http://www.care2.com/greenliving/filters-for-municipal-water.html
Filters for Municipal Water
By the Care2 staff.
There are almost 170,000 public water systems in the United States. Water utilities treat nearly 34 billion gallons of water every day.
When shopping for a water purifier, it’s important to first research what your municipal water problems are. Different communities will have different contaminants in their water supply, and you want to get a water purifier that solves your specific water problems.
Water Authorities are required under the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide a Consumer Confidence Report to consumers annually. The report allows consumers to know the quality of their drinking water, the contaminants in it, and the possible harmful effects. The report also allows consumers to decide whether or not a home water purifier is needed to make the water potable. Well water is not regulated.
The following US EPA link will allow you to get a copy of annual drinking water reports for your city.
However, not all contaminants are tested. In 2005, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested municipal water in 42 states and detected some 260 contaminants in public water supplies. Of those, 141 were unregulated chemicals for which public health officials have no safety standards, much less methods for removing them.
Another 119 regulated chemicals—a total of 260 contaminants altogether—were found by the environmental group in a two-and-a-half-year analysis of more than 22 million tap water quality tests. The tests, which are required under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, were conducted at nearly 40,000 utilities that supply water to 231 million people.
According EWG, the top 10 states with the most contaminants in their drinking water were California, Wisconsin, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Illinois—in that order. EWG said the biggest sources of contaminants were agriculture, industry and pollution from sprawl and urban runoff.
To find out which brands of filters remove which impurities, see this water filter comparisons chart.
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17 comments
add your comment »The water filter MUST filter out the hazardous waste material, fluorosilicic acid, known as fluoride, in addition to all the other contaminants.
Anyone wanting to know just how harmful fluoride is to our bodies can go the the Web site, FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK at:
http://www.fluoridealert.org. Fluoridated Water is particularly harmful to infants and very young children and any who have kidney problems of any sort.
Here is some Web site information about water filters that remove fluoride:
How to Remore Fluoride from Drinking Water
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryhowtoguide/a/removefluoride.htm
Promolife Fluoride Removal Filters
http://www.promolife.com/water-purifiers/fluoride-filters/cat_368.html#bonechar
Why I Oppose Fluoridation of Public Drinking Water
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryarticles/a/aa090704a.htm
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No wonder WaterFilterComparisons.com listed an older version of the PUR Water filter. The 3-stage PUR water filter that I personally use now filters almost all of the items listed on that WaterFilterComparisons.com website. You can Google "Water Quality Report" along with the name of your city and that should give you an idea of what your local water issues are. There is also another article on this website; do a search for "Well Water" and you will find it.
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BUYER BEWARE! Per Annie B Bond above "To find out which brands of filters remove which impurities, see this water filter comparisons chart." the link brings you to WaterFilterComparisons.com, a Sun Water Systems website. Aquasana shows up the best in the comparison charts. Guess who owns Aquasana? You guessed it, Sun Water Systems. Annie B Bond mentions EPA & EWG throughout the article but then sends readers to a manufacturers website for comparisons?? WHAAAT? Now my only question is did Annie B Bond do this innocently or is she affiliated?
P.S. Laura: Per product manual, NSF certification is not valid on water treated with chloramines, so that certification is no silver bullet either (no matter how self-righteous and judgemental you sound). :)
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Annie,
After reading alot of the comments here, it absolutely surprises me how lazy and ignorant some people can be. Especially when it comes to the safety of their drinking water.
I am a distributor for multi-pure water filters, and I have done extensive (months)of research and worked for several unethical companies (who i will not name) Before I decided to go with a multi-pure water filter. After all the research I did, only then did I decide to spend my money. (and eventually join the company)but..
I always recommend to perspective customers to do your research! do not settle on the cheapest water filter, they are usually and most likely NOT the best. And ALWAYS make sure the filter you are purchasing is "Nsf Certified". But, most people do not know what Nsf is or what it stands for.. Nsf is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. For 60 years, NSF has been committed to public health, safety, and protection of the environment. While focusing on food, water, indoor air, and the environment. NSF is widely recognized for its scientific and technical expertise in the health and environmental sciences. Its professional staff includes engineers, chemists, toxicologists, and environmental health professionals with broad experience both in public and private organizations.
There are several water filters that are Nsf Certified, and if people would only take the time and research they will find the "right" filter.
Simply google "nsf certified water filters"
Good
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hello everyone!!
look at the very bottom of the article:"SIMPLE SOLUTION:
To find out which brands of filters remove which impurities, see this water filter comparisons chart.
or
http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.net/WaterFilter_Comparison.cfm
lots of great info on filters: whole house, shower, etc. just look on the pages for further links.
blessings!
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I agree with Ruth Foster's comment - Where is the information to tell us which filters to use ?! That's what I was expecting when I selected this topic.
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For our well-being, we should all be concerned with the source of our water. We are mostly water and next to oxygen, it's essential for our survival. More than ever, we must make improvements to the water we are drinking. Filters are not enough and reverse osmosis depletes our body of essential minerals critical to our long-term health. There is a reliable and durable system that generates water with properties to assist in restoring good health; improve detoxification and hydration at the cellular level; alkalize, energize, and revitalize; offset the effects of oxidative stress.
With all the news over the past year on bottled and tap water, we feel great about our investment. Our home water generator produces great quality water which we bottle in special containers for our whole family. This is a compelling show and tell demonstration... Everyone we know that has it loves it, so do we! This water can help to combat infections. Get more information, health newsletter, and free e-book
www.remarkablewater.com
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Aquasana is a good filter and very reasonably priced. I know it does a good job on sediment, lead, arsenic, etc. and other contaminants like PCB's and TCH's, but I don't know about the medications. I have an Aquasana on my kitchen faucet and one on my bathroom shower (did you know you absorb more contaminants through your skin and inhaling steam than through drinking water?). Both cost about $150 together. I intend to call them and ask them about the medications. They are at www.aquasana.com but I linked to them through www.seacoastvitamins.com and got free shipping. BTW, seacoast makes a great liquid multiple vitamin/mineral/amino acid supplement.
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I thought this article was going to give me informed information about what type of water purifier works best to take out any chemical and medications in the water. Please, we need concrete help here. We have already heard the bad stuff...tell us something good, something contructive and helpful. Please!
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Ditto to all of the above comments...Wanted to know which TYPES of filters work best!
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