We can have all the cold fizzy drinks we want, but nothing quenches thirst quite like a glass of clean, cold water. Conversely, our desire to consume water can be knocked out of kilter because very few things in life are as gross as a mouthful of water that smells of rotten eggs.
Our Picks for the Best Water Smell Filters
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
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
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 have to hold your nose with your finger and thumb when you drink tap water, you have a lot of company. In fact, many Americans who drink tap or well water complain of some sort of odor emanating from their freshwater supply.
The good news is that most of the common odors and flavors that you find in tap water are not really harmful to your health at all. On the contrary, the sulfur and other trace minerals present in your water supply can do a really good job of keeping you safe and healthy from many common illnesses.
Different Types of Water Odors and Their Sources
Ultimately, how your water will smell, and taste usually has a lot to do with the overall quality of the water source. As a general rule, most utilities typically focus on the active prevention of the transmission of various water-borne diseases. This is by far the most important part of their job.
While they may try their level best to control odor and taste-related issues, they don’t always succeed in doing so, to the complete satisfaction of the end consumer.
o Chlorine
For example, chlorine is now widely considered to be one of the single most common offenders when it comes to smelly water. This holds particularly true for water sources that are based on a municipal water system. This widely used chemical is generally used in various water-treatment facilities in order to get rid of all kinds of disease-causing viruses, bacteria as well as parasites.
Usually, the water utilities are told to use just enough chlorine to get the job done right. But sometimes, it so happens that they overdo it. The excess chlorine in water can certainly make it smell and taste different.
o Dimethyl Disulfide
Other common causes of odor in the water include naturally occurring compounds that may be located close to the source of the water supply. These include various algae and other microorganisms and all of them combined can make your drinking water taste and smell markedly different.
If your water smells like stale vegetables, the odds are that the culprit is a chemical known as sulfur. It occurs naturally in soil and is produced by various microorganisms that survive in oxygen-poor environments. It is possible to both taste and smell it, even if it is present in very minute quantities.
o Geosmin
Geosmin compounds are released by certain species of algae that prefer to live in or near various freshwater sources such as rivers and lakes. They create a certain musty and earthy aroma in drinking water. And again, even a very small amount can easily cause the water to smell. Geosmin is seasonal in nature and you might notice various seasonal fluctuations in many of these odors as well. Usually, late summer is the time when most algae bloom and die, and this is reflected in the pungency of your water supply.
The Sulfur Smell in the Water
Sulfur water may not smell very good, but it certainly does not mean that it is bad for your body. While, everything in excess can be harmful, a little bit of sulfur can prove to be very beneficial for you.
o What Exactly Is Sulfur Water?
Sulfur water is typically caused by minute quantities of hydrogen sulfur gas in your water supply. It can enter your water supply in the following ways:
- Soil, stones, and rocks that contain sulfur can seep into the water supply
- Sulfate-reducing bacteria can convert various compounds into a form of hydrogen sulfide gas
- The water heater in your home produces the gas
The Core Benefits of Sulfur
Sulfur is a very common compound and it is found in many popular food items that you may consume on a daily basis. It is actually quite beneficial for your everyday nutritional needs because it improves the overall quality of your skin, hair, and connective tissues. And this is irrespective of the sulfur smell in water.
However, in case your hot water smells like rotten eggs, you might have excessive sulfur in your water supply. In the long run, it can lead to various stomach disorders and decrease the quality of your life. Apart from that, excessivesulfate in your water can also lead to slime that will eventually clog your water pipes and stain clothing.
It can also reduce the power of bleach and make it much more difficult to clean and wash your clothes adequately. This holds particularly true if your well water smells like rotten eggs. This means the sulfur content in the subsoil has permeated your water supply. If you feel you have excess sulfur in your water supply, you might consider removing it.
o Iron Removal Filter Method
One of the easiest ways of removing sulfur is via an iron removal filter that can remove low to medium amounts of hydrogen sulfide. Apart from that, such filters can also remove excess quantities of manganese and iron. The filter can oxidize the hydrogen sulfide, by easily converting it into insoluble sulfur. Once that happens, it will remove it via the filtering process.
The filtration system will need to be regularly recharged with potassium permanganate equipped filters. This recharging process that ensures that the filter system works perfectly fine all year long. The installation and the operating instructions of the manufacturer have to be followed very precisely. The filter will need to be replaced very regularly if you want your water’s sulfur content reduced to acceptable limits.
