Contrary to popular belief, fancy labels, packaging and branding do not always imply you are consuming pure refreshing water from bottled water. This is not the case with many mineral water brands and studies have shown arsenic is the largest contaminant for most brands.
Instead of buying wasteful plastic bottles with potentially unsafe water, check out these reverse osmosis water systems and enjoy crystal clear water from your tap everyday!
Our Pick for the Best Reverse Osmosis Systems
Removes solids smaller than 1 micron to purify drinking water
Introduces calcium, potassium and magnesium into purified water to remineralise it
Reduces over 74 contaminants, metals, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals
Targets chlorine and ammonia via carbon filtration
Tank needs to be maintained and kept clean
Modular all-in-one filter design for easy maintenance
Comes with a complete DIY-friendly installation kit
EPA approved and certified by leading drinking water environmental groups
More expensive than most systems
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Our water scientists and engineers spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers .
Bottled water is one product that almost all of us take for granted, thinking that it is safe for us to drink. After all, there are several regulatory bodies in the country responsible for monitoring food and water safety. Therefore, it is only natural to assume that corporations would take full responsibility for the safety of the drinking water products that they are supplying. It is unthinkable to imagine that major corporations would be selling contaminated, dangerous and polluted water to the public. Unfortunately, this is exactly what is happening.
Considering the prevalence of arsenic in water supplies and the danger that it poses, concerned citizens often wonder: “does bottled water have arsenic?” The answer will surprise you.
Arsenic in Bottled Water
The Center for Environmental Health carried out tests on the Penafiel and Starkey mineral water brands to find out that they have unsafe levels of arsenic in water. Starkey is owned by Whole Foods, while Penafiel is owned by Keurig Dr Pepper. What’s most troubling is that these are mineral water products from some of the leading consumer brands sold by retailers throughout the country, including Walmart.
You wouldn’t imagine that major mineral water brands are selling contaminated bottled water but this is precisely the case, unfortunately. And this is not happening for the first time. These offenders are the very same brands that were caught selling arsenic-contaminated water back in the past as well. If you think that this made them clean up their act, then you are wrong. They are at it again, which reflects their complete disregard for your personal safety and health.
According to a Consumer Reports investigation, Penafiel water bottles had arsenic concentrations of 18 parts per billion, which is above the EPA standard of 10 parts per billion.
High arsenic levels of 22 parts per billion in Penafiel were found way back in 2009. The FDA also issued two warnings, in 2015 and 2018 about unacceptably high arsenic levels. From the records that it has obtained, Consumer Reports states the FDA was aware of the arsenic problem in Penafiel since 2013.
In the wake of the Consumer Reports expose, Keurig Dr Pepper conceded that its testing shows an arsenic concentration of 17 parts per billion.
Starkey, on the other hand, was found to have arsenic concentrations of 11.7 parts per billion when it was tested by Florida regulators.
Should you be buying from brands that have no qualms about selling poisoned bottled water claiming that it is ‘pure’? Or should you protect your health as well as the health of your family by taking control of your drinking water – the most essential necessity of life?
But first, you must learn all the facts pertaining to arsenic, one of the most common pollutants in drinking water.
Facts About Arsenic
Is arsenic a metal?
Arsenic is described as a metalloid, that is, it is a semi-metal. In other words, it has the main properties of both metals and non-metals.
Where is arsenic found?
Arsenic poses a danger to health because unsafe levels of this toxic element may be found in air, food and water. The water supply is by far the biggest source of arsenic pollution. Certain places carry a higher risk of arsenic contamination.
Arsenic is so dangerous that regulatory bodies have had to revise the toxic threshold to much lower levels. The Environmental Protection Agency revised the arsenic standard in 2001. The new maximum limit is now 10 parts per billion compared to the previous standard of 50 parts per billion.
There are several places in the US where well water has higher levels of arsenic than what the EPA deems safe. In places like Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Michigan, Maine and New Hampshire, 20 percent of the well water has arsenic above the EPA standard. (Source)
Arsenic poisoning is associated with higher rates of heart disease as well as lung, bladder and skin cancers. Acute doses of arsenic can cause immediate poisoning symptoms and even death. (Source)
The World Health Organization on Arsenic
Arsenic is on the top 10 list of chemicals that are a major public health concern in the view of the World Health Organization. The WHO recommends that arsenic in drinking water should be no more than 10 micrograms per liter, however, possible steps should be taken to keep arsenic as low as possible. In the “Guidelines for drinking water quality”, the WHO has outlined measures for reducing arsenic in water.
