Watersafe® City Water Test Kit ($19.95 USD)
This do-it-yourself water testing kit allows you to check your drinking water for eight common contamin- ants. It’s fast and accurate.
Silver Lake Research (SLRC) is a California biotech company that revolutionized the environmental testing industry by
developing simple test kits that bring laboratory capabilities within everyone’s reach. These easy-to-use do-it-yourself test kits allow you to test for contaminants in food and water supplies. They produce
results that are calibrated to the EPA's exacting Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) standards. The tests are sold through SLRC's online store, DiscoverTesting.com. → See all water tests.
[...] Since July 2009, when Environmental Working Group released its groundbreaking Bottled Water Scorecard, documenting the industry's failure to disclose contaminants and other crucial facts about their
products, bottled water producers have been taking withering fire from consumer and environmental groups.
A new EWG survey of 173 unique bottled water products finds a few improvements – but still too many secrets and too much advertising hype. Overall, 18 percent of bottled waters fail to list the
source, and 32 percent disclose nothing about the treatment or purity of the water. Much of the marketing nonsense that drew ridicule last year can still be found on a number of labels.
EWG recommends that you drink filtered tap water. You'll save money, drink water that's purer than tap water and help solve the global glut of plastic bottles.
We support stronger federal standards to enforce the consumer's right to know all about bottled water.
Until the federal Food and Drug Administration cracks down on water bottlers, use EWG's [online] Bottled Water Scorecard to find brands that disclose water source, treatment and quality
and that use advanced treatment methods to remove a broad range of pollutants. → Download the PDF
Do you know what's in your drinking water? Did you know the drinking water quality, or the amount of contaminants, varies around the country? Click on your city to investigate how your drinking water ranks versus other cities. Then consider the easy ways you
can become more water wise by adding a water filter to your home.
The quality of bottled water, as well as the problems associated with the production and disposal of plastic bottles, is much in the news these days. In the video at left,
The Story of Bottled Water, we learn that manufactured demand encourages
Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week -- water which in most cases comes from the tap. "The film concludes with a call to take back the tap, not only by making a personal
commitment to avoid bottled water, but by supporting investments in clean, available tap water for all."
The Environmental Working Group recently released their 2011 Bottled Water Scorecard, available in PDF (see details at left)
and online: EWG surveyed a total of 173 brands,
rating them for transparency — whether the company discloses water source, treatment (if any), and purity. The results are not surprising, but they are nonetheless disturbing.
EWG's efforts with respect to water quality confront the issue on several fronts. In EWG’s Guide to Safe Drinking Water, researchers provide tips for staying hydrated by reducing exposures to common drinking
water pollutants.
Tap Water:Learn what's in it.
Tap water suppliers publish all their water quality tests. Bottled water companies don't. Read your annual tap water quality report. Look up your city's water in EWG's National Tap Water Atlas
(www.ewg.org/tap-water). (Private well? Get it tested.)
Filtered Tap Water:Drink it, cook with it.
Choose a filter certified to remove contaminants found in your water: www.ewg.org/tap-water/getawaterfilter.
Effectiveness varies - read the fine print.
Carbon filters (pitcher or tap-mounted) are affordable and reduce many common water contaminants, like lead
and byproducts of the disinfection process used to treat municipal tap water.
Install a reverse osmosis filter if you can afford it, to remove contaminants that carbon filters can’t eliminate, like
arsenic and perchlorate (rocket fuel). [...] → Read More
Since 2004, testing by water utilities has found 315 pollutants in the tap water Americans drink, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) drinking water quality analysis of almost 20 million records obtained
from state water officials. More than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present in any amount.
But maybe that doesn't faze you. Not everyone is bothered by the presence of chlorine, fluoride, or other chemicals considered at harmless levels in drinking water by local authorities. But if you
happen to be sensitive to any of these chemicals (responses are idiosyncratic and may manifest as mild or inflamed eczema or other skin disorders, asthmatic reactions, dry brittle hair, dry skin, eye irritation, respiratory
irritation, upset stomach, gastrointestinal irritability, and so on) — or if you simply want the cleanest, purest water you can get — you might be thinking about a water filtration system.
If you are, be careful. Do your due diligence.