Conclusion
In light of the above, we can safely conclude that sulfur is good for health and can help in the nourishment of your hair and your skin. However, excessive sulfur in your water will lead to a bad smell and you will have to filter it out.
Should You Drink Water With Fluoride?
Water fluoridation is still a common process in many countries, even though there is a constant debate about whether fluoride is good for your health or not. Fluoride is often found in drinking water as it helps to prevent tooth decay. However, fluoride has various side effects and may not be the best option to consume on a daily basis. Read this article to learn more about adding fluoride to drinking water and how it can affect your health.
Our Picks for the Best Fluoride Water Filters
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
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
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 .
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride comes from fluorine, an element that is found on the periodic table. Fluoride is a strong mineral that is present in your teeth and bones, but is also found in the air, plants, soil and even rocks. One of the most common reasons fluoride is used is to make teeth stronger. Not only does fluoride protect your teeth from decay but it also helps strengthen the enamel. Fluoride can also prevent cavities.
Since fluoride is essential for your teeth, it is added to public water. However, it is important to keep in mind that extreme exposure to fluoride can result in serious health issues.
Health Risks of Fluoride
Dental Fluorosis
Very low fluoride content is good for your teeth, but if the concentration surpasses 4.0ppm, it can be seriously dangerous for your health. If growing teeth are exposed to high concentrations of fluoride, dental fluorosis can result from a very early age.
In dental fluorosis, specks or white streaks appear on your teeth. These spots don’t affect the health of your teeth, but they play a huge role in discoloration. This is why it is a good idea not to have water that contains fluoride.
Skeletal Fluorosis
Even though fluoride in water is known to make bones strong, too much fluoride can be bad for your bones and can lead to skeletal fluorosis. Over the years, this disease can damage your joints and bones severely. Your bones may thicken, which can increase the possibility of fractures. Over time, skeletal fluorosis can also affect the mobility of your joints.
Thyroid Problems
Too much fluoride consumption can result in thyroid issues since fluoride can directly affect the parathyroid gland. When the parathyroid gland is affected, your bones will lack calcium and the calcium in your bloodstream will increase.
Other Health Problems
Besides bones and teeth, fluoride can also affect various other parts of your body. Too much fluoride can cause adult acne and several other skin problems. It can also cause heart problems like arterial calcification, cardiac insufficiency, high blood pressure and even heart failure.
Extreme exposure to fluoride can also result in reproductive issues like early puberty and even fertility issues later in life. Since fluoride has a direct impact on your bones, it can cause different joint disorders and bone cancer. Too much fluoride can also result in neurological issues like ADHD.
Besides impaired brain development and the risk of cancer, too much fluoride in your water can also result in fluoride poisoning. Fluoride poisoning can result in excessive saliva, seizures, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and muscle spasms. It is important to keep in mind that this will only occur if you consume too much fluoride since fluoride in small amounts can actually be good for your bones and teeth.
How to Remove Fluoride from Water
There are a few ways to remove fluoride from drinking water. Here are some of them:
Reverse Osmosis
If you were wondering how to remove fluoride from water at home, one of the most popular ways is to use a reverse osmosis system. This method is extremely common since it is cheap and effective. Here’s how it works: reverse osmosis uses excessive pressure, which forces the water through a membrane. This membrane only allows water molecules to pass through, which means that fluoride concentration is absent from the water.
This permeable membrane blocks not only fluoride but also other minerals and harmful contaminants. However, it is important to remember that water obtained through this process may have a low pH since it has no chemicals.
Activated Alumina
Another effective way to remove fluoride from your water is by using activated alumina. Activated alumina is also known as aluminum oxide, which can be found in rubies and sapphires. Activated alumina can easily absorb fluoride and other elements like thallium and arsenic. Make sure the water you are purifying has a pH value of 6.5 or lower; otherwise, the aluminum oxide will not be able to absorb any minerals that are present in the water.
Bone Char Carbon / Brimac Char
One of the oldest and effective methods to remove fluoride from water is Bone Char carbon, which is also known as Brimac Char. Bone Char has a very high absorption rate, so it absorbs fluoride and all kinds of elements and chemicals that are present in the water. It has a very rich ionic surface, which makes it a great option for organic and inorganic materials.
