Why You Should Get A Water Filter for Your Home
Water is a resource which we tend to take for granted like the air we breathe and the soil which supports us. However, we are living in an ever increasingly polluted environment. If you assume that only the third world has major issues with its water supply, you would be incorrect.
Here in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, our drinking water comes from a treatment plant fed by the Potomac River. Some of the things other than H20 which you might find from an analysis of your drinking water may include:
- Varying levels of Lead and Copper
- Chlorine (higher when WASA completes a chlorine flush of the system in the spring.)
- Disinfectant byproducts (caused by chlorine reacting with organic materials)
- Low levels of Coliform (bacteria)
- Low levels of Perchlorate (toxic chemical found in weapons and explosives)
- Certain pharmaceuticals
Like many older cities, D.C. does not have a separate storm sewer and sewage system. As such, the sewer system can easily be overwhelmed during torrential or prolonged weather events. When the sewer system becomes overwhelmed waste water backs up into the Potomac. The Potomac and the Anacostia (the other local river) also receive polluted runoff from streets and other impervious areas.
D.C. still has an ongoing issue of lead in the water caused primarily from the old lead water piping which were common until the 1970’s. Lead was also used to solder copper water pipes together. A recent (May 20, 2010) article in the Washington Post reports that the CDC, “Knowingly used flawed data to claim that high lead levels in the District’s drinking water did not pose a health risk to the public, a congressional investigation has found.”
We recommend that homeowners have their water tested and install the appropriate water filter for their situation. Note that water conditions change, so what’s in your water one week may not be true the next week or month.
The five broad groups of contaminates which need to be considered when installing any sort of water filtration system are (in no particular order): (1) chlorine and its byproducts, (2) heavy metals, (3) organic chemicals including pesticides and herbicides, (4) bacteria; and (5) cysts.
There are a number of water filtration systems and within each category there are generally a plethora of products on the market to choose some. Here’s a brief description of the water filtration systems on the market:
Carbon Filtration:
The most commonly used filtration system, but also paired with systems below as either a pre or post filter. They’re designed to eliminate foul tastes and odors, chlorine and chlorine byproducts and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). Carbon acts a magnet for molecules of unwanted chemicals.
► Cost – Carbon filters, as a stand alone product, are the most inexpensive filter and are available in under sink, in sink and pitcher models (such as Brita). Under $100 for most units.
► Efficiency – Very energy and water efficient, but stand along carbon filters do not typically filter the water as well as the other methods below which incorporate Carbon filters as a pre and/or post filter. Efficacy depends upon the model and composition of the filter.
► Maintenance – Depends upon the model
Reverse Osmosis:
Reverse osmosis forces water through a semi-permeable membrane. Often, one or two post filters are used to further remove pollutants.
► Cost – Starting at $150 for countertop units and upwards of $500 for under sink units + installation.
► Efficiency – Produces between 2-15 gallons of drinking water. Up to 4 gallons of water are “wasted” per day flushing the membrane, but it requires no electricity.
► Maintenance – Replace pre/post filters and reverse osmosis filter every 6 months – 2 years depending upon model.
► Downside – Reverse osmosis takes almost everything out of the water, including minerals.
Distillation
Home units have two chambers; the first chamber boils the water leaving behind most of the contaminates and minerals. The steam condenses as clean water in the second chamber. Distillation removes 99.5 percent of the source water impurities, according to Water Tech Online, including nitrates, bacteria and heavy metals. A carbon post filter is often added for removing organic compounds.
► Cost – Countertop distillers start at $350 + installation; Automatic units start at $1500 + installation
► Efficiency – Little water is wasted, however it requires electricity. Produced anywhere from 3 to 11 gallons per day.
► Maintenance – Un-evaporated pollutants remaining in the boiling chamber need to be regularly flushed to the septic or sewage system. Calcium and magnesium scale collecting at the bottom of the boiling chamber needs to be removed by hand scrubbing or acid. [By the way, the same is true of your water heater. Your water heater should be flushed periodically year because scale builds up and reduces the effective size of the tank.]
Hollow Form Multibore Technology
A new technology from Aquacore, it removes particles as small as .02 microns using synthetic fibers that form a membrane. Like reverse osmosis, the membrane gets flushed clean periodically based upon settings on its “smart meter” Ultra filtration ensures water safety at point of entry into the home by removing cysts, protozoa, turbidity and algae.
► Cost – Pricy. Aquacore’s AC 10, whole home ultra filtration system costs $3500 + installation
► Efficiency – Produces 10 gallons of drinking water per minute. Uses only a minimal amount water to keep the membrane clean, but requires electricity.
► Maintenance – Cartridge needs to be replaced once every 3-5 years.
Compiled from the following sources:
1)-http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/19/AR2010051902599.html
2) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/11/AR2008111101148.html
3) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33850-2004Oct14.html
4) http://www.epa.gov/dclead/
5) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/18/AR2007071801956.html
6) www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61555-2004Nov18.html
7) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/03/09/ST2008030901877.html
http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=Mjk2OTE2NDY2YmVjOGQ4ZGE4OTc0ODlhZTRkYTBmOWQ=
9) www.Ecologicalhomeideasmagazine.com
10) http://www.gem.msu.edu/pubs/msue/wq22p1.html
11) http://www.aquacore.com/
12) www.wqa.org
michael gotthelf
