Water Filtration

Fresh water is essential to our health and comfort. Not only do we rely on it to stay hydrated, we use it in many other ways including bathing, cleaning and cooking food, and laundering our clothes. Fresh water has long been a concern of both public communities and private individuals, and several different water purification systems and treatment technologies have been developed to help ensure that tap water is safe for human consumption. But how do these different technologies compare?

Whether you get your water from a well or a city system, water sources can become contaminated by bacteria, runoff, and improper treatment. Even if water isn’t contaminated, it may contain iron and other hard minerals that cause discoloration and can build up in the body, or chlorine that leaves an unpleasant odor and taste. Consequently, many people choose to treat or filter their water to improve flavor and protect against contaminants.

Chlorine is commonly used by municipal water treatment plants and is effective in killing many different bacteria. However, it is not effective against some organisms such as Cryposporidium and Giardia. Both of these organisms can be found in lakes, rivers, and ground water and can cause serious intestinal illness.

As mentioned, many people feel that chlorine leaves an unpleasant taste and smell. In addition, there have been numerous cases where the city water supply became contaminated despite the fact that it was treated. People with city water supplies often use other water purifiers and home water filters to ensure that their water is pure and tastes good. The three most common options are carbon filters, reverse osmosis water filters, and ultraviolet light water purification.

Each of these technologies uses a different approach to treat water, and they each have different levels of effectiveness against various contaminants. One may work well to remove chemicals but be completely ineffective against bacteria, and vice versa.

In reality, there is no single filter or treatment that will eliminate every contaminant from your water. The best approach is to have your water tested for contaminants and then purchase a home water purifier that guards against the particular contaminants that cause you concern.

Another option is to combine treatment technologies. Most higher-end systems use a combination of carbon filters and one of the other treatment technologies to achieve the best results. Let’s look at the different technologies to see where each is effective.

Carbon Filters

Carbon is one of the most powerful absorbents available and it has been used for many years as a means of removing impurities. The absorbing powers of carbon can be further enhanced by adding a slightly positive electrical charge. This is known as activated carbon, and it is used in many standard home water filters. As the water passes over the positively charged carbon, the negative ions of the contaminants are drawn to the surface of the carbon granules and removed from the water.

Activated carbon filters typically use granular activated carbon (GAC) or powdered block carbon. Both work well for filtering and purifying but carbon block filters have been shown to remove more contaminants. Either type of activated carbon filters help reduce or remove a wide variety of contaminants, including:

• volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)
• pesticides and herbicides
• chlorine, radon, and other chemicals often found in tap water.

However, unless they are densely compacted, most carbon block filters are not effective at removing heavy metals or bacteria. For this reason, many people consider combining carbon filters with one of the other types of water purification systems.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

Reverse osmosis, also known as hyperfiltration or ultra-filtration, was developed with U.S. government funding as a means of desalinating ocean water. A reverse osmosis water purifier uses a semi-permeable membrane that allows pure water to pass through it, while contaminants are trapped by the tiny pores in the membrane.

The process requires that the water be pressurized to help force it through the membrane. Most standard residential water systems have sufficient pressure. Like activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis also uses charged particles to help filter out impurities.

The effectiveness of a reverse osmosis water purifier depends on the density of the membrane. A membrane with larger pores will obviously let larger impurities pass through. It is also important that the membrane be cleaned regularly for proper functioning.

Higher quality reverse osmosis water filters use a process known as crossflow to allow the membrane to continually clean itself. Crossflow directs some of the water downstream from the membrane, sweeping the rejected contaminants away so they do not build up and block the membrane.

There are two types of membranes commonly used in reverse osmosis water filters –Thin Film Composite (TFC) and Cellulose Triacetate (CTA). TFC membranes are noticeably more effective the CTA membranes but they tend to be less resistant to the deteriorating effects of chlorine. This problem can be avoided by using an activated carbon pre-filter to remove the chlorine first.
Reverse osmosis water purifiers come in different sizes and styles including countertop and whole house water purification systems. They are capable of filtering out a long list of contaminants including:

• chlorine and other treatment related products
• bacteria
• salts, sugars, proteins
• dyes
• heavy metals

One drawback of reverse osmosis water filters is that they are more expensive than carbon filter treatment systems. Also, the purification process is usually somewhat slow due to the use of pressurized water. It can take an entire day to produce 15 gallons of purified water. And a typical reverse osmosis water purifier may need up to 8 gallons of untreated water to generate a single gallon of purified water.

UV Water Purification

As the name implies, ultraviolet light water purification systems use ultraviolet (UV) light to treat water and render microorganisms harmless. The UV light comes from a high intensity lamp that is usually enclosed in a protective quartz sleeve. When water passes through the water treatment system, the UV light damages the structure of any organisms and makes them sterile.

Although a UV water purifier requires electricity to operate, it draws about the same amount of energy as a light bulb. However, the lamp bulb itself needs to be replaced every year to ensure adequate intensity.

While whole house UV water purification systems are effective on most bacteria, viruses, molds, algae and other organisms, they do not remove chlorine, heavy metals, VOCs, or other chemicals. And countertop UV systems, which expose the water to UV lighting for less time, do not always remove all organisms.

UV water purifiers average around $700 for a whole house system, making them more expensive initially than other types of treatments. In addition, without a pre-filter system, contaminants can build up and reduce the intensity of the UV lamp. For these reasons, many people combine UV water purification systems with carbon filters, which also increases the costs.

As you can see, each of the three common water purification systems has its advantages and drawbacks. Deciding which is best depends on your budget and the type of water contaminants you want to remove or prevent. A test of your tap water will help you determine the appropriate water filtration system for your needs.

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If you are one of the people who have resisted getting a countertop purification system because you don’t want a big, clunky device sitting atop your sink, then maybe you should consider one of those under sink water filters. An undersink water filter would be completely out of your way.
Under sink water filters have grown in popularity due to the fact that many people simply don’t want anything in their kitchen that is going to interfere with their décor. People often put a lot of work and money into the kitchen in order to get everything that they want and need for their kitchen to function optimally.

This is one of the reasons that I think that an undersink water filter may be the perfect solution for you. It is every bit as effective as any of the countertop filters, and it mounts neatly out of sight below your sink. It is an easy unit to install and comes with all of the mounting hardware that you need.

So, what should you be looking for as far as performance from your under sink water filters? You should be first and foremost looking for a product that is either UL,NSF, or California Department of Health certified. This way you know that your appliance is in full performance compliance with regulations.

An under sink water filter should be capable of removing all of the available categories of contaminants that are currently found in our drinking water supply, and not just chlorine. Many of the machines on the market will call themselves water purifiers, but will only remove chlorine, so be careful.

High quality under sink water filters should be equipped to remove all manner of chemicals and parasites by utilizing several different filtering devices all in the single unit. The layering of these filters is what gives you the kind of thorough protection that you and your family need.

An undersink water filter should provide you with four different filters for your security. These four are an activated granular carbon filter, a multi media block, an ion exchange filter, and a sub micron filter. The four of these filters working together will effectively remove everything that you have in your water.

When shopping for under sink water filters, it is important that you ask for a Performance Data Sheet on each of the different products that you are comparing. This will give you a breakdown of all of the various contaminants that the product will block, and to what degree it will block them.
This is important information that allows you to compare one undersink water filter with another, and to be able to make an educated decision about which model is the better of the two. After all, when it comes to protecting your family’s health, you want to make sure that the product that you choose is the very best.

I hope that this will help you in deciding that under sink water filters are the way that you want to go for providing protection for your family.

