October 21, 2008 
This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 at 7:35 pm and is filed under Drinking Water Facts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
According to the EPA, most people do not need to treat their drinking water at home to make it safe. A drinking water filter can improve water’s taste, or provide an extra margin of safety for people more vulnerable to the effects of waterborne illness ( people with severely compromised immune systems for instance and children that may have special needs). Consumers who choose to purchase a drinking water filter or whoe house water filtration system should carefully read its product information to understand what they are buying, whether it is a better taste or a certain method of treatment. Be certain to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for operation and maintenance, especially changing the filter on a regular basis.
Be advised that no single unit takes out every kind of drinking water contaminant; you must decide which type best meets your needs. Both NSF International (877-867-3435) and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (888-547-8851) test and certify home water treatment units. The Water Quality Association (630-505-0160) classifies units according to the contaminants they remove as well as listing units that have earned their “Gold Seal” approval. Water treatment units certified by these organizations will indicate certification on their packaging or labels.