Buying and installing a water filter is an important decision that should not be taken lightly. One could loose a lot of money if they enter into a purchasing decision without learning what to look for in a water filter. Hopefully this article will provide a basis for which to start your search for the ideal water filtration system for you.
There are really only a few methods of water filtration: Mechanical filtration works like a sieve removing that is bigger than the holes. Absorption works when the chosen media attracts a contaminant causing it to stick to the media’s surface. Redox or Oxidation-Reduction removes contaminants through an electrochemical process that oxidizes, or changes, the unwanted chemical to an inert state. So when researching water filtration brands keep these in mind and be sure you understand which method the media uses and what it is capable of removing.
It is also important to know what contaminants, if any, are in your water. A water testing kit, or even better a water testing lab, can give you insight into what type of purification system you should be looking for.
Now that you know what is in your water it is important to understand what should be removed from your water. Here there is much controversy. The EPA will tell you that lead is okay up to 15 ppb. That does not seem like much but do you want any lead in your water? For fluoride the EPA says that the acceptable limit is 4 mg/L for adults and 2 mg/L for children under 9. How can they have two different action levels? Which does your municipal water supply follow? As you can see our government agency that is suppose to protect us is not clear on whether fluoride should be in our water. Just a minimal amount of research will have you rushing out to get the best fluoride water filter you can find! I digress.
It is my opinion that with water filtration it is best to err on the side of caution and clean up your drinking as much as you can. Some filtration methods do remove minerals the body uses and needs, however the amount removed is minimal compared to the concentrations of the contaminants left in.
Next you need to decide at what point you want to filter your water. Essentially your choices are at the source, which would be where the water comes into your home, or point of use such as kitchen or shower faucets. The advantage to the whole house approach is you have less to mess with and replace. However it is more expensive and your house plumbing can leach chemicals into your water which would still require a drinking water filter. Point of use filtration is generally much more easy to install and you can choose where you spend your filtering dollars. At a minimum I would recommend an under sink or countertop water filter for drinking and a shower water filter for bathing
Now that you have figured out where you are going to install your filtration system you are ready to start looking at brands. There are literally dozens of brands to choose from but it does not have to be terribly confusing. Just watch out for the following few indicators to help you decide which water filter brand suits your needs the best.
The primary thing to look for is the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certification. You probably recognize the their symbol. The NSF have been creating and instituting independent programs for testing products for a long time. They not only test the water treatment systems made but they also evaluate manufacturing methods and do yearly surprise spot checks on the water filter brands they certify.
Another thing to look for is a water filtration system that meets the California guide lines for water filtration. California has laws against unverifiable claims of water purification. If a manufacture has gone to the trouble and expense to sell in California then you are probably getting a pretty good system.
Lastly look for a minimum of a 3 year warranty for your water filter system. Generally the longer the warranty the better the filter. However be sure you read the warranty so that there are not any surprises.
