Water Filtration

News headlines send people searching for drinking water filters. But, what do you expect your drinking water filter to do? Do you want to remove chlorine and its by-products, lead, disease causing microscopic organisms, pesticides, herbicides, VOCs, TCE, MTBE or all of the above?

If you are like me, then you have chosen all of the above. There are high quality drinking water filters that remove all of these contaminants, but the price is not that high. Of course, the cheaper systems can not handle all of them, so you have to decide what fits your pocketbook, while protecting you family to the best of your ability.

Some people only drink bottled, because they think that is the safest choice, but benzene has been found in Perrier. BPA has been found in anything stored in polycarbonate. Phthalates are found in anything stored in any type of polymer. Both of those chemicals act like estrogen within the body and can cause some serious health problems, including cancer.

A pitcher drinking water filter is often chosen because it is the least expensive option, but the cost per gallon is actually higher. The filtration cartridges have a very short life span and that affects the cost of use. For a Brita pitcher, for example, the cost per gallon is 25 cents, as opposed to less than 10 for one of the best countertop drinking water filters on the market.

Pitchers are also slow. You fill up the top compartment from your tap and it trickles down through the system. In order to get a full pitcher, you have to repeat this process several times.

Then, there is a problem with what a pitcher-type drinking water filter can do. We’ll use Brita again as an example. Not to pick on them, but they are one of the most popular choices. They only remove about 75% of the chlorine and about 93% of the lead. Nothing else is removed.

Countertop drinking water filters can provide a lot more water in a lot less time. You just turn on the tap and get a drink right away. There is an option for switching it off, in case you want to prolong the drinking water filter life, but you should be aware that chlorine and its by-products can pollute the air quality within your home. So, if you are using hot water, you want the “on-position”.

An under the counter drinking water filter system costs more, but doesn’t do a lot more. It’s really just the aesthetics that come with having a unit stored underneath and out of sight.

Whole house drinking water filters cost the most, but will protect your laundry from damaging chlorine and you won’t have to worry about your dishwasher emitting toxic gas. The choice is yours of course. I just wanted to provide little helpful information to accompany you while you shop. Just don’t let the many choices keep you from taking action to provide pure and safe water for you and your family.

An Ezine article

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