As temperatures rise and seasonal shifts occur, both children and adults are encouraged to drink more water. However, experts in water technology and sustainability suggest sidestepping unfiltered tap water and bottled options when possible.
Rich “Raz” Razgaitis, CEO of Flowater, remarked that his company was founded due to a significant crisis surrounding drinking water in the U.S., a situation that’s gaining more attention. He noted, “There’s a lot of conversation about this, but more needs to be done.”
Flowater was co-founded by Raz, who previously worked at a Fortune 500 company. The initiative, which began 12 years ago, aims to improve the quality of drinking water across the country.
The current state of America’s water infrastructure is worrying, being both underfunded and outdated. According to a recent EPA report, it is estimated that $625 billion will be required over the next two decades to remedy these issues.
Raz explained that addressing these infrastructure challenges isn’t something that can be resolved quickly: “No one can fix this in just a couple of terms, whether on a federal or local level. It’s a hot topic that people tend to avoid discussing.”
He pointed out that many companies find profit in an already broken water system.
He also highlighted how large beverage brands are marketing aggressively to young people, often promoting sugary caffeinated drinks. “Seeing my daughter get into these habits at such a young age really opened my eyes,” he mentioned, noting how difficult it can be to break away from such addictions.
Raz drew a stark comparison between drinking unfiltered tap water and smoking, emphasizing the alarming presence of chemicals in our water. “Over several decades, between 70 million and up to 80,000 chemicals have been introduced to the EPA’s toxicology department,” he stated. “We end up consuming a cocktail of these harmful substances.”
As established by the Safe Drinking Water Act (which hasn’t seen an update since 1974), water quality standards aim to protect against common contaminants, yet many Americans—approximately 70%—remain distrustful of tap water, often relying on bottled alternatives that are not devoid of their own issues.
Raz’s vision with Flowater is to reignite people’s love for water by improving its taste and quality. He remarked, “Our goal is to break the cycle of relying on these bottled products.”
To achieve this, Flowater systems enhance municipal water by utilizing purification devices that aim to make it both safer and more palatable. Raz recommends the systems for places like offices or schools, which are affordable yet does not specify the exact models being offered.
For those who can’t access Flowater, he suggests a home system with triple filtration and reverse osmosis, capable of filtering out contaminants effectively. The investment for such systems could range significantly, starting from a few hundred dollars to as high as $2,000.
Raz’s insights into the water crisis touch on broader concerns regarding health and trust in community resources, urging a thoughtful reconsideration of our drinking habits.