A good idea is to use this method for water that is slightly acidic since this will increase the chances of absorption. Bone Char is easily available. It comes in filter cartridges and can easily remove up to 90% of fluoride from your drinking water. Bone Char is a great option to opt for if you want fluoride free water.
Distillation
Another old but effective method is distillation. By the process of distillation, you can remove all kinds of chemicals and contaminants from your water – including fluoride. Distillation works through condensation and evaporation. When the water is heated, the boiling water is condensed on the surface. This condensation is then transferred to a new container where it is free from all elements like fluoride. This water is completely pure and only has H2O. In short, even though fluoride is used to make your bones and teeth strong, too much fluoride can result in serious health complications. Use the methods mentioned above to remove fluoride from your drinking water.
How Often Should You Replace Water Filters
A water filter can help in the removal of harmful contaminants that are commonly found in drinking water. If you are not filtering your water supply, it is very likely that you and your family might just end up drinking dangerous bacteria and various harmful chemicals.
Our Picks for the Best Home Water Filters
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
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
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 .
There are many different types of water filtration systems available today and most modern homes tend to have water filters installed in their piping system. This holds particularly true for city water supplied homes.
However, even the most highly sophisticated water filtration system can easily let in bacteria and other contaminates if it has been installed incorrectly, or if it has not been replaced in time.
How Do Water Filters Work?
A water filter essentially works like the lint tray present in your laundry machine. In other words, your water filter will collect all of the extra particles and other gunk from the water, so that it is suitable for human consumption.
If your water filter installation has been done correctly, it will pull out the contaminants from the water so that you will be able to drink healthy and unpolluted water. However, that is only possible if the water filter itself is completely clean. The substances that are removed from the water usually start to clog up the water filter every time it is used.
The more the foreign matter in your water supply, the faster will your water filter loses its efficacy. In short, it will become less and less effective, every time it is used. This is why it is absolutely imperative to clean or outrightly replace your water filter on a regular basis to keep it clear, clean, and functioning in peak condition.
Replacing Water Filters
Most water filters need to be replaced after they have filtered 40 gallons of water. In a typical household, it translates to approximately two months or so. But this is only an approximate assumption. How often you remove and replace water filter will depend on several other factors that include:
- The total water consumption of your household
- The type of filtration system used
- The amount of the elements that require filtering
- The overall hardness of the water
This means that it is important for you to change your filter at least once every two to six weeks provided that:
- There are plenty of people in your home
- You use a lot of filtered water very frequently
- The water supplied to your home is very hard
- There are plenty of heavy sediments in your water supply
Usually, whole house filter replacement is easy because many such water filters are equipped with electronic indicators that will help determine when it is time to change or clean them.
The electronic indicator is a very handy device that will help you to measure the effectiveness of your water filter. The indicator will periodically blink or flash a bright red color to inform you when you need to change the filter. This way, there is no need for any guesswork when it comes to changing the filter.
Some of them are also equipped with a cling calendar so that you will be able to see when exactly you last replaced your water filter. They will also show you when the next change is due. However, it is imperative that you remember to check them regularly. Otherwise, you won’t know when the next change is due.
It will also help if you were to schedule a reminder on your phone or any other smart device to check your water filters and see if they need replacement.
Brita Filter Replacement
If you own a Brita filter and want to replace it you should take the following steps:
- Flush the filter with cold water for at least 15 seconds
- Insert the filter into the main water reservoir by carefully lining up the groove in the filter with the ridge of the pitcher’s reservoir
- Press them both together very firmly to ensure a watertight seal
- You should add standard tap water to the reservoir at least thrice
- Discard the first three containers full of filtered water or water your plants with it
- You should replace your Brita filter regularly in order to ensure optimal performance
Changing Water Filters in the Refrigerator
Many people don’t bother to change their refrigerator water filter because their water tastes the same, every time they drink it. However, just because the water seems to taste fresh does not mean that it is fresh. This is due to the fact that there exist many contaminants that are entirely tasteless.
Refrigerator water filter replacement becomes necessary after every 6 months. This holds true even if you rarely use your refrigerator for drinking water purposes. Water can oxidize the filter and decrease its efficacy.
Generally speaking, a family of four who regularly use their water dispenser, as well as the ice machine, should not wait that long and get their filter changed once every four months.
