| What should a home water filtration system do? | | | | a home water filtration system, right?" |
| Most of us are connected to a public treatment | | | | Well, the "safe" level does not take several things |
| facility, so why do we need to worry? Read on. | | | | into account. One is that the toxic level is for an |
| There is only so much that a public water filtration | | | | adult that weighs 175 pounds, so if you weigh |
| system can do. They protect us from diseases | | | | less, there is a greater threat. Two, while most |
| like typhoid. They remove mud, dirt, raw sewage | | | | facilities are surely doing their job correctly, there |
| and other more offensive things like dead animals | | | | have been reports of inaccurately reporting the |
| that fall into reservoirs and lakes. They remove | | | | test results, in order to pass. Three, the test is |
| heavy metals, rocks and a lot of minerals. They | | | | performed before the water enters the pipes |
| test the water to make sure that the level of | | | | that lead to your home, so the concentration of |
| contaminants is not, or should not be, toxic. But, | | | | the by products could be higher by the time it |
| there are problems with the public water filtration | | | | reaches you. |
| system that can only be solved by a "point of | | | | Scary? Particularly if you have kids, there is no |
| use" or "in the home" unit. | | | | way that you can go without a good point of use |
| First, most of them use chemicals to kill bacteria | | | | water filtration system that removes chlorine and |
| and to provide disinfection. Chlorine is most | | | | blocks THMs. But, you have to shop carefully, |
| common, but others may be used. The chemical | | | | because some are advertised as purifiers, when all |
| disinfection process releases by-products that are | | | | that they do is block chlorine and odor. There |
| hazardous to a person's health. In the case of | | | | would be no protection from THMs, in that case. |
| chlorine, the by products are referred to as | | | | When you look for a water filtration system, you |
| THMs. They are known carcinogens. That means | | | | should ask for performance certifications and |
| they cause cancer. | | | | other industry standards. Certifications are not |
| Environmental Protection Agency standards limit | | | | mandatory, but the better companies have them |
| the THM content or total trihalomethanes to 80 | | | | done. They should also have a data sheet that |
| parts per billion. Beyond that level, THMs are | | | | lists THMs and other pollutants, such as VOCs and |
| considered toxic and can cause nerve damage | | | | cysts. Pesticides and herbicides should be listed, as |
| and other health conditions. You see, the public | | | | well, but you may not recognize the names. |
| water filtration system cannot remove the | | | | Benzene and lindane are the most common in the |
| by-products. They can only test the water to see | | | | United States. The best value for your money is |
| if their level is too high. | | | | one that removes everything. There are only a |
| That brings us to the second problem. Just | | | | few that do the whole job. |
| because something is tested by our public officials | | | | Hopefully this has helped you understand what an |
| doesn't always mean that things are good. You | | | | in-home water filtration system should do and |
| might be thinking, "okay, so since they test | | | | why you need one. Happy shopping! |
| before they send it out, then we're safe without | | | | |