The Truth About Drinking Water Filters
Hugh Harris-Evans If you think drinking water filters are an unnecessary luxury then perhaps you have less regard for your health than you should. In this article we explain why a good water filter is an essential part of every home and give an overview of the different types of filter that are available. You might think that what costs more is better, but some of the most expensive drinking water filters are the least effective. Some, like those using the reverse osmosis system, include steps that are not necessary in most homes. Others, like certain brands of drinking water filters, do not include enough steps to protect your family's health. When you see advertisements reporting the facts about water contamination you may think that the company is just using scare tactics to encourage you to buy one of their drinking water filters. In fact it is government bodies like the FDA, the EPA and the CDC that issue the reports. Often it is reporters from the large national newpapers that bring the facts about tap water contamination to the attention of the public. Lead, a toxic metal, has been found in water supplies around the country. The cause is thought to be aging lead-lined copper pipes and lead solder used at joints, but the cause is really unimportant. Lead is not safe for consumption at any level. Children, in particular, should not be drinking tap water that has not been run through a lead-blocking filter. Although the public water treatment facilities take steps to remove any traces of lead from the water in the mains, the connecting pipe is the responsibility of the householder. To find out whether there is any lead in your water you could employ a private laboratory to carry out tests or you could buy a drinking water filter that is certified to remove it. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that lives in water. It is resistant to chlorine disinfection, particularly during the cyst phase of life. Public treatment facilities cannot guarantee that it is not present in your tap water. Government authorities say that it is "unfeasible" to test for it. When ingested, the parasite grows in the intestinal tract and causes symptoms ranging from a stomach ache to death in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. There are only two ways that you can make sure that you avoid this parasite. Either stop drinking tap water or use a drinking water filter. But you have ensure that the filter is a type that is certified to remove "cysts". This can easily be ascertained by checking the product performance data sheet. Other than chlorine, lead and parasites, there are over 2000 cancer causing chemicals in tap water. The federal government has set maximum "safe" levels for their presence in public water supplies. The problem is that the "safe" levels are based on the assumption that only one chemical is present and that everyone who drinks the water is a 175 pound adult. In other words, the only way to be truly "safe" is to buy the best drinking water filters you can find and install them on every faucet in your home. About the Author
Hugh Harris-Evans is a writer and researcher on water purification issues. Visit his site now at http://www.brightwaterfilter.com to get the the facts on how to choose the best water purification system. Hugh Harris-Evans may be contacted at http://www.brightwaterfilter.com. Click here to view more articles by Hugh Harris-Evans. Reprinted with Permission from IdeaMarketers.com
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