If you have never changed your refrigerator water filter, you may be drinking severely contaminated water, without even realizing it.
If you want to know how to change your water filter, you are in luck because it is a very easy job. There are slight differences in the installation process depending on model to model, but the common steps are the same. They are as follows:
- Open the water filter cover located in the upper right corner inside the refrigerator
- Lift the filter door
- Pull the old filter out and throw it away
- Open the new filter and carefully remove the protective coverings on the filter
- Slowly insert the filter into its slot. Don’t force it. If it seems to be jammed, rotate it until all the notches are properly aligned together. It will slide in easily after that.
- Close the filter door
- Run a few gallons of water after installing a new filter so that all the gunk is flushed out
Conclusion
Water is the key ingredient of life. This makes water filters extremely important for our well-being and we should change them regularly to ensure our health as well as that of our loved ones.
5 Reasons Not to Drink Bottled Water
Bottled water has become an integral part of our collective lives. In fact, most Americans drink more bottled water than beer, milk or any other beverage. After all, entire aisles at the local grocery store are probably full of expensive bottled water. However, that does not mean that we should happily continue to drink bottled water all the time.
Many of us have heard that bottled water is definitely not a good idea, but few people know exactly how bad it is for our health, our wallet and the environment at large. In fact, bottled water is mostly unregulated and some brands don’t even test for harmful contaminants like lead and PFAS!
This is why we hands-down recommend drinking filtered tap water: you can easily look up what particulates are in your local water supply and with the right filter you can remove chlorine for the best tasting and healthiest water possible !
Our Picks for Water Filters That Beat Bottled Water (And Save You Money!)
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
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
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 .
1. Bottled Water Might Not Be Filtered Properly
The bottled water industry would have us believe that bottled water is better than plain tap water. However, this is usually not the case. When it comes to answering the question of which is better bottled water or purified water, we can see the answer clearly enough. It is very simple really. In many cases, bottled water is basically nothing more than glorified tap water.
While some manufacturers spend resources to filter their water before bottling it, this is not always the case. Instead, they simply charge for the packaging! In other words, it is the same as the water you get in your taps.
But of course the, cost of bottled water is definitely higher than tap water and this price difference makes you feel that you are buying a high-quality product. In fact, it is entirely possible that bottled water is actually less safe than tap water. This is largely due to the fact that most municipal water supplies are very highly regulated.[1]
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates public tap water supplies and it also sets legal limits for around a hundred contaminants that could potentially show up in your water supply. Apart from setting standards, they also routinely test the water lines and pump stations for these contaminants.
On the other hand, bottled water typically undergoes very little regulation. Many studies have found arsenic in bottled water and that is the least of it. Some bottled water samples had traces of mold, phthalates and dangerous microbes along with various other contaminants.
2. They Can Contain Toxins
When it comes to bottled water vs purified water, the latter is the hands-down winner. This is because water bottles are almost always made of plastic. And even though most drinking water is not acidic, you can still be exposed to the risk of ingesting the chemicals that have been used to manufacture the bottle. This is very common with older water bottles that many of us tend to use and reuse without a thought. For instance, if you drink from a plastic water bottle left in the car in summer, BPA and other plastic toxins might mix with the water and end up in your bloodstream. Do it often enough and you are looking at liver and kidney damage. [2] Moreover, many of these chemicals are inherently carcinogenic in nature and can lead to cancer.
Many companies have started using BPA-free plastic, but that does not mean that you are out of the woods yet. There are plenty of other harmful chemicals present in plastic bottles, and that also includes BPA free bottles. These chemicals can mess up the hormone levels in your body. Add to that the fact that there are also plenty of PFAS in bottled water. These chemicals can adversely affect our bodies in ways that we have not been able to understand as yet.
3. Bottled Water Labels Can Be Very Misleading
Just because the packaging shows a peaceful mountain stream, doesn’t mean that the water inside is equally pure and fresh. Lead in bottled water is a clear and present danger and there have been cases where the deadly E.coli bacteria have also been found. In fact, you may be paying many thousands of times more for water that is anything but clean and pure.
4. Bottled Water Has No Proven Benefits
The NRDC has conducted a lot of research and it came to the conclusion that there are no major benefits of drinking bottled water when compared to its tap counterpart.[3] It is very important to note here that the US federal government does not require commercially available bottled water to be any safer than tap water. In fact, in many cases, the very opposite is the truth due to the stringent safeguards in place for tap water.
