How to Choose the Best Method of Water Treatment

The market is literally flooded with water treatment options. Reverse osmosis systems, loose granular activated carbon, solid carbon block filters, and distillers all promise sparkling, clean water, but how do you know which one is really best? With a little research, you can find the ideal water treatment system for you.

Tips

• Avoid carafe style water filters. They do not filter as effectively (they are usually only certified to remove lead and chlorine IF THEY ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED ie changing the filter every 2 weeks. The hidden cost of these types of filters is the cost of filter replacement -- at the end of one year, you could have paid for a filter certified by NSF Intl [1] to remove everything of health concern, with a cartridge that totally cleans hundreds of gallons of drinking water, and you only have to change once a year!
• Do a little independent research about each water treatment method. Each method is designed to remove different chemicals and contaminants. You want to invest in a unit that will remove the widest range of all contaminants, has the lowest cost of ongoing maintenance, has the longest warranty, in years, NOT lifetime warranty.
• If you have a motorhome, trailer or RV, keep the holding tank and system clean by periodically putting in some liquid or granulated chlorine (in the right proportion). The sloshing of the chlorinated water inside the tank kills all algae and bacteria growing there. As you draw the chlorinated water from the tank, the chlorine disinfects the pipes throughout the rig. You can then install a quality water filter at the tap -- one that is certified to remove chlorine, and the widest range of other contaminants.

Warnings

• Pregnant women should be especially careful about lead in their drinking water. Lead is shown to cause severe developmental delays in young children. Trihalomethanes (THM's) are the by-product of chlorination and are very difficult to remove by filtration. Only certain units are NSF-certified to remove THM's, so it's important to check this before buying. The same goes for Chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia -- this chemical is added in water systems, both municipal and rural, when they have maxxed out on the amount of chlorine that can be added, and have to add more disinfection, in the form of chloramine. Only certain units can remove chloramine, too.
• DO NOT buy a filter from a salesperson who shows you a test demonstrating all the "pollutants" you have in your water. This test is usually with an electrode or chemical that causes the minerals in the water to congeal and form blackish-gray deposits in your previously clear glass of water.
• These salespeople are pushing hugely expensive systems that they call whole-house systems. In reality, they are offering a reverse osmosis system coupled with a water softener and charging exorbitant fees for the systems and also for add-on service contracts.
• Actually, those minerals are usually not a contamination problems. If you live in an area of hard minerals, you can go to Sears and purchase a decent water softener for around $500 - $700. This will cover the house in general. You can then purchase a top rated RO system, with a carbon block post-filter, for around $600 - $700. This will cover the drinking, cooking and ice cube needs.
• If you are approached by this type of sales pitch, contact your local Better Business Bureau, and your local attorney general to report them. There are currently investigations nationwide against these practices and the companies that use them.
• Do not buy any acid/alkaline filtering products, because they are useless and expensive. It is said that they separate the water into acidic and alkaline, and that it is better for your body to drink alkaline water. This is not true. It is best to drink pure water, with a pH of 7, because your body needs acidic or alkaline water for different functions. If you really want alkaline water, all that you need to do is put a teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water once a day or just get some mineral drops.