A Registered Nurse Speaks Out About Her Search For Clean Water
September 17, 2018
Our own Anthony Gattineri on his way to Manitou Springs, CO … connecting the water.
We love sharing stories of people who either visit our spring or share our love of springs.
Mary Richardson (BA, MS, RN, IBCLC) is a registered nurse who is on a search for clean water. So much so that she moved from her home in central Pennsylvania to Manitou Springs, CO (1,600 miles !!!!).
Mary shares a pic of a glass of water from Manitou Springs
She reached out to us at Boston Clear on her journey across the country and her passion for mineral water. Mary informed us that there is a worldwide Baby Friendly movement, a group dedicated to standardizing care for infants … clean water being one of them. However, clean water for babies is not the only thing they need, they need nourishment that comes from a mother’s milk … so when some hospitals encourage powder formula, we introduce a water problem. According to Baby-Friendly USA, U.S. hospitals that have received a Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) designation must follow certain rules about when and how they offer formula to new parents.
Young mothers, parents, are looking for guidance in their first days after giving birth. Some hospitals provide free formula for newborns (courtesy of large formula makers like Nestle). The fact is, this sort of give-away deters women from wanting to breast feed and then mothers’ milk soon dries up. The result is that we have too many babies on formula that would be much better served having something better for them. Mary recognizes that mothers can choose, but are they getting all the facts to make the right choice or are these choices driven by profit?
Many doctors recommend breast feeding for up to a year. So how many mothers choose breast feeding for their child? In the U.S., about 80% of women start out breastfeeding but a number of studies suggest that this percentage drops off quickly after the first month of life. Only about half of U.S. babies (51.8 percent) are still breastfeeding at 6 months of age … by the time the child is one year old, only 34% are being breastfed. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC):
While Mary acknowledges these challenges, many hospitals do not fully inform mothers of the dangers associated with formula along with the great benefits of breast feeding. As Mary put it, “Hospitals hand out formula like it’s candy. I love babies, being a mom/baby nurse and when I found out, well my heart collapsed.”
Mary presented all the information she could to the hospital about the trap in which they were putting new mothers and their newborns. They took a tough stand and when Mary saw that there was no hope of her employer becoming “Baby Friendly,” she made the move. Now, living in Colorado, she has found a new hospital and a new way of life.
The springs in Colorado are renowned and Mary has visited a number of them in the area. One of the things we noted was that one of the websites we visited about the springs said that they believed that the springs “once were thought to have healing powers.” Mary said they absolutely have healing powers! The photo here is one Mary snapped on her porch enjoying a cool glass of water.
So what makes Manitou so special:
Makes us thirsty just thinking about it. As for Mary, she loves her move but misses her home in Pennsylvania. Her dedication to exposing how big companies trade babies’ health for profit is to be commended. Her hope is that the comradery among her new co-workers will spark some renewed energy to fight on. Mary said,
Mary believes that the lack of information on what we ingest has spread to our water. As she put it, we believe we can turn on the faucet and the water that comes out is safe … it is not. Like formula, it is full of chemicals that imitate the real thing but fall short. Mary told me, “We have to realize that we are taking toxins into our body if we drink water from a tap. As a society we have to realize that we are causing our own diseases. The search for pure, natural, nourishment will help us all live long, happier, lives.”
Mary asked me to share a poem she wrote about how big companies are robbing our babies. We with her luck in her new life and will certainly keep you all posted on her spring journey:
Mary Richardson (BA, MS, RN, IBCLC) is a registered nurse who is on a search for clean water. So much so that she moved from her home in central Pennsylvania to Manitou Springs, CO (1,600 miles !!!!).
Mary shares a pic of a glass of water from Manitou Springs
She reached out to us at Boston Clear on her journey across the country and her passion for mineral water. Mary informed us that there is a worldwide Baby Friendly movement, a group dedicated to standardizing care for infants … clean water being one of them. However, clean water for babies is not the only thing they need, they need nourishment that comes from a mother’s milk … so when some hospitals encourage powder formula, we introduce a water problem. According to Baby-Friendly USA, U.S. hospitals that have received a Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) designation must follow certain rules about when and how they offer formula to new parents.
Young mothers, parents, are looking for guidance in their first days after giving birth. Some hospitals provide free formula for newborns (courtesy of large formula makers like Nestle). The fact is, this sort of give-away deters women from wanting to breast feed and then mothers’ milk soon dries up. The result is that we have too many babies on formula that would be much better served having something better for them. Mary recognizes that mothers can choose, but are they getting all the facts to make the right choice or are these choices driven by profit?