The WHO states that arsenic is not just a carcinogen, but it is one of the most dangerous chemicals to be found in drinking water supplies across the world. The most dangerous forms of arsenic are inorganic compounds. Unfortunately, these inorganic forms of arsenic are found in drinking water supplies across the world, including the US.
The acute effects of arsenic poisoning include diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting. Higher doses of arsenic can cause muscle cramping, tingling of the extremities, numbness and eventually death.
The long-term effects of arsenic include myocardial infarction, kidney diseases, pulmonary disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases. It is also associated with heightened infant mortality and birth defects. Arsenic has several adverse consequences for mental health, including impaired memory, intelligence and cognitive development. (Source)
How to Remove Arsenic from Drinking Water?
In order to keep arsenic as well as other harmful contaminants out of your drinking water, you should use reverse osmosis filtration systems for purifying water.
The CDC recommends reverse osmosis systems for removing arsenic from drinking water. Ion exchange, distillation and ultra-filtration can also help in the removal of arsenic.
Removes solids smaller than 1 micron to purify drinking water
Introduces calcium, potassium and magnesium into purified water to remineralise it
Reduces over 74 contaminants, metals, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals
Targets chlorine and ammonia via carbon filtration
Tank needs to be maintained and kept clean
Modular all-in-one filter design for easy maintenance
Comes with a complete DIY-friendly installation kit
EPA approved and certified by leading drinking water environmental groups
More expensive than most systems
Why Does My Water Taste Like Metal?
The issue of a metallic taste in water is common in old homes that have iron pipes in their plumbing system. Iron pipes can contribute to your water’s metallic taste. However, even the tap water in many new homes gives off a subtle metallic taste and smell. This is because of various contaminants present in tap water.
Make sure your tap water doesn’t have unwanted metallic pollutants, especially the ones you can’t taste, with these best reviewed reverse osmosis water filters.
Our Pick for the Best Reverse Osmosis Systems
Removes solids smaller than 1 micron to purify drinking water
Introduces calcium, potassium and magnesium into purified water to remineralise it
Reduces over 74 contaminants, metals, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals
Targets chlorine and ammonia via carbon filtration
Tank needs to be maintained and kept clean
Modular all-in-one filter design for easy maintenance
Comes with a complete DIY-friendly installation kit
EPA approved and certified by leading drinking water environmental groups
More expensive than most systems
Why Trust Waterful.org?
Our water scientists and engineers spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers .
Does the water you drink give off a metallic taste?
What causes this metallic taste in water? And Is there anything you can do about it?
If the water you drink has a metallic taste to it, then you should investigate the probable causes behind it. Once you’re able to determine what is causing this, you can find the appropriate solutions to remove the metal water taste. It will ensure that the water you drink is not only tasteless but also healthy.
However, before we move on to the solutions to this problem, let’s talk about the probable causes of water tasting like metal.
Reasons for Metallic Taste in Water
Metallic Taste from Traces of Metal in Water
The most common reason for water giving off a metallic taste is because there are actually traces of metal in water. The water delivered to our home contains traces of metals such as copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. The presence of high amounts of these metals can make your water taste and smell metallic.
Metallic Taste from Old Home Pipes
The tap water in old homes usually gives off a metallic taste. This is because the pipes used in plumbing are old and worn out. The taste could be from these old pipes. It is usually iron from these pipes that gives a metallic taste to water. Make sure that you get the pipes in your home checked. Pipes made using lead can lead to water contamination that can cause serious health issues.
Metallic Taste from poor pH Balance
Another probable cause of water tasting like metal is a lower pH balance. pH levels of water determine its acidic or alkaline nature. Hard water has high pH levels while soft water has low levels of pH balance. Low pH levels give water an acidic or sour taste. Many people find this taste to be the same as that of metals.
The ideal pH level of drinking water should be between 6.5 and 8.5. Anything above or below it means that the water will have some kind of taste to it. It will either taste too sweet or too metallic. It is important to check the pH level of your drinking water especially if it is giving a metallic taste. Too many contaminants in water can lead to serious health issues.
