A report from my municipal water supplier shows that my tap water has high levels of calcium, iron, magnesium, and several other minerals. Does that mean that my water has nutritional value? —F.P., Morse, Saskatchewan

Yes. Your body can absorb minerals as readily from water as it does from food. In a study of drinking water in Sweden, researchers estimated that as much as 13 percent of some residents’ daily intake of calcium, magnesium, and potassium came from its tap water. Some preliminary research has linked consumption of mineral-rich, or "hard," water to lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and possibly some types of cancer. If your water provider didn’t include mineral levels in its annual report (the law doesn’t require them to), you could send a sample to a certified lab for testing. To find one, go to www.epa.gov/safewater/labs/.

For more on tap water safety, visit GreenerChoices.org.