I was enraged after reading two recent associated press articles about the Environmental Protection Agency.  It emphasizes the need to know what is in the water that we use everyday.  One way to ensure we have healthy water is to compare home water purifiers, finding out how they work and what contaminants they remove.

The first article discussed a toxic rocket fuel component that is found in the drinking water of 28 States.  The EPA has been studying it for years, and has not figured out, if taking action to limit its use would reduce the risk.  On the other hand, the FDA released a study in January 2008, saying that children were at risk from exposure of this same contaminate in the food and water they consumed.  This study clearly shows the need for an EPA tap water standard for this contaminant.  This is our tax dollars at work.

In the second article, the results of an advocacy group survey of EPA scientists said that the scientists felt pressure to skew the interpretation of their results.  The pressure is coming from political sources and special interest groups.  More than half of those responding to the survey reported some  political hindrance in their work.  In another article it was reported that a Senate committee is looking into whether the Bush administration is hindering the ability of scientists at the EPA to assess the health dangers of toxic chemicals.

Changes in the water standards can take years.  Even when quality standards are in place, can we trust that the findings are presented in an unbiased way?  It is pretty scary when the EPA chief, Carol Browner is quoted as saying:  "The way we guarantee safe drinking water is broken and needs to be fixed."

In the mean time, we are exposed to toxins and other dangerous things in our water supply.  Children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk of these contaminants.  What can we as individuals do to protect ourselves and those we care about?  We need to consider that home water purifiers may be required to ensure our water is healthy.

First and foremost, get informed.  Check out your tap water with your local water source.  To find out what pollutants are tested for and what the acceptable levels are, ask for the water quality report from your utility company.  If you have a well, have the water tested regularly.  Be aware of local and state news on water quality issues, to see if they could effect you directly.

Second, even if your water utility says the water is "safe", know that you are not necessarily safe from all contaminants in your tap water.  If you are in the  more susceptible group, then even "safe" water may be dangerous for you.  And there may be things in the water that are not tested for because they have not been made part of the EPA guidelines yet.

Also, consider that water quality is more than just what you drink.  It includes the water you cook with and the water that you bathe with.  Our bodies can absorb chemicals and toxins from water in other ways than just drinking it.  While most of the exposure is from drinking contaminated water,  protecting just that water is not enough.

Now that you are armed with this information, it would be a valuable use of your time to compare  home water purifiers.  Carefully review the data sheet for the performance of each water filtration product.  Consider if the product will remove the contaminants in your water.  Make sure it is certified and to what level the contaminants are removed.  After doing so, you will understand that there are just a few good products to even consider.