Metallic Taste from Seepage or Corrosion
If the water comes to your taps from a well, then the most probable reason for metallic taste is corrosion or seepage. Seepage is a common issue in wells which causes additional minerals from the soil to be added to the water content.
Water already high in mineral content gets additional metals and minerals from the soil and the result is a metallic taste in water. Corrosion of water pipes is also another reason of water tasting like metal.
How Can I Remove Metallic Taste from My Water?
Now comes the big question,
What can be done to remove the metallic taste from water?
The best option to remove the metallic taste from water is to change your water pipes. This is especially true if the pipes are made from lead, as it’s a very harmful element. Changing all the water pipes in your house is not an easy task. It takes a lot of time, effort, and money. Therefore, not many people consider it.
The best and the most economically feasible option to remove the metal taste from water is to get a reverse osmosis water filter plant. If the water in your house gives off a metallic taste but is otherwise healthy to drink, then using a good water filter can resolve the issue.
Reverse osmosis water filter systems contain metal water purifier which will perfectly do the job. It will remove the taste of metal by filtering the water from all kinds of impurities. Reverse osmosis filter systems are the most effective filters when it comes to removing the taste of metal from water.
Removes solids smaller than 1 micron to purify drinking water
Introduces calcium, potassium and magnesium into purified water to remineralise it
Reduces over 74 contaminants, metals, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals
Targets chlorine and ammonia via carbon filtration
Tank needs to be maintained and kept clean
Modular all-in-one filter design for easy maintenance
Comes with a complete DIY-friendly installation kit
EPA approved and certified by leading drinking water environmental groups
More expensive than most systems
If you are too bothered by the taste of metal in water, then get a high-quality reverse osmosis water filter installed in your home. It will improve the taste and content of tap water and make it suitable for drinking. A good reverse osmosis filter will also rid the water of different contaminants. This includes heavy metals like lead.
If you live in an old house, then it is best to get your water content levels checked from a credible source. Too much lead content in water can cause lead contamination which can be a precursor to many health issues. This is especially important if the metallic taste in water only comes from certain taps in the house.
Improve Your Drinking Water
There are easy solutions like installing a reverse osmosis water filter system at your house and you will be able to enjoy refreshing water again. Switching to bottled water is another solution you can look into but it is costlier.
A reverse osmosis water filtration system is a great investment and will give you refreshing drinking water for many years. If you are thinking of getting one, make sure you only install one from a reputable company. Also, you should only get a water filtration system installed by experts. This will ensure its best results.
What Healthy Minerals Should Be In Water?
Mineral water is obtained from natural underground mineral springs and underground reservoirs. Minerals are minute elements contained in rocks. These elements enter and dissolve into the water as they pass through the rocks. A majority of the minerals vital to our health that we seek through our food choices are found in mineral water.
Our Picks for the Best Water Mineralizer
Removes up to 98-percent of chemicals, heavy metals, sediment, and other contaminants then adds good minerals
Modular all-in-one filter design for easy maintenance
Comes with a complete DIY-friendly installation kit
EPA approved
More expensive than most systems
Requires basic plumbing tools like wrenches and teflon tape
Removes solids smaller than 1 micron to purify drinking water
Introduces calcium, potassium and magnesium into purified water to remineralise it
Reduces over 74 contaminants, metals, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals
Targets chlorine and ammonia via carbon filtration
Bulky system requires space
Tank needs to be maintained and kept clean
Cheapest option in the recommended list
Eradicates traces of chlorine, sediments and other impurities from tap water
Small filtration system saves space
Ultra-Ease Filtration Replacement features for hassle-free changes
Durability complaints by some users
Lower filtration capacity compared to other systems
Why Trust Waterful.org?
Our water scientists and engineers spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers .
Bottled mineral water is typically regarded as a healthy source of minerals as it can provide your body with minerals that it can’t produce on its own. Unfortunately bottled water is loosely regulated and studies show it may contain harmful contaminants. Luckily there are products available to turn your tap water into the purest mineral water in the world.
There are numerous mineral water health benefits. Before discussing them in detail, let us look at the different minerals that water contains.
Here are a few minerals that mineral water contains.
Calcium
One of the most important minerals that water contains is calcium. The role of calcium in maintaining healthy and strong bones is unparalleled. Hence, the calcium content in vitamin water is essential for the healthy development of your bones and teeth.
