| Under sink water filters range in price from less than | | | | trapped through a process called adsorption. |
| $150 to over $350. They vary in effectiveness as | | | | Chemicals become attached to the surface of |
| well, but the effectiveness is not related to the price. | | | | activated carbon particles. That's the definition of |
| If you're like most people, you are willing to pay | | | | adsorption. |
| more in order to get more. If a product is bigger or | | | | All effective under sink water filters include carbon, |
| better in some way, you understand why it costs | | | | because all public supplies are treated with chlorine or |
| more. | | | | chloramines in order to reduce the bacterial count. |
| The difference in price that we see in today's home | | | | Chlorination of public supplies began in the early 1900s |
| purifiers is not related to product effectiveness. In | | | | to reduce the incidence of waterborne illnesses, such |
| most cases, the higher price is related to the inclusion | | | | as cholera. |
| of a reverse osmosis step. | | | | At the same time that cholera outbreaks began to |
| Reverse osmosis is an effective purification step, but | | | | decline, some doctors noted an increased incidence |
| one that is largely unnecessary in today's homes. The | | | | of certain kinds of cancer. |
| only contaminants targeted by the step are | | | | In particular, the number of bladder cancer cases |
| particulates, minerals, heavy metals and cysts. | | | | rose significantly. |
| Particulates and cysts can be removed through | | | | The doctors theorized that chlorine was the cause, |
| sub-micron particle filtration at a much more | | | | but were never able to prove it. |
| reasonable price. | | | | Later scientists found that it was not the chlorine, |
| Minerals can be balanced, rather than totally removed. | | | | per se, but the disinfection process, which caused |
| A trace of minerals is actually good for your health. | | | | the creation of compounds called THMs. |
| They help with hydration and electrolyte balance. | | | | It might surprise you to know that there is an |
| Heavy metals like lead can be removed through an | | | | undersink water filter selling for $360 that does not |
| ion exchange step, which will also balance the mineral | | | | address the problem of THMs. |
| content. | | | | On the other hand, there is a $150 model that does. |
| While ion exchange is newer and more technologically | | | | So, here's what you should remember. When you are |
| advanced than reverse osmosis, it costs less. | | | | comparing the home purification systems on the |
| You can get an undersink water filter that includes | | | | market, you cannot rely solely on the old adage, "you |
| ion exchange and sub-micron filtration for less than | | | | get what you pay for". |
| $150. One that includes a reverse osmosis step will | | | | While it is true that the very cheap products are |
| cost at least twice that much. | | | | ineffective, the very expensive under sink water |
| If you decided to choose reverse osmosis, you | | | | filters do not provide the benefits that most people |
| would find that an activated carbon step was | | | | need. |
| included for pre-treatment. | | | | Read the product performance data. Look for |
| You see, reverse osmosis does not remove chlorine | | | | chlorine and THMs. That should be enough. |
| or other chemical contaminants. They can only be | | | | |