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APR/MAY 2020
What Lurks in Your Drinking Water? NATURAL DOES NOT MEAN HEALTHY
When I was a captain in the U.S. Merchant Marine, I learned an assortment of techniques for water distillation. Today, these methods are the foundation for modern water filtration and cleaning processes. Not only did I learn how to produce clean water, but I also realized howmany pollutants naturally reside in our water. However, this education sometimes came frommy misadventures while sailing across the ocean. One time in particular, I got a call from one of my officers on deck who said it looked like there was an obstruction on the horizon. When I arrived at his position, I could see that our ship was heading toward a dome shape on the horizon. I didn’t know what it was at first, but then I saw water boiling 5 miles away and realized it was a natural gas bubble. Natural gas bubbles, specifically methane gas bubbles, come from cracks in the Earth’s crust or frozen methane deposits on the ocean floor that break off. Usually, these bubbles disperse before they reach the surface, but it’s not uncommon for them to erupt in a concentrated area above sea level. It’s essential to keep an eye out for these because they can be extremely deadly if you’re in their vicinity. When a ship sails on or near one of these bubbles, they risk poisoning everyone on board or sinking.
ships”because when those aboard are poisoned from a gas bubble, their ship drifts aimlessly for a time before sinking. Fortunately, my officer had spotted the gas bubble from far away, and we had plenty of time to react. After realizing what was happening, I quickly altered our course. Everyone will see or experience things that give them pause. This was one of those times for me and my crew. When you go through situations like this, you must utilize your resources to handle them. This is especially true with water, whether you’re swimming in your backyard or sailing across the ocean. Gas bubbles aren’t the only toxic thing found in water. There are well over 100 pollutants, even fluoride, found in natural water. While fluoride is a natural substance in water, dense concentrations of it can cause an assortment of health issues, including skeletal fluorosis. Because GO THROUGH SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, YOU MUST UTILIZE YOUR RESOURCES TO HANDLE THEM.” “EVERYONE WILL SEE OR EXPERIENCE THINGS THAT GIVE THEM PAUSE. THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE TIMES FOR ME AND MY CREW. WHEN YOU
of this, I believe the Environmental Protection Agency lowered the maximum concentration level of fluoride in drinking water from 4.0 milligrams per liter to 3.2 milligrams per liter. In low concentrations, fluoride has an assortment of benefits to your oral health, but your toothpaste has a warning against the side effects of a high concentration. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t confer with your doctor about the amount of fluoride you’re getting. But if you’re concerned the amount you’re receiving is too high, or if you’re concerned about other toxins lurking in your water, give us a call anytime. We would be happy to discuss your options. Reach us at 716-946-3598 or visit our website at WatercureUSA.com.
Sailors have long believed that these gas bubbles are the origin of“ghost
www.WatercureUSA.com -Captain Lance
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APR/MAY 2020
Tips for Raising Strong, Confident Women
ENCOURAGING YOUR LITTLE GIRL
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Trust your daughter while teaching grit. Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth studies successful people in a wide variety of fields, from business to the military, and has found that the quality most successful people share is grit. The ability to stay engaged with tough tasks for a long period of time is a skill that takes a long time to build, but it’s not impossible for your girl to begin developing grit right now. Duckworth believes the growth mindset can start young girls on a path to embracing failure and moving forward from it. However, a lack of trust in your daughter can suffocate her growth. Despite all the adult- directed activities we give our kids, we need to step back and let them make some of their own decisions. We can give them encouragement and help along the way, but for the most part, we need to trust they can solve problems on their own. When you put faith and trust in your little girl to handle her most difficult problems, she’ll learn to do the same for herself.
In a time when it’s so easy to let technology and school run your child’s life, what’s your role as a parent or guardian?We often hear motivational quotes talking about the importance of risk- taking and resilience, but it can be tough for little girls to learn from just YouTube videos and school alone. Here’s how you can encourage your daughter to spark her own confidence during her toughest moments. Encourage bravery and a growthmindset. Even children can feel pressured to perform to high standards yet stay within their comfort zone. They might think,“I’m not strong enough to climb this tree.”But whether it’s climbing trees or building things with others, small feelings of bravery can grow larger as they grow older. Self-empowerment will be a crucial skill in their lives, so encourage a mindset focused on growth through the process of learning. Teach them how the brain grows and adapts rapidly whenever we encounter failure and that failure and mistakes are a part of life. Once they understand that failure isn’t permanent, they’ll be inspired to take risks and solve their problems.
My wife and daughters Ann, Veronica, Brigitte, and Candace
Meet Duke, Our 4-Legged Staff Member
THE POWER OF FILTERED WATER FOR FAMILY PETS
our customers’dogs love filtered water, so Lance always packs a couple of bottles of clean water not only for Duke but for the customers’dogs as well. If you’re ever curious about how clean your filtered water is, try doing a taste test with your dogs! Sometimes Lance will do this when he’s at a customer’s house by pouring filtered water in one bowl and filling another with tap water. When the customer’s dog has their choice, they always go for the filtered water. This is no surprise because dogs have sensitive noses that let them smell the chemicals circulating in tap water. If you find your four-legged family members sniffing around the bowl instead of diving right in for a drink, that’s a red flag for your water quality. Luckily, we can help you find the right filtration system for your home
Since April 11 is National Pet Day, we thought it would be great to showcase the four-legged member of our staff! Meet Duke, an American boxer who accompanies Captain Lance on every service run. Duke is 10 years old and was only 2 when he was rescued by Lance. Every morning, Duke gets up and waits by the door as Lance gets ready for the day. A very well- trained dog, Duke is friendly with everyone he sees, and some customers even invite him into their homes and feed him treats. Captain Lance was never able to have a dog on his boats, so it’s fun for him and the customers to have Duke around. While Duke likes his treats, he also loves a bowl of clean, filtered water. Lance is always careful to give him clean water, and he even washes out Duke’s bowl before pouring water into it. We’ve found that most of
or check your current filter! Call us anytime at 716-946-3598 or visit our website at WatercureUSA.com.
