Water Filtration

Water is the single most important element for human existence, yet many people do not know much about water. Water comprises 60% of a human’s body weight, counts for 80% of our blood, and comprises over 65% of our brain and muscles. Knowing this, one can see why choosing the best water to drink is of the impost importance. The two main types of water commonly chosen for their healthy properties are bottled water and water that has been filtered via a refrigerator water filter. Knowing the difference between these to types of water will surely help anyone make an educated choice as to what type of water they want to drink.

One of the first differences between refrigerator water filter systems and bottled water is the cost. There is no doubt that refrigerator water filter systems are cheaper than buying bottled water. They are even cheaper than buying cheap store brand water in bulk. Bottled water has to be so expensive because of packaging, shipping and marketing. Refrigerator water filter systems do not have to deal with massive marketing campaigns or packaging, and so they can charge the consumer less.

More important than the cost of one’s water choice is the health factors involved. Many people believe that bottled water is the only healthy water, but this is not true. In fact, some studies have shown that bottled water is less healthy than a refrigerator water filter system. Bottled water suffers because there are often chemicals from the plastic in which the water is stored that become mixed in with the water. Sadly, some companies fill their bottled water with mere tap water. There are no federal regulations concerning the quality of bottled water, so many major companies go unchecked. Refrigerator water filter systems tell the user exactly what has been filtered out of the water, so the user knows the kinds of chemicals he or she is avoiding. The healthiest people are, more often than not, also the best informed. Knowing exactly what is in your water will help you to live healthier.

It is essential to be conscious of the environment in which we live. Bottled water can be recycled, but how much of the plastic is re-used? Additionally, many avid water bottle drinkers do not recycle. The plastics used in water bottles may never fully decompose because of the nature of their chemical bonds. Refrigerator water filter systems are non-obtrusive to the environment. There is no plastic to throw out, and no harmful fumes.

Bottled water versus refrigerator water filters is a heated debate. For consumers who are health conscious, cost savvy, and environmentally sound, the choice is obvious. Refrigerator water filter systems are cheaper, healthier, and better for the environment. Some may think that bottled water is a great new trend, but personal health is more important than any trend. For the best personal health, it is advisable to choose a refrigerator water filter system.

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A countertop water filter system is one option for purifying and improving the quality of your tap water. But, be careful, not all countertop water filter systems are the same. Here’s what you need to know.

Scientific research has shown that the American water supply is contaminated with cancer causing chemicals, toxic lead, tiny parasites that can cause illness or even death, and other industrial pollutants that are simply unsafe for human consumption.

There is at least one countertop water filter system that claims to “purify” your tap water. So, you would think that it works to remove all of the contaminants mentioned here. But, in truth, it only removes chlorine and its odor.

Back to the research. Independent surveys have shown that most bottled water companies use tap water. If the label says “purified drinking water” or something similar, then the manufacturer takes tap water and runs it through something like a countertop water filter system. Maybe a good one, maybe not.

The only way you could tell for sure would be to send it in for laboratory analysis. Let’s not even get started on the mountains of plastic bottles that are filling up our landfills.

How about some more facts, just to help you understand why you need a good countertop water filter system and possibly a whole house filter or at least one for the kitchen tap and one for the shower. 80,000 different toxic chemicals are used by Americans every day. 1000 new toxic chemicals are created annually for one purpose or another. All of them can either be classified as synthetic organic chemicals or volatile organic chemicals or something similar. All of them eventually end up in the water. The average countertop water filter system only removes chlorine, which is added at the treatment facility to kill bacteria, algae and other living organisms.

You may think that your treatment facility has a system that was designed to remove all of those chemical contaminants. Sadly, that is not the case. Plus, things like toxic lead are seeping into the water after it leaves the treatment facility. The average system does nothing to remove lead.

In home water filter systems are the only good way to provide cleaner drinking water for your family. But, you should do some comparative shopping before you buy any countertop water filter system. In order to help you choose the right product, some companies provide a certified performance data sheet. This document lists all of the contaminants that can be blocked by the filter, as well as what they cost to use. You’ll see great variations when you compare one countertop water filter system to another.

