| Worried about the safety of your drinking water? | | | | If you insist in buying a water treatment device, |
| Concerned about the harmful bacteria that may be | | | | consider these tips: |
| present whenever you turn on the tap? | | | | Avoid sellers who want a decision on the spot. Buying |
| If you think buying a drinking water treatment unit | | | | a DWTU can be a good investment if you're |
| (DWTU) will solve that problem, think again. | | | | concerned about the taste, color and odor of water. |
| According to the Minnesota Department of Health | | | | But that decision must be made carefully after |
| (MDH), water treatment devices won't remove | | | | evaluating several products. Avoid companies that |
| bacteria from the water and may actually increase | | | | won't divulge their purification system and insist on |
| bacterial content! | | | | sending a salesperson. Above all, don't be pressured |
| These units should not be confused with water | | | | to buy something you don't need. |
| purification devices or tablets that can remove 100% | | | | Be wary of "maintenance-free" products. No device is |
| of disease-causing bacteria or germs. MDH officials | | | | absolutely maintenance-free. All water treatment |
| said DWTUs simply reduce chemicals from the water | | | | systems, no matter how sophisticated, need a |
| and should be used only on water that is free from | | | | certain degree of care and maintenance. This enables |
| harmful bacteria. | | | | them to work efficiently. |
| However, many people are unaware of that and | | | | Be wary of claims of government approval. Some |
| continue to purchase questionable DWTUs. A 1997 | | | | dealers claim their device is approved by a certain |
| survey commissioned by the US Water Quality | | | | government agency or the US Environmental |
| Association showed that 32 percent of Americans | | | | Protection Agency (EPA). These claims are false. The |
| currently use a home water treatment device | | | | government doesn't endorse water treatment |
| compared to 27 percent in 1995. Sales of DWTUs | | | | products. Neither does the EPA approve or reject |
| have tripled since 1995 from 7 percent to 21 percent. | | | | filters; it simply assigns registration numbers. |