The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) is in the 16^th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico. Delegates will deliberate international global climate change issues that are inextricably linked to water conservation and energy.

Foerd Ames is the owner of the Ocean Wave Energy Company (OWEC) and a Climate Science Reviewer for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In a telephone interview Ames told WaterWideWeb, “We need to get these great minds [convened at the COP 16] to hash out solution scenarios to global climate change. We need an alliance of water related renewable energy and climatology”.

The population of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are up close and personal with the adverse affects of global climate change. Island nations like the Maldives are being submerged under water. People are being displaced by rising sea levels, according to James. “We have an opportunity to use the extra water as fuel”, continued Ames.

As the climate conference in Cancun rolls on through 10 December 2010, delegates will deliberate on international policies of global climate change and the consequences associated with rising sea levels and glacial melt. Rising sea levels and glacial melt are a result of carbon gas emission from developed countries. Are there palpable solutions to the carbon emissions from nuclear, coal, and oil energy?

Ocean waves generate large amounts of energy. Ocean wave energy is a renewable and environmentally sustainable source of power. However, ocean waves are diffuse hence initiatives to channel this energy should be designed in a synergistic way, such that instruments are interconnected to mobilize wattage from the waves.

Ocean and wave projects present various possibilities to the water world. Ames asserts that ocean water can be desalinated, meaning the water can be purified of the salt properties. Desalinated ocean water provides a freshwater source that can be used to attenuate the implications of the global water crisis.

Moreover, splitting the ocean wave molecules into hydrogen and oxygen provides the highly coveted hydrogen that micro and macro scale systems require to function. The hydrogen from ocean waves can replace the nuclear, coal, and oil markets if experts continue to find efficient ways of mobilizing it. Reliance on foreign oil will decline and new markets for energy will emerge.

Ideally, environmentally sustainable energy should be the primary point of supply, forcing nuclear, coal, and oil supplies into the alternative energy solutions category. Ocean wave energy will decrease the carbon footprint of developed countries that can afford investment in this sort of technology. “We really have to embrace several other factors besides lowest cost when considering the future of renewable energy”, continued Ames.

Ultimately chances of reaching the Millennium Development Goal number 7, ensuring environmental sustainability, will be maximized if progress in the area of ocean wave energy is spearheaded. Ocean wave projects will require a monetary investment, but the cost to the environment will make it a worthwhile venture.

Advancements in the field of ocean wave energy are being researched and implemented. Currently, the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum is featuring their triennial Why Design Now exhibition. A segment of the series highlights key design projects that focus on innovative energy projects.

bioWave exhibition at The Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

The bioWAVE ocean-wave energy system is included in the Why Design Now feature exhibition. It was developed by the Australian based Bio-Power Systems. The bioWAVE system is a series of underwater units mounted to the seabed that are activated by ocean waves. The units are interconnected. Fluctuations in the ocean current are converted to generate energy at the ocean surface which produces electricity.

The bioWAVE units are fashioned to be in sync with the surrounding marine life. Each unit is estimated to produce 2 megawatts of energy. If bioWAVE energy farms are employed, enough clean power could be generated to power utility-scale projects.

Delegates at the climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico are grappling with policy decisions that will shape the future of Least Developed Countries, and the accountability of developed countries with respect to global climate change initiatives. Critical decisions on the future of environmentally sustainable alternatives that reduce carbon gas emissions must be considered behind the closed doors of the conference.

Will these decisions include energy alternatives such as ocean-wave power and other water generated sources of clean energy? The world must patiently wait for sound policies that are enforceable and which hold developed countries accountable for their energy decisions. If developed countries are going to be held accountable for the future of energy and global climate change response, advancements in clean energy that establish a new global market, not contingent upon foreign oil is a viable option.

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Currently, 800 million people live in water stress. By 2025, 3 billion people will live under water stress. Advancements in water technology are underway to address the water scarcity problem that could cripple economies, stunt development efforts and lead to an increase in mortality rates across the globe. If the problem of water scarcity is not tackled pragmatically and swiftly, the water shortage could lead to political unrest and food shortages in the developing and industrialized world.