Whenever and wherever there's a desire for improved health and well-being, there's a scammer ready to take advantage of the unwary. On Friday, 28 Juanuary 2011, CBC's consumer watchdog program Marketplace ran an episode
entitled Clean Water, Dirty Tricks, an undercover exposé of techniques used in
door-to-door sales of water purification systems. Deceptive marketers try to persuade consumers to buy — some of these water filtration devices cost thousands of dollars, plus the costs for replacement
filters — in the absence of real information regarding their tap water quality, let alone the capabilities and performance of the promoted device(s).
Introduction
This is a resource page on water quality, including tap water contaminants, adverse effects from the ingestion, inhalation and dermal absorption of contaminants, bottled water, water testing, water purification,
and finding the right solution to meet your personal and household needs for clean water. Selected national, state/provincial and municipal resources are provided for the United States and Canada. Clinical references
are presented at the bottom of the page.
For purposes of illustration, the Aquasana® story and product line feature prominently in this presentation, but other major brands are also described, with links to the respective brand sites and Performance Data
Sheets for specific products. If you are in the market for a water filtration system, watch the ConsumerReports.org video below and consider their recommen- dations. Every household circumstance is different,
and water testing is often the first step in the identification and remediation of a problem.
The AQ-4100 Aquasana shower filter system removes 91% of chlorine in your shower water for softer skin, shinier hair and a healthier shower.
Everyone knows what it feels like after swimming in a chlorinated pool — dry, itchy skin, straw-like hair and red eyes.
The Aquasana shower filter helps your family enjoy bathing in filtered water with a simple attachment to your shower line. This unique two-stage shower
filter system uses a combination of copper-zinc oxidation media and coconut shell carbon to reduce 91% of the chlorine in your water, and also reduces
synthetic chemicals and enhances pH balance. You'll be able to enjoy the health and cosmetic benefits of showering in clean water, like reduced
asthma symptoms and softer skin and hair. Since Aquasana filter cartridges last 6 months or 10,000 gallons, you'll shower in the healthiest water for the best value. » Learn More | Buy Now
Personal Need
Recognizing a Need for Filtered Water
In 1999, Aquasana products were designed on the premise of making healthy drinking and bathing water easily accessible.
Founder Charles Strand's inspiration and vision came when he realized his infant son had a respiratory sensitivity to undetected
chlorine in the family's tap water. After testing multiple products, he discovered his son's ailments only subsided after
using a homemade charcoal filter fit to a showerhead while he was bathed; thus the first Aquasana water filter was conceived.
A decade later, with hundreds of thousands of shower filters sold and multiple patents held for water filter technology,
Aquasana offers a full line of water filter products for the home, including countertop and under counter drinking water
filters, showerhead filters and whole-house filtration systems.
The Mission
Make Healthy Water Available in Every Home
Aquasana's mission is to make whole-body 'water health' as easy, accessible and economical as possible.
Aquasana filters strip out more than 99% of the chlorine, lead, herbicides, pesticides, industrial solvents and cysts found in tap
water while preserving its healthiest elements, which include calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium. The filters produce
the healthiest and best-tasting water available.
Health-conscious consumers know that it is critical to filter tap water before they drink it, cook with it or bathe in it because
it is loaded with these harmful chemicals. Drinking filtered tap water is the safest option because 60% to 70% of all bottled
water is exempt from the FDA's bottled water standards and often presents the same health concerns as unfiltered tap water.
Bathing in filtered water is also very important, as studies show that we can take in 100 times more chlorine (not to mention
THMs, VOCs, SOCs and other volatile toxins) in a ten-minute shower than from drinking a glass of the same water.
Conventional treatments will remove a variety of secondary contaminants. Coagulation/ flocculation and filtration removes metals like iron, manganese and zinc. Aeration removes
odors, iron and manganese. Granular activated carbon will remove most of the contaminants which cause odors, color, and foaming.
Non-conventional treatments like distillation, reverse osmosis and electrodialysis are effective for removal of chloride, nitrates, total dissolved solids and
other inorganic substances. [...]
