Unlike other disinfection methods, such as chlorine for example, UV disinfection doesn’t require the use of harmful chemicals. Ultraviolet light (UV) has been been used for well over a half a century to purify water. It has no aesthetic effect on water, so unlike chemicals it doesn’t add a taste or odor to the water…..Further, it’s impossible to “over treat” with UV.

Ultraviolet light works by disrupting the DNA structure of microorganisms like bacteria, leaving them unable to grow and multiply.

The problem with UV in smaller, “point of use” systems (water coolers), is that they don’t compare to their beefed up, more powerful, commercial relatives….

Small UV “point of use” coolers employ small, low power, light bulbs in the reservoir area to do their work….. If the bulb fails, is dirty, or if it strikes the water at the wrong angle, the UV will be ineffective.
Also, if the water is “hard”, or has high levels of “tannins”, the UV will be rendered ineffective…..

Further, in areas of the cooler where the light can’t reach, (faucets, filters, etc.) the UV has no effect at all….

Lastly, while UV has many desirable benefits in killing bacteria, most would prefer to drink no bacteria at all…..alive or dead….So it is here that Stonybrook’s “dry” technology really shines.

I read a very interesting article a couple of weeks ago about the sources of bottled water brands. I think about the commercials and advertisements that I’ve seen over the years and they always advertise their water as being “all-natural” and “straight from the finest springs”, and for some reason, you believe that. I mean, why wouldn’t you? They wouldn’t really promote false advertising, would they? Well, as it turns out….they do!
The Environmental Working Group investigated 200 popular bottled water brands and found that less than 2% disclose the source of their water, where and how the water is purified and what, if any, kinds of pollutants may still be in that bottle of water. That means that out of 200 companies, only FOUR, are completely honest about where their water comes from.
How is this possible? How can these water companies get away with not disclosing this information? The FDA does not force any regulations on bottled water companies. They are allowed to disclose as much or as little about their water and water sources as they want. In stark contrast, the Environmental Protection Agency (the organization that oversees the nation’s municipal utilities) requires that all tap water suppliers nationwide, provide an annual water quality report.
People assume that because they are drinking “bottled” water, it must be better than tap water. This isn’t necessarily true, because you might never know the truth about what is in that bottle of water.
Stonybrook Water’s filtration systems use local, tap water before sending it through our own filtration system to remove any other impurities that might still be there. For a list of some of these common impurities, please see the “What’s Missing” link on our website.
We here at Stonybrook Water are 100% committed to providing the cleanest, freshest, and most honest product to our customers. There’s nothing hidden or secretive about what we do, and we promise you will love our water.

We here at Stonybrook have been saying for years that our filtration system removes the harmful chemical, MTBE. I was curious to find out exactly what this chemical is, how it gets into our water in the first place and what it does to our bodies.

MTBE is short for methyl-t-butyl-ether, which is among a group of fuel oxygenate chemicals. It was developed in the 1970’s as a replacement for lead in gasoline. It’s purpose was to increase oxygen content and reduce harmful auto emissions into our atmosphere. At some point though, MTBE found it’s way into our drinking water. It seems that MTBE is seeping into water supplies through leaking underground storage tanks and pipes, watercraft emissions and marine engine spills. Did you know that each year roughly 1 million gallons of fuel are dumped into our water sources by recreational boating alone?

While the effects of MTBE on the human body are still being researched, early research shows that consumption (through drinking water) and inhalation and absorption through the skin (from showering) can have harmful affects on the human body. It is most likely a cancer causing agent, it also affects the immune system and can cause kidney damage.

The EPA’s Office of Water is actively involved in finding out the geographic locations where MTBE is present in water sources, and are also conducting more tests and research on the harmful affects of being exposed to this chemical.

In the meantime, I have complete peace of mind that one more harmful chemical has been removed from my drinking water, thanks to the Stonybrook Water system. Contact us if you are interested in having your water tested and to set up a free, two week trial!!