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DREW: 716-946-3598
LANCE: 716-912-9939
ARE YOU DRINKING DIRTY WATER?
SESAME ZUCCHINI NOODLES
When you’re craving takeout but want to keep your dinner healthy and refreshing, reach for this comforting, flavorful recipe instead of the phone.
HOW PPCPs ARE CONTAMINATING OUR SURFACE WATER
Ingredients
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3 tbsp pure sesame oil
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4 medium zucchini
Salt, to taste 3 medjool dates, pitted
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3/4 tsp fresh ginger, grated 2 cloves garlic, chopped
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and softened in warm water for 5 minutes 3 1/2 tbsp creamy, unsweetened almond butter
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2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 3 scallions, thinly sliced 1/4 cup chopped almonds
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Throwing out unused pharmaceuticals is a common practice, but not taking the time to dispose of medication properly can have large-scale implications for the environment. In a 2018 article published by Great Lakes Now, Dr. Xiaozhen Mou, associate professor in biological sciences at Kent State, states that pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) have reached dangerous levels in wildlife. Scientists found a frog that was transitioning frommale to female after being exposed to unsafe levels of atrazine, a weed killer that had contaminated the frog’s water. Other researchers across theWest Coast also found mussels that were afflicted by several prescription drugs, including antidepressants and heart medications. Antidepressants can be absorbed through a process called bioaccumulation, and, according to Dr. Mou, are frequently found in species that feed by filtration, like mussels. However, antidepressants are also being found increasingly in animals further up the food chain, like small fish. United States Geological Survey studies show that approximately 80% of streams they sampled in the U.S. contain at least low levels of a range of chemicals. There are not presently any regulations for PPCPs, which is concerning because long- term exposure to PPCPs has not been studied. The good news is that there are filtration options to keep your family’s water supply safe from PPCPs and other contaminants. Watercure USA conducts free water quality testing and offers a broad range
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3 tbsp coconut aminos
Directions
1. If you have a spiralizer, use it to cut zucchini into noodles. Otherwise, use a peeler. Salt zucchini. Allow zucchini to “sweat” out water for 1 hour, wrap in a paper towel, and squeeze the water out. 2. In a food processor, blend dates with almond butter and aminos until smooth. 3. Add sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and vinegar and pulse until sauce is smooth. 4. In a pan, sauté zucchini noodles until heated and slightly softened. 5. Toss zucchini noodles with prepared sauce and top with scallions and almonds.
of filtration solutions, like our well water treatment option, which addresses the unappealing taste, limescale buildup, and decolorization issues that most well water users face. We also offer treatment for Buffalo’s city water supply, which may pick up contamination while traveling through lead or copper pipes and is treated with chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals even if it is not contaminated. Watercure USA offers free on-site testing to identify the best possible filtration solution for you.
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www.WatercureUSA.com
318 Center Street Lockport, NY 14094
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INSIDE This Issue
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Gas Bubbles and Fluoride
Tips for Raising Strong, Confident Women The Power of Filtered Water for Family Pets
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Are You Drinking Dirty Water? Sesame Zucchini Noodles
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Eco-Friendly and Kid-Friendly Activities for Earth Day
Keep It Green The Best Eco-Friendly and Kid-Friendly Activities for Earth Day
around balloons, jars, or your own custom shape with chicken wire. You can also use old plastic or glass bottles as beautiful hanging planters or create a memorable wind chime from jar lids, tin cans, plastic silverware, and old rubber bands. PLANT A GARDEN. Gardening is one of the most rewarding ways to spend time outdoors. Your kids can learn about caring for another living thing and grow their own vegetables and fruits! A great way to start is to find out what’s in season in your area. If you don’t have an outdoor garden, you can pick out some indoor plants or create a hanging garden with recycled bottles! BUILD A COMPOST SYSTEM. If you have a garden, the next best thing you can do is start composting at home! Did you know that you can compost your cardboard products? Instead of waiting for the recycling
It can be tough to figure out how to switch up family game nights. Kids can be very attached to their electronics, making it hard to get them invested in anything else. With Earth Day coming up this month, you have the perfect excuse to put down the phones and get outside to save the planet. If you’re looking for ways to spend time with your kids on Earth Day, try these eco-friendly family activities! PICK UP TRASH AND MAKE ARTWITH IT . You can teach your kids a lot about downcycling and upcycling through recycled art. Downcycling is when waste is recycled to become a new product, but there’s a loss of quality as a result. Upcycling is the opposite: Whatever you recycle becomes a product with a higher value. One way to upcycle is to create recycled art. Use old newspapers or magazines to create collages or papier-mâché bowl sculptures
truck every other week, you can use your spare green and brown waste to create incredibly nutritious soil for your garden! Green waste includes vegetable and fruit scraps, eggshells, nutshells, coffee grounds, etc. Brown waste includes cardboard, dead leaves, paper egg cartons, wine corks, and more. Get a bin and maintain a green-to- brown ratio of 1-to-2. Layer, water, and turn the compost to keep it healthy. It can take anywhere from two months to a year, depending on what you put in and how often you turn it.
We hope you and your family have fun with these planet-loving activities! Stay clean!
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DREW: 716-946-3598
LANCE: 716-912-9939
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