Table I. Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels
Contaminant
Secondary MCL
Noticeable Effects above the Secondary MCL
Aluminum
0.05 to 0.2 mg/L*
colored water
Chloride
250 mg/L
salty taste
Color
15 color units
visible tint
Copper
1.0 mg/L
metallic taste; blue-green staining
Corrosivity
Non-corrosive
metallic taste; corroded pipes/ fixtures staining
Fluoride
2.0 mg/L
tooth discoloration
Foaming agents
0.5 mg/L
frothy, cloudy; bitter taste; odor
Iron
0.3 mg/L
rusty color; sediment; metallic taste; reddish or orange staining
Manganese
0.05 mg/L
black to brown color; black staining; bitter metallic taste
Odor
3 TON (threshold odor number)
"rotten-egg", musty or chemical smell
pH
6.5 - 8.5
low pH: bitter metallic taste;
corrosion high pH: slippery feel; soda taste; deposits
Silver
0.1 mg/L
skin discoloration; graying of the white part of the
eye
* mg/L is milligrams of substance per liter of water
Superior Filtration Technology
Removing the Bad, Leaving in the Good
Aquasana's exclusive selective filtration system uses a combination of carbon filtration, ion-exchange and sub-micron
filtration to conveniently produce delicious, safe and healthy water in the home. Due to the superior technology and the
sleek cylindrical design of the filter, the water contact with the filtration materials is maximized, providing better water quality
overall and a higher percentage of eliminated contaminants.
Simply put, Aquasana takes out the bad and leaves in the good. Aquasana filters have been named a "Best Buy" by Consumers
Digest for six consecutive years and "one of the seven healthiest new products for your home" by Health magazine (June 2010).
The AQ-4000 Aquasana Countertop water filtration system is the most economical way to get clean, crisp, healthy water for your family.
Remove pollutants, maintain healthy minerals.
The winner of Health Magazine's "Healthiest Product" award for 2010, this water filter uses Aquasana's unique selective filtration process: a
combination of carbon filtration, ion-exchange and sub-micron filtration to produce clean, healthy water. Our drinking water filter products install in
minutes and are certified to NSF standards 42 & 53 to reduce sediment, chlorine, lead, herbicides, pesticides, cysts, VOCs, SOCs, THMs and bad taste
& odor. Our unique filter also leaves in healthy minerals for optimum hydration. Since Aquasana filter cartridges last 6 months or 500 gallons, you're
getting the healthiest water and the best value. » Learn More | Buy Now
See Also: Aquasana AQ-4500 Under Counter Water Filter
Cartridge A
Filters Sediment & Turbidity
Removes microscopic particles
Improves taste
Greatly reduces odor
Filters Chlorine
Chlorine is the most concentrated and competitive chemical in tap water
Cartridge B
Filters Lead
Exchanges lead with potassium
Maintains pH levels
Improves taste
Filters Synthetic Chemicals
Herbicides
Pesticides
Industrial solvents
.5 Micron Absolute Filtration
Takes out cysts
Aquasana® AQ-4000 Water Filtration System — Certified Peformance**
Does the AQ-4000 remove or filter any or all fluoride from the water?
Aquasana systems do remove 2 of the 4 fluorine isotopes, giving you a 40-60% overall reduction. The portion of the fluoride our system filters out is the synthetic portion, while leaving
in the naturally occurring fluoride. However, you will not find this on our performance data sheet because of the percent of reduction. Our testing documents only list those contaminants
that have been certified to be removed at a rate of 97% or greater, so we cannot include fluoride on the list. If you are looking to completely remove fluoride from your water, the only
thing developed at this point is an aluminum-based filter that adds aluminum into the water during the filtration process. We did not think that was a very desirable result, so we remove
as much as possible without adding anything harmful back into the water.
Responsible, Sustainable Consumption
Protecting the Planet and Your Wallet
The costs and energy expended yearly to create and maintain an at-home water filter are miniscule compared to those of a
year's supply of bottled water. Aquasana water filters cost less to use per gallon of water than other filters on the market and
bottled water because the replacement cartridges only have to be changed twice a year. The majority, 90% to be exact, of the
cost of bottled water comes from producing and shipping the plastic bottle.
Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Insulated Tote Model # AC-ZYB
This Aquasana premium stainless steel water bottle comes with a durable neoprene tote that offers breakage protection and insulation to keep your water safe and cool. » Learn More | Buy Now
In addition, drinking bottled water contributes to the largest pollution issue facing our country. People in the U.S. throw away more
than 2 million plastic bottles per hour, and 80% of those bottles end up in landfills and in our oceans where it takes more than
700 years for them to just begin decomposing. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
in New York alone, nearly 2.5 billion bottles of water a year are sold. Stacked up end to end, they would reach the moon. Aquasana
filters eliminate the need for buying bottled water and our cartridges are one part recyclable and one part biodegradable.
