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Drinking Water Filter
Using a drinking water filter is the minimum action you can take to improve your water quality. We are bombarded by so many pollutants in our daily lives, removing them from our water contributes to improved health.
Do you know that your drinking water filter can have a big impact on your health now and in the future? Filtering your water can help to keep your body healthier and can help to prevent some diseases that can be caused by substances in the water. Although most people believe that the water that comes from their tap is healthy, compared to other water sources around the world, we may be deluding ourselves about our water quality. It's important for us to learn more about any drinking water filter we use and water pollution, so we can help keep our bodies as healthy as possible.
Why do I need a drinking water filter?
Although most water treatment plants do a very good job at removing pollutants from the water, they do add chemicals to our water that can cause health problems. They can also not control what gets into the water when it leaves the water treatment plant. Some of the substances that you need to be concerned with in your water include chlorine, chloramines, and lead, (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, algae, bacteria, fungi, pollutants, and viruses are all filtered out of water at the plant and are unlikely to find their way back into your water, at least along the distribution path). Here are some of the dangers that are associated with the first three substances, those items added after water is filtered at the treatment plant.
* Chlorine -- Chlorine is used by water treatment facilities to further purify the water after filtering. This product has been used for over 100 years to purify water. But, it's a known carcinogen, ingestion can increase your risk of bladder, rectal, and breast cancer. A drinking water filter can help remove the chlorine from the water before you drink it.
* Chloramines -- Many water treatment facilities have changed their purification process from using chlorine to using chloramines. Chloramines are composed of chlorine and ammonia. The amount that is needed to purify water is much less than when using chlorine, but it can cause health problems, just like chlorine. Kidney dialysis patients can be extremely affected by water with chloramines, so it is important to check your water if you are on dialysis. It can cause respiratory problems for some people and it does not kill pathogens as well as chlorine, which may mean that you can be exposed to some bacteria. Skin problems and gastrointestinal problems are seen as well. It is more difficult and expensive to remove chloramines from the water than the removal of chlorine.
* Lead -- Lead comes into the water via the pipes of some distribution systems or in some homes (usually older homes that haven't had their water pipes updated yet). Lead is particularly dangerous for children, infants and pregnant women, because it can cause mental and physical delays. Prolonged exposure to lead can cause high blood pressure and/or kidney problems for adults. Lead can be easily removed from the water by using a carbon drinking water filter system.
Where can I find a drinking water filter?
Drinking water filters can be easily found online, in your local home improvement store, discount store, health food store and a variety of other retailers and private distributors. They come in four main styles, including a tap water filter, a under the sink water filter, a pitcher drinking water filter, and a whole house filter. What you want the filter to do and where you want to install it will help determine which one you buy for your home or office. One thing you need to keep in mind is that a whole house filter won't be able to remove lead from your water that's introduced inside the house, because it works at the source where the water comes into the home, not at the tap. Evaluate your needs and priorities and choose the right one for you and your family.
Drinking water filters are something that every home and office really needs. If you value your health, having clean water is essential to keeping your body healthy. What more can you ask for?
