Water Filtration

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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The Ralph Nader Institute estimates that there are up to 2100 toxic contaminants in our drinking water. That’s a good reason to drink purified water. But why would you consider using whole house water filtration systems?

Here’s 4 good reasons to use whole house water filters.

1. Believe it or not water contaminants can enter your body through your lungs, not just through your stomach by drinking contaminated water. How? Because contaminants in our water can vaporize in our house through the actions of things like showers and dishwashers to form gasses like chloroform and other VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

The US EPA says “Every home has an elevated level of chloroform gas present due to the vaporization of chlorine from tap and shower water.”

Whole house water filtration eliminates this risk.

2. Contaminants in our water can enter your body through your skin as well as your lungs and stomach. Showering in water contaminated with “up to 2100 toxins” means that any of these can enter through your skin. After all, what does an anti smoking patch on your arm do but deliver a chemical into your body through your skin?

3. Whole house water filtration systems help with your dishwashing if you use a dishwasher. You will find less scum and soap remnants on your dishes and you will use less detergent because the detergent you use works more efficiently. Dishes will be cleaner.

4. Washing clothes in filtered water produces much cleaner, healthier and better smelling clothes. Did you know, for example, that clothes washed in water full of chlorine absorb the chlorine and so you are wearing chlorine next to your skin?

So as you can see there are good reasons to consider using a whole house water filtration system. As well as drinking clean water you will notice a wide range of other benefits from using purified and filtered water in your home.

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You probably realize that you should not drink unfiltered tap water because of chlorine and other chemicals in the water, but you may not realize that chlorine vapor that is emitted from the water is also a health hazard. Water filtration products vary in their effectiveness, but the best whole house water filters have been found to block nearly 100% of the chlorine so that it can never be vaporized in your home.

Chlorine gas was first used as a chemical weapon in World War I as a respiratory irritant. Whenever you use hot water for a shower for instance chlorine becomes vaporized. Doctors are recommending shower water filters for their patients who have asthma, but a whole house water filter that blocks chlorine would be far more effective.

Another thing about chlorine is that when it is used by water treatment facilities for disinfection, several “by-products” are released into the water. They are referred to as THMs ( chemical solvents ) and one of them is chloroform gas. Only the best whole house water filters block THMs.

Government agencies have announced that there is some level of chloroform gas in most homes in the United States. The main problem they have sited in their reports was showering in chlorinated water.

Unfortunately, if you live just about anywhere in the United States, you have to shower in chlorinated water. Although government agencies recognize the problems related to chlorinated water, they will not go so far as to recommend any particular type or brand of shower or whole house water filter, but what else can you do?

Exposure to low levels of chloroform gas causes dizziness, headaches and fatigue. Chronic or long term exposure to even small amounts of chloroform gas can also cause damage to the liver and kidneys. As stated previously, a whole house water filter that blocks THMs can protect you from the dangers of chloroform exposure, but the problem is that not every whole house water filter can do the job. Some that block chlorine do not block THMs. It’s illogical, since THMs are a by-product of chlorine, but it’s true, just the same.

Other whole house water filters like reverse osmosis systems, for example, do not even block chlorine. So, you have to shop carefully and request certified performance data before you buy any whole house water filter.

Probably the worst thing is that researchers believe that there is a link between certain types of cancer (rectal and breast cancer are two examples) and showering in chlorinated water. Drinking it and inhaling the chemical is of course a problem, but in the shower it is absorbed through the skin. So, chlorine blocking shower and whole house water filters should be considered cancer preventatives.

We go to many lengths to protect ourselves from the big “C”. When you consider what the right whole house water filter can do, the cost seems unimportant. Just remember that all whole house water filters are not the same and a higher priced system is not always the most effective.

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Whole house water filters have an advantage over the others because with a whole house water filter you can go to any water outlet in your house and get filtered water. You have choices rather than just having one place to get drinking water from.

Whole house water filters also help your pipes stay cleaner. Since filtered water is filtered at the source, your pipes get only clean, filtered water pumped through them. A whole house water filter extends the life of your pipes by reducing the amount of corrosion and deposits caused by water running through them.

Like a central air conditioning unit, they require maintenance. You are advised to change the pre-filters of your system every three or four months to keep your system running in peak form. The only problem is remembering when to do this. Most companies will mail you new filters when they need to be changed. Removing one problem with whole house water filters.

You might think that you have to pay an arm and a leg for this system. On the contrary, the whole house water system costs less than $.50 a day to run. Imagine fresh drinking water from everywhere and all you pay is less than you would for a cookie with your morning coffee. A whole house water filter is very easy on your wallet.

A big problem these days is of our own making. Chlorine can cause respiratory problems, dry skin problems and even cancer. Whole house water filters can neutralize chlorine to a harmless substance. What a Relief! A whole house water filter has reduced your risk.

The University of Wisconsin conducted a study on the effects of ingesting chlorine and cancer in humans. They found a link between the two, an alarming statistic which is negated by whole house water filters. Even if the risk of cancer is small, are you willing to gamble your life for the price of a whole house water filter?

The main filter of whole house water filters was noted by the FDA as the best technology they have ever seen in water filters. They called it a marvel. You should try it and find out for yourself how good the system really is. The health of your family is resting on your decision to get a whole house water filter.

Pesticides and Herbicides are a problem the previous generation did not have. The whole house water filter takes on that responsibility, too. It removes all traces of the chemicals from your water supply and leaves you with pure and refreshing water. A whole house water filter promises to remove the risks from your water

It is reassuring to know that there is a problem solving water cleaner on the market. The whole house water filter is there when you need it. Whole house water filters eliminate all the risks so you can rest reassured in the thought that you are protected against bad water.

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As you probably already know, safe drinking water is a very important issue that calls for your attention and commitment in order to live a healthy life. Fortunately there is a solution for this problem…whole house water filtration systems. Whole house water filtration systems aren’t the only answer, but more and more people are turning to them to ensure that the drinking water for their families is as clean and pure as possible.

You may have realized that a lot of home water filter systems are available in the market and also online. So, how do you know which one is best for you? Your first consideration should be the point from where you would like to filter the tap water. You also have to keep in mind what will be involved in the installation as well as how often maintenance will be required when choosing a water filter.

There are two basic kinds of whole house water filters: the Point-of-Entry water filters and the Point-of-Use filters. The Point-of-Entry begins to filter the water when it first enters your home, this way all the water in your home will be filtered. Still, it would be wise that the water be purified before you drink it. This kind of water filter is great because it removes sediments, chlorine and other toxins.

The Point-of-Use water filters provide clean water so you can drink it or use it for cooking. This filter gets rid of any water contaminant, chemicals and microbes. It uses some basic filtration technologies like distillation.

Determining how efficient the water filter systems are as well as the cost of operating can be done by first checking the water filtration technologies they use to filter and purify the water. Numerous impartial reviews can also be found both in print and online to help you with your decision. But, keep in mind that even though different brands may use the same technology to manufacture their whole house water filters, the price can vary, sometimes drastically, from one manufacturer to another, so the choice should be carefully weighed.

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