Magnesium
Water also contains another essential mineral called magnesium. Magnesium plays an incredibly important role in transforming food into energy.
Potassium
Water also entails high contents of potassium. This uber-important mineral not only helps balance the fluid within the human body but also helps the heart function normally. Moreover, it helps in water retention and protects your body against a stroke and kidney stones.
Sodium
Water also contains a sufficient amount of sodium. Sodium is another extremely vital element for the smooth functioning of the human body.This essential electrolyte helps maintain the balance of water around your cells and your blood pressure. Moreover, it helps in the efficient functioning of your nerves and muscles.
Copper
Copper is another mineral found in water that is important for the growth and development of red blood cells. Moreover, not only does this vital element maintain healthy bones, blood vessels and nerves, but it also helps your immune system function properly.
Zinc
Water also contains huge amounts of zinc. This is an incredibly important element and is generally found in cells throughout the body. Not only does it encourage cell development, but it also helps the immune system fight off bacteria and other viruses. Moreover, your body requires zinc to make protein and DNA.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is an important mineral that is essential in the formation of bones and teeth. It also plays an integral role in how your body utilizes carbohydrates and fat. Moreover, phosphorus is required by the body to repair, maintain and grow cells and tissues.
Iron
Iron is a pivotal mineral that helps in the production of hemoglobin; a protein that helps transport oxygen within the blood. Mineral water contains a high content of iron, giving your body the means to transport as much oxygen as possible.
Bicarbonate
Another essential mineral contained in mineral water is bicarbonate. This important element helps buffer lactic acid while reducing the acidity of many dietary items. Moreover, bicarbonate also greatly helps in the smooth functioning of your digestive system.
Mineral Water Health Benefits
Mineral water contains an abundance of different minerals and organic elements; hence, it has a lot of benefits. Here are a few mineral water health benefits you need to know.
Helps Lower Blood Pressure
Consistently high blood pressure levels can lead to hypertension, which let’s face it, can be pretty dangerous. Lack of calcium and magnesium can cause your blood pressure levels to rise, increasing the chances of heart disease. Since mineral water is a great source of both calcium and magnesium, it can help lower your blood pressure levels.
Lowers Cholesterol
Mineral water contains high amounts of magnesium and potassium. It’s important to know that both these elements are incredibly important in the smooth functioning of the human body. Hence, mineral water can help bring cholesterol levels under control.
Promotes Digestion
Do you ever feel the need to gulp when you overeat? That is because mineral water helps in digestion. The bicarbonate content of mineral water increases the secretion of amylase from the pancreas, making your digestive system work more efficiently.
Promotes Healthy Bones
Calcium is extremely essential to maintain healthy bone development through all stages of life. Since mineral water is considered to have high contents of calcium, it helps keep your bones strong and healthy. Moreover, it is easier for your body to absorb calcium from mineral water as compared to other sources such as dairy products.
Apart from calcium, the bicarbonate and magnesium content of mineral water help increase your bone density and support strong bones.
Benefits the Heart
Another astonishing benefit of drinking mineral water is protection against heart disease. The magnesium content of the water can benefit the heart in more than one way and reduce the risk of heart diseases. However, further research is required to understand the full benefits of mineral water for your heart.
Helps Constipation
Mineral water is rich in magnesium. This helps in preventing and treating constipation. By drawing water into the intestines, magnesium helps the intestinal muscles relax; hence, making your stool softer and easier to pass. However, this is only possible if you maintain an ample amount of water intake.
Helps Clear Your Skin
Most of the minerals found in mineral water are incredibly vital for maintaining healthy and clear skin. Moreover, mineral water also helps keep your skin moisturized and wrinkle-free for longer!
Good for Arthritis
As mineral water contains calcium, it makes your bones stronger. Hence, it’s not a surprise that it also helps combat issues related to arthritis and rheumatism.
In short, mineral water contains a majority of the minerals that your body needs. Hence, it plays a vital role in delivering some much-needed minerals to your body, keeping it fit and healthy!
How Does an Ion Exchange Filter Work
Water filters have become essential items in many homes. For people who live in areas with hard water, water filters are necessary to prevent their water from tasting chalky and dull. These filters use ion exchange to filter out undesirable minerals that alter the taste of freshwater.
Our Picks for the Best Ionizer Water Filters
4 ionized alkaline continuously variable; 1 non-ionized purified; 2 ionized acidic presets.
