The Facts on Drinking Water Filter Systems
Don’t buy just any drinking water filter system. Get your facts straight first. There are some very effective and affordable products on the market, but there are a number of overpriced and ineffective ones, too. Here is how to tell the difference.
The most expensive products include a reverse osmosis step. If your home is hooked up to a public water-line, you do not need reverse osmosis. You don’t want it, either, because it reduces the natural mineral content, which affects the taste and the healthfulness of your water.
The problem that a lot of people have when getting a filtration system for their water, is finding one that doesn’t also filter out the minerals. Some filtering systems get rid of most everything; however there are systems out there that only get rid of chlorine.
Chlorine reduction is important, but wherever there is chlorine, there are chemicals that increase your risk of cancer. Studies indicate that exposure to THMs (trihalomethanes), present in chlorinated water, doubles your risk of bladder cancer.
You see recent studies have shown that water does not have to be consumed by drinking it for you to take on contaminants that are in it. It has been shown that some of these contaminants are so small that they can get into your body through your pores by taking a shower, or even airborne by inhaling them.
In other words, the THM level is too high. You need a drinking water filter system and you also need a device for your shower head to reduce your risks. The EPA warns that microscopic parasites, primarily cryptosporidium and giardia, may be present in any publicly treated supply at any time. They further warn that they may even be present in bottled brands.
If you haven’t heard about it there has been a case where the tap water in a portion of Milwaukee, Wisconsin had been contaminated and thousands suffered illness. How did this happen you ask? Well it is not uncommon for parasites and other micro organisms to get into the water supply that is set up for a town.
By the time the public was warned, it was too late. Facilities do not test for the parasites on a daily basis, so contamination can happen quickly without anyone being aware. The only way to be truly safe is to install a drinking water filter system that is certified to filter down to at least one micron.
When looking for a good system for filtering your water, you will want to make sure that you get one that is certified for “cyst” removal. If you are unfamiliar with what cyst is, it is a stage at which the parasites in your water are resistant to chlorine and can only be removed by filtration.
Water filtration systems come with a lot different things, including guarantees and certifications. One of the certifications that you should look for when purchasing a new system is that it has an Underwriter’s Laboratory Certification. The ultimate goal here is that you clean your water up, so that you and your family can feel safe drinking it. So go out there today and get yourself a new drinking water filtration system and be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.
Derek Reeve is a committed researcher of the best and safest drinking water purification systems which are the most effective, efficient and affordable products available.