Book Description
THE DRINKING WATER BOOK takes a level-headed look at the serious issues surrounding America's drinking water supply. Unlike water purifier manufacturers and public health officials, Ingram presents unbiased reporting on what's in your water and how to drink safely. Featuring all the latest scientific research, the book evaluates the different kinds of filters and bottled waters and rates specific products on the market. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Why Should I Be Concerned About My Drinking Water?
Colin Ingram pulls the reader into his book by offering "Ten Quick Tips" to "wet" your appetite for the valuable detailed information that follows.

Ingram, who has years of experience as a scientific writer, articulates with clarity in this comprehensive guide to the importance of pure drinking water for maintaining optimum health.The chapter on water pollutants and the risk to health was startling.There is a logical order to the book as the next chapter deals with water testing and finding out what is in your water, and the best drinking water for good health.I was amazed to discover the various sources of commercial water suppliers and the number and variety of their products.

Several chapters deal with water purifiers and how they work. They include information on filters, distillers, alternative methods, and suggestions for combining types of purifiers.Ingram included suggestions on how to evaluate these systems, types of installations, a cost comparison of purifiers, and a comparison of the cost of bottled water versus that of a purifier.

I found the chapter summaries and author's recommendations especially helpful.He not only introduced primary and alternative methods, and combinations of purifiers, but also pros and cons of various views being expounded by vendors, environmentalists, and politicians.

The appendix, glossary, and index add to this compact, comprehensive manual on how to insure you are drinking safer water.

This is an important, informative, guidebook, calling for imperative action steps to do something about the water you are drinking.

Simple, common sense information
I've had an interest in safe drinking water for many years. The market is flooded (pun intended) with advertising and claims. Mr. Ingram has made a difficult field very understandable. So much so, that you can make an intelligent decision on how to ensure safe drinking water for your family.I bought more copies and have given them as gifts.
He claims to be totally independent and from the book, it seems he is.
I am a new author, finishing my book Common Sense, The Joy of Living Smarter. I am listing this book in my reference chapter.

A Candid Review by the Author
I wrote this book because after extensive communication with government agencies, universities, non-profit organizations and private sector manufacturers, I simply could not find objective information about drinking water safety and consumer options. Since I have been a professional writer and editor for over four decades, I decided to bite the bullet and do it myself. I spent five years researching material for this book and I have no axes to grind; just the desire for truth. This is the 2nd edition of this book. The 1st edition was hailed as the definitive consumer book on drinking water, and I believe this book is even better. You'll find that it contains the most objective, complete and easy-to-understand information on drinking water that is available, and this opinion has been confirmed by many authorities in the field of drinking water safety. Thanks for your time, Colin Ingram.

The best drinking water book you can buy
This book is well named, since it is the definitive book on drinking water.It includes extensive information on water contaminants, water testing, bottled water, and home purification systems.The information is well-researched, easy to read, and well-formatted, with simple charts and diagrams supplementing the text where necessary.I bought several books on drinking water at the same time, and this one was clearly superior to all the others.Don't waste time and money; buy this book first!

Good guide, but...
This book is certainly a good guide for people living in the US who have to face polluted drinking water in their homes, but if you are a scientist working for some time already in the field of water treatment I recommendthat you keep your fingers off this book. This book is certainly writtenfor the broad public and doesn't offer much news for the experiencedreader. Especially if you live outside the US this book is not verysuitable. It's just a shame that "real" engineering books arealways so expensive. ... Read more

Book Description
This book is a resource for all drinking water treatment plants into the application, design, operation, control, and optimization of ozone facilities. This book is written primarily from an operations perspective, and explains the current place and placement of ozone facilities in North America. Coverage includes instrumentation quality control, quality assurance guidelines, precautions for implementation, maintenance considerations, and explains the theory and practice of ozone operation and how ozone disinfection performance is measured, calculated, reported, and optimized. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Ozone in Drinking Water Treatment by Kerwin Rakness
This book is an excellent reference manual. It can be used by engineers or water operators with complete and easily understandable concepts. We have been operating an ozone plant for water treatment for approximately 4 years now and use this book as a source for new concepts and references for our existing operational data.This book is an excellent resource for process design, operations, and system optimization.

Packed with practical information about ozone system design and operation!
This book is a valuable resource that I refer to daily in my work with ozone systems for drinking water treatment.It is written in manner that is easy to understand and it is packed with relevant, practical information about ozone system design, operation and optimization.This book is a "must read" for any engineer, operator or manager involved with or considering ozone as a water treatment process!

