Can Water Be Organic?

We get this question often when talking to current and future customers. With the news lately of pesticides and herbicides entering water supplies at an alarming rate, we decided to break this question down a bit.

Is water organic or inorganic?

In order for something to be scientifically organic (in the true sense of the definition) it must be alive, and therefore contain carbon. So why is water not considered organic, and is water an inorganic compound? Because water is two hydrogen molecules and one oxygen molecule, by definition it is then an inorganic compound, and cannot be organic. In the US, under the National Organic Program (NOP) policy it is specifically stated that water cannot be certified organic. Of course the culprits responsible for selling you “organic”-labeled water mainly pertains to bottled options.

If you ask organic farmers, we can guarantee you’ll get a different answer. Many organic farmers are very weary of being downstream of non-organic farms because of waters ability to carry non-organic contaminants such as pesticides and herbicides, therefore making their crops void of the organic stamp once they use the tainted water.

What is organic water then? We think the classification of water as “organic” will soon be up for debate. Today’s consumers definition has taken a more “It is organic if it does not contain genetic modification and / or uses pesticides and herbicides” and soon water will need to be lumped into this thought process. It is all too common to find water with herbicides and pesticides in it, therefore deeming it inorganic as per the mainstream organic definition.

But What About Your Tap Water? Can Your Tap Water Be Organic? 

We would bet that if you asked most people in the developed world where the source of their water was they would not be able to tell you. Is it a mountain stream, a desalination plant, a high-altitude reservoir, and underground aqueduct? Many people do not understand their water supply more than I pay the bill and assume the water coming from my faucets is clean and safe. But without knowing where your water comes from then also leads you to not understanding many of the chemicals that are in your water to start or added to the water to counteract the potential pollutants that are present at the source. We are the first to admit that many of the added chemicals are needed to provide palatable water but the key component of this is the THE WATER MUST BE FILTERED TO TARGET THESE ADDED CONTAMINANTS BEFORE IT IS CONSUMED!

Recent studies finding upwards of thousands of contaminants in the drinking water of many Americans, it’s safe to say that we should be thinking about our water source and the chemicals added to supposedly make it cleaner. With recent news of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) removing regulations of harmful pesticides and herbicides that can be used on our food supply, it’s only a matter of time before it leaches into the water supply of many households. 

Why Does Organic Water Matter? 

As we all know, water is the most essential element to survival and even furthermore, thriving. Without water we will not have anything to drink, crops to eat, animals to survive on, etc. The world as we know it would be done. Tainted or contaminated water is in some ways no better than no water at all. There are many contaminants that can be absorbed into water supplies that may be making you significantly less healthy. Many times the affects are not instant but more a silent killer. Build up of certain levels of some of these toxins over time have been found to lead to cancer and/or death. And keep in mind, this is your tap water, not a random stream in the middle of nowhere.

Any time you have the chance to make your water healthier, it is a good option to take that chance. Though water from your tap has been treated and filtered, there is a high likelihood that there are trace amounts of many contaminants still in your water once it leaves your tap. 

On top of that, most filters only worry about the Chlorine, taste and odor (CTO) when determining the effectiveness of their filters. They want you to think you are receiving healthier water because they are making your water taste better. Stopping at taste is what gets you in trouble. Many of the harmful contaminants, including many herbicides and pesticides, hormones, Chromium 6 and Fluoride, all have no taste or smell. Wouldn’t you rather filter those out of your water too? 

Tell us what you think about Organic Water. The last thing we want to do is have to call our water certified organic but because Clearly Filtered's water filters remove up to 99.9% of herbicides and pesticides, one day we might get a chance to do just that.