5. The Methodical Destruction of the Environment
There is no doubt whatsoever that drinking bottled water creates a whole lot of totally unnecessary waste. In fact, plastic waste from bottled water is now becoming one of the world’s major environmental issues.
Many people think that this is not that big a problem because water bottles are being recycled. After all, they have that little recycling logo, so it must be all good right? Wrong. The vast majority of plastic bottled are not being recycled at all. This means that an overwhelming majority of those bottles end up in landfills and the world’s oceans where they cause irreparable harm to marine bio-diversity. Since they are not biodegradable, the tens of billions of bottles being thrown carelessly away every year, remain a threat to the environment for centuries.
The Environmental Impact of Creating Plastic Bottles
The environmental impact of waste plastic may seem massive, but it pales in comparison to the production as well as the transportation of this patently useless commodity. Millions of barrels of oil are consumed by this industry and tens of thousands of tons of CO2 are released into the atmosphere every year, just to fuel our appetite for bottled water.
Conclusion
In light of the above, we can safely conclude that there is no harm in shifting from bottled water to tap water. Once you do that, you will not only be helping the environment but also taking care of your own
[1] https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/drinking-water-regulations
[2] http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-81232012000200015&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en
[3] https://www.nrdc.org/stories/truth-about-tap?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8ZTr8pfc1QIVCYppCh0rkAQ2EAAYASAAEgJDKfD_BwE&utm_medium=google
Should You Drink Purified Water?
According to recent government studies, as many as 19 million Americans become ill each year from drinking contaminated water. Furthermore, over 286 million Americans get their tap water from community water systems, of which received more than 12,000 health-based violations just last year!
So YES, from a purely health risk point of view, you should definitely purify your tap or well water!
Our Picks for the Best Purified Water Filters
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
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
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 .
What is Purified Water?
The simple definition of purified water is that it is the water that is processed and filtered to remove impurities and contaminants. In this process, toxic metal ions, bacteria, algae, and chemical compounds are removed from the water. This makes the water suitable to drink and use.
There are several common methods to purify water. Reverse osmosis, carbon filtering, electro-deionization, and micro-filtration are the most common methods.
Our Waterful.org scientists recommend you should at a minimum be using a reverse osmosis water purifier in order to remove harmful toxins that are deliberately and unintentionally added to tap water.
Keith Martin, Waterful.org President
Processing can remove chemicals like fluoride and chlorine and distilled solids, like magnesium, from the water.
Purifying the water is when you remove all potential contaminants to make the water pure, clean, and healthy.
Bottled Water is NOT Safer
Companies that sell bottled water process it through a treatment plant, but the regulations are very minimal and studies have shown that many brands of bottled water contain toxic chemicals.
For example, last year New Hampshire shut down several water bottlers because they found high levels of PFAS (a man made, highly toxic, tasteless contaminant that has shown to cause cancer) in their products. More and more governments are looking at bottled water as sources for other contaminants as well
Benefits of Purified Tap Water
Purified water provides your body with the vital minerals that it needs to function. It is also pure of harmful bacteria that can cause a lot of health problems, such as nausea and stomach cramps. Here are the top five benefits of drinking purified water:
Removes Chemicals like Chlorine
The tap water contains chlorine to disinfect our drinking water. This is usually the reason why tap water has an unsavory taste and has a slight smell of chlorine. Excess amounts of chlorine can be harmful to our health. Purification of water uses a carbon filter to reduce the chlorine content by 99%.
Removes Harmful Bacteria
The worst of all impurities in the water can be the harmful microorganism, hidden from the naked eye. It can cause a lot of diseases, especially in children. The use of purified water for babies helps prevent various health conditions among infants. Ultraviolet purification kills these harmful bacteria and terminates their breeding cycle. It is also important to avoid storing water in open bottles or any open container. This is because, without chlorine, you cannot store water for too long as the bacteria will grow again.
Filters Dirt from Water
The water supply that reaches our taps flows through pipelines. It might be free of dirt in the beginning but when it travels a long distance it brings with it dirt. Rusty and old pipes can add more dirt to your tap water. Purification of water filters dirt, sand and other impurities from the water so it is clean and healthy to drink.
