WaterTap, Bottles, Filters, Alkaline & Living Water

It starts with the basics: how much to drink, and what is actually in Scottish tap water, including lead pipes, fluoride, chlorine and the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. Then it looks closely at plastic bottles and the new research on nanoplastics, at bottled versus tap, and at filters.

The middle of the guide covers the waters people feel strongly about: home distillers, alkaline water, water ionisers such as the Kangen K8, hydrogen and “memory” water, and the idea of “living” versus “dead” water, from Viktor Schauberger to Masaru Emoto’s water crystals. Each idea is described fairly, then checked against what science can and cannot measure.

The last part turns to holy wells and clootie wells, Scotland’s water traditions, and wild water in Fife: which beaches have the cleanest bathing water, and how to stay safe in cold water. It ends with myths and facts, a quick-start and useful contacts.

• The short answers
• Why water matters, and how much to drink
• Scottish tap water: quality, hardness and treatment
• Fluoride, chlorine, microplastics and PFAS
• Is water in plastic bottles toxic?
• Bottled versus tap, and filters compared
• Home water distillers
• Hydrogen, deuterium-depleted and “memory” water
• “Living” water and “dead” water
• Alkaline water and water ionisers
• Holy wells and clootie wells
• Wild water in Fife
• Myths and facts, and your water quick-start