The most expensive products are not always the best. Reverse osmosis and distillation are still on the market, even though studies have shown that drinking the de-mineralized water that these systems emit is not good for your long-term health. You want a countertop water filter system that balances the mineral content for best taste and most healthful beverages.

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The value of under sink water filters varies, as do the prices of the units. A high priced undersink water filter isn’t necessarily a better value. It’s the performance of the product, the contaminant reduction that’s most important. Here’s how to find the right purification device for your home.

Generally speaking, under sink water filters cost more than those that sit on the kitchen counter, or attach to the faucet. The primary reason for the increased price is the need for a separate faucet, which most companies include. Normally, it takes the place of your sprayer, but you can drill a new hole, so that you still have the sprayer and the additional faucet. One of the advantages of an undersink water filter is to free up some counter space.

Of all the products on the market, there are really only two highly effective brands. One costs nearly $800. The other costs around $150., but if there is no difference in quality, then why would you pay four times as much?

The company that makes the more expensive brand goes by the name of Ever-pure®. They market their products as being the “best” point of use or home purification devices. They also market to businesses and industries. The Ever-pure® undersink water filter reduces chlorine, odors, THMs, VOCs, cysts, lead and other contaminants. Many of the cheap brands only reduce chlorine. They’re basically charcoal filters.

The $150 under sink water filters which are made by a company called Crystal Quest provide the same or better contaminant reduction. When it comes to lead, the Ever-pure® product only reduces it to the federal action level, a maximum contaminant level set up by the US EPA for public providers. The $150 product reduces lead by 99% or more. It’s the purification technology that makes the difference here.

The Ever-pure® undersink water filter relies on reverse osmosis for contaminant reduction. They have added to it other steps including granular carbon and special media to trap the chemicals that are not removed through reverse osmosis. They sell cheaper products, but there is always “something” that is not removed by them. The only one of there models that reduces THMs and VOCs is the $800 model.

The less expensive, but still effective Crystal quest brand relies on ion exchange to reduce lead. They use granular carbon and multiple filtering media to reduce chlorine, THMs, VOCs and other chemicals. Then, they use submicron filtration to remove cysts. Submicron filtration is similar to reverse osmosis, but the technology is more advanced and less expensive.

As is the case with computers and other electronic devices, technological advancements have allowed companies to make effective under sink water filters for less. The older technology of reverse osmosis makes a more expensive undersink water filter, but not necessarily a better one.

Don’t listen to the advertising and marketing. If you want value, you want a multi-stage selective filtration device, plain and simple. That’s how you get the most effective and affordable under sink water filters for your home.

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What are the best countertop water filter models on the market? There is a lot of information out there about filters, and it’s very easy to get information overload when researching.

There are literally tons of different models you can get, and choosing the right filter is not an easy decision. First of all, perhaps the most important part of any endeavor you want to accomplish is knowing what avoid.

This also applies to countertop water filters. The Clean and Pure filter is one particular brand that has seen a lot of attention latterly, and supposedly purifiers your water without requiring any upkeep at all.

It’s being sold on the Home Shopping Network for thirty five dollars, and it claims not to even need any new cartridges.

The company likewise says the installation process is very easy, but this is all what you’d expect them to say. After all, they want to sell it. The reality is, this model has received a lot of complaints from the consumers.

Most of the customers who complained said that the installation process was not simple, the filter did not have all the parts needed to run properly, and the adaptors also didn’t fit from time to time.

There are many other complaints about the countertop water filter, and if you want to see them, just read reviews online. However these aren’t even the largest issue with the system.

It simply doesn’t purify the water, at least not most of it. Really the only thing it does purify from the water system is the chlorine, which helps with the smell and taste, but really nothing else. It doesn’t do a whole lot, if anything, for your health.

Obviously, there are many, many harmful substances in water, chlorine being only one of them. To sum up, it’s definitely best to look elsewhere for your countertop water filter.

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