| Water purification is a complex topic, but learning a little | | | | Chlorine can be removed with an activated carbon |
| about the technology is a good idea. This is especially | | | | filter, but the effectiveness of the different models |
| true, if you are shopping for a home water filter. There | | | | varies between 75-99%. You should ask to see a |
| some really good water purifiers and some mediocre | | | | certification, before you buy. The California Public |
| products. What follows are some suggestions about | | | | Health Certification is the most stringent. UL listings are |
| which type to look for and which ones to avoid. | | | | also reliable. |
| If you live in an area with a public water purification | | | | The best manufacturers of home water purification |
| facility, then the liquid that comes through your faucets | | | | systems provide this information freely, along with their |
| has already been treated in a number of different | | | | other brochures, but only in three states are they |
| processes. Of course, some treatment plants can | | | | required to have their products certified. |
| supply cleaner water than others. In its latest published | | | | One problem that public water purification systems |
| annual report the EPA stated that "76% of the | | | | cannot address is contamination with bacteria resistant |
| populations served by public water systems received | | | | to chemical disinfection. One of the biggest threats is a |
| drinking water with no significant violations". That | | | | parasite called cryptosporidium. Some home water |
| means that for the other 24% there were significant | | | | purifiers can block 99% of these illness causing |
| violations. | | | | parasites, but not all. |
| It is reports like this that have caused consumers to | | | | In addition to chlorine and bacteria there are more than |
| look at ways to obtain cleaner drinking water. As a | | | | 2000 chemicals in tap water, many of them potentially |
| result sales of water filters have increased | | | | cancerous. The best water filter for the money is one |
| substantially. Companies ranging from Sears to the | | | | that blocks them all. |
| Clorox Bleach Company are selling water purifiers. | | | | What should you avoid? You probably do not need |
| Regardless of where you live, there are some | | | | reverse osmosis water purification. It does nothing to |
| contaminants still present in the water supplied to your | | | | remove chemicals or bacteria. It's outrageously |
| home. The only way to completely protect yourself is | | | | expensive and wasteful. It does, on the other hand, |
| to invest in a water purifier of your own. | | | | remove health giving minerals from the water. This |
| EPA standards are not all that high, you see. For | | | | type of water purifier is only helpful if you live on an |
| example the level of chlorine allowed by the EPA is | | | | island or your only source for drinking is an untreated |
| not considered safe by some experts. A recent study | | | | lake or river water. |
| carried out at Birmingham University found that babies | | | | Water purifiers complete the process begun at the |
| born in areas where drinking water is heavily | | | | public water purification plant. Be a smart shopper and |
| disinfected with chlorine are at double the risk of heart | | | | choose the right ones. |
| problems, cleft palate or major brain defects. | | | | |