7 platinum coated titanium, long-life, durable, energy-efficient plates
Long-life, hi-tech filter purifies over 1,585 gal. of water and last up to a year
Unit cleans itself by reversing polarity after each use and auto-plate washing itself every 10.5 gal
Requires additional filter for chlorine
Easiest to install on the market
High capactiy with forever manufacturer warranty
The Internal 2 Stage Water Filter System gives you cleaner more purified drinking water
Reduces flow slightly but still acceptable
Requires minimum water pressure of 20lbs Per Square Inch of Constant water pressure (20psi) supplied by tap or well water pressureBudget Pick
Infuses additional hydrogen molecules into your drinking water, for spectacular effects.
Getting rid of chlorine and ozone residue, you’ll be left only with hydrogen rich water.
10 minutes of hydrogen inhalation is equal to drinking 2 liters of hydrogen rich water
30 days Money Back Guarantee, One Year Hassle Free Warranty, and a friendly customer service
Does not remove as many contaminants as more expensive units
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Our water scientists and engineers spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers .
Humans have used various water filtration methods throughout history, many of which relied on sieve-like designs that removed particles from water. Some of these were devised using cylinders filled with coarse gravel and fine sand, while others used cloth to filter out physical impurities.
These filtration methods were considered revolutionary for their time, but are mostly obsolete compared to the ion exchange filtration methods we have access to in the 21st century.
The modern ion exchange water filters we see today were first introduced in the early 1900s. They were created to help comply with the water quality standards that had been adopted by a number of countries at the time.
Ion exchange filters have made the water purification process incredibly easy, and can improve the taste of water immensely. Let’s look at how the ion exchange process works.
Minerals in water
Most freshwater found around the planet contains some minerals. Some of these minerals may not necessarily be harmful to consume, however, they can alter the taste of water if their concentration is high enough.
Freshwater found in areas with lots of limestone tends to be “hard”. This means it has a high concentration of calcium and magnesium. Hard water tastes chalky and “chemically”, and isn’t well suited for cooking or being used in beverages.
Other kinds of freshwater may have high concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, and arsenic. These can be hazardous to your health, and should definitely be removed before consuming such water.
What hard water filters do
A hard water filter removes calcium and magnesium ions from water that is filtered through it. This reduces the hardness of the water and gives it a more neutral taste.
Such filters contain ion exchange resins that the water passes through the during the filtration process. These resins are made from polymers that bind to positively charged ions such as calcium and magnesium and remove them from water.
However, removing positively charged ions from water can give it a net negative charge. So these ions need to be replaced with other positively charged ions from minerals that don’t alter the taste of water.
The resin water filter system on a calcium water filter is usually coated in sodium ions which are positively charged. These sodium ions replace the calcium and magnesium ions that were removed, in order to balance the concentration of positive and negative ions in the water.
This is considered a desirable exchange as the sodium ions replacing the calcium and magnesium ions do not alter the taste of water noticeably. This reduction in water “hardness” has led to some of these filters being referred to as “ionic water softeners”
What anion filters do
Anion filters are similar to hard water filters in that they replace certain ions in water with other less-harmful or less taste-altering ones. However, the key difference between the two is that anion filters filter out the negatively charged ions from water, while hard filters filter out positively charged ions.
These negatively charged ions include sulfates, nitrates, and arsenic which are hazardous to your health. Anion exchange has been used to make drinking water safe in many countries. Access to quality filtration can be a life and death matter for many people across the globe, so it’s great that affordable anion filters are widely available.
Ionizer water machines
Ion exchange filters are far more popular than their alternative – ionizer water machines or water ionizers. Water ionizers can be prohibitively expensive compared to ion exchange filters, and they may not be of use to most people.
The goal of water ionizers isn’t to purify water, but to split it into acidic and alkaline components. It does this through the process of electrolysis.
A typical water ionizer contains a water filter that is connected to your household’s water tap. This filter removes physical particles from the water before it is sent through the ionizer. This water then passes over “plates” in the ionizer that are electrically charged.
The positively charged plate attracts the negatively charged alkaline ions such as hydroxide (OH-), while the negatively charged plate attracts the positively charged acidic ions such as hydrogen (H+).
This process separates the water into an acidic stream and an alkaline stream that can be collected individually. It is believed that drinking the alkaline water provides health benefits, while the acidic water can be used for a variety of external applications.
