By Brian Cronin, Director of AquaMD

Let’s travel back in time about 150 million years ago. A dinosaurrumbles through the mud during a rainstorm. As the water in itsfootprints begins to evaporate in the hot, tropical air, a microscopicwater molecule rises up towards the sky.

Traveling a few thousand feet in the air, the water molecule bondswith millions of others to form a droplet. Gliding along the windcurrents, the droplet enters a rain cloud and falls back to Earthas rain.

Flash forward to 65,000 BC: Our water molecule is now inside asnowflake. As the snow melts, the molecule is washed into a freshwatermarsh. A Wooly Mammoth visits the marsh and gulps down our molecule.The Pleistocene giant eventually passes the water molecule as wastewhile marking his territory in an ancient forest.

The molecule then seeps through the soil and is absorbed by theroot system of a tree. It is transported up through the vesselswithin the tree to a leaf, where it evaporates into vapor. Driftingalong in the cold air, the water molecule re-freezes and descendsonto a glacier, where it will remain for thousands of years.

The Present Day: Our water molecule finds itself in a public watersupply reservoir in Washington D.C. As it flows into the water treatmentfacility, it is bombarded by chemicals - including algaecides, oxidants,pH inhibitors, chlorine and fluoride -- to kill germs and counteractother contaminants. After the chemical and filtration treatment,our molecule enters the municipal distribution system...moving throughsome pipes that were around when President Lincoln was in officein the mid-1800s.

The journey continues into the suburbs and enters a 25-year-oldhome about a half-mile from The White House. The water moleculesnakes through some corroding pipes that were connected using leadwelding material and passes up to the kitchen faucet.

A mother turns on the tap water to prepare a bottle of baby formulafor her child. Our water molecule is then ingested by a nine-month-oldchild as she drinks her bottle.

And the cycle continues...

So, what is the point of this narrative? Hopefully, it helps toillustrate a couple of very basic facts about drinking water:

1. All Water is Recycled: Every drop of water we use -- to drink, brush our teeth, bathe, shower, cook & wash -- is recycled. In fact, every single molecule of water on this planet has always been here...and will continue as part of the Earth’s water cycle in the future.
2. Water is a Carrier: As water moves throughout the Water Cycle, it picks up contaminants along the way. Some of this matter exists in the form of beneficial minerals, but some contaminants -- both naturally occurring and man-made - are potentially harmful to people plants and animals.

In the months to come, the American Water Council will cover anumber of water-related topics -- specifically how this vital resourceimpacts human health...and how we can play a more active role protectingit. Future topics will include answers to questions like:

• What types of contaminants are commonly found in drinking water?
• What types of health issues are attributed to water-borne contaminants?
• How can I find out what’s in my home’s water?
• If contaminants are found in my water, what can I do about it?
• Are there reliable solutions available to treat my water?
• What’s the difference between "City Water and "Well" Water?
• Is about bottled water a safer alternative to tap water?
• Do filters really work?

These questions and many more will be covered in the months aheadas the American Water Council provides exclusive articles to Mercola.comreaders.

Although some of the issues we will discuss may be surprising, ourintent not to spread alarm, but to objectively present the facts.Once you are armed with accurate information, this knowledge willempower you to take control of this very important aspect of yourfamily’s health.

The American Water Council is a nationally respected provider ofwater education and testing services.