For more information about Aquasana's countertop and under counter drinking water filters, showerhead filters, and Whole House filters visit www.aquasana.com.
Anyone who has been in a chlorinated pool knows that chlorine robs your skin and hair of moisture. What most people
do not realize is that chlorine — a lot of it — is also found in our household shower water and can lead to health annoyances
and serious problems.
Water may contain microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria that can cause serious illness (gastrointestinal disorders or diarrhea) and even death. Public water suppliers disinfect
their water to kill these microorganisms. Chlorine is the most commonly used disinfectant, sometimes used in combination with other disinfectants, such as ozone, chloramine, chlorine
dioxide, and ultraviolet light.
Disinfection byproducts are a family of chemicals formed when these disinfectants react with naturally occurring organic matter and other substances in the source water. The levels of
disinfection byproducts depend upon the nature of the source water, the type of treatment to remove particles and organic matter, and type and concentration of disinfection.
DBPs include haloacetic acids (HAA) and trihalomethanes (THM). HAA5 is the sum of five HAAs: monochloroacetic, dichloroacetic, trichloroacetic, monobromo-acetic, and dibromoacetic acids. TTHM
is the sum of four chlorine and bromine-containing trihalomethanes: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, bromoform.
There are many known DBPs, as well as possibly as yet unidentified DBPs in disinfected water. Since TTHM and HAA5 typically occur at higher levels than other known DBPs in drinking water,
their presence may be an indicator for a range of DBPs.
The risk of illness from disinfection byproducts is much lower than the risk of illness from drinking most surface sources (and some ground water sources)
that have not been disinfected. The major health risks from DBPs result from long-term exposures.
When people are exposed to disinfection byproducts at high levels over many years, they may develop bladder cancer or problems with their liver, kidneys, or
circulatory system. There may also be a connection between exposure to DBPs during pregnancy and miscarriages, premature births, low birth weight, and birth
defects.
There are several ways that DBPs can get into the human body:
Ingestion: drinking water with DPBs.
Inhalation: breathing in DBPs that are in the air. DBP may be released into the air when you use your tap water. This can happen when you
are taking a shower or washing dishes. And the hotter the water is, the more likely it is that DBPs will be released into the air. DBPs can also get into the
air when you boil your tap water, such as when you make tea or soup.
Absorption: DBPs can be absorbed through the skin when bathing and showering. For most people, only very small amounts of DBPs get into
the body through the skin. However, these amounts can increase as your contact time with water increases, for example, if you typically take long baths or swim
frequently in public pools.
How do I know if there are disinfection byproducts in my drinking water?
EPA requires that water systems use water treatment techniques that protect people from disease-causing microorganisms while also reducing the formation of disinfection byproducts and their harmful effects.
The levels of disinfection byproducts depend upon the nature of the source water and type of disinfection and can change with seasons of the year, rainfall, and distance from the treatment plant to the consumer’s
tap. Surface water sources such as reservoirs and streams are more likely to have higher disinfection byproducts levels than ground water sources. If you get your drinking water from a private drinking water well,
disinfection byproducts are unlikely to be present in the water. [...]
Scientific data show that our body takes in more chemicals during a ten-minute shower than from drinking a gallon of the same water. We've long known that chemicals can be absorbed through the skin — a common example is the
nicotine patch. During a hot shower the pores of our skin open and allow for an accelerated rate of absorption. Dermal absorption of chlorine and other chemicals while showering has now been linked to breast cancer, bladder
cancer, asthma and many other ailments.
Almost all synthetic chemicals, including chlorine, vaporize at a much faster rate than water. The result is that the steam has a much higher concentration
of the chemicals found in water, often 10 to 20 times higher. The amount of chloroform that we absorb from a daily shower by inhalation and skin absorption is at least equal to the amount absorbed from drinking water, and may
be as much as 6 times higher; moreover, it is estimated that the cancer-causing potential of chloroform is about 20 times greater than that from ingested chloroform, and it may be as much as 75 times greater.63
When chemicals are inhaled, they enter the blood stream almost immediately and can have a more intensely adverse effect, in contrast with ingested chemicals that may be partially filtered or buffered in the digestive process.