Groundbreaking work on ozone
This book is the definitive resource for ozone in water treatment.It presents timely information in a clear and concise manner.Well worth the price. ... Read more

Book Description
This is the second book in the Water Quality Measurement Series. It focuses on the analytical aspects related to epidemiology, toxicology, sanitary, engineering and plant technology to provide an integrated and clear strategy for carrying out surveillance, quality control, prevention and remedial measures.

• Contains a significant number of tables, figures, colour and black and white photographs and spectra
• Offers workable answers to specific practical issues using a comprehensive and scientifically sound approach

  
  ... Read more

Book Description
"Well-written and informative." —Richard Lewis, Lewis Information Systems "This [book] combines information which could possibly have required as many as four reference sources in the past." —Steven C. Messer In its first edition, John De Zuane's popular reference drew wide praise for being an insightful theoretical resource. Now, in the second edition of Handbook of Drinking Water Quality, De Zuane builds on that legacy with the same practical and conceptual emphases, adding a wealth of new information that provides immediate access to the data and guidelines needed to

• understand the impact of drinking water parameters on public health
• help build and operate water supply facilities
• conduct reliable drinking water sampling, monitoring, and analytical evaluation
• implement potability standards from the source to the treatment facility, to storage, to the tap
• write new standards and expand/modify existing standards as quickly as needed

Customer Reviews (1)

An Excellent Technical Source
If you are a public water supply manager for a municipality; the owner or operator of a water testing facility; a college professor of science; field researcher with undergrad or advanced degrees in biology, chemistry, environmental science, ecology, hydrology or other related field - and wish to dive to deeper depths in your professional water research - then I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description
This new editions of WHO's Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality provides a state-of-the art perspective on issues of water quality and health and on effective approaches to water safety management.

The Guidelines are used by countries world-wide as a scientific basis for standard-setting and regulation and are used extensively by policy-makers, professionals and local decision-makers. They supersede five editions of guidelines and of previous international standards. ... Read more

Book Description
The continued lack of access to adequate amounts of safe drinking water is one of the primary causes of infant morbidity and mortality worldwide and a serious situation which governments, international agencies and private organizations are strivingto alleviate. Barriers to providing safe drinking water for rural areas and small communities that must be overcome include the financing and stability of small systems, their operation, and appropriate, cost-effective technologies to treat and deliver water to consumers. While we know how to technically produce safe drinking water, we are not always able to achieve sustainable safe water supplies for small systems in developed and developing countries. Everyone wants to move rapidly to reach the goal of universal safe drinking water, because safe water is the most fundamental essential element for personal and social health and welfare. Without safe water and a safe environment, sustained personal economic and cultural development is impossible. Often small rural systems are the last in the opportunity line. Safe Drinking Water in Small Systems describes feasible technologies, operating procedures, management, and financing opportunities to alleviate problems faced by small water systems in both developed and developing countries. In addition to widely used traditional technologies this reference presents emerging technologies and non-traditional approaches to water treatment, management, sources of energy, and the delivery of safe water. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Some good info, but not enough
For the reader who currently knows nothing about water contamination and purification, this is a decent book, since it provides some eye-opening information.However, there are better books out there, depending on what you're looking for.

For specific advice on water contamination and safe water alternatives, including bottled water and home purification, I recommend Colin Ingram's "The Drinking Water Book."It has more information and a better format, including a simple chart that rates the effectiveness of different home purification methods for eliminating different contaminants (something this author didn't include).

If you're looking for something more political, buy "The Sierra Club Guide to Safe Drinking Water."This lists specific steps to improve drinking water on a larger level, including political action and people/agencies to contact.It also includes a list of major U.S. cities and their violations of water purity regulations.Finally, it lists the EPA drinking water standards in an appendix.Of course, it also includes advice on safe water alternatives, but this is not as extensive as the recommendations in The Drinking Water Book (see above).

Very Scary!Excellent Read! A Must for Every Nutritionist
I just got finished reading this book in between classes, and all I can say is WOW!Be aware, and beware of your tap water.If these statistics are correct, then the EPA and the U.S. government are not concerned withprotecting your right to clean water, and therefore, you must educateyourself in order to protect against degenerative disease.

[ 1991-1992EPA records showed that the nations water systems committed over 250,000violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, affecting more than 100 millionAmericans - and 10% of those exceeded the MCL (Max Contaminant Level) ofthe EPA. ]

This book is a great start finding out the truth of thematter. Toxins are everywhere!We all need to learn where they exist andremove them for our own and our childrens sake.

