Does A Water Filter Do Any Good?
Although for the most part, tap water in the the western countries is perfectly safe to drink, harmful contaminants and particulates can find their way into your drinking water. Particulates can enter the distribution system from any number of sources from construction and line repairs… to simple deterioration of the system. Although not particularly necessary, it is recommended to use a point-of-use water filter on the faucet from which you get the water you will be drinking. It will cause no harm but it will make your drinking water a little bit safer and more palatable.
Operators for your water system may make errors with chlorine and other chemicals that are normally placed into water in beneficial amounts, for purification and contaminant removal. Laws allow errors to a certain extent, and operators who have had poor training are not likely to recognize a problem when it occurs and are also less likely to take corrective action when they do.
Other factors can also affect the quality of your tap water. Temperature, equipment being down or not in service, excessive rainfall or even which operators are on duty at any given time can play a major role in water quality. Depending on the type of filter, many impurities and contaminants can be removed you’re your water.
A charcoal in the filter grabs impurities through adsorption – not to be confused with absorption – this means that all the impurities “stick” to the charcoal and don’t make it through to your water glass. A point-of-use filter, such as one used in counter or under-sink filtration systems can remove many particles that lead to “hard water” but not the fluoride. Reverse osmosis systems remove everything until the water is on-half of one percent pure. People with a history of developing kidney stones should use an RO system.
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