Your average water bottle? Take a closer look. This one has a filter.

Would I have cared about this a month ago? Probably not. Don’t get me wrong … I am a definite health supporter. However, I try not to jump on too many bandwagons without a little research. It wasn’t until recently, after reading a shocking study on tap water, that I decided I needed to take more interest in where my water comes from.

A study done by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has linked fluoride found in tap water (fluoride is added to 70% of the U.S. water supply) to lower IQ scores in children. In addition, deadly carcinogens have been found in 31 cities across the United States. Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, is a deadly carcinogen that was found in the drinking water of those 31 U.S. cities. This is a chemical that was labeled a “probable carcinogen” in 2008 by the National Toxicology Program.

So when I came across this water bottle with a filter in it the other day, I took it seriously.

The WaterGeeks water bottle filters out odor, bad taste, lead and chlorine like most other filtered bottles. However, this one is the only filtered water bottle that gets rid of chromium-6. It’s a chemical that can cause cancer. Chromium-6 finds its way into our water supply from industrial processes, like stainless steel production. The amount that makes our water toxic is still being debated. But let me ask you … if you had the option to filter it out, wouldn’t you do it?

Fun fact: Annalynne McCord and Teri Hatcher have teamed up with the WaterGeeks crew to design their own lines of bottles for fall 2011. Not only will the designs be fashionable, but 20 percent of the proceeds will go to charities that focus on providing better water for people in third-world countries.