Most people don't realize that tap water typically contains at or above the level of chlorine recommended for swimming pools, 1 to 1.5 ppm. A warm
shower opens up the pores of the skin and allows a high rate of absorption of chlorine and other chemicals. The steam we inhale while showering can contain up
to 20 times the concentration of chlorine and other synthetic chemicals as tap water, due to the fact that these chemicals vaporize at a much lower temperature
and at a much faster rate than water. While over 98% of the water coming from the showerhead goes down the drain, 70% to 90% of the chemicals in the water
vaporize before the water hits the shower floor.
Perhaps you have noticed that your hair and skin seem to be dry and that your baths or showers irritate your skin — such irritation is likely the result of shower water
contamination: chlorine, lead, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), SOCs (Synthetic Organic Chemicals), chloramine, and other harmful vapors. The potential damage that shower water contamination could be causing goes much
further than just irritated skin or dry hair. When you take a shower, your skin “drinks” water that it comes in contact with. In fact, during an average shower,
your skin absorbs as much water as you would drink during an average meal. If that water is not filtered, the good work you did to protect your family from
bad water in the kitchen may be undermined in the bathrooms. Here’s a quick rundown of the effects related to showering and bathing in chlorine-laden,
unfiltered water:
Mild or inflamed eczema and other skin disorders;
Inflamed asthma;
Dry, brittle hair;
Excessively dry and sensitive skin;
Eye irritation;
Respiratory irritation.
Driven by continuing analytical advances, the original DBPs, the THMs, have been expanded to include over 600 DBPs that have now been reported in drinking water. (Hrudey SE., 20097)
Removing chlorine and other volatile chemicals with a quality shower filter offers great health benefits.
Filtering home tap or well water can decrease exposure to numerous known or suspected carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Unless the home water source is known
to be contaminated, it is preferable to use filtered tap water instead of commercially bottled water.
What Individuals Can Do: Recommendations — Chemical Exposures, p.111.
Ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans is a top priority for EPA and the agency has a standard for total chromium — [ including Chromium(VI) ] — which water systems must meet by law. According to the
most recent data, all public water facilities are in compliance with the existing total chromium standards. However, citizens concerned about the safety of their drinking water can take additional steps. Consumers
of public water can check their provider's website to access the provider's consumer confidence report (CCR) or contact the provider to ask if their tap water contains chromium. You can find contact information for
your public water system on your water bill. Consumers served by private wells can have their water tested by a state certified laboratory. You can find one in your area by calling the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or by contacting your state water certification officer.
Get a copy of your water quality report:
In the mail, by the 1st of July each year, you should receive a consumer confidence report (or a drinking water quality
report) from your water supplier; this report should indicate where your water comes from and what's in it. Contact your water company or visit the EPA
web site at www.EPA.gov if you haven't received your report. It is required by law to be
accessible, and it's free. On the EPA site, see also Local Drinking Water Information. The Safe Drinking Water Hotline and
information on contacting your state water certifi- cation officer can be found in the box at right
For local information on air and water quality, hazardous wastes, cancer risk and more, try this EPA service
Keep showers quick and cold: Toxins are inhaled in much higher and more dangerous concentrations in long, hot showers. Also, warm
water opens the pores, which increases the rate of chemical absorption.
Install a shower filter: If quick, cold showers aren't for you, Dr. Mao recommends installing an Aquasana shower filter, which reduces the chlorine
found in tap water. An added benefit is that showering in filtered water will make your skin and hair softer.
Use non-toxic bathroom cleaners: Choose non-toxic, mold-and-mildew cleaners, like those from Seventh Generation and Biokleen, since toxins
in cleaning supplies combine with the toxins from the tap water and make a potent, chemical cocktail that you will inhale once it vaporizes in
the shower.
Home water filtration offers high quality and the convenience of the tap.
Home water filters have gained wide spread popularity in recent years. As the most logical, convenient and economical solution for high-quality water, water
filters offer many benefits over tap water and bottled water.
Home water filtration offers higher quality than bottled water and the convenience of tap. For less than 10 cents a gallon you can have great-tasting,
healthy, chemical-free water for drinking, preparation of beverages and cooking... all at the touch of a button.
