Drinking Water System – Why You Need to Purify Your Tap Water

Source : http://howdoigetoffdrugs.com/2010/01/drinking-water-system-why-you-need-to-purify-your-tap-water/

The effectiveness of a home drinking water system can vary as you can see if you compare product performance data sheets. Of course, not all manufacturers make those available. If we know what is in our drinking water, we can find ways to remove or reduce the bad stuff. If we don’t know, we must become informed.

Facilities in the US are required to publish a “consumer confidence report”, but don’t expect it to inspire confidence in you. The problem with the report is that thousands of chemicals are not tested for. But you can learn a little bit about the type of drinking water system that you need if you read it.

Chlorine and trihalomethanes will be in nearly everyone’s tap water, unless you are lucky enough to live in a community that has a deep-water well. Chlorine causes the following health problems.

Digestive disorders

Childhood anemia

Allergic reactions

Asthma complications

Sinus problems

Dry skin and hair

So, we know what is in our drinking water for sure— chlorine. It can easily be removed with a granular activated carbon (GAC), but a carbon block is more effective.

The biggest health threat of trihalomethanes is cancer, but they also cause short-term problems including headache, fatigue and irritability. Most of the popular purifiers on the market contain GAC for chlorine removal, but do not contain the necessary resins to remove trihalomethanes. Check product performance data before you buy a drinking water system to be sure.

After compiling data from around the US, the University of Cincinnati reported that cysts are a problem in many areas. Cysts are pathogens in an early stage of life that are resistant to chlorination, UV disinfection and other purification measures taken at a water treatment facility. They cause illnesses that can be deadly in at-risk individuals; those with poorly functioning or undeveloped immune systems. In other words, children, the elderly, people with AIDS, and people being treated for cancer.

If we know that cysts are what is in our drinking water, we should look for a drinking water system that is certified to filter down to one micron. The best systems include a carbon and multi-resin block with a sub-micron sized channel. This type of system traps cysts and ensures that chemicals are removed to the highest degree possible.

According to news reports about what is in our drinking water, many of us should be concerned about perchlorate and other VOCs, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, pesticides, herbicides and the heavy metal lead. An Ion exchange is necessary to remove lead; the better systems include it without jacking up the price. The other contaminants are chemicals and the carbon block design mentioned above will trap them.

In my home, we don’t worry about what is in our drinking water anymore, because we purchased an effective drinking water system. I believe that’s the right solution for everyone.