However, the benefits of this alkaline water have been disputed, and are not backed up by scientific studies.
Acidic water can be used as an antibacterial cleaner, hand-sanitizer, make-up remover, cleanser and exfoliator.
Filters vs ionizers
Filters are better at accomplishing the task of removing particular ions from your drinking water. They are cheap, widely available, and can be replaced easily. Industrial anion exchange resins last between 4 and 8 years, while cation exchange resins last between 10 and 15 years.
Water ionizers don’t have a given lifespan, however, they may be more expensive to repair compared to ion filters which are relatively cheap.
Which is right for me?
If you live in an area where the groundwater is in contact with limestone, your water is likely to be hard. You can easily soften this water using a hard water or a calcium filter.
If you live in an area where the groundwater contains a lot of negatively charged ions such as sulphates and nitrates, you should opt to use an anion filter.
Everyone should have access to quality drinking water in the modern era, and ion exchange filters have helped provide this access to billions of people across the globe.
Best Type of Water Filter for Well Water
We can have all the cold fizzy drinks we want, but nothing quenches thirst quite like a glass of clean, cold water straight from your well. Conversely, there are very few things in life as gross as a mouthful of brownish water that smells like rotten eggs, a problem all too common in well water.
Unfortunately, well water is susceptible to environmental changes that we cannot control, such as agricultural runoff, industrial contamination, and aquifer geology issues. For this reason, we highly recommend the Aquasana Whole House Water Filter because it can remove that sediment color, soften (i.e. remove excess minerals), sterilize (UV treatment is by far the most effective method), and then remineralize to the exact amount of nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy.
Our Picks for the Best Well Water Filters
Filters an astounding one million gallon of water and is expected to last a decade
The UV filter protects against viruses and bacteria from festering and growing
Multiple filtration systems provide your whole house with clean water for all needs
Easy to install and easy to function
More expensive than smaller systems but lasts much longer
Removes up to 99-percent of chemicals, heavy metals, sediment, and other contaminants then adds healthy minerals back
Modular all-in-one filter design for easy maintenance
Comes with a complete DIY-friendly installation kit
NSF-Certified, EPA approved
Requires basic plumbing tools like wrenches and teflon tape
Light-weight, portable, and easily moved around the counter top
Removes viruses, protozoa, TMHs, drugs and other chemicals
Safe to use, durable and long lasting
The system has been tested countless times to produce brilliant results
Needs to be broken in properly to ensure filtering correctly
Long lasting and durable, this system can pump around 3,000 gallons of water
No cumbersome maintenance required
Filters out heavy chemicals, metals and chlorine compounds with its 4-filtration systems
One of the cheapest water filtration systems for homes and offices
May run into minor leaking issues
Easy installation unless your fridge is over 20 years old
Why Trust Waterful.org?
Our water scientists and engineers spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers .
If you are interested in ensuring the purity of your residential water supply, you will have to do a bit of research. Once you find out that you need a well water filtration system, you can look around and find the most effective filters for the intended purpose.
Best of all, you will be able to find the ideal filter without making too massive a dent in your wallet.
However, it very important to find out precisely what needs filtering before you purchase a well water filter. For this purpose, you will need a well water testing kit to determine the nature of the impurities in your water supply.
Duly armed with the right knowledge, you can get the desired filter of your choice. One that will help keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy all year long.
How Would You Know If the Water Is Clean Enough?
It is imperative that you should test the water as thoroughly and as soon as possible. This holds true if you are one of the millions of people who routinely use water from a private well. You should also get your water checked in case you are just plain unsure about the quality of your drinking and cooking water supply. There are many different ways of testing your water supply to determine if it is safe for human consumption.
Some of them include the following:
Visual Confirmation
This is the quickest, easiest and by far the single most affordable way to check your water supply. If you see large brown clouds or tiny particles in the water, it is almost certainly not safe to drink or for any other use as well. Similarly, any unusual smell or taste suggests a high level of contamination due to particle based pollutants and chemicals such as iron, chloramine and also highly dangerous bacteria.
Well Water Testing Kit
There exist many contaminants that are odorless and colorless but nonetheless very dangerous. In order to find out if they exist in your well water supply, you will have to use home water quality test kits. They are easily available both online or at local hardware stores. These kits usually contain strips that change color whenever they are exposed to certain contaminants in your water. This will give you a rough idea of the presence of certain water contaminants. However, such kits can only help you to find out about certain substances, not all of them. For example, there may be coliform in well water and you won’t even know about it.
