Choosing a water filter for your home

Finding a water filtration system for your home can be a trying task. There are so many varieties available and each with a different price tag. There are only a few options available from whole-home filtration devices to pitchers. While there are no "bad" systems, there are a few things to consider when purchasing a water filter, performance, cost (both initially for the system and for its replacement filters) and type.

Determining the performance of a water filter is simple. For most water filtration devices, a performance data sheet lists all of the contaminants the filter is certified to remove. In most cases, this can be found on a company's web site and should be included with the device and with the replacement filters.

The overall value of the product is a little bit trickier to determine. The initial cost of a water filtration device can be expensive – but like with most things you have to consider the overall value of the product including how much you are paying per gallon and how much are you saving by filtering your water versus purchasing bottled water.

Finally, the type of filter is important. You should look at the advantages and disadvantages of product technologies. There are a few types of filters available including reverse osmosis, distillation and carbon filtration.

Reverse osmosis and distillation were first developed over 40 years ago for the printing and photo processing industries, which require mineral-free water. Because of the popularity of, and demand for, home water treatment products, many companies have marketed these products as drinking water systems. Often these products are marketed by using a demonstration that measures the TDS (total dissolved solids) and implies that this measurement shows the system's effectiveness at removing contaminants. TDS meters measure the dissolved minerals in water – primarily calcium and magnesium – and have little or nothing to do with contaminant levels.

Distillation and reverse osmosis are not very effective at removing synthetic chemicals. Distillation removes things based on their relative boiling point. Virtually all synthetic chemicals boil at a lower temperature than water does and therefore are vaporized and condensed along with the water in the distillation process. Reverse osmosis removes things based on molecular size. Virtually all synthetic chemicals are molecularly smaller than water and therefore cannot be effectively removed by reverse osmosis.

In the distillation process, water passes over a heated coil causing the water to vaporize and become gaseous. The steam then rises and transfers to a cooling chamber, where it condenses back into a liquid. This process separates water from inorganic compounds like lead, calcium, magnesium, etc. Distillation also destroys bacteria. This process is not very effective at removing organic chemicals, since they typically vaporize at a lower temperature than water does and are transferred in the steam. Distillers produce water at a very slow rate and at a per-gallon cost of 20 to 26 cents.

Reverse Osmosis is a process that exposes water under pressure to a semi permeable membrane with a very fine pore structure. Because most inorganic contaminants have a larger molecular size than water, the membrane rejects certain contaminants, minerals and a large part of the water. The portion of water that passes through the membrane is stripped of inorganic compounds and trace minerals. Because many synthetic chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides are smaller, molecularly, than water, a reverse osmosis system must also be used in conjunction with a carbon filter. Reverse osmosis systems require adequate water pressure and extensive maintenance. Reverse osmosis typically costs 18 to 24 cents per gallon.

Carbon filtration systems are the most common styles of countertop and under-the-sink systems (point of use). Granular carbon filters and carbon block systems use the same process of contaminant removal, adsorption, by which the contaminant bonds chemically or physically to the surface of the filter medium. Activated carbon is recognized by the U.S. EPA as the best available technology for filtering VOCs and THMs.

The PureH2O™ Water Filtration System features an exclusive dual-filter system using a combination of carbon filtration, ion exchange and sub-micron filtration to produce truly healthy, great-tasting water from your kitchen tap. Using the latest two-stage water filtration technology, the PureH2O Water Filtration System filters a wide range of contaminants. The first cartridge reduces sediment, tiny microscopic particles, and chlorine taste and odor. The second cartridge features a complex ion exchange process that enhances the mineral balance of water while reducing the lead. This supercharged water system also helps maintain healthy pH levels. PureH2O Water Filters have been pretreated with potassium ions. The water filters work through an ionic exchange process, which means that as water flows through the filter, lead and other contaminants exchange positions with the potassium ions. The two potassium ions are released into the water for drinking while the lead and other contaminants remain behind – securely bonded to the filter.

Municipal water supplies cannot completely filter out all chemical contaminants. In fact, some chlorine taste and odor stays in after processing and ends up in the tap water you drink. PureH2O virtually eliminates the chlorine taste and bad odors, greatly improving the quality and clarity of your tap water all for about 10 cents per gallon. The average 20 oz. bottle of water averages about $1.30.

I hope this highlights the benefits of using PureH2O versus a reverse osmosis or distillation system. There are many options available to you, but the reality is, PureH2O is very effective at removing contaminants (please see its performance data sheet on unfranchise.com) and is also cost effective in the long run in comparison to other systems. You either use a water filter or you are one!