First, let's assume that you have a high quality multi-stage home water purifier that is certified to remove cysts, chlorine, THMs, lead, VOCs, MTBE, pesticides, herbicides and benzene. Because, that is the only way to be sure that you are getting purified drinking water.

If a system uses ion exchange to remove copper and lead, then it will replace them with potassium and sodium ions. Thus, you also have pure mineral drinking water.

The companies that bottled water would like for you to think that they offer a better choice. But, anything stored in plastic cannot be classified as pure drinking water, because it absorbs the chemicals, odor and taste of the plastic bottle.

Environmentalists would like for you to get your purified mineral drinking water from a home purifier and carry it with you in a reusable glass container. However, those bottles are a major source of pollution.

So, how much pure drinking water does a person need on a daily basis? According to the USDA's dietary reference guides, men over the age of 19 need at least 3.7 liters per day. Women over 19 need 2.7 liters per day.

Children of course require less. Pregnant women need about 100 ounces per day. If you are breast feeding, you need about 128 ounces per day.

About 20% of the total recommended liquid intake comes from moisture in foods. Fruits and vegetable, for example, contain a high level of water.

There is no set "upper limit", but the kidneys can only handle 24 ounces per hour. So, the cases of toxicity that resulted from drinking contests overtaxed the kidneys and led to heart failure. If the contestants had survived, they would have likely suffered from kidney damage or failure.

Use thirst and body temperature to guide how much water you drink. The more you exercise the more pure drinking water you need.

If you exercise in a dry hot climate, you may need more pure drinking mineral water. Not only do you lose fluids through sweat, but you also lose electrolytes and minerals. That's an important reason that drinking distilled waters on a regular basis is not recommended. Distillation removes all minerals from water.

Recommendations vary for the correct amount of pure drinking water. Eight 8 ounce glasses or 64 ounces per day is a common rule of thumb. To drink half your weight in ounces per day is another suggestion.

Weight is a factor. Heavier people will need more pure drinking mineral water, particularly if they are trying to lose weight.

You do get some of the necessary fluids from other beverages, but certain ingredients are also dehydrating. Caffeine, for example, has a dehydrating effect as it increases blood pressure, heart rate and respiration.

Also, sugar-filled beverages may increase your appetite and interfere with the brain's signal of "fullness". If you need to lose some weight, have an eight ounce glass of pure mineral water 30 minutes before each meal and drink another glass during each meal.

That gives your 6 of the necessary 8. You should be able to fit two more in without too much trouble. Remember that pure drinking water is the best choice for rehydrating yourself.