Imagine an endless summer…

Hitting the open road with your caravan or RV for new adventures…

It’s a wonderful feeling of freedom to go where the will takes you…with your home comforts…just stopping where your heart desires…

But often when you do stop for supplies the water quality away from home just isn’t the same.

And if you’ve been travelling for a while, the water in your RV tank can become unhealthy… especially if algae forms in your holding tanks and pipes. This can become a health risk to you and your family…and suddenly your dream holiday becomes a nightmare!

Benefits

There are many benefits to having a water filter installed while you travel.

The WFA Eco Inline System is the first of its kind. It fits neatly under your sink and works with your existing tap.  The system includes 12 mm quick connect fittings. It’s easy to install and connects directly inline onto the 12 mm cold water tube connecting to the main mixer tap. And filters all the cold water to your kitchen sink.

This means you can drink it, cook with it, even wash your veggies in it!

It also removes dirt, dust and chlorine and includes the same KDF filter media.

The beauty of choosing this system is that it’s compact. So no need for a separate tap.

The only requirement is that if you are using water remotely, you’ll need pump supported water tanks in your van.

WFA Eco Regular Traveller System – This is a filter with separate little tap. It filters down to 1 micron and removes dirt, dust and chlorine. But the great addition to this filter is something called KDF.

KDF is a filter media within the system which prevents bacterial growth. So bacteria cannot grow in your filter system. This is excellent in an RV because often they are not used all the time.

This RV water filter also has something called ‘back flow prevention’. So the contaminants in the cartridge can’t flow back into the cold water distribution system in the van.

Storage and Weight

When you are travelling for months on end, there’s always the issue of storage and weight. Large water bottles can be heavy and difficult to store. As the WFA RV water filters are small and compact, you can afford to carry a few spare replacement cartridges too!

Cost

Bottled water can be very expensive and then there’s the issue of plastic waste and recycling.

With a WFA water filter the daily cost is less than 1 cent a litre and no need to worry about getting rid of big bottles…especially useful if you’re off the beaten track.

Convenience

The convenience of having fresh, filtered drinking water on the road means you can relax and enjoy your adventure at every stop. You can set it and forget it –  as the filter cartridge won’t need to be changed for a year (depending on water quality).

It’s one less thing to worry about when you are away from home.

So you can get on and enjoy your next adventure…wherever it may take you!

Happy Travels!

It’s a sizzling Australian summer this year with temps reaching over 40 degrees on some days…Phew!

The NSW Health Department has four key messages in the event of a heatwave and we thought we’d share them with you, along with a few of our own WFA tips to help keep you cool, avoid dehydration and stop heat stress.

Number 1 is a pretty obvious one… Drink plenty of water!

Yep… lots and lots of water. And even better if it’s fresh, filtered water on tap. It just tastes better. So you, your family and even your pets will just want to drink more!

Also, try to avoid hot drinks, sugary drinks and alcohol as they can contribute to dehydration. Filtered water is the best option for keeping hydrated for sure!

Freeze it, cool it down in the fridge, run it under your wrists, splash it on your face but above all else…just drink it!

If you have to travel on public transport carry filtered water with you in a reusable water bottle so you can keep up your water intake.

Number 2 is to…keep cool

Avoid unnecessary physical activity and stay inside. If you don’t have air conditioning at home or work…seek it out.

Join the local library or visit the local shopping centre. Now’s the time to take a trip to the cinema and catch up on the latest blockbuster.

Have a cool shower or a bath.

Also, make sure you’re dressed appropriately in light, breathable loose fitting clothing. Now is not the time to be channelling your inner Goth and wearing black!

Number 3…Take Care of Others

That means take special care of the young and elderly. Make sure that they are drinking enough water too.

Again, filtered water is best as without the chlorine taste, they’ll actually want to drink it!

A good idea to help them drink more filtered water is to infuse it with fruit and or freeze it to make ice lollies.

Look after your furry friends. Make sure their water bowls are full too.

A tip here is to freeze filtered water in ice trays and put ice in their water bowls so pets can lick it to cool down.

Don’t walk dogs in the heat of the day and don’t leave pets in locked cars, even with the air conditioning on.

Number 4…Have a plan!

Know the signs of dehydration to look out for. Feeling dizzy, tired, thirsty or faint are all signs of dehydration.

In extreme weather if dehydration isn’t treated properly it can lead to heat stroke – a life-threatening condition where the body temperature rises above 40.5C. This can lead to loss of consciousness, seizure and even coma. Immediate first aid is necessary and emergency action required.

