Whether your preference is bottled or filtered water, drinking enough water should be on top of your 'to-do' list. Sports drinks, juices and other drinks may help. But water is the best way to keep your family hydrated this summer.

Summer is often a hectic time for families. These months are typically packed with outdoor activities, family vacations and summer camps. All of this increased activity poses a risk of dehydration. This risk is especially high for children, since they tend to drink less water and may not realize when they're becoming dehydrated. Moreover, pregnant women and new moms are negatively affected if they do not drink enough water through the day.

Water maintains your body temperature and removes toxins through sweat and urine. It's also necessary for the proper functioning of your tissues and internal organs.

Due to rising temperatures, your body could lose much of its water content through sweat. And when your body doesn't get back enough water, it could cause serious health problems.

Everybody's water needs are different. Depending upon how much water your body has lost, you could experience a range of symptoms. The most common signs of dehydration are dry skin, muscle cramps, headaches, crankiness and exhaustion. Sometimes it leads to increased heart rate, shortness of breath, unclear vision and a low blood pressure. In extreme cases, there could also be permanent kidney damage, seizures or even death.

So, if you know how to prevent dehydration and keep an eye out for these signs early on, you can save yourself and your family a whole lot of trouble.

Proper hydration starts with changing a few habits. Here are a few simple pointers:

Culligan's Reverse Osmosis systems and whole house water filters can help you get fresh drinking water at all times and avoid the serious health problems associated with dehydration.