The Many Different Types Of Water Filters
Water quality is a concern we all share. With water averaging 60 to 70 percent of our body weight it makes sense to be sure we are taking in pure, clean water. Often our city water is in need of further treatment and purification once it reaches our faucets. Fortunately, we have a large selection of water filtration to choose from that can fit almost any ones budget. If you are considering getting a filtration system for your water, a good place to begin is to have a drinking water test done for you. Tests are available for just about every contaminate you can imagine, or you can get the most accurate results by hiring an independent lab to test your water for you. Depending on where you live and the quality of your water, a whole house water filtration system may be a good choice. Typically these systems are installed in the basement, garage or an outbuilding. A whole house system is effective at removing dirt, sediment, rust and scale, yet offers a fast flow rate and little clogging. Countertop filters are great for removing many impurities such as cysts, some heavy metals and dissolved organic compounds. These water filters are relatively inexpensive and are easy to install and maintain. Water from a well often has a lot of minerals that cause discoloration and odor. Installing a well water filter is a must where the water has a “rotten egg” smell from the high levels of sulfur in the water. In addition, a well water system will protect your home and laundry from staining because of discoloration. If you are traveling or going camping it is a good idea to carry along a portable water filter. There are two common microorganisms that hikers find in stream water: Giardia and Cryptosporidiosis (there are others; these are just the two most common). Travelers find similar contaminates in less developed countries. Chemical treatments typically are less effective than filtration or boiling. Many municipal water supplies have fluoride added to the water. A fluoride water filter will remove this chemical and other impurities one often finds in tap water. Fluoride is a known toxin and is suspected to be a contributor to many health problems in everyone from developing fetuses to the elderly. Shower water filters are nice for those wanting to improve the quality of their hair and skin. Typically these filters remove chlorine, help to balance the ph of the water and remove THM's (trihalomethanes) and VOC's (volatile organic chemicals), both of which have been documented to lead to a host of health problems. A faucet water filter is similar to a counter top filter in that it treats the water at the tap. This type of filtration attaches to the end of your faucet and has a switch for filtered or unfiltered water. These are the least expensive of the drinking water filters. Reverse osmosis water filtration is the cream of the crop when it comes to filtering your drinking water. This is the same type of filter that is used on the higher quality bottled waters. If optimum safety and health are what you are looking for, then reverse osmosis is definitely the way to go. For simplicity and ease of use when it comes to a water filter, nothing surpasses the water filter pitcher. You simply pour tap water into the pitcher (the lid is the filter) and you have clean tasting water. The pitcher filter should only be use with municipal tap water that meets EPA minimum guidelines since it can only remove a limited number of contaminants.
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