The Benefits of Filtered Water for drinking and cooking

We were recently contacted and asked if we would like to trial one of the new Brita Filter Taps in The English Kitchen. We were more than happy to oblidge and within a week the beautiful Brita Kelda Filter Dispenser was professionally installed and we were using it.

I chose the Kelda model because I loved it's sleek look, plus I thought the ceramic fittings would look nice in my kitchen.

• BRITA filtration delivers less limescale and chlorine, fewer impurities for great tasting drinks and filtered water.
• Weight: 4.12kg.
• Material: Brass.
• Effects and finish: Chrome.
• Colour: Chrome.
• Type: Mixer filter tap.
• Number of levers: 3.
• Features: Separate BRITA filter lever.
• Water filter: Yes.
• Fittings: included.
• Type of valves: Quarter turn ceramic discs.
• KIWA UK approved: Yes
• Compatibility: Can be used with 1 hole sinks.

I was very impressed with the installation and we have certainly been enjoying the lovely taste of the water since. I love that the tap is designed so that there is lots of room to put a kettle underneath it to fill. I also love that you can easily custom the temperature of the water by use of the separate hot and cold ceramic handles. What's also brilliant is that there is a separate lever for the filtered water, so if you are only wanting water to water your plants, or wash the dishes . . . you have that option of using regular water instead of filtered.



It's fairly common knowledge now that filtering your water for drinking is healthier than drinking water straight from the tap. This is because the water that comes from your kitchen sink contains impurities. Things like microscopic organisms, and metals from ground wells and from the plumbing pipes the water moves through to the faucet, as well as fluoride and other chemicals used in treating the municipality water provided to consumers, can affect one's health. There has also certainly been no shortage of reports over the controversy about bottled water because of the impact the plastics used in these bottles has on the environment.

Filtered water for drinking is better than ingesting the impurities in tap water that can cause illnesses from high levels or even lower levels, but repeated exposure to them, or due to a suppressed immune system.

A lot of restaurants now use filtered water for their cooking now, and I also have several bread baking cookery books which call for filtered water. For much the same reason that filtered water is used to cook restaurant foods . . . ie. taste and health . . . the foods you cook at home should also be cooked using filtered water. Although many bacterial organisms are destroyed by high temperatures, most foods are not cooked at high enough temperatures, or for the duration needed to destroy them all. Even with a reduced amount of organisms in water after it has been heated, metallic particles remain and this is not healthy for you or your family, regardless of how small the amount.



Of course there are the water jugs that you can purchase which have a filter in the lid and they do work very well, but they can be a bit of a nuisance to keep filled and also take up precious space in the refrigerator. We have had a jug one for years, but I'll be honest with you . . . it only ever got used for a short time, because . . . it just was more trouble than it was worth. We have been drinking bottled water for several years now.

Not any more though . . . we are very happy with this new tap. The water tastes great, it's easy to use and it's very attractive. I also feel better knowing that I am cooking with water that is pure and not filled with unwanted chemicals and minerals. It would simply be quite costly to purchase water for cooking . . . besides we already pay premium prices for the water we use in our homes. Being able to use a filter tap more than pays for itself in added health benefits, and in money saved in purchasing bottled water for drinking!

Many thanks to Laura and Brita for having afforded us this wonderful opportunity!