Improving Your Water Quality

With the concerns about environmental and water pollution always in the news, it can be disconcerting for homeowners to simply grab a glass and fill it from the tap. Having a water system installed in your home is one way to ensure you are making consumption safe for your family.  Not all of the products on the market are worth the investment. Here is how to know which one to choose.

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Are you tired of hard water, unpleasant water? Your drinking water may have a number of minerals or even contaminants that could be affecting its quality and taste. Whether you’re concerned with the purity of your water or simply looking for a refreshing way to filter out unusual tastes, find out how a reverse osmosis system can improve your drinking water.

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The safety of the water we use in our homes has come a long way since medieval times or even just in the past few decades. However, as the Flint crisis has illustrated over the past few years, America is far from immune to lead, iron and other contaminants in the water. Without an effective iron removal system, not only can high metal content in your water ruin the taste, but it may also lead to various types of metal poisoning. In high doses and over long periods of time, this can prove detrimental. Sometimes it is fatal.

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Scaled tubs, clogged dishwashers and unusual tastes in your water can all stem from hardness. If left untreated, hard water can reduce the lifespan of many of your appliances and fixtures. Discover how to remove these unpleasant features of hard water today.

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Owning a well is a way for many Americans to have fresh drinking water outside of a metropolitan community. The Environmental Protection Agency does not govern wells or the water within them. To keep your drinking water clean and fresh, use a well water purification system.

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If you use either a pitcher or faucet filtration system to purify your water, you may not feel you need anything else to bring out the best taste in your water. That said, you may still incur a hefty cost when it comes to buying new filters to keep your cooking and drinking water as free of harmful pollutants as possible. The future could herald a more effective, less expensive means of water purification. How?

Reverse Osmosis

The truth of the matter is that reverse osmosis is one of the most effective and affordable means of purifying water. Reverse osmosis technology is already popular in the Middle East and Singapore. What’s so great about reverse osmosis is the fact that it’s a process that can handle massive quantities of water, perfect for large cities or factories that require a great deal of water to remain operational.

Another great thing about using reverse osmosis to purify water is that it works with varying degrees of purification, meaning that fewer compromises have to be made. This is ideal for factory or other industrial settings where mineral deposits and other by-products have the potential to degrade the performance and life expectancy of hardware.

The Need for Further Advances

For all the benefits of reverse osmosis when it comes to purifying water, the process can still be improved. Those improvements depend on refined renewable energy technology and processes. A lot of power is required for reverse osmosis, and the means of creating that power can pollute the air, which just creates one problem whilst attempting to address another. Currently, wind and solar power seem to be two of the best options for bringing out the most in reverse osmosis.

Just because our current water purification methods work does not mean they can’t be improved. Reverse osmosis could be the key to reversing the harm done to rivers, streams, and other bodies of water we depend on for drinking water. Reach out to purifying companies to learn more.

Environmental concerns surrounding our water have risen in recent years. Homeowners are using water purification systems to provide the cleanest water to their families. Water is an essential element, but there are many systems available to choose from.

Multi-System

Large families benefit greatly from the large capacity of the multi-system water filtering systems. Their large size often means they are hidden from view in large drawers or beneath a counter. The filter needs replacement only a few times a year depending on use. They are the most expensive option, but they do remove organisms, minerals, chemicals and toxins found in the water. The multi-system water filtering systems are more environmentally friendly than the other options.

Reverse Osmosis

A mid-point option is the portable countertop reverse osmosis water purification system. Smaller than the multi-system water filtration systems, the reverse osmosis filters out rust, salt, chemicals, minerals, chlorine and sediments. Individuals focused on clean water may enjoy a reverse osmosis system, but the process does strip the water of all minerals even those that are helpful such as magnesium. They use more energy than pitchers to produce the powerfully clean water. They’re also portable sitting either beneath a counter or on top of it.

Filtered Pitchers

The least expensive option to filter water is with filtered pitchers. Because it is a pitcher, you can fill it up and store it in the fridge to have cold water on hand at all times. The filters remove chlorine, large sediments and microorganisms from the water. The filters require frequent changes and don’t hold much water. The pitchers must be constantly refilled.

Ultimately, the water purification system that is right for your home depends on your budget and needs. Most local water systems provide an annual report of contaminants in your area. This report can help you make a decision on what is best for your family’s health. Clean water is essential to a healthy life.

There’s a lot of misinformation online about different ways to treat water – and about what water needs treating. While municipal filtration systems have traditionally been recognized as safe, recent revelations have created considerable doubt; aging systems have frequently not been maintained well, pharmaceuticals are showing up in samples, and even well water is showing the impact of a swelling population.