Many doctors recommend breast feeding for up to a year. So how many mothers choose breast feeding for their child? In the U.S., about 80% of women start out breastfeeding but a number of studies suggest that this percentage drops off quickly after the first month of life. Only about half of U.S. babies (51.8 percent) are still breastfeeding at 6 months of age … by the time the child is one year old, only 34% are being breastfed. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC):
“Many mothers begin breastfeeding but need community support to help them overcome challenges they may face in the hospital, when they go home, or after they return to work. This support might include breastfeeding education programs, improved maternity care practices in hospitals, peer and professional support for moms; and adequate space and equipment to breastfeed or express breast milk in workplaces and childcare centers.”
A look at a map of breastfeeding statistics
reveals a concern that some states, particularly the poorer states, experience shorter breastfeeding terms for their babies … the population in these states, the ones who can least afford additional costs, appear to choose the additional cost for formula over babies’ health. That just does not make sense!
While Mary acknowledges these challenges, many hospitals do not fully inform mothers of the dangers associated with formula along with the great benefits of breast feeding. As Mary put it, “Hospitals hand out formula like it’s candy. I love babies, being a mom/baby nurse and when I found out, well my heart collapsed.”
Mary presented all the information she could to the hospital about the trap in which they were putting new mothers and their newborns. They took a tough stand and when Mary saw that there was no hope of her employer becoming “Baby Friendly,” she made the move. Now, living in Colorado, she has found a new hospital and a new way of life.
The springs in Colorado are renowned and Mary has visited a number of them in the area. One of the things we noted was that one of the websites we visited about the springs said that they believed that the springs “once were thought to have healing powers.” Mary said they absolutely have healing powers! The photo here is one Mary snapped on her porch enjoying a cool glass of water.
So what makes Manitou so special:
"Rainwater and snow melt from Pikes Peak and surrounding mountains soak into rock fractures. As the water penetrates to great depth, it becomes heated and mineralized. The warm water naturally flows up into cavernous limestone where it becomes carbonated, then issues from the numerous natural and drilled springs throughout Manitou. Because the water takes thousands of years to complete its journey from mountain sources, it is totally free of industrial and atmospheric contamination."
Makes us thirsty just thinking about it. As for Mary, she loves her move but misses her home in Pennsylvania. Her dedication to exposing how big companies trade babies’ health for profit is to be commended. Her hope is that the comradery among her new co-workers will spark some renewed energy to fight on. Mary said,
“I think of our children and the future for our planet every day and feel I have a moral obligation to do my part. I want to leave this world a better place. My voice may not be the best, but I have one.”
Mary believes that the lack of information on what we ingest has spread to our water. As she put it, we believe we can turn on the faucet and the water that comes out is safe … it is not. Like formula, it is full of chemicals that imitate the real thing but fall short. Mary told me, “We have to realize that we are taking toxins into our body if we drink water from a tap. As a society we have to realize that we are causing our own diseases. The search for pure, natural, nourishment will help us all live long, happier, lives.”
Mary asked me to share a poem she wrote about how big companies are robbing our babies. We with her luck in her new life and will certainly keep you all posted on her spring journey:
FIRST ONE IS ALWAYS FREE
Dealers of liquid formula, pushed through open doors,
Supplying a neighborhood nursery, non-“Baby Friendly” floor.
Watchful nurses taking note, heed this curious sight,
Bottles appear mysteriously, cloak and dag by night.
Central nursery cabs and bins, always plumply stocked,
Ready to feed formula, complete with swanky tops.
Polished logos shining bright, glossy picture themes,
Fess uncertain knowledge and quite possibly, malice schemes.
Special hand-held bottles, come desperate to defend,
We comprehend, we realize, our moms are hooked again.
We’re solemn and profess our part, and wipe our conscience clean,
“Just one to help a real tired mom, we pray she doesn’t wean.”
We struggle to unravel, this contorted paradigm,
You see, breastfeeding education, demands a massive chunk of time.
Working thru the dead of night, grim reality sets in,
There is no rest, we do our best, keep baby skin-to-skin.
Request for aide and some relief, a real Lactation Team?
I guess for now, yet somehow, tonight we only dream.
Bravely marching forward, call bells unending ring,
We require reinforcement troops, to fight this dreadful thing.
We have borne some heavy losses, during these Baby Friendly Times,
We call upon our government to halt these human crimes.
The WHO CODE needs our grave support, to protect the weak and poor,
From predatory companies, with delusions of grandeur.
Our under-education is a disrespectful shame,
To not call out an industry, that both profits and seeks to maim.
Ours moms and babes deserve better, though a third world-wide apart,
We stand united together, until death do us part.
Dealers of liquid formula, pushed through open doors,
Supplying a neighborhood nursery, non-“Baby Friendly” floor.
Watchful nurses taking note, heed this curious sight,
Bottles appear mysteriously, cloak and dag by night.
