It is important to choose the right kind of water filtration in relationship with the quality of water in the area and kind of contaminants the water carries. This is undoubtedly the most significant step to ensure clean, fresh and healthy water supply. Most waterborne diseases like typhoid and cholera were the root cause of death about half a century ago. This made the use of chemicals like chlorine prevalent for cleaning the contamination in the water. Chlorine though was successful in eliminating most of the contaminations that caused widespread problems among humans; its own effect on the human health has remained in question since it has been used for cleaning up water. It has been established by various studies now that chlorine and its byproducts do cause different kind of hazards for human health.

Water contents include quantities of solids like magnesium and calcium that are often dissolved in it with ease. There isn't strict guidelines that specify the minimum amounts of these minerals to make the water contaminated. In fact, it is suggested by many that healthy water should have some quantity of these minerals. Water filters do not remove the minerals dissolved in the water however some of them are designed to regulate the quantities of these minerals. It is also believed that the presence of minerals helps the water to keep other damaging contamination to the minimum.

Sometimes the water filters acquire air pockets because of their continued siphon action even when their faucets remain closed. This results in the filtered water to look somewhat like milk or clouds. The bubbles in the filtered water that cause the cloudy or milky look vanish in some time if the water remains stationary in a vessel or a carrier. The air pockets can be cleared from the filter cartridges by running the water through the cartridge for some time by turning it upside down.

It is not recommended to filter hot water through the water filters as it may cause the seals and tubes used in the water filters become soft and start leaking. This is a more likely feasibility in counter top water filters as compared to shower water filters which are less likely to such kind of damage. Many households actually use shower water filters for filtering water from their drinking resources as well so that the contamination by inhalation as well as body absorption also goes down.

A whole house water filter would be needed when the user is conscious about having all round protection from water contamination be it for drinking, bathing or cleaning up purposes. The usage of such filtration vastly increases the quality of the air within the household. It would be advisable to use a point of use water filter where the emphasis is on a better quality of water for drinking purposes. Such water filters efficaciously clean up the water from the contaminants that may spoil the water because of the plumbing system in the house e.g. vinyl chloride or lead contamination.

Before a water filter is chosen, due consideration should be given to the fact that it is certified and validated by the state's department of health.