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You don’t have nitrates in your water? Think again—You might well have them. During certain times of the year, like in the warmer months, have increased levels of nitrates in the water. Nitrates are highest in ground water which provides drinking water for more than half of the Nation’s population. Groundwater is also the sole source of drinking water for many rural communities and some large cities and accounts for 96% of self-supplied systems (which includes well-water.) Many cities are on well water that is pumped into big cisterns. Different cisterns are used at different times of the year to supply the cities with water.

Health affects of Nitrates: Nitrates affect the red blood cells by disrupting oxygen availability which leads to blue baby syndrome, reduced vitality, increased stillbirths, spontaneous abortion, low birth weights and slow weight gain in livestock. The scientific name for this is methemoglobinemia. Boiling water will not reduce nitrate levels.

What is nitrate and where does it come from? Nitrate is the oxidized form of nitrogen. Nitrogen is found naturally everywhere. We get nitrates through applying manure or fecal material (from poorly or untreated sewer treatment), NPK or ammonium nitrate fertilizers to fields. Nonagricultural sources of nitrate come from lawn fertilizers, leaching septic systems, and domestic animals in residential areas. Also producing large amounts of nitrates are paper mills and munitions plants.

Nitrates can persist in ground water for decades and accumulate to high levels as more nitrogen is applied each year. Applications of nitrates to enhance our food supply started as early as the 1950’s, so our soils have been building up excess nitrates for quite some time. When plants have absorbed all they need for their growth, the excess contained in the solid runs off into surface waters, streams and rivers eventually entering our water system.

The USGS (United States Geological Survey) released a report in 1996 revealing that nitrate concentrations in the nation’s groundwater supply are increasing steadily. In this report it stated that 9% of our wells tested had nitrate concentrations exceeding the EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate which is 10 mg. /liter.

But I use a water filter, you say. What kind of a water filter? Most countertop water filters do not remove nitrates. Nitrates are one substance that needs to be filtered out with a good whole-house water system or reverse osmosis system (which does not include table-top water filters that only remove chlorine and odors.)

We now have the ability to test for nitrates, iron, chlorine, hardness, pH and dissolved solids using at-home test kits. So, be safe. . .test your water or have it tested today.

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On the market today, there are products referred to as chlorine shower filters. They are small in size but large in benefits. Chlorine filters for shower heads are the latest craze, and for good reason, but why should you get one for yourself?

Chlorine is very bad for your hair. I’m sure you’ve noticed the effects first hand after you’ve been swimming. Chlorine can bleach your hair and after some time turn your hair a shade of green. It can also harden hair as well as give your skin a blotchy texture. The dryness of the skin goes away with lotions but returns a short time later. Chlorine shower filters can help you prevent that same phenomena that happens after swimming from happening in your shower.

The beautician’s answer to this problem is chlorine shower filters. Removing the chlorine will improve your skin and grant a smooth glowing look. Your hair will also become much softer and easy to manage and any coloring will last much longer. Generally everything looks and feels good.

There are other problems with chlorine. It can cause irritation in the eyes and skin. Chlorine filters for shower heads keep the irritations away and let your skin be its natural self again.

The doctors who treat allergies also recommend chlorine shower filters. They say they are a safer, side-effect free method of dealing with chlorine aggravated respiratory problems. Chlorine is inhaled when you take a hot shower. It’s when water turns to steam that you breathe the contaminates in the water. This can aggravate most respiratory allergies and asthma, causing anything ranging from general discomfort to full on attacks. Chlorine Shower filters are again to the rescue. This time recommended by the doctors.

Chlorine can also be transformed into chloroform gas when the chemical comes in contact with bacteria. Chloroform gas can give rise to headaches, dizziness and fatigue to anyone who comes in contact with it, so choose a chlorine filter for shower heads to get rid of the chlorine and the problem.

Chlorine shower filters are designed with you and your problems in mind. Chlorine filters for shower heads come recommended from a whole list of people and doctors.