~ Good Health to All~

We live in a society where obesity is quickly becoming an epidemic. The problem is especially concerning in children and teenagers, the prevalence of obesity in kids and teens has DOUBLED in the last 20 years!
A study was published in 2010 in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, which concluded with a simple and effective way to reduce the excess intake of calories causing childhood overweight and obesity. The solution is as simple as drink this, not that….replacing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (known as SSBs) with water. The study showed that cutting out sugary drinks like soda, sweetened tea and even some juices, it would eliminate an average of 235 excess calories each day!! Did you know that it would take a teenager jogging for 30 minutes to burn off the calories found in one 12oz can of soda?
Bridging the gap between daily energy intake and daily energy expenditure is important if we are to reverse the trend of childhood obesity. Eliminating SSBs from our children’s diets and replacing it with water is an important (and easy!!) first step we can take.
Some parents complain that their children simply do not like the taste of water. An easy solution is the Stonybrook 904 water system. It offers sparkling water in addition to hot and cold water. We also offer our sugar-free sprays in yummy orange, lemon-lime and berry flavors that are sure to be a hit with your kids!
It’s a new year and a time to make a fresh start….why not try a Stonybrook system for your family? We promise you’ll be happy you did!

Depending on the type of reverse osmosis system that is used and the size of the pores in the membrane, anywhere from three to five gallons of water is wasted for every one gallon that is cleaned. Water is too precious a commodity to waste like this.
Once the filtered water is produced it is a highly reactive “sponge” that will absorb contaminants from the air and the container if not handled or contained to standards.
On its own, it lets a lot of bad things through…..Things like: Chlorine, chloramines, hydrolysable phosphates and ortho-phosphates, VOC’s and pesticides, all found in tap water, will all pass through an R/O membrane unless pre-filtered…. Micron filters block particles that would pass right through a reverse osmosis system membrane.
If the water that is being filtered is below 75 degrees when using low pressure, 65psi or lower, R/O system, efficiency drops drastically….
Reverse osmosis systems are very slow to produce water. Systems generally produce only 1 to 2 gallon of water per hour…..
A well functioning R/O membrane will not only remove the hardness from your tap water it is also capable of stripping electrons off water molecules making the filtered water acidic, (pH less than 7)….. Also, drinking de-mineralized water is not healthy. The trace minerals found naturally in ground water are good for your health. Depending on where you live, your water may be your best source of potassium or other minerals.
Studies have shown that drinking de-mineralized water on a regular basis is bad for the digestive system and sometimes results in mineral deficiencies. Installing reverse osmosis systems in the home could cause similar health problems for you and your loved ones.

Water is becoming increasingly important to today’s energy and environmental equation…… Water is a valuable resource and deserves our attention.

The average U.S. home uses about 100 to 150 gallons of water per day per person….. Europeans use an average of half that amount….. U.S. water consumption has tripled over the last 30 years while the population has grown just 50%….. Globally, water consumption is doubling every 20 years…..According to government statistics, 36 states expect to see a water shortage in the next three years. Globally, the situation is extremely serious; today more than 1.1 billion people are without access to clean drinking water, as published by the United Nations.

Treating water is a very energy intensive operation today. Energy costs are nearly 30% of the operations costs at water treatment facilities. And, as water becomes scarcer, more resources will be needed to keep water clean and usable for consumption. In other words, wasting water could wind up costing all of us a lot more financially and environmentally.

There is no single solution to addressing water scarcity. It will take better infrastructure, conservation and education—along with innovative technology—to help provide a sustainable future for our water resources. Each of us has an opportunity to make a difference. By understanding how you personally use water, we are better able to easily adapt our lifestyles in order to better conserve water.

Easy steps to save water:

Check household faucets for leaks. A faucet with even a slow drip takes 10 to 25 gallons of water. Just think, 15 drips per minute add up to almost 3 gallons of water wasted per day, 65 gallons wasted per month, and 788 gallons wasted per year!
Keep showers to 5 minutes or less in length. A fifteen-minute shower takes 60-150 gallons of water.
Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. Then you won’t have to run tap water to cool it.
Use a broom to sweep your driveway, garage, or sidewalk instead of using water.
Use a bucket of water to wash your bike or the family car, then rinse quickly with a hose.
Water your lawn in the evening or in the early morning to avoid evaporation. Be careful to water only the lawn and not the sidewalk or street.
Use water only when you need it. Don’t leave water running; be sure to turn it off when you are finished.