| If you want to learn about the effectiveness of | | | | many natural resources. Oil and gas are used for |
| drinking water treatment in the United States, all you | | | | transportation. Freshwater is needed to create the |
| have to do is read the news. From incidences of | | | | plastic bottles; more than what is stored inside for |
| drinking water contamination to failing plants and the | | | | you to drink. |
| need to find more fresh sources, it's all there in your | | | | In addition, the plastic bottles are a constant source |
| local news. | | | | of pollution. They are building up in landfills around the |
| Right now, most of the new drinking water | | | | world. You may not trust your local drinking water |
| treatment stories concern proposed rate hikes. | | | | treatment plant, but you should know that bottled |
| Several plants say that the cost of chemicals used to | | | | water is no better. |
| prevent bacterial drinking water contamination had | | | | The best way to avoid drinking water contamination |
| more than doubled. | | | | is to use a multi-stage drinking water treatment |
| Rising fuel costs for transportation has affected | | | | system in your own home. You may still have to pay |
| practically every industry, so the prices that we | | | | the company extra when they increase their rates. |
| consumers pay keep going up. In addition, fuel is | | | | But, you won't be paying extra because of waste or |
| needed to process some of the chemicals used by | | | | energy used. |
| drinking water treatment facilities. So, just in case | | | | The older home purifiers created a lot of |
| you weren't expecting it, you water/sewer bill may | | | | wastewater and required electricity to operate. The |
| be the next thing to go up. | | | | new systems require no electricity and create no |
| The chemicals used to avoid drinking water | | | | wastewater. Everything that runs through your pipes |
| contamination include ferric sulfate, lime, chlorine and | | | | can be used. |
| potassium permanganate. Most drinking water | | | | The systems allow you to save money and protect |
| treatment facilities add fluoride, to prevent tooth | | | | the environment by not buying bottled, plus, you |
| decay, so they have to factor in that cost as well. All | | | | never have to worry about the possibility of bottled |
| the chemical costs, officials say, have gone up this | | | | drinking water contamination. Over the years millions |
| year. | | | | of bottles have been recalled for benzene and other |
| The amount of chemicals used by a plant will depend | | | | contaminations, but those are just the ones that |
| upon the quality of the source. For example, Lake | | | | they caught. |
| Superior water is cleaner than Saginaw Bay water. So | | | | Many times the waters aren't tested or only samples |
| Bay City, Michigan, plants use more chemicals and | | | | are tested. If the company doesn't use a good |
| their residents may see a greater cost increase. | | | | filtration system, an employee makes an error or the |
| The potential for drinking water contamination is | | | | system is older and faulty, then you may as well |
| present regardless of the source, but some sources | | | | drink straight from the tap. |
| are more susceptible to contaminants than others. | | | | Home purification is the best choice for many |
| Some sources are simply "drying up", because of | | | | reasons. Just be sure to read product performance |
| droughts throughout the country. Many municipalities | | | | data and compare quality, not price. Some of the |
| have to "borrow" from other communities. | | | | most expensive home drinking water treatment |
| The lack of freshwater sources is one reason that | | | | systems, like reverse osmosis, are the least |
| environmentalists are encouraging people to drink less | | | | effective. So, shop smart and drink up! |
| bottled waters. You see, the bottling industry uses | | | | |