Conceptual breakthroughs in megawatershed development by Earth Water Global (EWG) assert that water can in fact be extracted from stone. Technological innovations developed by Earth Water Global prove that megawatersheds beneath the Earth’s surface exist and can be tapped to provide clean water.

EWG developed a Megawatershed Paradigm (MP) based on geological models of the Earths’ surface. According to the MP, fractures and fissures in the Earth’s bedrock formed as a result of continental shift and collision over time. These collisions of the Earth’s bedrock result in mountain formations and underground channels that store water regionally and transmit the water across miles of terrain.

At high altitudes, water seeps into these fractures and fissures from snow and rainfall. The gravitational force of the Earth pulls the water into underground watersheds. The megawatersheds naturally replenish from precipitation, rainfall and snow. EWG coins this discovery the “science of finding water”.

EWG estimates that 80 percent of the world’s precipitation happens at high altitudes. Measuring water at these high altitudes is incredibly difficult. Water catchments of precipitation, rain and snowfall using the EWG framework could multiply groundwater resources in multiples of 10 times 100 on a global scale.

Innovative techniques implemented by EWG offer a sustainable solution to the global water crisis. The EWG “science of water” model could provide access to hundreds of millions of gallons of water that seep into the Earth surface daily.

Interestingly, modern scientific analysis has proved that extracting water from a stone is indeed possible. Using the groundwater held in the Earth’s fissures will facilitate fulfillment of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals. Certainly, taking advantage of this water technology will decrease the deaths of water-borne diseases in developing countries which are now at 80 percent.

As the world population continues to increase, measures to provide natural resources such as water must be maximized as well. Resolving the global water crisis calls for a multifaceted endeavor from governments, municipalities and water programs, including those such as EWG. Comprehensive methods of combating the water crisis should include scientifically proven paradigms as well as sound methodologies applied across time.

The water crisis is driving scientists and experts to search for water in the world’s most unlikely places even that of the Earth’s stone.

Please watch the documentary on the work of Earth Water Global here: Documentary

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The photo above is a UN photo taken by Tim McKulka

New York City (NYC) tap water was recently found with lead levels that exceeded federal regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lead is toxic to toddlers and pregnant women. In a sample of 222 homes in NYC, fourteen percent of homes were found with unsafe lead levels in the tap water.

In a city populated by roughly 8,400,000 people, access to uncontaminated tap water is essential to public health and safety. In 2007, NYC was awarded a 10 year Filtration Avoidance Determination by the EPA. The Determination marks the work of the comprehensive New York City Watershed Protection Program and is the reason why NYC does not need to filter its tap water.

Overall, NYC is world renowned for its effectiveness in water quality. Hence, the lead water finding in NYC tap water is of concern to city residents and raises questions about water quality and management practices in NY State.

NYS public drinking water is regulated by EPA guidelines which set parameters for safe drinking water standards in the U.S. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was passed by Congress in 1974 to protect drinking water for. The SWDA was amended twice thereafter. The 1996 amendment included water resource protection guidelines to ensure that tap water was protected from the source to the tap.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) was established in 1996 by the amended SDWA. The DWSRF grants funds to States for water system enhancement and development. The funds are awarded based on information gathered from water system surveys.

For the 2010 fiscal year, New York State was allocated $89, 427,000 to finance water infrastructure maintenance, representing 6.59 percent of government funds available to States. New York was the second highest recipient of funds after California, the State that received $126, 958, 000 or 9.35 percent of funds available to states.

In the instance of increased lead levels in NYC tap water, reports indicated that the higher lead levels were found in older buildings. Time has weathered the City’s water networks and outdated others. Drinking water infrastructure in the U.S was mostly built in the 1970’s.

In New York, drinking water infrastructure needs to be rehabilitated. With the funds awarded by the DWSRF, New York State could invest in sustainable development water programs to safeguard against water contamination and increased lead levels. The EPA recognizes that infrastructure rehabilitation and sustainable development strategies must be executed to ensure the health of tap water consumers. Water treatment plants, storage facilities and improved pipelining will protect New York tap water from source to tap.

Even in a city like New York that is known for its quality drinking water, development work still needs to be done. With Federal funding, regular water testing and water contaminant regulation, NYC will be safeguarded against Federal violations and protect the well being of tap water consumers.

