**Reno's Rust: City Pipes Crashing Youth Enzymes?**

By Franklin Everett Shaw

January 5, 2026

The tap water in Reno tastes a little…off. It’s not just your imagination. The city’s aging infrastructure, a complex web of pipes laid decades ago, might be silently impacting your health at a cellular level. Specifically, it could be affecting your NAD+ levels and sirtuin activity, two crucial components of healthy aging.

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme vital for hundreds of metabolic processes in your body. Sirtuins are a family of proteins that rely on NAD+ to function, playing a key role in DNA repair, inflammation reduction, and overall cellular health. Declining NAD+ levels are a hallmark of aging, and reduced sirtuin activity accelerates this decline.

Reno’s water system, while meeting regulatory standards, faces challenges. Older pipes can leach trace amounts of heavy metals like lead and copper, even if the levels are below the EPA’s action level. These metals, even in small quantities, can act as mitochondrial disruptors. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of your cells, and their dysfunction directly impacts NAD+ production.

Here’s the connection: Mitochondrial stress triggers inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a known NAD+ killer. It diverts resources away from NAD+ production and towards inflammatory responses. This creates a vicious cycle: less NAD+, more inflammation, further reduced NAD+.

So, what can a Reno resident do? You can’t single-handedly replace the city’s water pipes, but you can take proactive steps to protect your NAD+ levels and support sirtuin activity, mitigating the potential impact of Reno’s water.

First, invest in a high-quality water filter. Don’t rely solely on the municipal water treatment. A filter certified to remove lead, copper, and other heavy metals is essential. Consider a reverse osmosis system for the purest water, but even a good activated carbon filter pitcher is a significant improvement.

• Challenge: Many filters only address taste and odor, not heavy metals.
• Solution: Check the filter’s certification. Look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53 certification, which guarantees the filter’s ability to remove specific contaminants, including lead and copper.

Second, optimize your hydration strategy. Aim for at least half your body weight in ounces of filtered water daily. Add electrolytes, especially if you’re active. Electrolytes help with cellular hydration and can support mitochondrial function.

• Pitfall: Drinking too much water without electrolytes can dilute your body’s natural electrolyte balance.
• Actionable Insight: Add a pinch of Himalayan pink salt or a squeeze of lemon to your water for natural electrolytes. Consider a dedicated electrolyte supplement, but choose one without added sugars or artificial sweeteners.

Third, focus on NAD+ boosting nutrients in your diet. Certain foods contain precursors that your body can use to produce NAD+.

• Niacin (Vitamin B3): Found in poultry, fish, and peanuts.

• Tryptophan: An amino acid found in turkey, seeds, and nuts. Your body can convert tryptophan to niacin.

• Foods rich in antioxidants: Berries, leafy greens, and colorful vegetables help combat inflammation, protecting your NAD+ levels.

• Common Mistake: Relying solely on diet. While important, dietary sources of NAD+ precursors may not be sufficient to counteract the effects of environmental stressors.

• Pro Tip: Consider supplementing with NAD+ precursors like nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). These supplements have shown promise in clinical trials for boosting NAD+ levels. Consult with your doctor before starting any new supplement regimen.

Fourth, prioritize sirtuin-activating foods. These foods contain compounds that can directly stimulate sirtuin activity.

• Resveratrol: Found in grapes, red wine, and berries.

• Quercetin: Found in onions, apples, and broccoli.

• Curcumin: Found in turmeric.

• Challenge: The bioavailability of some sirtuin-activating compounds, like resveratrol, can be low.

• Solution: Look for supplements with enhanced bioavailability, such as micronized resveratrol or curcumin with piperine (black pepper extract).

Fifth, manage stress and prioritize sleep. Chronic stress and sleep deprivation are major NAD+ depleters. Implement stress-reducing techniques like meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.

• Pitfall: Ignoring the impact of stress on cellular health.
• Actionable Insight: Even short bursts of mindfulness meditation (5-10 minutes daily) can significantly reduce stress levels and protect your NAD+.

Sixth, consider regular exercise. Exercise, particularly high-intensity interval training (HIIT), can stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis (the creation of new mitochondria), which in turn supports NAD+ production.

• Common Mistake: Overdoing it. Excessive exercise without proper recovery can lead to inflammation and deplete NAD+.
• Pro Tip: Listen to your body and prioritize recovery. Incorporate rest days and consider incorporating low-impact activities like walking or swimming.

Seventh, monitor your health. Consider getting baseline NAD+ levels tested and tracking them over time. This can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your interventions.

• Challenge: NAD+ testing is not yet widely available and can be expensive.
• Solution: Look for specialized labs that offer NAD+ testing. Consider tracking other biomarkers of aging, such as hs-CRP (a marker of inflammation) and fasting blood glucose.

Eighth, advocate for infrastructure improvements. While individual actions are important, addressing the root cause of the problem – Reno’s aging water infrastructure – is crucial for long-term health. Contact your local representatives and advocate for investments in water system upgrades.

• Pitfall: Feeling powerless to effect change.
• Actionable Insight: Join local community groups focused on environmental issues and participate in public forums to voice your concerns.

By taking these proactive steps, Reno residents can mitigate the potential impact of the city’s aging water infrastructure on their NAD+ levels and sirtuin activity, promoting healthy aging and overall well-being. It’s about understanding the potential risks and taking control of your health through informed choices and proactive interventions. Don’t just drink the water; optimize your cellular health.