Someday, a high rankingofficial on TV may review this book, or a similar subject and try and spinthese numbers a certain way to make it not sound so bad, but don't befooled.Statistics seldom lie.Only politicians do.Politicians can comefrom any field, not just government.Politicians come from industry,medicine, lobby, and big business etc.Be a detective, and look foranything that doesn't make sense.

"The Truth is Obvious, EverythingElse is Questionable"

Read this book! It contains vital information.
This book is certainly a very factual and "blunt" book about the seriousness of our domestic water quality.With the coming "Y2K" event on the horizon, I believe Lono A'o's comments are even moreappropriate and noteworthy.I have given this book a 5 star and I amgiving serious thought to making this book a required reading for all thestudents in my Environmental Studies class at New England College.That'show serious I believe the issue is.

Very thorough about current water filtration methods
If you ever plan on buying a water filter of any kind -- this is the book to read. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is that I wish it would have given more specific information regarding name brand water filtration systems available and where to get testing information etc. ... Read more

Book Description
The Drinking Water Handbook is a systematic explanation of the many processes employed to make water safe to drink. It clarifies the laws that set the standards for quality and investigates the physical, chemical and microbiological parameters that must be modified to produce potable and good-tasting water. Careful attention is paid to present and emerging technologies that result in high-quality drinking water: purification, filtration, disinfection, distribution, and more. The book discusses the relation of water reuse to the hydrologic cycle and explains what is being done to mitigate growing concerns about disinfection by-products. ... Read more

Book Description
This brand new manual provides thorough coverage of water membrane science, concepts, and theory.Chapters discuss membrane applications, testing of membrane systems, design concepts and operations, costs, residuals, plus the various manufactures.The final chapter covers future trends in low-pressure membranes followed by extensive tables and figures. ... Read more

Book Description
This compendium represents the first peer-reviewed book of its kind published by AWWA’s Membrane Processes Committee (MPC). This book represents the best membrane-related papers from 2004 AWWA Annual Conference, 2004 Water Quality Technology Conference, and 2005 Membrane Technology Conference, which were all peer reviewed and author updated. Sections cover Section removal efficiencies, membrane performance, pretreatment strategies, regulatory issues, filtration guidance, studies on operations and integrated membrane systems, MBR (membrane bioreactors), and reuse issues. ... Read more

Book Description
Addresses the use of new and diverse chemicals that can enter the watersupply, and emergence of new microbial pathogens. Discusses whether thefederal government should focus its attention and limited resources toensure safe drinking water supplies for the future. Softcover. ... Read more

Book Description

With the keen eyes of a scientist and the sensibilities of a seasoned writer, Dr. Robert Morris chronicles the fascinating and at times frightening story of our drinking water. His gripping narrative vividly recounts the epidemics that have shaken cities and nations, the scientists who reached into the invisible and emerged with controversial truths that would save millions of lives, and the economic and political forces that opposed these researchers in a ferocious war of ideas.

Customer Reviews (12)

Needs more on the role of population in water problems
Robert Morris' book is great for anyone who is interested in issues of drinking water supply and safety.For that reason I give it five stars.

I was puzzled by a major omission.Morris mentions repeatedly that population growth is straining the water supply.Why is there no follow-up on this?In the book's conclusion, Morris makes seven proposals to guard against present and future threats to safe drinking water. Population control does not even appear on the list.It should have been #1. Without population control, most of Morris' proposals either won't be possible or won't work to reduce the problem.If we don't take steps soon to stabilize world population, waterborne disease may well become one of the major Grim Reapers doing it for us.

Morris also discusses how strained municipal and other local government resources are in the U.S., making it difficult to invest in necessary water infrastructure.I would like to point out that a major reason governments are so strained is that in the last few decades a huge percentage of local revenues has gone to automobile infrastructure--roads, highways, parking lots, and the like.America sooner or later needs to rethink its love affair with the automobile.For more on this, see Kunstler's book Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America's Man-Made Landscape and Shoup's book The High Cost of Free Parking.

Old microbe memories
I've recently finished reading "The Blue Death" which highlights early stuggles against cholera. Throughout this gripping book, I felt a resonance with a book I read as a child in the early 1940's titled "Microbe Hunters" by Paul de Kruif. De Kruif's description of Pasteur's struggles with rabies was also compelling...and scary! His book sparked my early interest in science. Perhaps, Dr. Morris' book will do the same for today's young people.Gene Primoff

Book Review
This book is a great read.It provides an interesting and exciting history of the search to find the cause of cholera.It then goes on to discuss the status of drinking water in the US up to the present.Dr. Morris provides science to the reader in the form of a fast moving novel.I would reccomend it to anyone.