Contains Essential Minerals
Tap water contains toxic metal ions, but it also contains essential minerals at the same time. Your body absorbs most of these important minerals more from water than food. Our body needs minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium for bodily functions. So, high quality purification water filters remove the harmful compounds from water but leave the essential minerals.
It is also important to choose the right filtration process for purification. For example, reverse osmosis removes the essential minerals along with harmful substances from the water, but the good ones put back all the right minerals at ideal concentrations for your health.
Removes Unpleasant Taste
Another great benefit of purified water is that it removes the unpleasant taste of chemical treatments. Our tap water supply contains chlorine and other chemicals to disinfect the water. This gives the water an unpleasant and unsavory taste. Organic matter, metal plumbing, and dirt also affect the taste of pure drinking water. Purification removes all the impurities and contaminants from the water, leaving a refreshing taste of pure water.
Is Purified Water the Same as Distilled Water?
Distilled water is the most common form of purified water. But it is important to understand the difference between distilled and purified water. The major difference between the two is the process that the water went through for purification.
Distilled water goes through the process of distillation to remove impurities from the water. In this process, pure water is boiled out of its contaminants. Most of the contaminants in water are inorganic and have a high boiling point, even higher than water. When water boils and turns into steam, it is captured and cooled, leaving out the impurities behind. On the other hand, water that goes through extensive filtration processes, like reverse osmosis, becomes purified water.
So, can you drink distilled water? There is essentially no difference between distilled and purified water, except for the purification process. Both purified and distilled water are pure, in fact, the purest form of water that you can find.
Why Should You Buy a Water Purifier for Your Home?
Given the benefits of drinking purified water, it is safe to say that buying a water purifier is a wise investment. Apart from the health benefits, there are various other reasons for you to buy a water purifier for home. The most important reasons to buy a water purifier are listed as under:
- A water purifier ensures safety from dangerous waterborne diseases, caused as a result of drinking contaminated water.
- It makes your food and coffee taste better by removing the unpleasant taste from tap water.
- It protects your kitchen utensils from scratching, spotting, scaling, and other signs of corrosion.
- It is a convenient and reasonable long-term investment.
Conclusion
Drinking clean and pure drinking water is vital for our health. The water travels a long distance before it reaches our taps and carries dirt and other contaminants as it flows. Purified water not only removes harmful impurities from the water but also contains essential minerals.
Therefore, investing in a water purifier for home is a wise decision that you should make for a healthy lifestyle. Apart from buying a water purifier, you can also find guides on how to make distilled water. With a few steps, you can turn your tap water into purified water with essential minerals.
What Is Hard Water – Everything You Need to Know
Our Picks for the Best Water Softeners
Super-efficient filtering system with double backwash mode
Made from fiberglass-lined polyethylene to prevent corrosion
Multiple cleaning and regeneration options for flexibility
5 year warranty
The programming guide should be more comprehensive
More expensive than GE brand but features higher grain count
Adjustable settings help control water consumption rate
Consistent water flow rate of 12 GPM
Metered filtration system enhances its accuracy
The installation process is tedious
It doesn’t come with a complete kit
Keeps the water pressure regulated while cleansing the water
95% purification guaranteed
Tackles minerals, rust, and sediment
Provides the whole house with odorless and tasteless water
Bulkier than most units
Not suitable for all city water sources
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What is hard water and how does it affect you?
Simply put, hard water is water that is high in minerals. It contains calcium, magnesium, and trace amounts of other minerals. It is formed when water gets repeatedly filtered through deposits of chalk, limestone, or gypsum, which are mainly made up of magnesium and calcium bicarbonates, carbonates, and sulfates. The higher the amount of magnesium and calcium in water, the harder it becomes.
The Differences between Hard and Soft Water
Hard water is water that is high in minerals, while soft water has a higher concentration of sodium. Here are the main differences between hard and soft water:
- Mineral Content – Rainwater is naturally soft; however, when it runs through the ground, it ends up picking deposits of calcium and magnesium, which makes it hard. This is the main difference between hard and soft water. Soft water is water that is treated to reduce the concentration of these minerals.
- Drinking – Soft water lacks the beneficial minerals that hard water has. Additionally, at times, soft water has a salty taste to it, which makes it unsuitable for drinking.
