoff.

Duhigg doesn't provide easy answers, but does give us a better idea of what questions we should be asking.

Another reminder to be proactive about drinking water for you and your family.

Recess is over and kids are racing to the school entrance to be first in line for the drinking fountain—or bubbler, depending on where you are from.

Imagine if once the rush of students approaches the bubbler, a sign above it reads “Do Not Drink: Water is tainted with nitrates, a potential carcinogen and a pesticide that may cause male sterility.” “Do Not Drink” is about the only thing that will register and considering a 9-year-old’s thirst after recess, tainted or not, water will be gulped down. And who can blame the kids? After an intense game of tag, how can you not hit up the bubbler? You played hard! And moms and dads always say to drink eight glasses of water a day. Water is good for you, right?

No unfortunately, not all water is good for you.

Recently, an AP investigation found that contaminants have surfaced at public and private schools in all 50 states—in both small farm towns and inner cities. Scary, I know. According to the AP investigation, 1 out of every 5 schools with its own water supply violated the Safe Drinking Water Act in the past decade. That’s a staggering 20% of schools.

Yes, this is really happening. Here are two examples of reported effects of toxic school drinking water:

• In 2001, 28 children at a Worthington, Minnesota elementary school experienced severe stomach aches and nausea after drinking water tainted with lead and copper.
• In Seattle, a 6-year-old girl suffered stomach aches and became disoriented and easily exhausted. The girl's mother asked her daughter's school to test its water, and also tested a strand of her daughter's hair. Tests showed high levels of copper and lead.

Luckily, steps have been taken. See improvement options, according to the article, below:

• Improve Water System: In California, the Department of Public Health has given out more than $4 million in recent years to help districts overhaul their water systems.
• New School Building: After wrestling with unsafe levels of arsenic for almost two years, administrators in Sterling, Ohio, finally bought water coolers for elementary school students last fall. Now they plan to move students to a new building.
• Bottled Water: Many school officials say buying bottled water is less expensive than fixing old pipes. Baltimore, for instance, has spent more than $2.5 million on bottled water over the last six years.

I know Chemistry is a subject in almost every school; it should not be in every school’s water.

The Water Wise Guy crew took some time to get to know Phoenix dealer, Doug Oberhamer. Doug is always full of great insight, and a knowledge of water issues that is second to none. Check out his thoughts in "Know Your Culligan Man."

If you could tell everyone out there one piece of advice when it comes to their home water quality, what would it be? 

DO: There is a best quality of water for every use: Utility water plumbed to outside sillcocks for irrigation of landscaping, for swimming pools and hot tubs; softened water installed at the point of entry to the home for bathing, laundering, dishwashing, cleaning, and care of plumbing and major appliances using water; and filtration installed at the point of use for drinking, cooking and icemaking. With only one-half of 1% of all the water supplied in the typical community used for drinking and cooking, it doesn't make sense, economically or otherwise, to treat all of the water to drinking water quality standards.

What do you see for the future of the water industry? 

DO: The medical profession telling us what the best quality of water is for most people, and our treating the water to that "recipe." The treatment will include removal of contaminants in the water source, such as pharmaceuticals in the waste stream, and the potential of the addition of minerals found deficient in most diets and determined to promote good health.

What makes your area unique when it comes to water issues? 

DO: Living in the desert where water is scare drives a different mindset than areas where water is abundant. We already have all of the water we are going to get, so water conservation and reuse are part of every day living and planning for population growth.

I hope everyone's Tuesday is shaping up nicely. I had a couple of people send me this video, and while the production is not fantastic, it still has some interesting facst, figures and angles. 

One of the best slides in this piece is the one that points out bottled water users also use the tap heavily and vice versa. 

The Water Wise Guy finds himself always engrossed in the tap water vs. bottled water debate, and I am going to let it rest for a moment and let this YouTube clip do the talking with pretty pictures. 

