Health Benefits of Water

Critical for all the body's functions

"Water is critical to the balance of all the body's systems, including the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and muscles. Proper hydration is the bedrock for maintaining healthy blood flow, kidney function, salt/electrolyte balance and digestive functions."

William W. Dexter, MD, FACSM
Director, Sports Medicine Program
Maine Medical Center Family Practice

About your water supply
Health benefits that you didn't know
Tips to incorporate more water into your daily life


Your Water Supply is One of the Cleanest in the Country
For many Americans, the expense of bottled water is a necessity. Portland Water District customers are fortunate to have a water source as pristine and clean as Sebago Lake as well as a sophisticated ozone treatment facility.

Quality
Treatment
Distribution

10 ways public water helps you look younger and feel energized
We've all been encouraged to drink eight glasses of water each day, but many of us don’t know the full extent of water's benefits. Here are just some of the ways water acts as a natural health supplement in your life:

Public Water helps us live healthier, longer lives
In the past 100 years, life expectancy has increased by more than 30 years. According to Jeffrey Griffiths, MD, of Tufts University School of Medicine, much of the credit for a longer life span goes to advancements in clean water, clean food, and wastewater treatment.
  1. Reduces daytime fatigue
  2. Improves memory
  3. Nourishes skin
  4. Essential for digestion, nutrient absorption and chemical reactions
  5. Helps remove toxins from your body
  6. Aids circulation
  7. Regulates your body's cooling system
  8. May prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections
  9. Improves muscle tone
  10. Helps lubricate joints

More Resources

 
 
Health and Living News
American Water Works Association
Is Bottled Water Better Than Tap?
 


A penny for your health
For less than a penny per gallon, you can start realizing the health and productivity benefits of drinking water today. Here are a few tips for adding more water to your life:

Drink water for weight management
Shape Magazine encourages drinking more water for weight control—at least nine cups per day, more if you exercise. According to Shape, drinking water makes you feel fuller, so you're less likely to eat when you're not hungry.
  • Keep a supply of water containers full in the fridge. That way, water is always on hand as an alternative to other less healthful drinks and conveniently available when you’re on the go.
  • Upon arriving at the office, fill up a big jug of water at the tap. You’ll get plenty of water to drink throughout your workday.
  • Caffeinated beverages act as diuretics and increase fluid loss, so they don’t count toward your daily hydration needs. Try substituting water for your second cup of coffee or that mid- afternoon soda.
  • Don't wait for your body to signal it's thirsty. By that time, you're already starting to be dehydrated.