Unlike bottled water, home water filters are required to document the purity of the water they produce. In many states, including CA, WI, MA, IA, TX, FL
& NY, it is unlawful to make uncertified claims for home water filters, but not always enforced. Look for California Dept of Health, Underwriters Laboratories or NSF Water Quality Certification to ensure you are getting the right product. These strict regulations allow consumers a means for accurately
comparing and substantiating a water filter's performance capabilities and value. Certain states, California being the strictest, require manufacturers to
have all promotional, advertising, website and packaging materials reviewed by the Department Of Health for accuracy prior to certification. The California
Certification is one of the best ways to determine a product's true performance levels. Pace Analytical and The Water Quality Association (WQA) provide less rigorous certifications.
Bottled water, on the other hand, is virtually unregulated. The FDA laws on bottled water only require it to be as good as tap, not better. And the FDA
regulations only apply if the water is transported across a state line. Most bottled water is bottled and sold in the same state in order to avoid regulation.
EWG recommends that consumers drink filtered tap water. It saves money, it's purer than tap water and it helps shrink the global glut of discarded plastic bottles. When bottled water is the only option,
EWG recommends brands with high transparency scores (clear labeling) and advanced treatment. EWG supports stronger federal standards to ensure consumers right to know all about their bottled
water — where it comes from, what's been done to purify it, if anything, and what trace pollutants lurk inside. [...]
2011 Bottled Water Scorecard
Nneka Leiba, Sean Gray, Jane Houlihan. Environmental Working Group (2011:p10)
http://www.ewg.org/bottled-water-2011-home
Home water filters are a healthier, more economical and more eco-friendly way to ensure great water quality for your home.
Aquasana Water Filters
are the highest rated home water filter products in the United States.
Your water needs are specific to your household and you deserve personalized attention. Aquasana can customize each Whole House Filter to meet your specialized needs, and can help you take the first step towards
healthy water with their myWater service. Call toll-free, 866-662-6885, to facilitate a test of your water with
National Testing labs and take advantage of bulk discount pricing. An Aquasana representative will call you to discuss the results of your test and determine what solution works best for you.
The Aquasana EQ-300 Rhino® Whole House Water Filter can be customized for your unique water needs at the best price — satisfaction guaranteed.
Aquasana's unique whole house filter distributes clean water throughout your entire home. Get healthy, great tasting drinking water from every tap — from your kitchen to your bathroom sink. Experience clean and
filtered water for drinking, cooking, bathing and showering. This unique 3-stage filtration process reduces 99% of the chlorine in your water for less than 50 cents a day. Aquasana's knowledgeable water specialists can
work with you to determine what is in your water with their myWater service, and then help you build a customized EQ-300 that will tackle your unique water problems.
The system is easy to install with the help of a licensed plumber and requires no electricity or backflushing. System maintenance is easy with filter
replacements needed every 300,000 gallons (about 3-years for the average household), and you can do it yourself without plumber's assistance. » Learn More | Buy Now
Water filter buying advice
Source:Water filter buying advice
ConsumerReports.org Accessed 16 January 2011. For the Latest Water filter Ratings, subscription to ConsumerReports.org is required; this costs $26.00 yearly; $5.95 monthly; or $19.00 yearly, if you already subscribe to the magazine.
What's in your water?
One way to find out is to check your consumer confidence report, or CCR. The EPA requires utilities to provide a CCR to their customers every year. You may also find the CCR printed in your newspaper or posted on your
local government website.
Our recent analysis of CCRs from the 13 largest U.S. cities revealed that few claimed to have no federal water-quality violations. Though none of the other water systems were consistently unhealthful, all had some samples
containing significant quantities of contaminants. In New York City, for example, some samples had lead levels several times the federal limit.
Note that a CCR might indicate safe levels of a contaminant when your water actually has experienced potentially harmful spikes. Also, a CCR tells you about the water in your municipality, but not necessarily about what's
coming out of your particular tap. Only testing your home supply can do that. Homeowners with a well on their property face even greater uncertainty, because such water isn't surveyed or reported on in CCRs. Call the EPA's
Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) for the names of state-certified testing labs or for your local health authority, which might offer low-cost or free test kits, or check out www.epa.gov/safewater/labs. Ultimately,
you might find that you don't need a water filter.
It's important to know what contaminants are in your water that so you can match the filter to the problem. Claims about contaminant removal vary from product to product, so read the fine print. Also, consider how much water
you consume vs. how much effort and disruption to your daily routine you're willing to tolerate. Generally, the more contaminants you need to remove, the more complicated the filter, though there are trade-offs.
