Don't take the purity of your drinking water for granted. According to the NRDC, many cities around the United States rely on ancient water delivery systems and treatment technology that may not be very effective at removing toxins. In addition, many water treatment facilities have aging pipes that can break and leach contaminants into the water they carry. Here's how to make sure that you and your baby are drinking the cleanest water you can.

Water Tests

If you are concerned about the health and safety of the tap water in your area, there are measures you can take to test it for toxicity. Many water contaminants are colorless and odorless, so testing is the only way to know for sure if your water is clean and safe.

In addition to concerns about the contaminants that don't show up on your local water facilities annual water quality report, you may want to be sure that the pipes, joints, and faucets in your home are not leaching toxins (like lead) into your water.

Water Filters

Another way to make sure the water you drink is clean and free of contaminants is to invest in a high-quality water filter. Most decent filters will remove lead, chlorine, mercury, and other chemicals. A water filter may even improve the taste of your drinking water, giving you an incentive to drink more of it each day!

If you don't already have one, this is a great time to look in to getting a home water filtration unit. The first step in choosing a water filter is to decide which types of toxins you are trying to filter out. The next section of this chapter will give you a better idea of the toxins you should avoid during pregnancy.