| House water filters can be necessary in any area. | | | | less. Special resins are used to selectively trap certain |
| Practically all naturally occurring sources have some | | | | ions and release others. The step is highly effective, |
| type of contamination today due to industry, pollution | | | | requires no additional energy, does not create |
| and an ever-growing population. Some sources are | | | | wastewater and requires little maintenance. |
| less contaminated than others, of course. Deep | | | | Typically, house water filters including and ion |
| water wells have the lowest risk of contamination, as | | | | exchange step are usually replaced on a bi-annual |
| long as the rocks surrounding the underground | | | | basis. The cost varies depending on the |
| aquifer are not dangerous. The heavy metals arsenic, | | | | manufacturer. It's always a good idea to compare |
| lead and mercury are naturally occurring. They are | | | | the lifespan and the cost of replacement filters, not |
| present in soil, rocks and other geological formations. | | | | just the initial cost of purchase. Some manufacturers |
| Researchers have found that arsenic is a common | | | | sell the initial system for a very low price, expecting |
| problem in some springs and wells of the Appalachian | | | | to make up the difference by charging more for the |
| Mountains. Lead is a very common mineral, found to | | | | replacement cartridges. For every contaminant |
| some degree in almost all public sources. Of course, | | | | present in a source, there is an efficient, affordable |
| its presence is not always natural. Until just a few | | | | and effective purification method. Particles of various |
| decades ago, lead solder was used to hold plumbing | | | | sizes can be removed using home water filter |
| pipes together. While the practice has stopped, the | | | | systems. Chlorine-resistant cysts can be removed |
| solder is still present in older pipes. Short of redoing | | | | through sub-micron filtration. Chlorine and other |
| the entire infrastructure, there is no way to | | | | chemicals can be removed through the process of |
| completely get rid of the heavy metal. Home water | | | | adsorption. |
| filter systems can reduce the water's lead content | | | | There is really no reason for anyone to buy bottled |
| by 99% or more, as long as the right steps are | | | | water, except in emergency situations. It costs less |
| included. | | | | in the long run to do the purification at home. The |
| There are two choices for lead reduction. One is | | | | FDA and the FTC have stated that bottled is not |
| reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis is one of the older | | | | necessarily any better than what comes out of your |
| filtration methods. It is problematic to say the least. | | | | tap, prior to treatment. The systems used by |
| Maintenance is expensive and time-consuming. The | | | | bottling companies are not as effective as house |
| cost of use is high due to the need for electricity. | | | | water filters. The quality control varies from one |
| The wastewater created by the system is another | | | | plant to the next. So, if you buy, you never know |
| complaint. It's most popular use is to reduce salt in | | | | what you are getting. If you make it at home, you |
| brackish wells. The other choice is ion exchange. Ion | | | | can always be sure. |
| exchange is a newer technology that actually costs | | | | |