- Household Chores/Cleaning – While hard water is beneficial for drinking due to the natural minerals, it’s not ideal for cleaning. It tends to leave spots on cookware and dishes, soap and mineral residue in the shower and tap, and also dulls the appearance of the clothes washed with it. Soft water leaves no such residue behind.
- Skin – Hard water tends to dry out the skin and might even result in dry, scaly skin over time. Soft water, on the other hand, will not cause any such harm to the skin.
How to Tell If You Have Hard Water
If you are wondering how to tell if you have hard water at home, here are some typical signs of hard water:
- White, chalky spots or residue on washed dishes – a result of calcium hardness
- Dull and rough-feeling linens and clothes
- Buildup of scale on faucets and unsightly stains on white porcelain
- Flat hair and dry skin – a result of soap residue, as it never completely washes away
- Clogged pipes, leading to low water pressure from taps and faucets
You can also test the hardness of the water in your home by checking its mineral content. According to the hardness standards set by the Water Quality Association, water is deemed as slightly hard when the mineral concentration of grains per gallon (gpg) falls between 1.0-3.5, while it is deemed as hard when the concentration falls between 7.0 and 10.5. If the concentration crosses 10.5, then the water is deemed as very hard.
You can check the concentration of minerals in water by conducting a hard water test at home. Take a clear and clean bottle with a cap, water from your tap, and a basic liquid soap. Fill one-third of the bottle with tap water and add a few drops of liquid soap. Shake it thoroughly for a few seconds. If the water does not lather and only appears to be milky or cloudy, then you have hard water in your home. Soft water tends to produce abundant bubbles on the surface, with clear water underneath.
You can also invest in a water hardness test kit. These kits are easily available online or in home improvement stores. They will allow you to test the hardness of your water, reveal the chlorine, nitrate, or iron content, and identify the level of alkalinity.
The Effects of Hard Water
When hard water is heated, it tends to form solid deposits of calcium carbonate. This scale or residue can significantly reduce the life of expensive industrial equipment as well as your cookware. Additionally, it raises the cost of heating or boiling water on an industrial scale.
The scale buildup also tends to reduce the diameter of water pipes over time, which leads to less water movement and lower water pressure. With hard water, you might end up with clogged pipes, which will add to your home improvement expenses.
With hard water, soaps also tend to leave behind a film of residue on your skin and washed dishes. Hard water tends to diminish the life of kitchenware such as porcelain and glass dishes as well; it leaves spots and scaly, soapy film on washed dishes. This is because soap reacts with calcium in the hard water to form soap scum. What’s more is that it is incredibly hard to form soap lather with hard water, which leads to increased soap usage and expense.
Hard water leaves behind brittle, white scale buildup on taps, showerheads, and water appliances. It tends to leave behind pesky white limescale marks on water heaters and kettles. It also affects the functionality of dishwashers. It reduces the efficacy of key water-using appliances over time, such as washing machines and water heaters. The stubborn and unsightly scale also builds on kitchen and bath fixtures, such as sink, toilet, shower walls, etc.
What’s more is that hard water tends to shorten the lifespan of fabrics and changes the appearance of your clothes and linen. Hard water dulls the appearance of your clothes and towels and other fabrics feel stiff and course. Hard water also tends to have an effect on your skin; it leads to excessively clean and dry skin.
Is Hard Water Bad for Hair Health?
The high concentration of minerals in hard water can cause some damage to your hair health. Hard water causes the scales in your hair to rise up, which creates a coarse, frizzy, and tangled feel and look. It roughens up the texture of your hair, which makes it easy for mineral deposits to stick to your hair and cause mineral buildup in your scalp. This buildup will eventually cause your hair to become weak and it will easily break, which will result in hard water hair loss.
To fight the damage caused by hard water, you can use a chelating or hard water shampoo. These shampoos are precisely designed to eradicate heavy hard water mineral buildup from your hair. They come with EDTA that targets these minerals and washes them away.
However, use these shampoos once a week as when used too frequently, they will dry out your hair. Also, pair them with a moisturizing shampoo to retain your hair’s natural shine and glow. Alternatively, you can use apple cider vinegar, mixed with soft water, to deal with hard water mineral buildup in your hair.
The Bottom Line
While hard water is good for drinking purposes, it can lead to a lot of expenses over time, such as clogged pipes and ruined appliances and kitchenware. It can also cause damage to your skin and hair.