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It is a known fact that our water supplies are contaminated with chlorine, bacteria, fluoride, parasites and many other pollutants. A counter top filter can help to ensure that when we are drinking and cooking, we are safe from harmful contaminants. Typically, counter top filtration systems come in two forms. One with a cartridge that periodically gets changed and the other where no interference is needed.

The changeable cartridge systems usually have a period of use from 6 months to a year. They are easy to install and usually very effective.

The filters that don’t require any cartridge changing usually have a period of use from 1 year to 3 years. However after that time a whole new filtration system will need to be installed.

There is a wide range of counter top filters that use different filtration technologies. One of the best types of filtration technologies is the KDF Filters. They remove 99.9% chlorine, heavy metals (lead, aluminum, iron, mercury, chromium, cadmium, barium), pesticides, THM’s, MTBE, inorganic arsenic and bacteria.

Shop and compare online to find the right counter top water filter that will suit your needs. Different filtration technologies will remove different pollutants. The best thing to do is to have your h2o tested so that you know what you are dealing with. A countertop filter is easy to install and can be highly effective. After the filtration process, you will be left with a clean and safe drinking water supply.

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A portable water purifier can come in handy many times, including the aftermath of a natural disaster or while camping. There is, however something that you need to keep in mind when considering having fresh, clean drinking water and that is there is a difference between filtered water and purified water. All filtered water may not be safe for human consumption and even when using a portable water purifier the water can still hold floating contaminants that can alter the appearance and taste of the water.

No matter the reason or the amount of water required, there will be a portable water purifier to meet your needs. From small units that fit into the top of a water bottle to much larger ones, big enough to supply purified water to hundreds of people in a short period, a portable water purifier can turn some of the worst types of water into potable water for drinking and cooking. Although purified water is usually safe for drinking, unless many of the floating particles in the water have been removed, it may not taste or smell very good.

In order to be safe a purification unit is necessary, even though filtering will remove many of the smallest particulate matter, including metals and some bacteria. Even a portable water purifier can kill all the bacteria and germs living in the water to prevent them from causing disease when ingested.

On The Camping Trail Portable Units Handy

Having a portable water purifier, especially for campers, allows them to have a continuous supply of clean water while on the trail without having to carry large amounts of water with them. Before passing the dirty water through a portable water purifier to completely clean it of dirt, smell and bacteria, first run the water through portable water filters to remove any sediment.

There are different methods of purifying water, including the use of chlorine and iodine, but these chemicals often leave an unpleasant odor in the water and despite it being safe to drink, water from a chemical portable water purifier may not be acceptable to some users. Ultraviolet purifiers use the power of the sun to create heat to kill bacteria and some others use an electrical charge to kill any living things in the water. Using membrane filters small enough to capture bacteria are also popular types of portable water purifiers, but require pressure to force the water through the filter.

There are also in recent years a few disaster use water filters that can provide pure, safe water without the use of power or high pressure. These filters are a favorite with RV and boat owners, as well. Just make sure that no matter which filter you go with you don’t trade quality for cost, especially if it’s to be used in an emergency. 

