You might think that the water filtration system used by your local government makes your tap water safe for consumption. Well, truthfully, it's not even safe to shower in. Federal law requires that any public water filtration system test the water regularly and publish their findings. So, you might think you are safe, as long as you read the report.
The problem is that cities around the country are making deceptive or even fraudulent reports. They are playing with the numbers and have failed to list some of the more potentially harmful contaminants.
When contacted, utility company authorities have made statements like, "The general public would not understand the relevance of these findings." Most of us find that insulting. According to the Washington Post, 65 of the 3000 largest public water filtration system facilities in the country are "manipulating the results of tests used to detect lead in water."
You may know that lead is a toxic metal. Lead based paints have been banned from use in this country for many years. Lead poisoning causes learning disabilities, brain damage and at toxic levels, it can cause death.
An in-home water filtration system that removes lead is the only way to protect your family. The problem may not be with the treatment facility. It may be in the pipes that carry the water from the facility to your home. You can have your water tested by an independent laboratory, but please, while you are waiting for the results, go ahead and invest in a good water filtration system. They are not that expensive and well worth the cost.
Need more reasons? According to the US Council of Environmental Quality, there is an increased risk of cancer in people who drink chlorinated water, as much as 93% higher. If you live practically anywhere in the United States, your water has been chlorinated.
Treatment facilities use chlorine to "disinfect" the water and protect their systems from rot and algae growth. It's not the only way to disinfect the water. It's not the best way, either. But, it is the cheapest.
An inexpensive in-home water filtration system will remove chlorine and it's odor by running it through activated carbon. But, be careful to compare systems. Some remove more chlorine than others. The best in-home water filtration system is designed to remove a number of other contaminants, as well.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, 45 million of us drink water that is contaminated with the potentially deadly parasite known as cryptosporidium. Government officials say that no matter what kind of water filtration system your local facility uses, they cannot guarantee the absence of this parasite. It is resistant to chlorine, so it can pass right through the system and into your home.
In order to remove cryptosporidium from the water, an in-home water filtration system must use the latest technology. Your local facility will not go to the expense, but the technology is reasonably priced for home units. Do yourself and your family a favor, find the best in-home water filtration system and install it today. You deserve it.
Home Water Filtration System
When it comes to public water filtration systems, their performance is limited as to what it can do. They safeguard people from illnesses such as typhoid. Unwanted and undesirable items such as soil, sewage and animal carcasses are cleaned out of the lakes and reservoirs. They remove heavy metals, rocks and a lot of minerals. Water is tested to ensure that toxic elements do not surpass a safe level. Since there are problems in the public water supply that are not corrected by the system's filtering system, additional measures must be taken at the tap.
First, most of them use chemicals to kill bacteria and to provide disinfection. Although the use of others is permissible, chlorine is most common. The chemical disinfection process releases by-products that are hazardous to a person's health. Chlorine produces by-products called THMs. These are recognized to cause cancer. They are carcinogenic.
Only 80 parts per billion of THM or total trihalomethanes are permitted by the EPA. THMs are considered hazardous to your health above that level, due to their potential to bring about nerve damage and other disorders. Public utility systems cannot remove many impurities, as you can see. All they are able to do is check the water for levels that exceed normal.
That raises another issue. Testing by proper authorities is not always conclusive that a product is satisfactory. They test the water in homes so our water should be safe and we shouldn't need a home water filtration system, right?
Several items are not considered when it is given the "safe" level. One is that the toxic level is for an adult that weights 175 pounds, so if you weigh less, there is a greater threat. Secondly, there are reports that some systems have manipulated test results to achieve passing scores, although this is relatively uncommon. Three, the test is performed before the water enters the pipes that lead to your home, so the concentration of the by products could be higher by the time it reaches you.
Scary? A water filtration system is necessary to remove clorine and block harmful THMs, especially for families with children. But, you have to shop carefully, because some are advertised as purifiers, when all that they do is block chlorine and odor. In this situation, protection from THM's would be non-existent.
When you look for a water filtration system, you should ask for performance certifications and other industry standards. Better companies have certifictation done, but it is not necessary. A data sheet listing THMs and other pollutants, such as VOCs and cysts, is also required. Although the names may not be familiar to you, pestisides and herbisides should also be listed. In the U.S. the most common ones will be lindane and benzene. One that eliminates everything is the best deal for the money. Completing the entire task is not accomplished by many.
Hopefully, this has helped you understand what an in-home water filtration system should do and why you need one. Have fun selecting a product!
Both Larry Taylor & Rich Eng are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Larry Taylor has sinced written about articles on various topics from Water Filters, Energy Healing and Water Filters. Larry L. Taylor is a dedicated advocate of living a healthy lifestyle and diligent researcher of water purification systems. Visit his site at:
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