Forty gallons of water in just one moon crater may implicate that other craters contain water as well.  What could water on the moon mean for future space exploration, and moreover, for humankind?

NASA’s Lunar Crater and Sensing Satellite (LCross) detected water particles on the moon last year. The LCross was designed to crash near the south pole of the moon, directly into a dark crater. The satellite made impact with the moon at 5,600 miles-per-hour, leaving a hole ranging from 60-100 feet wide.

A smaller satellite was quickly launched to record the LCross impact and collect data on the impact. Specialists analyzed color shifts coming from matter stirred up when LCross crashed into the moon’s crater. Water molecules absorbing light wavelengths confirmed the presence of hydrogen and oxygen on the moon. Scientists were particularly excited by the evidence of this new water finding. This confirmation could mean that astronauts might have an additional oxygen resource when on the moon.

The total amount of water on the moon’s surface is unquantifiable at the present time. But, Dr. Anthony Colaprete, principal investigator of LCross said, “This is wetter than some places on Earth.” The water is in the form of ice particles mixed in with the soil from the moon. The ice particles constitute roughly 5.6 percent of the soil mixture.  Colaprete conjectured that the percentage of ice in the soil could be as high as 8.5 percent.

If the water from the moon is safe for consumption after excavation, could this open a new door for the water shortage crisis that the Earth currently faces? Interestingly, ethical questions about ownership of the water will undoubtedly come into play at a later date. Will rights to moon water be allocated on a first land – first served basis?

The future of moon water holds innumerable questions for the world community. The Obama administration recently signed into law a halt on moon exploration for the United States, since the trips would be expensive and the U.S. has successfully completed its current moon exploration program. Questions and answers about water on the moon are suspended until further notice…

The powder scientists like to call dry water is 95% composed by water.  This innovative substance was discovered in 1968 mostly for its potential in the cosmetics world. In 2006, scholars from the University of Hull decided to restudy its structure and properties. Since then, numerous studies have been done and dry water continues to fascinated scientists around the world. According to specialists, dry water could also provide the starting base for a way to transport potentially dangerous chemical products. In addition, this magical white powder also absorbs and stores carbon dioxide, an important discovery in order to limit the effects of global warming. According to experts and various researches it appears that “dry water can absorb more than three times as much carbon dioxide as an ordinary mix of water and silica” (Source: http://www.greenbang.com/how-to-soak-up-co2-add-dry-water_15097.html). This discovery is fundamental insofar it means that dry water could absorb large quantities of power plant emissions, by blocking the greenhouse gases.

Every single water particle is composed by a water drop that is surrounded by altered silica that “prevents the water droplets from combining and turning back into a liquid. The result is a fine powder that can slurp up gases, which chemically combine with the water molecules to form what chemists terms a hydrate” (Source”: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100825174102.htm). According to scientists, dry water could also be used for the storage of methane, providing a safer method to store methane fuel that could be used to power gas vehicles.

The potential scientific applications seem to be numerous since experts have perhaps elaborated an additional utility to this white powder. Indeed, according to them, dry water could be an important tool to accelerate catalyzed reactions between hydrogen gas and maleic acid that consequently produce succinic acid, a “raw material widely used to make drugs, food ingredients, and other consumer products” (Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100825174102.htm). This could lower the costs of many drugs, consequently increasing the production and the demand and potentially ameliorating the lives of many sick patients.

This substance that recalls powdered sugar could revolutionize the world of science with its multiple properties and characteristics that could be beneficial to the future of mankind. Dry water appears to be a strong enemy ready to fight against global warming by absorbing impressive quantities of carbon dioxide. In addition this magical powder could facilitate the transportation of dangerous chemical products and gases.

Calcium – Ca++

Adults need about eight hundred milligrams of calcium per day–babies don’t require as much, but fifteen to nineteen year olds need significantly more. The many benefits of calcium include stabilizing bone structure, teeth, and cell membranes; ensuring nerve and muscle impulses are properly transmitted; and helping to prevent blood clotting. Calcium also has a balancing effect for numerous skin allergies. Bones decalcify (osteoporosis) and fractures become more likely if a body is not getting enough calcium. Bottled water usually has less than 100 mg/l of calcium, but a few examples have about 500 mg/l.