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Water quality issues are growing, and as they do, under sink water filters become more and more of an advantage to households, not only in terms of taste and clarity but for health and well being. Many studies now show that tap water contains impurities that are not illegal but are unhealthy and even carcinogenic. Most of these substances are chemicals that humans are introducing into the H2O supply.
The activities that are producing these chemicals, and the need for undersink water filters, are ones that humans cannot discontinue. Most of the chemicals are ones that are meant in some other way to help humans. For instance, chlorine is used to purify water of diseases such as typhoid and dysentery, but when we drink it or bathe in it, it seeps into our bloodstream and is harmful. Basically, we’re drinking and bathing in small amounts of bleach every day. We won’t even wash our clothes in bleach every day, yet we do our bodies, because of the need for chlorine during purification. It’s a staggering issue.
Other harmful chemicals that can be removed by under sink water filters are those produced by agricultural runoff like pesticides and fertilizers as well as chemicals resulting from household cleansers being improperly disposed of. These substances can be not only carcinogenic but lead to degenerative diseases of the nervous system.
So, is it safe to say that any of the undersink water filters will take care of this problem? Absolutely not. In fact, the only type of filter that is scientifically designed to chemically bond with these substances and safely remove them is the activated carbon filter. They are based on the latest technology in water healthfulness and they are designed to be simple to install, maintain, and operate. They cost less than ten cents a gallon to boot.
Other under sink water filters like reverse osmosis and distillation remove minerals and metals that were thought to be harmful, but are actually helpful to human health and add to good taste. Sedimentary filtration systems also fall short of removing the harmful chemicals, because they focus on large particulates like sand.
Using activated carbon undersink water filters is also far simpler and better for your health than bottled water. In fact, studies show that most bottled water is truly no more than tap water in a bottle. The National Resource Commission has studied the quality of bottled brands and has categorically dismissed it as worse than tap water in that the plastic jug in which it is housed leeches chemicals into the water which are clearly carcinogenic and disruptive to the nervous system over time.
Undersink water filters require a little work to install, but not so much that you’ll need to hire someone to do the work. With a few tools and good direction following, you should have filtered water running through your faucet in no time. Don’t forget about the advantages of installing a shower water filter, too. Chloroform, the gaseous form of chlorine, is bad for our lungs and the chlorine itself is drying to the skin and hair.
No one wants to bathe in a swimming pool regularly or wash our clothes in bleach every day, and no more should we wash ourselves in so much chlorine. Shower water filters, like the under sink water filters, are easy to install and maintain. And for those living in apartments, they can be easily moved to the new location when the time comes.

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You may have seen water filters for shower heads being heavily advertised recently. Shower filters for copper and chlorine are becoming easier to find. At one time, water filters for shower heads were rarely seen in homes, but today, things have changed.

The notion that a home would need shower filters for copper and chlorine would seem outlandish to some. But, those who have experienced a shower with water contaminated with either would say otherwise. Once you try water filters for shower heads, it’s really hard to go back to unfiltered water.

It is doubtful that anyone would choose to bathe in a swimming pool on a daily basis, or ever at all. Why not? Most people would point out the chlorine content of the pool water. It doesn’t exactly give one that clean feeling you would want from a bath or shower. In fact, it usually will leave you with a burning sensation in your eyes. You would not want to go to work with bloodshot eyes and smelling like you have been swimming all night.

But, if you do not have water filters for shower heads in you home, you may be doing just that. You see, the chlorine content deemed safe for tap water is unsafe to swim in, according to pool experts.

But shower filters for copper AND chlorine? You might wonder what the big deal with copper is. I have never heard of copper poisoning, you say, what is the big deal? It is a good question.

Copper is poisonous, but only in large doses. Much more than you could experience in your shower water. Copper in the water can discolor your pipes, and perhaps laundry you may be doing in your home. The thing with copper is, if the water filters for shower heads in your home can filter copper, than they would also be effective against other harmful substances, particularly lead.

Not many people would ask about the dangers of lead poisoning. Lead in your water will do much more than stain the pipes or your new shorts and, unlike copper, lead can be harmful in much smaller doses.

While lead contamination in water is rare, the occurrence can rise significantly in more urban environments where the infrastructure was built at a time where construction was much less regulated and subject to shady building practices. The dangers of lead poisoning are well documented and the presence of lead can be difficult to detect. You can’t see it or smell it. If you are letting your kids bathe without shower filters for copper and chlorine and you haven’t had your water tested, you could be putting their health and yours at risk.

Shower filters for copper and chlorine together can give valuable piece of mind to anyone concerned about the quality of the water in their house. Knowing that the best water filters for shower heads reduce not only copper and chlorine, but other substances such as lead can only help put any concerned home owner at ease.

