Would You Wash Organic Vegetables in Pool Water?

Then why drink it, cook with it, and shower in it every day?

As a Clinical Nutritionist, I spend most of my time talking about the importance of choosing whole foods, avoiding unnecessary additives, and reducing chemical load wherever possible. There is, however, one essential part of daily life that often gets overlooked: our water.

Most of us would never rinse our organic fruit and vegetables in pool water. Yet surprisingly, Australian tap water can legally contain more chlorine than many swimming pools. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines allow up to 5ppm of chlorine, while many pools aim for around 3ppm.

Of course, chlorine is added to water supplies for an important reason: to kill harmful microbes before it reaches our homes. But once it comes out of your tap, it’s no longer about safety; it becomes a daily exposure. And those exposures add up.

Why it matters for your health

Clean water isn’t just about hydration. It affects every system in your body, from your gut health and immune resilience to your skin, hair, and energy levels. Regular chlorine exposure has been linked to:

• Skin and scalp irritation (dryness, dandruff, eczema, or itching)

• Changes to gut microbiome that influence immunity and digestion

• Respiratory irritation when chlorine is inhaled in shower steam, sometimes worsening asthma or fatigue

• Everyday wear and tear like fading clothes, irritated eyes, or brittle hair

These may sound small in isolation, but when water is something you use all day, every day, for drinking, cooking, showering and brushing your teeth, they become worth paying attention to.

My perspective as a Nutritionist

When we talk about “clean eating,” we often think only about food. But true health comes from looking at the bigger picture: what we eat, what we breathe, what we put on our skin, and yes, what we’re exposed to through water.

Over the years, I’ve seen many people focus on organic produce, natural skincare, and non-toxic living, but forget that water is the foundation of everything. It’s the invisible ingredient in your morning coffee, your child’s school drink bottle and even your family's evening meal.

What you can do

The aim here isn’t to create fear but to encourage awareness. Once you know what’s in your water, you can make choices that feel right for your household. This might mean:

• Looking into home water filters for drinking and showering

• Checking your local council’s water quality reports

• Reducing chemical load in other areas of your lifestyle to help your body cope with unavoidable exposures

Every small step adds up. Just like choosing better food, cleaner water is one of the simplest yet most powerful investments you can make for your health, your family’s wellbeing, and your long-term vitality.

If this topic sparks your curiosity, I highly recommend exploring a book by Sam Tornatore, which goes into detail about the hidden concerns around household water and the simple steps families can take to protect their health. It’s an excellent resource if you want to go beyond the basics.

Take Charge of What You Put in Your Body

When you’re ready to look at how your food, lifestyle, and daily habits tie in with water quality, I’m here to guide you with practical nutrition strategies to help reduce inflammation and strengthen your immunity.

Cate

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