Central nursery cabs and bins, always plumply stocked,
Ready to feed formula, complete with swanky tops.
Polished logos shining bright, glossy picture themes,
Fess uncertain knowledge and quite possibly, malice schemes.
Special hand-held bottles, come desperate to defend,
We comprehend, we realize, our moms are hooked again.
We’re solemn and profess our part, and wipe our conscience clean,
“Just one to help a real tired mom, we pray she doesn’t wean.”
We struggle to unravel, this contorted paradigm,
You see, breastfeeding education, demands a massive chunk of time.
Working thru the dead of night, grim reality sets in,
There is no rest, we do our best, keep baby skin-to-skin.
Request for aide and some relief, a real Lactation Team?
I guess for now, yet somehow, tonight we only dream.
Bravely marching forward, call bells unending ring,
We require reinforcement troops, to fight this dreadful thing.
We have borne some heavy losses, during these Baby Friendly Times,
We call upon our government to halt these human crimes.
The WHO CODE needs our grave support, to protect the weak and poor,
From predatory companies, with delusions of grandeur.
Our under-education is a disrespectful shame,
To not call out an industry, that both profits and seeks to maim.
Ours moms and babes deserve better, though a third world-wide apart,
We stand united together, until death do us part.
– Mary Laura Richardson
At long last, nine years after BCW purchased the Pocahontas Spring, it is able to focus on its mission of providing the public with pure, chemical-free, mineral-rich spring water that has flowed from the Pocahontas Spring for centuries.
We will also have our regular station available for purchasing water, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to Jasmine Grace Outreach to create Bags of Hope with personal care items for local women who are victims of exploitation, abuse, and trafficking. You are welcome to bring winter clothing, shampoo/conditioner, hair brushes, chapstick, soap & baby wipes for donation.
Today we announce the first Grandmother’s Gratitude Day. It has been 400 years in the making. While Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends, Grandmother’s Gratitude Day compels us to honor Mother Earth and the lineage of elders who have taught us how to steward the Earth. Amidst all the chaos of this world, the voices of the elders ring clear and true: “Recognize that you have the gift of life and be a caretaker of that gift.”
Let’s start off by asking “What is in our water at Pocahontas Spring?” The answer is “what Mother Earth put into it with the addition of fine filter to capture debris (don’t want rock parts in your water) and we hit it with a ultraviolet light to kill any bacteria. Ultraviolet (or UV) light is a type of radiation. In simple terms, when any type of bacteria or microbe is directly exposed to certain types of UV light, the DNA (its fundamental building block) of the cell is damaged, preventing it from replicating. If a cell cannot reproduce, then the cell cannot cause infection, which is how UV light kills bacteria. This does not affect the quality of the water (taste, smell, pH, alkaline or mineral makeup), it just kills the bacteria. From there, the water goes out the vending spouts to your containers. But water that goes through metropolitan treatment facilities, often have added chemicals, like chlorine and fluoride. However, people are now concerned about the things that are being added to the water they drink. Chlorination is the process of adding chlorine to drinking water to disinfect it and kill germs. Different processes can be used to achieve safe levels of chlorine in drinking water. While the chlorine could be harmful in high doses, when it is added to water, they all mix in and spread out, resulting in low levels that kill germs but are still safe to drink. The reason for adding chlorine is that the source of water that is being treated is a combination of a feed of water sources (lakes and streams) combined with runners off from sewers and land. This means that treatment plants have a lot of stuff to kill before it gets to your house. It also has to have enough chemicals in it to safely pass through pipes to residences. To us, water like this is good for flushing and bathing, but not so good for drinking … but hey, we’re particular about our water. Then there is fluoride . The addition to fluoride, once hailed as an outstanding healthcare achievement since it was found to curb tooth decay, began being controversial in the 1950s. Today, people have developed a number of theories, many of which have been debunked, as to the dangers of the naturally found compound. There is a big movement by many municipalities to have it removed from their water treatment, believing that it causes autism and a number of other negative health conditions. The fact is, people want less added to their water. When it comes to bottled water that you see in the store, there may be no chlorine or fluoride in the water but there may be something you never thought should be …. PLASTIC . The perception of bottled water being clean and pure is being challenged by a global investigation that found the water tested is often contaminated with tiny particles of plastic. A number of factors are going to determine our fate as a planet, clean water is one of them. We came across this article in Wired that said climate change could impact the production / cost of beer !!! Say it ain’t so! There is also the issue of contaminants being purposely put into water sources that is meant to do no harm. In Minnesota, they are using a chemical in lakes to get rid of the algae that is growing out of control … but some are skeptical as to whether or not it is harmful to those who later drink that water. You decide, but we think when man tries to resolve one problem, he often creates two. We prefer water from the earth, from deep within the earth.
