the first in a series on the benefits of water purification and usage-monitoring solutions.
BY STEVE PANOSIAN
LIKE AIR QUALITY IN THE HOME, water quality is an equally important consideration for any new construction or restoration. Both are susceptible to contaminants and both can be addressed with peace of mind solutions. In a series of articles this year I’ll be exploring and focusing on the benefits of water purification and usage monitoring solutions.
Undoubtedly, water quality is vital to our health and the subject continues to be a challenge even in today’s modern civilization. The existential expectation within the confines of your home is rather simple – brushing your teeth with clean water is as equally important as enjoying a breath
of fresh air.
water quality – a history
Water treatment throughout history dates back over 4,000 years with most civilizations figuring out that boiled and strained water helped eliminate unwanted substances for achieving better tasting water. The first known domestic filter appeared when the Greek scientist Hippocrates invented the so-called Hippocratic sleeve, which consisted of a simple cloth-back filter. Other civilizations filtered impurities from their water by sifting it through sand and gravel. With the development of the microscope, scientists zoomed into what exactly is in the water. Out of this revelation came filters made of charcoal, sponge, and wool to eliminate anything unwanted in the water. By the 20th Century, most developed countries had established regulations that set minimum standards of water quality. Even with these standards and water quality supply improving, for a variety of reasons the market for home filtration systems continues to evolve in making water even cleaner, better tasting, and rid of unwanted elements.
bottled water vs. bottled soft drinks
Bottled water consumption surpassed the market for bottled soft drinks in 2016.
After having topped carbonated soft drinks to become the largest beverage category by volume in the United States two years earlier, it’s clear the bottled water market is driven by health consciousness, better tasting drinking water, today’s mobile lifestyles, and the preference for bottled water rich in vitamins and minerals.
Bottled water manufacturers are introducing new products with health benefits and new flavors almost daily. It is resulting in multiple product launches in the bottled water market.
why home water filtration
According to a study conducted by the University of Newcastle in Australia, besides known contaminants, the emergence of microplastics are present everywhere in the environment:
FRESH WATER TAP WATER
BOTTLED WATER MARINE WATER
WASTEWATER FOOD
AIR
It is drinking water that is the primary source of microplastics for humans. Reporting that up to 94 percent of tap water in the United States is contaminated with plastic and the release of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) first in-depth analysis of the health effects of microplastics, “Based on the limited information we have, microplastics in drinking water don’t appear to pose a health risk at current levels,” Dr. Maria Neira at the WHO said. “But we need to find out more. We also need to stop the rise in plastic pollution worldwide.”
The WHO recommends outfitting any home with an effective water filtration system to avoid any potential health problems stemming from microplastics. Home water filtration systems should also consider the benefit for investing in a compre¬hensive water treatment system that also filters out contami¬nants like pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and unwanted miner¬als (hard water).
Passing your water through an advanced filtration solution will remove most contaminants so you can enjoy cleaner, safer, refreshing drinking water with a drastic reduction in microplastics content.
Home water filtration is the best way to ensure your family is drinking safer, cleaner water that’s free from contaminants. An effective water filter system will remove most chemicals and particles, including:
• Disinfectant by-products (DBPs) from water chlorination
• Organic contaminants
• Hazardous fertilizer and pesticide runoff
• Waterborne bacteria
home water purification systems
Let’s start by looking at some of the most cost-effective ways you can immediately make changes to your home’s quality of water. We’ll scratch the surface of localized water filtering at the tap, and overview whole house water filter solutions. In following articles we’ll dive deeper into the world of water purification with the latest technologies and strategies that employ sensors, usage monitoring and reclamation to create a clean water eco-system. And, we’ll discuss the proper way to heat and cool water. Finally, we’ll take a step outside and talk at length about irrigation, conservation and other solutions to create a friendly water environment.
water testing
The first step in the process is to analyze a water sampling of your residence. Since no two homes have the same water quality profile, conducting a water filter comparison is one of the best ways to address individual tap locations as well as whole home filtration options. While budget is always a factor, there is also lifestyle considerations and local water profiles and qualities for determining which water filter solu¬tion works best for your home.
Depending on the test results, water purification can be de¬signed for the whole home, point of use systems or individ¬ual tap locations (kitchen, bath, icemaker/water service) or a combination of both so that peace of mind water purity is achieved.
whole house water filters
• WHOLE HOUSE WATER FILTER SYSTEM: Affordable, low-maintenance, no-electricity system provides cleaner water for the shower, appliances, and every tap in the house. Shower in, cook with, and drink purer water free of the chemical smell of chlorine.
• WHOLE HOUSE WATER FILTER WITH UV: UV filtration adds the ability to destroy 99.9 percent of pathogens and harmful microorganisms to safeguard against boil water alerts without affecting the taste or odor of water.
• WHOLE HOUSE FILTER AND SALT-FREE SOFTENER: Adds the elimination of the negative effects of hard water without using salt. This combination system adds a salt-free softener to a whole house water filter system.
• WHOLE HOUSE FILTER AND SALT-FREE SOFTENER WITH UV: Addresses water purity and the negative ef¬fects of hard water through the home. This whole house water treatment system filters chemicals and contami¬nants, negates the effects of hard water scaling and min¬eral build-up and kills 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria.
individual tap locations
Water filters that treat water as it leaves the tap are called point-of-use systems. Here are some drinking water filter systems and devices you should consider:
• COUNTERTOP DRINKING FILTER SYSTEM: this type of solution is the most cost-effective way to deal with common contaminants in water. We’re all familiar with the Brita® filters, the ones that sit on your countertop and use charcoal as the main filtering agent. Fill it with tap water and let it manually filter the water through the charcoal.
• UNDER COUNTER DRINKING FILTER SYSTEM: A filter system that addresses common contaminants including lead, mercury, and chlorine while remaining safely tucked underneath the sink. These are also passive devices and the filters must be cleaned/exchanged every 6+ months.
• 3-STAGE UNDER COUNTER DRINKING WATER FILTER: Consisting of a 25-Micron Prefilter and two Catalytic GAC Carbon filters, chlorine taste and smell is completely filtered from the water.
• DRINKING WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM: This state-of-the-art drinking water purifier meets the EPA’s Guide Standard for microbiological contaminants and will re¬duce chlorine, lead, viruses, bacteria, cysts, particulates, and numerous organic compounds from your water. It’s a comprehensive tap water resolution for families in hous¬es, apartments, and condos.
• 6-STAGE REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM: Higher in cost solution is made up of a unique membrane technology of a reverse osmosis filter that removes 99.9 percent of wor¬risome contaminants to provide exemplary filtered water. Beneficial minerals are added back into the drinking wa¬ter to create a balanced, pH-neutral drinking experience.
In closing, water filtration and purification begin with the local water and custom designing a system that addresses the need for the whole home, individual tap locations, and a combination of both if required.
