☁ Let it settle. Why your water needs a minute.

THE WATER METHOD TO WELLNESS

Your weekly dose of hydration intelligence. Simple habits for smarter, cleaner water.

#5 & #6: Let it settle. Why your water needs a minute.

Here’s a simple summer hydration upgrade: pour your tap water into a jug, let it sit for a few hours, and don’t drink the last inch.

Why?

1. Chlorine Needs Time to Evaporate
Most tap water is disinfected with chlorine. It keeps your water safe from microbes—but it doesn’t do much for taste. When water is exposed to air, chlorine begins to dissipate naturally. Letting a jug sit for a couple of hours (ideally uncovered) noticeably reduces that chemical aftertaste and smell. You’ll taste the difference. Municipal water is disinfected with chlorine or chloramine to kill pathogens. Chlorine is volatile—it begins to off-gas when exposed to air, especially at room temperature.
Letting water sit in a wide-mouthed jug speeds up this evaporation, improving both the taste and the smell.

Why it matters: Chlorine byproducts (like trihalomethanes) are linked to long-term health concerns when consumed in excess

2. Sediment Sinks to the Bottom
Even when tap water looks clear, it can carry tiny bits of pipe residue, minerals, or micro-particles. These aren’t dangerous, but they don’t need to end up in your glass. Letting water sit gives gravity time to pull heavier particles to the bottom of the jug—right where the last inch collects. Pour that part out, give the jug a rinse, and refill fresh.

It’s a small ritual, but it makes a difference in how your water tastes, feels, and hydrates. Think of it as giving your water a moment to clear before it nourishes you.

If water has been sitting stagnant in your home’s pipes for more than 4 hours, overnight, while you’re at work, or during any long period of inactivity, it can start to pick up unwanted substances from the plumbing materials.

What to Do:

• Use a glass or stainless steel jug—not plastic

• Leave the top open or loosely covered

• Let sit for 1–4 hours

• Avoid drinking the last inch—pour it out, rinse, and refill

This isn’t about being “extra.” It’s about working with the subtle chemistry and structure of your water—not against it.

Think of it as letting your water breathe before it hydrates you.

Want to go deeper?
Listen to the Huberman Lab episode on Hydration (2023)

📥Get the full digital hydration guide here – free.

— Clouds

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A Final Note

NOTES FROM THE MEADOW

Until next time! ☁