While equipping your home with these shower filters for copper and chlorine is a good place to start, anyone concerned about potential dangers in their water should get their water tested. There are many high-quality take-home kits available. Most municipalities will also test your water at no charge, if you suspect a problem. If you do suspect a problem, then chances are you do need water filters for shower heads.

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Why countertop water filters?

All of your life, you’ve probably been told how important it is to drink at least six glasses of fresh water per day. There’s nothing like cool, fresh water to kill thirst, help flush out toxins in your body and help give you energy. However, you probably don’t trust (or like the taste) of your tap water. So, you get bottled water. But the cost of bottled water is getting out of hand. On top of that, environmentalists say that water bottles are not biodegradable. Now what do you do?

One of the most economical and safe ways to get clean water is with a countertop water filter system. You have a large up front cost - but hardly any long-term maintenance costs. Compare this to having to shell out more an more per week for bottled water. In the long run, a count ertop water filter can help save you money and help save the environment.

Storage Space

You ever think about how much energy you have to spend for buying bottled water? You have to drive to the store, carry the bottles or jugs to your car, drive them to your home and unload them to wherever you store them. By then, you can certainly use a refreshing drink. Or, you could avoid all of hassle that with a countertop water filter system.

Countertop water filters have also become smaller over the years and more portable. This not only has made them more economical, but easier to store. Decades ago, if you wanted a countertop water filter system, you were basically out of luck. The only water filter systems were under the counter and seemed to be as large as a baby elephant.

And they last a long time, too. It used to be that many water filters were carbon-based. Carbon can get quite messy and doesn’t filter out bacterial contaminants very well. Now, with some countertop water filters, you can have a small filter that doesn’t need changing for six months or 500 gallons.

Don’t Need Special Training

Unlike almost anything else having to do with plumbing, you can install a good quality countertop water filter system in a few minutes by yourself. The best brands will come with a video detailing the installation instructions. Special tools aren’t necessary, either. So, you don’t have to take the day off of work and sit around twiddling your thumbs waiting for the plumber to show up.

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For the health conscious the idea that drinking plenty of water is very important is well known. Our bodies are made up of 70% water, and we require a steady influx of pure, clean water to keep our systems functioning normally. Unfortunately, even with the availability of clean water to nearly every household, very few Americans actually drink water. One of the reasons is that people prefer a cold drink, and many actually complain about the taste of water (though most would say water is tasteless). If you are concerned about your health, then a refrigerator water filter may be just what you need.

Refrigerator Water Filter: Affordable Luxury

Most modern refrigerators now come with ice-makers and water dispensers. These features used to be the domain of only the highest priced units, but the cost of these refrigerators has come down considerably in the last few years, and now ice-maker ‘fridges are very competitive.

An ice-maker refrigerator is attached directly to the household water supply, generally via a copper pipe in the back of the unit. Many of these refrigerators already have a refrigerator water filter installed. This can usually be found inside the ‘fridge cabinet, and on some models in the bottom tray of the refrigerator.

For those that have an ice-making refrigerator that does not come with a built-in refrigerator water filter, it is still possible to have one installed. The refrigerator water filter would need to be installed into the water line that supplies the ‘fridge, either behind the unit itself, or in an adjacent cupboard. Remember that you will need to change the filters occasionally, so determining an easy-access location is important.

Refrigerator Water Filter: Charcoal for Health

Refrigerator water filters usually consist of an activated charcoal capsule. This system allows for a small space consideration, and is one of the best water filtration methods available, owing to the incredible absorptive qualities of activated charcoal. The refrigerator water filter is excellent at removing contaminants such as lead, mercury and copper from the water supply, as well as the commonly used chlorine.

Once these contaminants are removed from the water, and the water has been chilled to a nice, cool temperature, you will find the taste incredibly refreshing. This will encourage you and your family to drink a lot more water, and fresh, purified water at that! The overall benefit to you and your family’s health is the best reason to consider investing in a refrigerator water filter.

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