So here at Water Wise Guy HQ, which is located in a secret location inside a volcano in a remote jungle on an island outside of Argentina, we get alot of Google Alerts - 163 a morning to be precise. When you get so much information over a long period of time, you start to notice strong trends in water news from around the world. 

Here are a few trends the Water Wise Guy team has been seeing from the cornfields of Nebraska to the rain of the Northwest to the deserts of Arizona.

1. There are alot of boil orders out there. Period. Water main breaks, flood contamination, etc have caused the ordinary citizen to take extra precaution with their water. 

2. Arsenic is a big issue in the Midwest. If you live in the fine cluster of middle states, get your water tested.

3. The New York Times and AP are investigating water quality like it's going of style. But it isn't. The wealth of data these recent research studies have put together is amazing - check them out when you get a chance. 

4. Proactive and responsible testing is the way to go if you want to avoid some major health issues. Whether it be the Marines, or expectant moms - water quality must be a priority. 

5. No one understands what reverse osmosis is. Read this post and get your learn on. 

That's it from the Water Wise Guy today! Drink. Tweet. Repeat.

NEW YORK & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In celebration of the 100th birthday of the Good Housekeeping Seal, the magazine’s famous emblem of quality and a limited two-year warranty, the magazine has created an interactive, traveling exhibit that recreates the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, where all product evaluations are conducted. Visitors will see up close the various tests that products must go through to earn the Seal or be featured in Good Housekeeping, both editorially and in advertisements. GHRI on Tour presented by IKEA will make stops in 11 markets, transported via an environmentally-responsible low-emission vehicle. Visitors can also enter to win a room makeover from IKEA.

"Now more than ever, the Good Housekeeping Seal delivers an invaluable service to consumers, helping them cut through the erroneous claims to find products that really perform as promised,” says Rosemary Ellis, editor in chief of Good Housekeeping. “This exhibit really explains the work we do at the Research Institute, how it relates to the magazine, and how a product earns the Seal. Visitors will realize that we are unique in the way we stand behind the safety and efficacy of everything they see in Good Housekeeping.”

Culligan is sponsoring the Kitchen Appliances & Technology Lab, where the practicality and performance of all appliances, equipment, and utensils used in preparing and storing food are reviewed. Culligan currently has eight home drinking water filtration and softening products which have received the Good Housekeeping Seal. These include: Aqua-Cleer® Drinking Water System; AC-30 Good Water Machine® Drinking Water System; Gold Series™ Whole House Water Filter; Medallist Series™ Whole House Water Filter; Iron-Cleer® Whole House Filter; Platinum Plus Series Water Softener; Gold Series™ Water Softener; and Medallist Series™ Water Softener.

“As Good Housekeeping celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the Seal, Culligan will be celebrating over 70 years as a world leader in water treatment. Both Culligan and Good Housekeeping share an established history built on innovation, quality and trust. We are excited to give consumers an inside look at the Kitchen Appliances & Technology Lab, so that people can understand how better water will make their lives better,” said Eric Rosenthal, VP of Marketing at Culligan.

In addition to the Kitchen Appliances & Technology Lab, the GHRI on Tour presented by IKEA features an additional six interactive labs with diorama-style windows that provide a look inside, along with a video of each lab’s director explaining the products he/she evaluates. The exhibit also includes areas devoted to the magazine’s environmental initiatives; its VIP (Very Innovative Product) Awards; a timeline with GHRI highlights, from landmark evaluations to important recalls; touch screen televisions with trivia games and videos of sample product evaluations. There is also a Kid’s “Lab,” where parents can drop off their children while they explore the exhibit, staffed by trained day care professionals.

GHRI on Tour Presented by IKEA will make stops in the following markets:

* Tampa, FL: Museum of Science and Industry: September 26 – October 10
* Dallas, TX: State Fair of Texas: October 17 – 18
* Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State Fair: November 7 – 8
* Minneapolis, MN: Mall of America: November 21 – 22
* Atlanta, GA: Atlantic Station: December 12 – 13