Water filter guide
Water filters have become simpler to install and more convenient to maintain.
Our tests of various filters — everything from carafes to systems for the entire house — found models suitable for removing many common contaminants. What's at
stake might be more than just good taste.
Some of the material in the widget below is drawn from ConsumerReports.org; the remainder is drawn from or links to material available on the respective brand sites.
The company's e-Spring countertop filters — which treat water with ultraviolet-light technology — are sold through Amway dealers. The countertop model is priced at about $600.
This company's countertop models use a dual-filtration system that includes an ion-exchange method in the water-filtration process. Its products are sold online and in plumbing-supply outlets.
Determining the value of a water treatment system is a simple matter of verifying how well the product removes contaminants and at what price. State
laws in California, Wisconsin and Iowa require that all performance claims be validated and certified by their appropriate Health Departments. A review of the
product's Performance Data Sheet will provide the necessary information.
This Clorox-owned brand dominates the pitcher category and also offers faucet-mounted models with electronic filling-change indicators. One new disposable faucet-mounted filter is designed for easy installation and
removal and disposal when its useful life expires. Brita water filters are available in the same retailers and in the same price range as PUR products.
Its filters are sold through Culligan independent dealers nationwide and online. The company offers an extremely wide range of products. One line of its single-stage filters comes in different sizes, and you
can chose a model based on household needs, uses, and size. The filters are also easy to snap on and off. The Aqua-Cleer line offers a multistage-filtration system that uses up to four filters at a time.
GE is the major brand in under-sink water filters, with cartridge and reverse-osmosis types available. Its carafe models offer a filter change indicator with an electronic LED, sliding lid integrated into cover,
self-leveling spout, and low-battery LED indicator. All brands are offering products with more-ergonomic handles. You'll find GE filters at Home Depot stores nationwide.
Kenmore offers dual-stage systems and a reverse-osmosis system. The Elite dual stage and its reverse-osmosis system come in a cabinet that sits on its base and does not need to be mounted, unlike most other
brands' systems. The filters include a filter-life indicator.
Procter & Gamble's PUR brand dominates the faucet-mounted market. The manufacturer offers a wide range of products with features such as a filter-life indicator. Its major introduction has been the Flavor
Option faucet filter, which can add five fruit flavors to the filtered water with the push of a button. It's available at national chains like Walmart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowe's, Home Depot, and Sears
and at hardware and plumbing-supply stores, drug stores, and online retailers.
Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now
2008–2009 Annual Report, President's Cancer Panel. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health National, Cancer Institute. April 2010; released May 2010.
Water, mineral waters and health.
Petraccia L, Liberati G, Giuseppe Masciullo S, Grassi M, Fraioli A.
Clin Nutr. 2006 Jun;25(3):377-85. Epub 2005 Nov 28.
In Canada, the responsibility for making sure drinking water supplies are safe is shared between the provincial, territorial, federal and municipal
governments. The day-to-day responsibility of providing safe drinking water to the public generally rests with the provinces and territories, while
municipalities usually oversee the day to day operations of the treatment facilities.
Health Canada's Water Quality and Health Bureau plays a leadership role in science and research. Its mandate and expertise lies in protecting the health of
all Canadians by developing the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality in partnership with the provinces and territories. These guidelines
are used by every jurisdiction in Canada and are the basis for establishing drinking water quality requirements for all Canadians.
Health Canada is recognized as a World Health Organisation/Pan American Health Organisation (WHO/PAHO) Collaborating Centre for Water Quality, and
participates in the development of WHO guidelines for drinking water.
The Bureau also works closely and shares information with other government agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
If you're considering a household water filtering solution and want to test the quality of your well or tap water, you can contact a local laboratory certified by your provincial government to conduct such tests.
Bacterial testing of well water may be done free of charge in some municipalities — e.g., Ottawa Public Health provides provides free well water testing — but
other tests may necessitate a fee paid to an independent lab.
In Ontario, "[i]n order for a drinking water laboratory
to be licensed by the Ministry of the Environment, it must be fully accredited for the tests it performs. All laboratories performing drinking water testing in Ontario are currently accredited to the international standard
ISO/IEC 17025:2005 by an internationally recognized accrediting body such as the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) or the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA)." Here is the current list of laboratories licensed to perform drinking water tests in Ontario.
