What should a home water filtration system do? Considering the fact that the majority of us are connected to a public treatment facility in some way, what reason do we have to worry? Continue reading. There is only so much that a public water filtration system can do. They protect us from diseases like typhoid. Mud, dirt, raw sewage, and animal carcasses that may have fallen into the lakes and reservoirs are removed.
This process filters out dangerous heavy metals, foreign objects like rocks and silt, and many 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. Dangerous by-products can result from the chemicals used to disinfect the water. The by-products of chlorine are cancer-causing compounds known as trihalomethanes, or THMs. These chemicals are known to lead to cancer. They are carcinogenic.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, carcinogenic trihalomethanes (THMs) must not be present in an amount exceeding 80 parts per billion. Above that mark, THMs can lead to serious health effects such as nerve damage and are therefore called toxic materials. You see, the public water filtration system cannot remove the by-products.
They can only test the water to see if their level is too high. That brings us to the second problem. Just because something is tested by our public officials doesn't always mean that things are good.
It's easy to assume that the water is safe when it enters your home, because it's been tested before leaving the water processing facility. This level may be termed "safe", but there are a few other facts that need to be considered. One problem is that the level considered harmful has been measured for a 175-pound person, so if your weight is less than that, the threat is increased. Secondly, there are reports that some systems have manipulated test results to achieve passing scores, although this is relatively uncommon. Three, before the water enters the pipes going into your home the concentation level is tested, but it could higher by the time it comes out of your faucet. Scary? If you have children, it is nearly impossible to function without a water filtration system at the point of use, one that will remove chlorine and block THms.
You must shop carefully because some products only block chlorine and odor, even though they are described as purifiers. There would be no protection from THMs in that case. Certifications regarding performance and other standards should be requested when you are searching for a water filtration unit.
Certifications are not mandatory, but the better companies have them done. An information printout listing THMs and other polluting materials, including VOCs and cysts, should be available. Pesticides and herbicides should be listed, as well, but you may not recognize the names. Benzene and lindane are the most common in the United States. A system that removes everything will give you more value for your money.
Few perform the tasks in their entirety. It is our hope that this article has shown you what home water filtration systems have to offer and why your family needs one. Have fun selecting a product!.
Rich Eng serves as the leader of a high growth healthcare services business for a Fortune 500 company. A 20 year industry veteran and "holistic health and fitness" coach, he constantly researches better ways to improve one's mind, body and spirit. Visit his site at http://www.clean-filtered-water.com to learn more about the drinking water filters he personally uses and why he chose this product after extensive research.
