FAQ
HOW SERIOUS A HEALTH PROBLEM IS THE CONTAMINATION OF THE DRINKING WATER IN THE US?
According to recent reports from the EPA and other watchdog environmental groups, approximately 30 to 53 million people are drinking unsafe contaminated water. Contaminants include bacteria, parasites, lead, chemicals, and other toxic substances. The EPA has ranked water contamination in the top four public health problems.
WHAT ARE REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE IF ONE IS NOT CERTAIN ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THEIR WATER?
If you smell any unusual odor or taste anything objectionable in your drinking water, then a certified filter is recommended.
WHAT IS REVERSE OSMOSIS?
Sometimes shortened to the acronym RO, these systems force water, under pressure, into a module that contains a semipermeable membrane and a number of other filtration steps. A typical RO system has a prefilter designed to capture larger particles, chlorine, and other substances; a semipermeable membrane that captures more contaminants; an activated carbon filter that removes residual taste, odor, and some organic contaminants; and a storage tank to hold the treated water for use.
HOW DOES REVERSE OSMOSIS WORK?
This process is called "reverse" osmosis because the pressure forces the water to flow in the reverse direction (from the concentrated solution to the dilute solution) to the flow direction (from the dilute to the concentrated) in the process of natural osmosis. RO removes ionized salts, colloids, and organic molecules down to a molecular weight of 100.
You can get a whole-house RO, but more commonly, a point-of-use RO system would be on your countertop or installed under the sink. They’re great for treating water for cooking and drinking, but they don’t usually produce large amounts of treated water — more like 3 to 10 gallons a day. For that reason, typically people choose to install RO-treated faucets in the most popular areas of the home such as kitchens and bathrooms, as opposed to installing it for every drinking tap. Just like any other kind of filter technology, reverse osmosis systems require regular maintenance. That includes periodically replacing the unit’s prefilters, postfilters, and membrane modules.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF A WATER FILTER SYSTEM?
CONVENIENCE
Having a water filter system in your home makes it so convenient to get clean, fresh water in every room.
SAFER WATER
One of the main benefits of a water filter system is that it helps clean up your water from contaminants. With a filtration system in place, you can safely drink all the water that comes from your faucets without having to worry about bacteria, chlorine, silt, and so on. All of this can result in various health advantages for you and your family.
MONEY-SAVING
Believe it or not, a water filter system can even save you a lot of money too. Yes, you must cover the costs of installation. But once it’s up and running, you save a lot by not buying bottled water each week. Plus, with healthy water in the home, you have a lower chance of health issues associated with contaminants and bacteria.
WHAT ABOUT BOTTLED WATER?
There are no standards for how pure bottled water should be other than occasional testing for bacteria at bottling sites. How long has the water been stored in inventory? Bacteria can be growing in it. Many of the plastic water bottles contain BPA, a toxic chemical that leaches into the water. All plastics contain polymers that potentially might leach into the water.
IS IT BETTER TO FILTER WATER AT THE FAUCET OR THE MAIN WATER LINE?
Point of Entry systems, placed in your water line, remove rust, sand, and other sediments that could affect the condition of your pipes. Point of Use systems, which go in your faucets, focus on reducing chlorine, lead, and other organic compounds that change the water’s taste. While some homeowners choose between the two, others prefer to have both installed to ensure the quality of their drinking water and plumbing.