Potassium – K+

Two to four grams is usually a sufficient day’s supply of potassium. Children and young people should pay particular attention to their intake, since potassium aides the growth of cells. The pressure of water between cells is regulated by potassium, which also makes sure each cell gets enough food. Potassium has special roles to play in muscle contraction and the formation and conduction of impulses of the heart. Potassium deficiency can weaken skeletal muscles and make smooth muscles tired. Typical potassium content in bottled water is less than 5 mg/l, but some (such as Ferrarelle and Malvella) can have as much as 50 mg/l.

Sodium – Na+

A person’s level of exertion largely determines his or her daily requirement of sodium. Normally about three grams are necessary, but severe physical stress can bring the requirement up to fifteen grams or more. The heart’s metabolism is affected by sodium, as is the regular contraction of the heart. Today, we rarely have to worry about sodium deficiency: Salt is an integral part of many foods, especially those that are highly processed. Sodium in bottled water ranges from 10 mg/l in most bottled waters to 1,200 mg/l in a few waters, such as Vichy Catalan and Vichy Célestins.

Sulfate - SO4-

Sulfates are the salts of sulfur. They aid the liver in detoxification and help digestion by stimulating the gall bladder. Sulfates in high doses act as a laxative. Fish, meat, and milk contain sulfates, which are an important component of protein. The human body only absorbs small amounts of sulfates, but these amounts are sufficient to stimulate peristalsis by binding magnesium and sodium to water in the intestine. This effect makes mineral waters rich in sulfates, which taste slightly bitter, suitable as “nonalcoholic bitters” after a meal. Most bottled waters have well below 100 mg/l of sulfates, but San Pellegrino and a few others can reach 500 mg/l.

Bicarbonate – HCO3-

Present in all biological fluids, bicarbonate is essential for maintaining our bodies’ pH balance. The substance is also found in stomach secretions. Lactic acid generated by physical activity is neutralized by bicarbonate dissolved in water; a similar process raises the pH of some acidic foods. The typical range for bicarbonate in bottled water is 50 to 200 mg/l, but it can reach up to about 1,800 mg/l in waters such as Apollinaris, Gerolsteiner, and Borsec.

Silica  - SiO2

Most adults need between twenty and thirty milligrams of silica daily. [An essential mineral building block, silica is one of the body’s greatest energizing nutrients.] Silica reduces the risk of heart disease and may prevent osteoporosis; it also helps tissue repair by serving as an antioxidant. Hair and nails are strengthened by silica. If bottled waters contain any silica, it’s usually less than 20 mg/l, and the higher levels in waters such as Fiji and Antipodes are well below 100 mg/l.

(Source for the minerals: http://www.finewaters.com/Mineral_Water.asp)

Minerals are fundamental to the human body yet the ones found in solid food are difficult to be absorbed. For this reason minerals found in water, more easy to absorb, are an important supplement and source of nourishment to our body.

This eco-friendly way to produce vegetables for home or sale consumption has seen a revival in the past years amongst a growing rate of Americans who want to grown their own greens. In this process, the waste produced by the fish becomes an automatic recycled form of nutrients for the plants. The water from the fish tank, rich in nutrients is pumped into the area where the plants are grown. “The plants clean the water of excess nutrients, the water is then oxygenated by simple means and is reused again and again in the fish rearing tanks” (Source: http://www.northernaquafarms.com/aquaphonics.html). Lettuce, chives, tomatoes and cucumbers all have successfully been raised in aquaponics; in addition to flowers such as rose or lilies. This simple process permits the recycling of water that would otherwise be considered useless waste. The functionally of this system is based on a mutual exchange: the plants purify the water while they get extra nutriments in exchange from the fish. This approach is totally eco-friendly since not only water is recycled, but also the usually chemical fertilizers are not need and cannot be used since they are harmful to the integration of the plants and fish. This system is revolutionary insofar a well operated structure uses “about one tenth of the water required for normal vegetable growing and reduces the water needed for single usage fish farming by 95% or greater” (Source: http://www.northernaquafarms.com/aquaphonics.html). This year long sustainable method of agriculture is particularly popular in Australia a country that has suffered numerous draughts.

