Water Filters

At a municipal water treatment plant, water is collected, tested for impurities, treated to meet health requirements (typically by adding chlorine), and finally is filtered for taste and odor. Then the water is pumped into a holding reservoir and from there into your home.

In a perfect world, this would be sufficient. However:

• water pipes may be damaged, allowing contaminates to leak in
• lead solder and pipes may have been used
• old pipes were commonly lined with asbestos
• chemicals may have been used on crops near the water shed
• or there could be operator error.

So, be aware of known local problems. Additionally, a personal water filtration system can remove chlorine and other harmful chemicals from the water, increase safety, and improve the taste.

What If I Use A Well?

Using a well is a double-edged sword -- you have absolute control over your water, but very little control or knowledge about what is in the water and where it came from.

Well water comes from a watershed somewhere that may not be protected or the underground stream could pass through a vein of naturally occurring asbestos. Also, most well owners do little biological testing or treating of their water.

For a well user, a personal filtration system can be a perfect solution to many areas of concern. Filtered water may be clearer, taste better, have less contaminates, and generally will be safer to drink.

What's In Water?

The following 8 things are commonly in water before it gets to your tap:

1. Chlorine is routinely added as a water purifier. Chlorine, very similar to bleach, is an effective anti-bacterial component, however it can become toxic when concentrated. During peak usage times it may not be feasible to add enough chlorine or allow it to sit long enough to completely disinfect the water.
   
2. Chloramine is added to water in Los Angeles and other places when the maximum amount of chlorine has been added to the drinking and it still isn't enough to fully treat the water. This version of chlorine is much stronger than normal chlorine and may not be as regulated.
   
3. Bacteria occur naturally and can enter a water system at any point before or after the water treatment plant. Bacteria are responsible for many stomach-related illnesses that may go unnoticed.
   
4. Fluoride is added primarily for dental health reasons. Its use is hotly debated. Fluoride is a toxic carcinogen for which there is no maximum exposure limits set, nor any long-term studies indicating the effects of over usage. The total exposure per day from sources such as toothpaste and water is not known. Further, the original studies proving the cavity fighting abilities and safety of fluoride were at least partially falsified or used bad data.
   
5. Lead and other heavy metals are a more subtle contaminate that often gets overlooked. In the past some pipes where made from lead, and lead is used in the solder that connects pipe joints. Since lead is a heavy metal, it can be washed out of your system by running the taps until the water feels cold each morning.
   
6. Asbestos is an alarmingly common crystal. Contrary to popular belief, asbestos itself is safe. The problem is the microscopic fibers that make it up. Asbestos fibers can get into your lungs or stomach and inflame the organ's lining, thus making it more susceptible to infection and disease. Asbestos can enter water from natural sources or the thousands of miles of 1950s pipes with asbestos lining. Since the fibers are tiny, it is impractical for municipal facilities to remove.
   
7. Chemical pollution such as pesticides can enter the watershed and may not even be detected.
   
8. Cysts are microscopic worms that can make you sick and even kill. One of the strongest and most common cysts is cryptosporidia. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin a huge outbreak of cryptosporidia in 1993 killed over 100 people. Cysts are mostly immune to chlorine and can only be killed by boiling water for 30 minutes.