Like other businesses throughout the country, Boston Clear Water continues to monitor the COVID-19 emergency. However, we are doing more than monitoring, we’re going to help. As a public water supply, we want to support our community and are offering our mineral water during this ongoing crisis. While we have vending machines that take quarters, we have a well-marked machine that will dispense water at no charge. If you can pay, please use the vending as you have in the past. If you cannot, then please help yourself. We realize that many in our community will experience a negative economic impact as a result of lost income. We feel that access to our water should not be prohibited because of cost. We remind you to share this precious resource. The earth has given us this water to share with as many people as possible. If you are filling, be courteous and fill the containers you need to fill and allow others a turn who may be waiting. We have seen the chaos at grocery stores and there is no need for that scene at your spring. We honor those by sharing. Boston Clear’s steward of the spring said, “We have a lot of loyal customers and we welcome everyone. I wanted to assure those who are facing an immediate financial crisis that water will be available.” Boston Clear Water also wants to assure its customers that it maintains a high level of quality control. Our water is drawn from a few inches below the grotto in the stone house. It then passes through a small filter and an ultraviolet light before it is dispensed in customer-provided bottles. No human hands or light touch the water until it is dispensed. While we have taken a number of measures to assure safe drinking water, we ask that all of our customers be considerate and conscientious of other people who visit the spring. Please assure that your bottles are clean both inside and out. Use a paper towel or some sanitary wipe to handle the doors to the vending machines. Drink and prosper!!
We are all in this together and we will provide our mineral water to help people prosper in these trying times. We will not run out of water during this crisis and the good earth provides a constant, fresh supply every minute of the day.
Whenever you visit the spring you will see continuous improvements. These are done with stewardship and protection of this beautiful natural resource. Hand pruning vegetation is necessary to keep thing tidy in the area. We want to make the spring accessible to everyone. Feel free to pick up anything others have left behind and take any refuse with you. We have had a few broken bottles left behind, so we all need to be considerate of the area. This is beneficial to all of us who understand protecting our precious water supplies. We are all stewards of the mineral elements here and we appreciate your help.
If you visit our site or come by our spring, chances are you have an interest in high quality water and the reality that sources like ours are scarce. Boston’s local news show, ABC’s Chronicle , took a look at the challenges facing our water supply in the area. Lynnfield, our own home town, has also faced challenges of supplying clean water to residents. In South Africa, where a lack of water nearly shut down Cape Town last year, they are looking at trying to avoid another future crisis. They actually had a day they named “Day Zero” when water would completely run out in Cape Town but, thanks to generous rainfall and severe restrictions on water use, they have staved off disaster for now. However, they are looking at other solutions, including towing a giant iceberg from Antartica to quench the country’s thirst. Plastics are choking the planet. Canada is going to phase out single use plastics by 2021 in an effort to cut “3 million tons of plastic waste tossed out by the country every year.” Our oceans are a mess with plastics and they are finding micro-particles in most all living creatures who live in our seas. This brings us to solutions to helping our planet. Each of us needs to look at our plastic footprint and cut it down … starting now. No plastic bottles and if you’re going to buy an expensive water bottle then you should be putting the finest water in it. Help our planet for the next generation. By setting an example, we teach others to be mindful of this small, beautiful planet. Our kids are watching and we believe that they will be better stewards of our planet’s resources if we can just show them the way.
It is summer here in New England and the water is flowing. A few changes and the first one you will note is the pricing of the water to $0.75/gallon. It is our commitment to continue to make this amazing mineral water available to everyone. We have added another water vending position to help ease the lines we have seen when the spring gets crowded. We are also undergoing some repairs in the office area which is not going to affect dispensing of water. Our first priority was preserving and cleaning the area around the spring to preserve it for generations to come. In that process, we experienced unforeseen legal action by those who sought to close the spring. While we respect the legal process, it has been an expensive and revealing process. Having persevered, we want to assure that we both deliver our great water and provide an experience that enriches those who visit us. Consistent with our goals we also depend on you to tell those who you know and love about our water. The mineral water that comes from Pocahontas Spring is special … it tastes special … it makes those who drink it feel special. We continue to offer access to the spring waters that flow from within the stone house out back. We welcome those who meditate, pray and just sit in peace at our spring. To those who believe in the healing powers of our waters, we continue to offer a place where you can meditate and focus on your personal goals. Our St. Anthony statue and the spring were recently honored at a dedication in France at the church of St. Pietro, not far from the battlefields of Normandy. It was there that our owner, Anthony Gattineri, is considering ways that there can be future connections between the two places. Please tell someone about our spring, its mineral water and the people who visit it, all of which make this place so special. Follow us on Facebook and look for updates here!