If you want a more comprehensive report you are better off sending samples of your drinking water supply to your local state-certified water testing lab. Once you have the lab results in hand, you can go about finding the ideal well water treatment systems for your home. This is very important because different filtration systems work only with specific types of contaminants. Conversely, they may not work as well for other ones. Let us check out some of the best well water filtration systems for your home:
WARNING: Utilities Do Not Test Your Home’s Water
The only way to know is to test what comes out of your faucet.
Tap Score is the only home water testing service with unbiased treatment matching and health risk analysis
Capable of indentifying more contanimants and measuring to lower levels than the cheap Amazon test strips or Home Depot home test kits
Build your own test kit tailored to possible local contamination like septic tanks or PFAS
Easy-to-read summary allows you to quickly identify the adverse health consequences from pollutants in your water supply
Certified for every US State, Water Utility and Business Sector, expecially useful for home loan requirements
Radiation testing is expensive but not necessary for typical home owners
Best Types of Well Water Filters
1. Activated Carbon Filters
They are also known as pre-filters or carbon filters. They are a great way of removing large particles such as sediments and silt from your well water supply. They are able to work by first attracting and subsequently absorbing these contaminants into the filter, so as to remove their harmful presence from the drinking and cooking water gushing from your faucet.
An activated carbon filter can also help to remove the bitter taste of chlorine along with many residual odors from your drinking water supply. Always remember, the lesser the contamination, the purer and healthier the water. Finally, an activated carbon filter is also widely considered to be the cheapest way to remove iron from well water.
2. Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is the very best whole house water filter for well water. It is very popular because it can effectively remove all the different types of contaminants that can prove to be harmful to your health as well as the health of your loved ones. This is one of the most effective treatments against any sort of pollution in your water supply. The end result of the RO process results in crystal clean, clear and odor-free water
3. Alkaline and Water Ionizers
This type of filter normally uses a process known as electrolysis. Here, the water is repeatedly passed over plates that are electrically charged and it is separated into two separate streams. One alkaline and the other acidic.
This is the best treatment for hard water. In fact, properly ionized water is always much softer than untreated hard water. It will foam easily and make it much easier to wash your clothes. It is also much better for your skin too.
4. Ultra Violet (UV) Filters
These are state of the art filters and are considered to be the newest technologies in the water filtration system market. Strong ultraviolet radiation can easily help treat water by destroying the various bacteria that can prove injurious to your health.
If you are interested in a really environmentally friendly way of purifying all of your water supply, this great filter can actually be the perfect answer to all your concerns. This is because it does not need any chemicals or heat energy to be effective.
5. Infrared Filters
IR filters work like their alkaline filter counterparts by helping to soften your water supply. Filters equipped with IR technology will be of great help If the well water in your home is particularly hard. This type of filter uses both heat and light to negatively charge your water supply and give it a much softer feel.
6. Gravity Fed Filters
These filtration systems are often equipped with fluoride and arsenic filters. When combined together, both of these elements can easily remove more than 99.99% of pathogenic bacteria such as E.coli, from your water supply. Once installed, you can be sure that you will get fresh and pure water for both drinking and cooking purposes.
Conclusion
If you are not sure about the quality of your well water, you should get it professionally tested and get the best filter based on the contamination present in the water. Your family’s health depends upon it!
Best Type of Water Filter for Tap Water
While it is certainly true that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally regulates public water supplies, this certainly does not mean that your water is completely clean.
