| Public drinking water purification systems vary, but | | | | bottle. But the truth is that the only way to insure |
| there is one thing that they all have in common. | | | | your safety and also get something that tastes fresh |
| Regardless of how good the public drinking water | | | | is to install a point of use or in-home drinking water |
| purification system is, there will still be trace levels of | | | | purification system. |
| various types of contaminants flowing out of your | | | | You can get a drinking water purification system that |
| kitchen faucet. | | | | fits under the kitchen counter, sits on the sink, or a |
| There is just no way around it. | | | | compact unit that attaches to the faucet. The faucet |
| According to the Environmental Protection Agency, | | | | filters are the least effective of the three and |
| even bottled waters "may reasonably be expected | | | | provide the fewest number of gallons without |
| to contain at least small amounts of some | | | | replacing the cartridge. They also have a tendency to |
| contaminants." | | | | leak, so their lifespan is lower than that of the other |
| The Ralph Nader Research Group claims there are | | | | types. |
| over 2,000 different chemical contaminants found in | | | | The only advantage is that they cost less initially, but |
| tap water; many of them are known carcinogens. | | | | their cost of use is actually higher, because the |
| The EPA has only set maximum safe standards for | | | | cartridges have to be replaced so often. |
| 90 different contaminants. | | | | Who says that we need drinking water purification |
| So - according to the EPA - the drinking water | | | | systems in our homes? |
| purification systems used in treatment facilities | | | | Who do you trust? Some of the most |
| cannot be expected to truly make your water safe | | | | well-respected newspaper reporters in our country |
| and pure. They can only be expected to get rid of | | | | have written about the health risks of tap-water; |
| the trash and remove some of the more harmful | | | | contaminants that they have found include drugs and |
| bacteria. | | | | hormones. |
| The major targets of a public drinking water | | | | Through the freedom of information act, reporters |
| purification system are E coli and other bacteria that | | | | learned that treatment facilities sometimes "cheat" in |
| cause pretty immediate symptoms when consumed. | | | | order to get a passing grade on their drinking water |
| There can be zero presence at these facilities, but | | | | purification system. They "neglect" to turn in results |
| bottled-water companies can get away with some | | | | that are beyond the legal limits. |
| contamination. Very low levels of E coli are allowed to | | | | There are doctors, professors, researchers, and |
| be present in the bottle and still pass FDA standards. | | | | government officials that all say the public system is |
| You see, FDA and EPA standards are a little | | | | broken. They may not go so far as to recommend |
| different. | | | | drinking water purification systems for homes around |
| With all of the technological advancements in drinking | | | | the country, but I bet they have one themselves. |
| water purification systems, you might think that we | | | | Don't rely on someone else to do it for you - Make |
| would be able to get something safe and good | | | | the safest choice and protect your own health. |
| tasting from the kitchen tap, or at least from a | | | | |