Most people know about the harmful effects of chlorine in our water, says Marianne Gillespie. But they think it's absorbed into the body only by drinking municipal tap water.
"The average person doesn't realize that chlorine is absorbed into the body at a much faster rate when you shower than when you drink tap water. In the confined space of your shower, chlorine becomes a vapour and you inhale it."
Yet chlorine is one of the easiest contaminants to remove, she adds. A simple carbon filtration will remove chlorine and chlorination by-products, organic contaminants and everything responsible for affecting the taste and odour of our water.

For the last 11 years, Marianne and her husband Craig have been deeply involved with cleaning up municipal tap water for drinking and for other home uses. They are one of Niagara's largest retailers of bottled water and water treatments, with two Aquatrue Water stores in St. Catharines and one in Niagara Falls.
A big part of their focus is educating people about the health hazards that lurk in our water. "The human body is a water machine that essentially is fuelled, maintained and run by water," Marianne says. "Without proper hydration, even the simplest tasks can become difficult, while physiological problems become obvious. Because water helps the body flush out contaminants and toxins, the purer it is the better. Water aids in digestion and absorption of vitamins and minerals. Water increases the body's natural lubrication, keeps the skin healthy and glowing, increases by brainpower by enabling your neurotransmitters to work more efficiently, and helps metabolize and shed stored fat.
Overall, the intake of water improves your energy levels, as well as mental and physical performance. It's an important "healing tool," for people with a history of kidney stones and it helps reduce urinary tract infections. And these are just some of the benefits. "So can you imagine what happens to the body when the water it takes in contains harmful chemicals?" Aquatrue has been a trusted name in the Niagara Region since 1995 and has three main service areas.
The most obvious is as a retailer of clean, filtered water. The water is processed daily on site at the three locations - not stored elsewhere to become stale and lose its quality.  The water goes through an 11-stage reverse osmosis process and is ozonated to ensure it's free of bacteria. The water is lab certified and tested daily. The bottles are cleaned using an approved, full "hot" disinfection and sanitizing procedure.
You only have to taste its pure, clean and refreshing taste to know this is water your body will welcome. Water filtered by reverse osmosis is free of contaminants such as sodium, lead, chlorine, mercury, heavy metals and inorganic minerals. It's as pure as water gets, says Marianne. "Contrary to popular opinion, the minerals in spring and tap waters are inorganic and have no nutritional value. Calcification of inorganic minerals in your body can actually result in kidney and gall stones as well as calcified deposits in the joints."

Aquatrue deals also in residential water treatment systems, which are a more economical way to maintain ongoing purified water for the family than bottles, Marianne points out. She is particularly pleased with General Electric's innovative products and their reputation as a trusted leader in water treatment technology.

A General Electric Platinum dealer, she says GE's tankless Merlin reverse osmosis system is state of the art innovation and with its multi-station installation is perfect for businesses as well as homes. It can produce up to 700 gallons of clean water a day and can feed several dispersal units, such as water coolers. The Merlin is also great for high volume users, such as those with large display aquariums, where the need for a constant supply of pure water is ongoing.
With the universal sizing of filters now available, Aquatrue can service many more equipment makes.

Aquatrue also has special systems and equipment to treat unique problems that arise for rural homeowners who have cisterns and wells.
With the emphasis in pure water, Marianne also recommends a water softener in the home. A whole house softener can save up to 70 per cent on the cost of soaps and detergents, she says, reducing shower and tub scum, making clothes softer and cleaner and enhanced hair and skin.

The Ultra Max Plus is like two treatments in one, she notes. It has all the benefits of a water softener yet also removes harmful and offensive chlorine as well as bad tastes and odours throughout the house.
"We stand behind everything we sell," says Marianne. Staff are knowledge, health conscious and very product savvy and will be pleased to guide you in selecting the products that will best suit your needs. And when you have chosen, they are happy to carry out your purchases and load them into your vehicle - a service much appreciated in this age of having to do everything yourself.

Marianne and Craig and their staff teams are also very committed to giving back to their communities, sponsoring organizations such as the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation, the CIBC Run for the Cure, the Junior B Falcons and many other charitable and sports. Staff are also members of the St. Catharines Business Club, the Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Club Niagara.