Pipes used to distribute drinking water are made of plastic, concrete, or metal (e.g., steel, galvanized steel, ductile iron, copper, or aluminum). Plastic and concrete pipes tend to be resistant to corrosion.
Metal pipe corrosion is a continuous and variable process of ion release from the pipe into the water. Under certain environmental conditions, metal pipes can become corroded based on the properties of the pipe,
the soil surrounding the pipe, the water properties, and stray electric currents. When metal pipe corrosion occurs, it is a result of the electrochemical electron exchange resulting from the differential galvanic
properties between metals, the ionic influences of solutions, aquatic buffering, or the solution pH. [...]
Influence of ionic impurities on corrosion
Chemical additives are added to water during the water treatment process. More than 40 chemical additives can be used to treat drinking water. Many of these commonly used additives are acidic, such as ferric
chloride and aluminum sulfate, which are added to remove turbidity and other particulate matter. Various chlorine disinfectants, also act as acids and have the potential to reduce pH, alkalinity, and buffer
intensity. These acidic water treatment additives can interfere with corrosion protection. The amounts of each of these other additives used in water treatment typically are 5 to 10 times the amount of the fluoride
additive for fluoridation of drinking water; therefore, their potential effect on the factors affecting water corrosivity is proportionately greater.
The fluoride ion interacts weakly with common metals in plumbing materials and the American Water Works Association Research Foundation has reported that fluoride ions contribute to corrosion to the same extent
as at the same concentration chloride and sulfate ions. Most of the fluoride interaction will be to form a precipitate that will be incorporated into pipe scale (the deposits on the inside of pipes that are mostly
calcium) or removed by routine system flushing. Therefore, the corrosive influence of fluoride in drinking water is not significant compared with other ionic influences. (Internal Corrosion of Water Distribution
Systems, 2nd Edition, American Water Works Association Research Foundation; 1996).
Lead and copper in drinking water
Lead and copper are rarely detected in most drinking water supplies. However, these metals are a concern to consumers. Because some household plumbing fixtures may contain lead or copper, corrosive waters may
leach (pick up) lead and copper from household plumbing pipes after entering a home. This is a greater issue for older houses (i.e., houses built before 1981, if the plumbing system has not been replaced) than for
newer houses. The most common reason for water utilities to add corrosion inhibitors is to avoid lead and copper corrosion with older homes, and the second most common reason is to minimize corrosion of pipes
in the distribution system.
When waters are naturally corrosive, many substances have a tendency to dissolve in water. Because of this tendency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a Lead and Copper Rule that requires
all water systems to periodically monitor a set number of samples for lead and copper levels at different locations. This is based on population size and previous tests of lead and copper content. If a certain
percentage of the samples exceeds the “action level,” the utility system must take corrective actions to control the potential for corrosion in the water system. This often involves the addition of corrosion inhibitors.
Water properties influencing corrosion
Many water quality factors affect corrosion of pipes used in water distribution, including the chemistry and characteristics of the water (e.g., pH, alkalinity, biology), salts and chemicals that are dissolved
in the water, and the physical properties of the water (e.g., temperature, gases, solid particles). The tendency of water to be corrosive is controlled principally by monitoring or adjusting the pH, buffer intensity,
alkalinity, and concentrations of calcium, magnesium, phosphates, and silicates in the water. Actions by a water system to address these factors can lead to reduced corrosion by reducing the potential for the metal
surface to be under the influence of an electrochemical potential.
Waters differ in their resistance to changes in their chemistry. All waters contain divalent metals such as calcium and magnesium that cause water to have properties characterized as hardness and softness. If a water
is “hard,” it is less likely to “leach” metals from plumbing pipes but often leaves a deposit on the inside of the pipe, while if a water is “soft” it has less of a tendency to leave deposits on the inside of plumbing
pipes. If a water is soft, then it has low hardness. Some people in communities with hard water will use water softeners. Water systems adjust the hardness and softness of water because of these tendencies and also
for taste considerations.
Alkalinity is a characteristic of water related to hardness. Waters with low hardness, or alkalinity (less than 50 mg/L as calcium carbonate), are more susceptible to the factors affecting corrosion; such systems will
typically use additives that can prevent corrosion (corrosion inhibitors) to comply with federal and state regulations. [...]
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