Butterfly Rewards - earn free credits and redeem for good causes - learn more!
about our ads
my care2
make a difference
healthy & green living: more than 5,000 ways to enhance your life

customize your free newsletter

Customize your Healthy & Green Living newsletter now

manage newsletters

ads keep care2 free
ads keep care2 free
Annie B. Bond

Water Purifier: Selection Tips and Terms

posted by Annie B. Bond Feb 8, 2008 1:24 am
filed under: Healthy Home, Health & Safety
Water Purifier: Selection Tips and Terms
12 comments

By the Care2 Editorial Team.

There is a difference between water filters and water purifiers: Filters are used to remove suspended particulates in water. Water purifiers are designed to remove, kill, or inactivate bacteria or any other disease-causing organisms.

• Most water home water treatment devices are certified by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) using ANSI/NSF standards.

• The National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) is an excellent resource for anyone who is considering purchasing a water treatment system. It is an independent, non-profit group of scientists, engineers, technicians, educators and analysts who test and certify drinking water treatment (and other) equipment. At their Web site, www.nsf.org, you can find out if a particular product is certified to perform as advertised. When purchasing equipment, check to see if it has the NSF mark or listing on it. Understand that some systems may be NSF tested but not NSF certified.

• It is better to spend more on a certified water filter or purifier than settle for a cheap one that could cause more health problems.

More on Health & Safety (195 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3248 articles available)

12 comments

12 comments

add your comment »
12 comments add your comment
Laura Newton

I am a distributor for Multi-Pure Water Filters, and I have done EXTENSIVE research on all water filter companies. Multi-Pure is Nsf Certified to reduce more contaminants than any other water filter in the world.

For those of you who do not know what "NSF" means...NSF International, The Public Health and Safety Company™, is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, is the world leader in standards development, product certification, education, and risk-management for public health and safety. 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 develops national standards, provides learning opportunities through its Center for Public Health Education, and provides third-party conformity assessment services while representing the interests of all stakeholders. The primary stakeholder groups include industry, the regulatory community, and the public at large.

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.
NSF was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI USA. The NSF Mark is recognized for its value in international trade around the world..For more info visit:
http://www.nsf.org



Natasha A.

Not a useful article at all!

Rick B.
  • Rick B. says
  • Mar 13, 2008 11:11 AM

Come on,we need specifics! I agree with the others about not getting enough real info.

Jamie Clemons

true about the water filters. they dont explain any of it. contrary to popular claim Margarine was not invented as a turkey fattener it was formulated in 1869 as a low cost substitute to butter named oleomargarine, originally it had beef fat in it which was replaced with vegetable oils. As to it being similar to plastic the claim means nothing many substances are similar in chemical properties but the slightest variation in molecular structure can make it totally different in qualities. (from snopes)

Rob S.
  • Rob S. says
  • Mar 13, 2008 4:31 AM

To assume that the NSF is a legitimate organization is like trusting the FDA, The FDA says mercury is good for you now? Hummmm Who regulates them? They also say that putting fluoride in the water is ok as well, fluoride is poison. I have built a simple water tester that solidifies any particles in the water and the only system that comes close to pure water is distillation, then RO and even then you still can’t remove all the toxins from the water. Beware of the people who say drink lots of water. You can get all the water you need from fruits and vegetables, (natures filtering system) provided they are organic, best to grow your own. Yes you should drink water but I question what other pollutants come with it. And how come the NSF doesn’t tell you what is not removed?
We as a planet are in trouble… we need to focus on the problem POLUTION not on fixing a symptom which is toxins in the drinking water. Why are we on so many drugs? Why we are not told what is in our food. Example; margarine is one molecule away from being plastic! It was designed to fatten turkeys when it first came out… when it KILLED the turkeys someone decided to colour it and flavour it, and call it a butter substitute! Where is the FDA when this happened? We are killing our planet and killing ourselves in the process. Wake up! We need to go to the cause and start there. These corrupt organizations need to be shut down and we need to take our country back and start fixing our planet before it’s too late.

Rob S.
  • Rob S. says
  • Mar 13, 2008 4:31 AM

This article is weak...To assume that the NSF is a legitimate organization is like trusting the FDA, The FDA says mercury is good for you now? Hummmm Who regulates them? They also say that putting fluoride in the water is ok as well, fluoride is poison. I have built a simple water tester that solidifies any particles in the water and the only system that comes close to pure water is distillation, then RO and even then you still can’t remove all the toxins from the water. Beware of the people who say drink lots of water. You can get all the water you need from fruits and vegetables, (natures filtering system) provided they are organic, best to grow your own. Yes you should drink water but I question what other pollutants come with it. And how come the NSF doesn’t tell you what is not removed?
We as a planet are in trouble… we need to focus on the problem POLUTION not on fixing a symptom which is toxins in the drinking water. Why are we on so many drugs? Why we are not told what is in our food. Example; margarine is one molecule away from being plastic! It was designed to fatten turkeys when it first came out… when it KILLED the turkeys someone decided to colour it and flavour it, and call it a butter substitute! Where is the FDA when this happened? We are killing our planet and killing ourselves in the process. Wake up! We need to go to the cause and start there. These corrupt organizations need to be shut down and we need to take our country back and start fixing our planet before it’s too late.

Morghan Andi

Nice shot about the refund for the article, Linda H., however, most of us who read these look to Care2 updates and articles to help educate us on ways to make our world a safer and better place. In exchange for our support by buying from some of the Care2 advertisers, for weeding through the daily influx of Care2 emails, and for participating in Care2 campaigns, we do actually pay a price for these articles, some of us more in time than dollars. My time is definitely worth something to those that depend on me, isn't yours? If our search for enlightenment becomes time wasted, we eventually direct our efforts elsewhere and Care2 will suffer for it. So I say Yay for the criticisms as well as the kudos, Linda. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to voice our opinions!

Robbi D.

I found this to be somewhat less than helpful to me and in fact particularly so to those who are in no way aware of the varying filtration systems. It offers very little in the way of explanation and appeared to me to be more of a draw in to view advertising such as is viewable on the right.
I'm quite disappointed at such tactics.

Stephanie E.

For more extensive info, check out the website recommended in the "brief blip" above. http://www.nsf.org/consumer/drinking_water/dw_treatment.asp?program=WaterTre#devices

Mark K.
  • Mark K. says
  • Mar 12, 2008 12:09 PM

This article was a waste of time: Not enough real information!

Please enter your comment.
Or, log in with your
Facebook account:
1500 characters remaining

who's talking about this story?

Trackback URL

Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

21332

ads keep care2 free
ads keep care2 free
ads keep care2 free
Copyright © 2009 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved