You might have noticed that tap water doesn’t taste as clean as bottled water. Maybe it even looks cloudy or discolored. Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon in municipalities that don’t exercise strict guidelines on their water supply. Many contaminants and chemicals can make it into the water supply and your body if you drink directly from the tap.
That’s why many people turn to water filters. Water filters help you save money because you don’t have to buy bottled water, which can also help the environment by reducing plastic in landfills. You can still use your faucets for drinking water with a filter because you know you’ve removed all the dangerous impurities.
In this post, we’ll cover a few reasons you should consider using a water filter and explain the different types you can choose from.
Why Filter Water?
In short, your tap water probably isn’t as clean as you think it is. Although it has been treated and disinfected by your city, the chemicals used in this necessary process could carry potentially carcinogenic particles.
Additionally, your water has to travel through miles of pipelines to get from its source to your home. Those pipes can be dirty and house bacteria and other microbes that make it into your water when it comes out of the tap.
Adding a water filter to your home helps you eliminate these potential contaminants from your water so you know that you have the cleanest possible water for yourself and your family. Now let’s look at some of the different types of water filters you can add to your home.
Reverse Osmosis
A reverse osmosis water filter works by forcing water through a semipermeable filter to allow water through but keep particles, chemicals and contaminants out. They are one of the most effective and popular water filtration systems for people who are very careful about what they drink.
You can buy a reverse osmosis filter to put in your home, both directly on the tap and on your main water supply. When you attach the filter to your water supply, this means all of the water in your house is filtered — from the toilet to the bathtub to the kitchen sink.
Activated Alumina
This is a more simplistic type of water filter, but it’s great at removing fluoride and arsenic from your water supply. These two chemicals are both known carcinogens and when they build up in your system could potentially cause health issues.
Most people use this type of filter as an attachment to their faucets or as a filter in a water pitcher. It’s a great option for those who don’t want to spend too much money on a water filter but still would like to improve their tap water.
Carbon Filters
Carbon filters are another incredibly popular option for home use. There are plenty of models that you can attach to your faucet or use in a water pitcher or even water bottle. Carbon filters are especially skilled at attracting and removing pollutants from your water. Plus, it’s one of the most cost-effective options on the market.
The only downside is that carbon filters aren’t as great at picking up minerals or dissolved organic matter from your water. So although it can remove some contaminants, some might still be present in your water.
Ultraviolet Light
One of the most advanced (and expensive) filtration options is to use ultraviolet light. This is a safe and effective way to treat all microorganisms that might be present in your water. The light treats the water as it passes through a glass element to cleanse it of things like viruses, bacteria and protozoa. UV systems work best at the end of the water filtration process because they cannot cleanse non-organic contaminants.
Filtering the water in your home is an easy way to reduce the amount of contaminants you ingest during the day and support your overall health.
