Desparate houseflies; drinking water

Q:   There is this housefly that seems to be bothering me every day.  I think it is the same one everyday but my daughter says they only live a few days to a week……………..Christine, Douglas

A:   You are correct -- the average adult house fly lives 2 to 4 weeks in the home, less if living outdoors. If your fly is a female, it has the opportunity to create around 500 new eggs in her lifetime with only one breeding shortly after she is hatched.

Q: Is it really safe to drink the water?  Should I consider filtering the water we use and drink? ………… Jane, Webster

A:   Now there is a really loaded question.  The answer is dependent on what your main source of water supply is.   Private water sources can have a full range of ’natural’ minerals and elements in them as well as contaminants from seeping ground water.  For example, in New England there is a fairly high concentration of arsenic in the water, so homeowners would benefit from having their private Well water tested at a reliable laboratory and if necessary, using a whole house filtering system..

Public water however is theoretically controlled by set standards and tested regularly.  The problem comes when only 80 or so items are tested for and there can be hundreds of potential contaminants in any one source of drinking water.  And then there are the intentionally added substances that are supposed to be beneficial for human consumption, for example, chlorine and fluoride.

For over 50 years, Americans have been forced to drink a drug that causes serious health problems.  The drug is fluoride and was introduced in the DDT and asbestos era.  Officials hoped that mass fluoridation of public water supplies would be an effective way to reduce tooth decay.  Now, many years later the effects of this non-researched, un- proven decision making public policy are being observed.  Excess fluoride exposure causes dental fluorosis (staining and pitting of teeth), fatal bone cancer, weakened bones, lowered thyroid function, arthritic symptoms, chronic fatigue, kidney issues, just to name a few.

Basically it is like eating suntan lotion to get sun protection on your skin.  Everyone knows it works topically.  The same is true for fluoride, it works topically not internally.  If you’ve ever read the toothpaste label you will notice it says not to swallow it and yet the water we drink has as much if not more fluoride in it than the toothpaste.

I find it interesting that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to mothers to use non-fluoridated water when making infant formula and juices. Studies show that the average glass of treated tap water has 250 times more fluoride than breast milk.

It’s time to educate ourselves and take a stand.  Let’s clean up the water we take baths in, shower in and ingest. If it’s not safe for infants is it safe for YOU?

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about?  Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

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