Simply Put, You Probably Will Benefit From Additional Water Treatment  

Without testing directly at your tap, it’s impossible to know what contaminates are in your water. However, most purification systems were designed decades ago, before some hazards were recognized. Our understanding has also evolved about how toxic known contaminates are– some homes were still having lead pipes installed as late as 1985! It’s likely that most water can benefit from additional purification. Besides heavy metals like lead, antidepressants and other drugs are increasingly found in tap water, and viruses and bacteria occasionally sneak into the best systems.

Pros and Cons of the 3 Types

Reverse osmosis uses a special membrane to allow only molecules no larger than water to pass through. This is probably the purest water of the three, but it also means that you lose essential minerals that replenish your body. Water filtration by high-tech filters is the most common home treatment system; they pass along many necessary minerals, but require periodic filter changing. Ultraviolet systems will sterilize water, killing virtually all pathogens while not impacting the taste at all. However, it won’t filter out any other impurities.

What the Experts Say

Ideally, treatment will use a multi-stage method, much like most modern cities use: start with water filtration, then use reverse osmosis to remove salts, heavy metals and bacteria, then neutralize any remaining pathogens with ultraviolet. Finally, add essential minerals for health and taste. This sounds complicated, and it can be; your best bet is to contact a reputable water treatment company. Look for one that’s a member of your local and state water quality associations and ask about their certifications. Most likely, they can help you find an economical solution to be sure of the highest-quality water for your family.

Manganese is an essential mineral for human health; too little will inhibit proper brain development but too much is proving to significantly lower IQ in children. When as little as 0.5 parts per million are in drinking water, both IQ and memory can suffer. The bad news is that manganese is found virtually everywhere, especially in well water. The good news is that it’s easy to fix by using a combination of water softening with water filtration.

What Is Manganese and Where Does It Come From?

Manganese is a naturally-occurring element that is highly reactive in its pure form, so it’s usually found in minerals, most commonly with iron. Most soil has a little, and virtually all plants and meat will contain traces that are healthy for humans to consume. Over time, it will leech into aquifers and seep into well water, and it may also be found in iron pipes used in some homes and water distribution systems.

Why Is It Unhealthy?

In significant doses, it acts as a neurotoxin, eventually causing Parkinson’s-like symptoms and, in children, delaying or preventing cognitive development. The exact mechanism is uncertain, but interestingly, small overdoses from food don’t seem to have much impact whereas in drinking water, very tiny excesses can directly impair brain growth. As with most things, moderation is the key to good health.

How Do I Fix It?

It depends on how much manganese is in your water. Some wells have 6 times the threshold for unhealthy levels, but most homes can achieve significant manganese reductions with a high-quality, multi-level water filtration system. In certain types of water or water with very elevated levels, a water softener is used to precipitate the manganese out so it can then be filtered.

What you need entirely depends on the quality and pH level of your tap water. Experts strongly recommend that you have it tested by a certified water quality specialist. They’ll be able to determine what your water has too much of as well as what it needs added to keep your family healthy and your tap water tasting great.

Due to the quality and price, reverse osmosis has become one of the leading types of water purification. Many homes have installed this type of water filtration system to remove the harmful contaminates now often found in municipal supplies and private wells. However, this does come at a cost: beneficial minerals are also removed, potentially impacting human health.

Humans Require Minerals to Survive

The World Health Organization found that water purified by reverse osmosis has “a definite adverse influence” on consumers by removing minerals like calcium and magnesium. When some Eastern European areas began using it for drinking water, they started developing serious physical symptoms within a few months, including weakness and cardiovascular disorders. Distilled water can literally suck minerals out of your cells – you urinate out the essential ones that are keeping your body alive.

Reverse Osmosis Requires Additional Water Filtration

When you’re dealing with brackish or sea water, reverse osmosis is a fantastic beginning for the treatment process (usually after a pre-filter). When you use it in your home system, it’s typically the final stage to polish off what’s already been filtered. Tests have found pharmaceuticals in many major cities’ water supplies and even in residential wells. Pesticides and volatile organic compounds also must be removed by filtering, and chlorine must be entirely removed before reaching the osmosis membrane– even a tiny amount of chlorine will destroy it, often without any warning that the membrane is no longer effective.

Reverse Osmosis Systems Generally Require Professional Installation

There are still good reasons for many homes to install a reverse osmosis system as part of their overall strategy for water purification, but a homeowner should be aware of all the benefits and disadvantages. One possible drawback is that they require drilling through the countertop and directly into the drain pipe, and drilling through granite countertops is horrendously risky without substantial experience and the proper tools.

If you do decide to install a reverse osmosis system, do your research and know what you’re getting into. Make sure you replace the filters at least as often as the manufacturer suggests, and have it installed by experienced water filtration professionals.