In the United States, aquaponics seems to be at a early flourishing stage with a gradual increase in sales and demand. Rebbeca Nelson part of the Nelson & Pade company, publishes the Aquaponics Journal ( http://www.aquaponicsjournal.com/) and sells aquaponics systems in the USA. She has stated that subscriptions have doubled in the past years and she “estimates that there may be 800 to 1,200 aquaponics set-ups in American homes and yards and perhaps another 1,000 bubbling away in school science classrooms” (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/garden/18aqua.html?_r=1).  If you are intrigued by aquaponics but have long-term commitment issues, an Atlanta based company called Earth Solution sells kits on the internet called “ farm in a box” that range from a price of 300$  to 3, 000$.  According to experts, aquaponics will replace hydroponics on the long term considering that it has considerable advantages over the practice of hydroponics: first of all the nutrient source is organic since it derives from fish waste and second of all, aquaponics provides a protein crop that is lacking in hydroponics.

This environmental friendly system is quickly developing in the United States and soon enough the industry will develop for both salt and fresh water fish. The product seems to be the future of gardening at a time where the world is suffering from a world crisis and where every single drop of water can make the difference.  This system is totally organic and recycles water that maintains the fish alive and enables plants to grow. For countries that suffer from droughts this might be a revolutionary method.

As they move, glaciers slowly remodel their environment thanks to process of erosion and deposition. “A glacier can “carve” a valley, wearing away rocks and soil through abrasion and plucking up and moving large pieces of rock and debris” (Source: http://nsidc.org/glaciers/story/move.html ). A glacier’s life is put on hold when it stops growing in size and starts to move “in retreat”. A glacier’s retreat is mainly caused by increased temperature, evaporation and strong winds. Ablation is a natural part of a glacier’s life “as long as snow accumulation equals or is greater than melt and ablation, glacier are maintained” (Source: http://nsidc.org/glaciers/story/retreat.html). Over the past century an increasing numbers of glaciers have retreated and are slowly disappearing. For the past several years the world climate has been getting considerably warmer, increasing temperatures, rising sea levels are stirring controversy and debate amongst environmentalists.

Scientists like Hugh Kieffer are monitoring and studying climate change by keeping track of the melting of glaciers. “The global scale combined with a long study period will give the scientists the broad perspective needed to determine whether worldwide changes in climate are actually taking place” (Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010529235344.htm ). After only a couple of months of studies, the melting of glaciers all over the world is providing an important evidence for the alarming presence of global warming. Growing or shrinking are normal steps that can take part of a glacier’s life and shouldn’t alarm everyone. The situation becomes more unusual when most glaciers are doing more shrinking than growing all over the world. For instance, the Columbia Glacier located in Prince William Sound, has become the world’s fastest melting glacier. It is sliding into the ocean at a “rate of 80 feet per day and has thinned up to 1,300 feet in places during the past 25 years, dumping 2 cubic miles of ice into the sound annually” (Source: http://www.livescience.com/environment/060324_glacier_melt.html ). In certain situations, a glacier can weaken so much that at a point it simply collapses entirely. The most serious consequence of this glaciers’ disappearing is the alarming rise of sea levels. Within a couple of years, the rising sea levels could submerge coastal regions, putting at risk beautiful and unique cities like Venice.  In the Antarctic Peninsula, ice shelves are connected to the continent while they are already floating on water, keeping in place the sheet of ice of the Antarctic continent. When the ice shelves break off, this renders the situation easy for glaciers to drift off into the sea and cause a rise in the sea level.

Up to now, European glaciers have been the ones more at risk of disappearing due to the consequences of global warming. Since the beginning of the 19^th century, the Pyrenees lost two-thirds of their ice cover. Moreover, more than half of the glaciers in the Alps have already disappeared. “Often called the water tower of Europe, the Alps contain 40% of Europe’s fresh water supply. The dramatic disappearance of ice on the Matterhorn last year has prompted the need for the border between Switzerland and Italy to be redrawn” (Source: http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/top-7-disappearing-glaciers). An additional example of this somewhat tragic situation is the case of the famous Glacier National Monument in Montana. According to the latest reports the area has lost more than 50% of its glaciers.

