Even with the best filtered tap water, there may still be impurities in the water, including chlorine, lead, bacteria, and particulates. These impurities may be in the plumbing of your home, which is one reason it's important to use a home water filter on at least your drinking water. There are several water filter types available, making your purchase a bit more challenging. Some of the different approaches to cleaning your water include reverse osmosis, distillation, water filtration, water softners, ultra-violet, and multi-stage filtration.

Reverse Osmosis
This water filtering method processes the water under high pressure using a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane has very fine pores to help remove the impurities from the water. This process removes inorganic impurities, including lead, carbon, and other minerals, but it cannot remove organic impurities, such as bacteria. Water is pushed through the membrane to remove contaminates, and then water is used to flush the contaminates down the drain so they don't hang around to cause problems.

One problem with this approach is it "wastes" more water than it cleans, a problem because water has a finite supply and we can't afford to waste it.

Distillation
This method of filtering the water passes water over a heated coil, which turns the water into a gaseous form which is then it is moved into a cooling chamber where it reverts back to its original liquid state, minus the impurities. This process removes minerals, like carbon, heavy metals, lead, pollutants, organisms and chemicals from the water. It doesn't remove items (like alcohol, oils and petroleum) that have a lower boiling point than water. Take care to clean your distiller periodically so the items you are removing from your water don't stick around to pollute your clean water.

Since using this method to clean your water removes minerals from you water, be sure to supplement your diet with essential minerals for good health.

Water Filtration
This method of filtering the water uses a filtering system, including a carbon filter or other water filter to remove particulates and pathogens from the water. This method is the most commonly found water filter method for home use and the carbon filter is the best way to remove organic impurities from your water, including pathogens. But not all water filters are made equal, so be sure to have one that's approved by the EPA before you buy.

And be sure to have replacement water filters on hand so you don't make the problem worse than it was before you started filtering your water. For example, the organic substances that are filtered out can create a worse pollution when "aging" in your filter than they did just "passing through".

Ultra-violet, or UV
Systems that use UV to clean the water expose water to a high frequency light which kills living organisms. The system is great at purifying the water, but the organisms need to be removed from the water to complete the cleaning process.

Multi-stage Filtration
This is the best choice for getting the maximum number of impurities for your water. The reverse osmosis, distillation, water filter filtration and UV methods only kill or remove some specific types of impurities from the water. Choosing a multi-stage filtering system lets you remove both inorganic and organic impurities from your water. The more impure your water, or the more sensitive your system to water impurities, the more you want a multi-stage filtration system so you can get cleaner water to consume and clean in.

There are other devices on the market that claim to clean you water, like magnetic de-scalers, that don't really clean your water, but can effect the mineral content to make it less likely to clog your pipes and faucets. In my experience with this approach to water problems, the minerals are effected, as long as water runs, but if it's not used for periods of time, like when you are gone for days or weeks at a time, the water that's been sitting in the pipes, water heater and boiler lose the magnetic charge so the minerals become a problem again. But with only a bit of use, the magnetic field is returned and the minerals are kept in line, as it were.

The chemicals used to clean the water create problems too. Adding a filter system to your home can help to keep you and your family healthier. Filtering your water is important. Although water treatment plants filter the water to within a safe level, you do not know what impurities your water may get simply by running through the pipes on the way to your home or office, or within the building. Filtered water tastes better and is better for you.

Cleaning chores (laundry, baths/showers, dishes, and housekeeping) are also made better and healthier when filtered water is available from every water source. Your skin absorbs many chemicals, so removing them from bathing water helps keep you healthier. And your clothes will be cleaner when washed in pure water.

Research the many different water filter systems to find the best one for your home and your needs. Once you figure out what to do at home you can turn your attention to your drinking water away from home, like in the office or on the road. We'll save that topic for another article, another time. In the meantime, start using a water filter for better water.