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Article: Water Filter and Water Filtration Facts. - by Noah Minard |
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Water Filter and Water Filtration Facts. Why do I need to filter my water? The human body is 60 - 80% water. Every five to 10 days we need to replace all of our body's water to keep functioning smoothly, efficiently and to maintain good health. It is important to replenish our bodies water with clean, pure, filtered water. Our filters are long-lasting, reliable, and provide water filtered down to 1 micron (a human hair is about 100 microns) to prevent long-term health risks due to gradual buildup of toxins, heavy metals, chemicals and chlorine. Most municipal water systems are chlorinated to kill bacteria and viruses. However, the chlorine can form carcinogenic compounds, such as trihalomethanes and chloroform. Also, this water still has to travel through miles of pipes before it enters your home. The pipes are usually not clean and contain heavy metals from solder joints, fixtures, etc. The only way to ensure that your drinking water is free of contaminants is to filter it yourself in your home or office. What can I do to improve the safety of the water in my home? You can install a home water filter. One of the easiest and most effective filtration devices is a system that treats water at a single point of use for drinking, cooking and watering plants. This can easily be installed as a countertop unit, or an undercounter unit with a separate faucet. It is also important to use a shower filter to remove chlorine while you shower. Why should I buy a water filter from an independant dealer? You could go to your neighborhood super center or home center and buy a water filter, perhaps for a little less money than from an independent dealer, but most of these are only good for taste and odor reduction and Chlorine removal. More specialized filters don't stop there, they also remove dangerous chemicals, Lead, Giardia and Cryptosporidium, pesticides, herbicides. Try to avoid a water filter with only GAC, (Granular Activated Carbon) because there is a high probability of the water "channeling", and the filter will lose its effectiveness. Isn't bottled water easier, cheaper and just as safe? It is perfectly legal to bottle water from wells, springs and even public tap water. You could actually be carrying home water bottles containing the same low quality water that comes out of your faucet. Bottled water is not always free of contaminants either, in 1990 a test by the Suffolk County, New York Health Dept. found that 9 of 88 brands tested did not meet state and Federal drinking water standards, even Perrier had that recall due to Benzene contamination. Sometimes you can even taste and smell the plastic water bottle. Also if water is bottled and sold within the same state, it is not subject to EPA regulations. Finally, bottled water is much more expensive than a home filter system, averaging about a dollar a gallon in comparison to less than 10 cents a gallon. What about water pitcher filters or faucet-mount filters? In the water filtration business, we refer to these as "feel good" filters. You get to "feel good" that you're doing something about your water quality, however, these small filter elements tend to be ineffective against everything but Chlorine, taste and odor. Also, once you factor in the frequent filter replacement costs they are very expensive to use and need frequent filter replacement. Why should I be concerned with filtering my shower water? You can absorb more chlorine through your skin and lungs in one shower then you can in all the tap water you could drink in a day. Chlorine not only dries your skin and hair, studies show that long-term exposure to chlorine has been linked to various cancers, and, recently, to increased risk of miscarriage. Is the water filtration system independently lab-tested and certified by NSF and/or UL? Many water filter products are made with filter cartridges and components that are "NSF approved materials" but are not submitted for laboratory testing or certification. These water filtration systems are not tested or certified by NSF or UL and therefore cannot be legally sold in states such as California. It is important to look for a tested and certified water filter with test results from an independent laboratory. Is the water filter system state certified? Look for a water filter that is also state certified to meet or exceed the stringent water filter standards for states that require certification and registration, including California, Massachusetts, Colorado, Iowa and Wisconsin. Does the water filter use a solid carbon block filter? All better water filters utilize at least one solid carbon block filter tested to filter 1.0 microns or finer. We suggest avoiding a water filter that contains GAC (granular activated carbon) without an additional solid carbon block filter. This is because it has been found that the loose, porous structure of GAC allows "channeling" and its' filtering abilities become diminished or may fail. The granular structure of GAC may also allow contamination and support bacterial growth. Is there a replaceable filter, and is it easily changed? It's good to find a product line that features replaceable water filter cartridges designed for a specified term of usage before a filter change is needed, usually in the 500 to 2500 gallon range. Don't be fooled by uncertified, untested disposable water filters making unsubstantiated claims for 10,000 to 30,000 gallons of usage, these products may become saturated with contaminants and allow unfiltered water through the unit. Is installation difficult? Most countertop systems can be installed in less than 5 minutes and require nothing more than a pair of pliers. Many Undercounter water filters can be easily installed by a handy homeowner or in less than an hour by a professional plumber. Does it use electricity or waste water? No. Unlike Distillation, basic water filters do not need electricity, and do not waste water like Reverse Osmosis, which wastes from 3-9 gallons of water for every gallon you use. Our water filters provide a simple, elegant solution, filtering only the exact amount of water you need for drinking, cooking, watering plants or showering. |
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Noah Minard, the author, may be reached at noah@bestfilters.com. The website for an independent water filtration company with experience and expertise is: www.bestfilters.com |
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