| Figuring out which water purification technology you | | | | order test kits from reputable companies off the |
| should use at home is easier said than done. Having | | | | Internet. They cost anywhere from $100 to over |
| said that, I can make your choice a little easier. You | | | | $300. If that sounds like a lot, how much would you |
| need to at least have some idea of what | | | | pay years from now to know that you or your |
| contaminants you're trying to filter from your water. | | | | children were drinking lead all this time? |
| Once you know that, matching the right technology | | | | Now, the only question is what to do with these test |
| up for the job will be a lot easier. | | | | results. You need to match up your results with the |
| There are basically two ways to find out what's in | | | | proper water purification technology. If, for instance, |
| your water besides good old H2O. Once you do that, | | | | your only worry is living contaminants like bacteria, |
| you'll know which type of water purification | | | | viruses, or microorganisms, then something like |
| technology you can use. If you're on city, or public | | | | ultraviolet light filtration might be the best option. UV |
| water, then you can write the municipal water | | | | works great to kill living impurities, even when they're |
| treatment facility and they have to provide you a | | | | in cyst form. The drawback of UV is that it doesn't |
| copy of their test results. They have to do this by | | | | get the now dead organisms out of the water, and it |
| law. Personally, I would ask for more than just the | | | | won't protect you from any other type of |
| last test results. I would ask for a year's worth of | | | | contamination. |
| tests. Some pollutants, like agricultural run-off are | | | | If you're really worried about chlorination (and you |
| seasonal. | | | | should be!), then the right water purification |
| Now, these test results aren't going to have the | | | | technology would be a carbon/ceramic filter. There |
| whole story. There are numerous contaminants in our | | | | are other choices, which have their pluses and |
| water that water treatment facilities are not required | | | | minuses, like distillers or reverse osmosis systems, |
| by law to test for. But at least, their tests will give | | | | but distillers aren't the best to use on chlorinated |
| you an indication of some of the "more popular" type | | | | water. Reverse osmosis systems are very inefficient. |
| contaminants. | | | | Whatever water purification technology you buy, |
| If you live in a rural area, then your only solution is to | | | | you'll be doing yourself a favor...as long as you buy a |
| test your water yourself. Even if you're on city | | | | well made system from a reputable company. |
| water, you might want to do this yourself. You can | | | | |