The Department of Health have a list of symptoms. If heat stroke is suspected, dial 000 and call for an ambulance.

The general advice is that if you feel unwell during a heatwave – seek medical advice.

Now lets get back to Number 1…Drink heaps and heaps of filtered water!

The easiest way to have fresh, filtered water on tap is to invest in a water filter system. A WFA Platinum inline water filter system will turn your existing cold kitchen tap water into a filtered water. Too easy!

New Year … New Resolutions … Right?

Top of the list is often to get fit, healthy and go to the gym…

All great intentions…

But while you’re sweating in your new active wear, trying to follow the super-fit instructor’s cues, the last thing on your mind is, “Am I drinking enough water?” But with an increased exercise regime, it’s really important to up your water intake.

And even better if it’s fresh, filtered water. You can tick the ‘healthy’ box right there with that one!

So why do you need to up your water intake and drink more water during exercise?

Well… the minute you work up a sweat, (which is your body’s way of regulating your internal body temperature), you begin to lose water through perspiration.  Considering that your body is made up of approximately 70% water, it’s super important to replace it.

You see, your body needs enough water for all sorts of functions like – to transport oxygen and glucose, to protect and cushion vital organs and to aid the digestive system. When you exercise, your muscles need water for strength and flexibility and your joints need water to prevent stiffness.  In fact, every cell in your body needs water to function properly and without it you wouldn’t survive more than three or four days.

When you exercise, it’s also important to watch out for signs of dehydration where you might experience effects like loss of coordination, muscle fatigue and cramps. This can affect your performance but more importantly could lead to something more serious.

By the time you feel thirsty, your body has already lost approximately 1 percent of your body’s water and you are on your way to dehydration. So if you want to have enough energy for your workout, you need water … and lots of it.

How much water do we actually need to drink when exercising?

The amount of water really depends on your size, weight, the type of workout you are doing and of course the climate! If you’re doing a  HIIT training session at the beach on a 30-degree day you’re going to require more water than a Pilates session in an air-conditioned studio! But the University of Michigan (2011) has set out some guidelines.

Before – They suggest that before you exercise, you need to drink approximately 500-600 mls of water. That’s nearly a quarter of the recommended daily intake. And you should do this at least 2 hours before exercising. For early risers, it’s a good idea to get into a healthy water habit and drink a glass of water with half a lemon squeezed in it when you wake up.  This helps to get your digestion system going.

During – While exercising, try to drink 200-300 mls for every 10-20 minutes of exercise.

After – The American College of Sports Medicine suggests that you cool down after a workout with approximately 230 mls of water and to drink that within at least 30 minutes after your workout.
It’s important to recognise the signs of dehydration and if you experience muscle cramps or nausea during your workout, stop and have a glass of water. Don’t ignore these signs as they could lead to more serious complications.

The Extra Benefits of Drinking enough Filtered Water when Exercising…

You’ll actually achieve a better workout

The chances are that yes, you will … And the reason for this? Although water keeps you hydrated during your workout … it also acts as a lubricant for your muscles, joints and organs

It’s a known fact that dehydration leads to fatigue. So it’s simple – stay hydrated and you’ll have more energy and feel more awake for your morning gym session.

Drinking water helps you lose weight

Really? Well, it’s true that water fills you up and helps you feel full so you don’t reach for that mid-morning snack. Sometimes people confuse the feeling of thirst with hunger and eat more when they should be drinking water. Being just 1 percent dehydrated can slow down your metabolism and interfere with weight loss. So if you are trying to target a healthy weight for the new year then drinking enough filtered water is the perfect complement to your new exercise regime.

Tips to help you achieve the right filtered water intake when exercising …

Invest in a good reusable water bottle …

Not just a pretty colour or the latest design but one with measurements so you can make sure you’re drinking enough water at the right time.

Swap sports drinks and juice for filtered water…

Choose filtered water over a sports drink or juice. These drinks often contain too much sugar which can cause problems for your body…but we won’t go into that now! Filtered water is cheaper too … so that’s more money in your pocket for trying new fitness workouts … Boxilates or Booty Barre anyone?

Set a timer on your phone

You’ll never forget to drink enough water if your phone beeps or vibrates to remind you!

Invest in a good water filter system for your home

Fill your reusable water bottles with fresh filtered water from your own home water filtration system. Take them with you for better tasting, healthy, fresh filtered water. You’ll also have filtered water available on tap for those early morning “at home” workouts and when you return home to “cool down” after your daily run.

Whatever your fitness and health goals for the new year, keep these tips in mind and stay hydrated while you workout and you’ll be on your way to a whole new, healthy, hydrated YOU!