Wake up and smell the coffee burning
If you think your public water supply is safe because "THEY" are taking care of it, then think again.This book profiles the history of water borne diseases as well as Dr. Robert Morris's initial entry into the world of public water as a college researcher.Initially naively thinking that public health was the most important issue, he soon learns that ego, competing intersts, and the politics of "not raising taxes" is far more important to many politicians, public water works directors, and even the EPA, than the truth.He explains how ego, politics, money, lack of education, and just general organizational structure in city, regional, and national governments often mitigate against protecting the public health in regard to the drinking water supply.Real life examples of full scale water disasters in the city of Milwaukee, Walerton Ontario, and New Orleans should serve as a "wake up call" to many cities around the world.

Other important issues addressed include the fact that the target is always moving because the microbial world is constantly evolving and now new organisms have emerged which can survive chlorine treatment....such as in the case of Milwaukee.And yet public officials still refuse to change the standards after huge disasters like this.

The first half of the book includes the valuable background on the history of water born diseases such as cholora, and just how devastating the death toll was before researchers discovered the connection.While this first half of the book has a lot of valuable information, it is unfortuanately written in a dramatized historical novel style which I personally found annoying.

In spite of this style issue in the first half, the second half is so incredible that it competely over rides this minor issue, and takes this book to the top of my list.I still give this book 4 Stars and HIGHLY recommend it.It should be mandatory reading for every public official as well as the public at large. No scare tactics or hype here, just the facts laid out for the average person to read and decide.

Great Read!
Blue Death reads like a mystery novel. I couldn't put it down and read it over the weekend. Beneath seemingly innocuous transparency, Dr Morris describes a labyrinth of potential danger inherent in our water sources. This book is a cogent and facscinating story of the complexity of securing the safety a vital element of human life and the habit of humans to ignore nature's inherent resistance to defeat. Anyone who has ever thought it might be a good a idea to put a filter on their tap should read this. ... Read more

Book Description
An Italian boy sips from a fountain in the town square. A hiker takes
a refreshing drink from a mountain stream. Black-robed women in India stride gracefully through a field with brass water jugs balanced on their heads. Whether they squeeze it out of a burlap bag, haul it home from a communal tap, or get it out of their kitchen faucet, people all around the world are unified by their common need for water. Barbara Kerley brings home this point simply and eloquently in this beautiful and educational picture book that combines striking National Geographic photographs with a poetic text to show how people in various cultures use and conserve the world's most vital resource. ... Read more

Book Description
The text provides an ethnographic analysis of the social and cultural aspects of installing and managing a piped drinking water system in La Purificacion Tepetitla, a community located in the densely populated and semiarid region of the Valley of Mexico. The account shows how politics and culture shape community initiatives to develop adequate and equitable drinking water supplies in the Valley of Mexico's changing ecology. The research is based on 22 months of ethnographic fieldwork, carried out from 1993 to 2000. The book applies the culture concept to drinking water issues and furthers students' understanding of human diversity in terms of economics, ecological adaptation, politics, kinship, gender, ethnicity, health beliefs and practices, and religion and ritual. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Required reading for many different professions and people
So many people can benefit from this book: nutritionists, nurses, physical therapists, sports medicine, environmental sciences, etc. I only wish the media would present such informatiion as clearly to the public as this bookdoes.

This book is a readable summary of a technical issue.
The authors of this book have taken what is surely a very complex issue and made it both readable and informative. They cover all or most of the issues concerning both tap and bottled water and allowthe reader to makeup his or her mind aboutwhich course to follow. I particularlyappreciated the history of drinking water going back to Biblical andTalmudic times. I think anyone who drinks water would benefit from thisbook. ... Read more

Product Description
The First Addendum to Volume 1 of the Third Edition of the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality provides a detailed list of all changes to the Guidelines that have occurred since the Third Edition was published in 2004. It adds three new chemical fact sheets (1,4-Dioxane, MTBE, Petroleum oils) and revises several others(Formaldehyde, Mercury, Nickel, Trichloroethene, THMs, Permethrin, Chlorite and Chlorate. It updates the guideline summary tables; provides new text to address local actions in response to chemical water quality problems and emergencies; expands the discussion of chemicals used in water treatment and chemicals arising from materials in contact with water; and provides a complete list of minor revisions of or amendments to the text of the Third Edition. ... Read more