Global warming is the main cause for the disappearance of glaciers yet; one needs to keep in mind that pollution is in great part responsible for glacier recession. If public opinion seems to be pleased about warmer winters and a more pleasant weather, this change comes with more severe consequences. Global warming is threatening the balance of various precious eco-systems, impacting on the life of glaciers and sea levels. A major attention needs to be paid in regards to the conservation of our planet. Wreckless behaviors and pollution will have a serious impact on our future.

While bubbly water is growing in popularity in the United States, in Europe it has become a main consumption good in demand almost as much as plain water. At a first glance, this seems like a recent trend, yet, don’t be fooled, the first drinkable glass of carbonated water was invented in 1767 by Joseph Priestley, an English chemist and clergyman, he loved to experiment with science. (Source: http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventors/a/JosephPriestley.htm). Priestly was a very active man involved in politics, philosophy and science. “He invented carbonated water and the rubber eraser, identified a dozen key chemical compounds. ” (Source: http://acswebcontent.acs.org/landmarks/landmarks/priestley/). This scientist and friend of Benjamin Franklin, is mostly known for being the man who discovered oxygen.  He discovered that “air” is  not an elementary substance by is composed by a mixture of elements, one of them being “dephlogisticated air” which  today we know as “oxygen”.  This breakthrough presented an important step for the future of science and enabled other scientists to discover other chemical elements.  Oxygen was only the first step that enabled him to created carbonated water at the end on the 18^th century.  It is important to keep in mind that before Priestly’s invention, Mother Nature had already done its part, mineral water could be found in some natural springs around the world. Carbonated Water gained its popularity around the 1830s, when John Mathews – an English-born American inventor and soda water manufacturer; known as “The Soda Fountain King” - invented a new apparatus for creating carbonated water that he later manufactured and started selling to soda fountains owners. Often in partnership with a local pharmacy, soda fountains served as a meeting point for citizens of big and small cities. Soon after, sparkly water, of the natural or artificial kind, started being considered a healthy habit. Pharmacists in America that were selling mineral water started to add medicinal or flavored herbs to the water. The demand for this flavored bubbly water grew rapidly and soon enough people wanted to have this “healthy water” even at home. This gave the starting input to the soft drinking bottling industry (Source: http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/soft_drinks.htm).

Today, most carbonated water on the market is created artificially by forcing carbon dioxide into the water.  It is important to make the distinction that sparkling water is not necessarily natural mineral water. Most sparkly water is created artificially. “ Mineral water is defined as water that contains more than 250 parts per million of a dissolved mineral source. Though some mineral water can be sparkling water with the addition of carbonation, not all sparkling water is mineral water” (Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-makes-sparkling-water-sparkle.htm).  Often, flavored syrups are added to sparkling water to give it an extra sweet taste, while maintaining the quantity of sugar still lower than the one found in the majority of soft drinks.

A lot of controversial studies seem to believe that drinking a lot of carbonated water can have negative effects on our body and health. Sparkling water contains dissolved CO2 gas that some people believe to be harmful to ingest. “Claims have been made that carbonated water erodes teeth and bones, leaches calcium and increases acidity in the stomach” (Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_5365577_harmful-effects-carbonated-water.html ). When CO2 reacts with water, a chemical reaction occurs and the result is carbonic acid (H2CO3). Some have said that this excess acid can be dangerous for consumers; yet the stomach is much more acid and overrules the acidity of any carbonated drink. When it comes to calcium loss, studies have so far failed to prove a direct connection between acidic ingestion from carbonated water and a significant calcium loss.  Finally, concerning the potential erosion of our teeth, one would have to drink a massive amount of carbonated water in order to risk dissolving the enamel of its teeth. “A study at the University of Birmingham found that carbonation had measurable, but small erosive characteristics, much smaller than the more acidic levels found in sodas, whose pH is driven lower by the addition of phosphoric acid (Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_5365577_harmful-effects-carbonated-water.html ).  On a more positive note, many seem to argue that carbonated water is the magic way to cure an upset stomach.

Not enough studies have been made in order to determine the real consequences of carbonated water. This water has been around since the 18^th century and yet no scientific proofs can be presented against this bubbly liquid. Consuming it in reasonable doses is most likely risk-free and surely much more health than soft drinks that are full of sugar and other chemicals.