Our Picks for the Best Water Filters
Filters an astounding one million gallon of water and is expected to last a decade
The UV filter protects against viruses and bacteria from festering and growing
Multiple filtration systems provide your whole house with clean water for all needs
Easy to install and easy to function
More expensive than smaller systems but lasts much longer
Removes up to 99-percent of chemicals, heavy metals, sediment, and other contaminants then adds healthy minerals back
Modular all-in-one filter design for easy maintenance
Comes with a complete DIY-friendly installation kit
NSF-Certified, EPA approved
Requires basic plumbing tools like wrenches and teflon tape
Light-weight, portable, and easily moved around the counter top
Removes viruses, protozoa, TMHs, drugs and other chemicals
Safe to use, durable and long lasting
The system has been tested countless times to produce brilliant results
Needs to be broken in properly to ensure filtering correctly
Long lasting and durable, this system can pump around 3,000 gallons of water
No cumbersome maintenance required
Filters out heavy chemicals, metals and chlorine compounds with its 4-filtration systems
One of the cheapest water filtration systems for homes and offices
May run into minor leaking issues
Easy installation unless your fridge is over 20 years old
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In other words, various contaminants such as asbestos, chlorine, copper, cadmium, fluoride, and many more similar chemicals can find their way into your drinking water supply. Here, in order to thoroughly assess whether or not you should actually get a water purifier or filter, you will need to understand your water source as well as its potential contamination points.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that if you are getting your water supply from a private well, you should get it properly tested by a state-certified lab[1]. Ideally this should be done at least once per annum.
In case you get your drinking water from a municipal power utility, you will regularly get a report from the Environmental Protection Agency. This report will be attached to your monthly water bill and will describe the quality of your water supply as well as any contaminants found in it.
You might decide to get a tap water filter just to improve the overall taste of your tap water. This holds true even if the poor taste is not really due to anything harmful or detrimental to your health. It is pertinent to note that the CDC regularly warns that many water-based contaminants cannot be tasted, seen, or smelled.
If you get your drinking water tested from an authorized source and the report states that there dangerous amounts of microbes in it, you will need a water purifier. This also holds true if there is a lot of lead for instance. Apart from that, there might be nitrates, arsenic, chlorine or other contaminants in the water. In all such cases, you will need a water filtration system, that can safely and specifically address all of these concerns.
Do Water Filters Really Work?
In a nutshell yes, they really do work as advertised. In fact, you can always test your water in different ways and see just what kind of difference a filter will make to your life. The best way to tell if a filter is actually working is to just simply measure the contamination levels in your unfiltered tap water with the water from your filter.
If there is no clear difference between the two, the odds are that the filter is too old, or it has not been installed properly. In either case, it will look like the filter is not working the way it should.
What to Look for in a Good Quality Water Filter?
Before looking for a water filter it is very important that you look at your water. Exactly, what sort of contaminants are present in it? If it is the usual standard stuff such as mercury, chlorine, and pesticides, you can use a simple tap water filtration system.
On the other hand, if your water supply is severely contaminated, and contains heavy concentrations of bacteria and lead (Plumbum), you might need to purchase a reverse osmosis water filtration system. If not that, you will need at least the best faucet filter money can buy.
However, with lead contamination, it will be a good idea to make sure that you purchase a filter that has been duly certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). This is the only way to ensure that your filtration system can safely remove the harmful lead content in your water supply.
Since there are so many different types of contaminants around, it will be a very good idea to check them all, with the help of the official water report from your water supply utility. It will help you to find out just what kind of filer you need for a regular supply of safe and healthy drinking water.
What Type of Filtering do You Need for Your Drinking Water Supply?
No single filter will be able to remove all of the contaminants in the water. This is why it is much more important to select the best tap water filter around, for your water source.
Let us take a quick look at the different kinds of filters available today.
Some of the best under-sink filters tend to be on the expensive side. However, these premium options are permanently installed under the kitchen sink and they will easily filter all of your drinking and cooking water through multiple stages. They are worth the cost because they can remove more contaminants than most other types of filters around. Apart from that, they can also filter large amounts of water at the same time.
They are by far and large, some of the simplest water filters available today. The filter fits snugly inside a pitcher so that you would be able to keep it in your refrigerator. This will ensure that you have a drink of cold and refreshing water whenever you feel thirsty. They are pretty inexpensive and easy to use. However, the main filtration unit of these filters has a very short lifespan and it can only filter a small amount of water at one time.
Some of the best faucet water filters offer plenty of value for money. It is exactly what it sounds like. I.e., a water filter that is screwed directly onto the water faucet in your kitchen. It will filter most of the common contaminants in your water and make sure it is safe for both cooking and drinking purposes. It requires minimal installation and can get the job done, even on a tight budget.
They are ideal for filtering large quantities of water and you won’t even need to modify the plumbing in your home. Countertop filters rarely ever clog up and they can last a long time.
Conclusion
In light of the above, we can safely state that water filters are absolutely critical for the health and wellbeing of your whole family. You should get one today!
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/home-water-treatment/water-filters/step1.html