Home Water Treatment Facts
Americans spend billions of dollars each year on home water treatment units.According to the Water Quality Association, more than four out of 10 Americans use a home water treatment unit.These units range from simple pitchers costing less than $20 to sophisticated reverse osmosis units costing hundreds of dollars. Some people use a home water treatment unit to improve the taste of their tap water. Others treat their water because of health concerns.While EPA does not endorse specific units, the Agency does set and enforce national standards for the tap water provided by public water systems.
Drinking water can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. As long as those contaminants are at levels no higher than EPA standards, the water is considered safe to drink for healthy people. People with severely weakened immune systems or other specific health conditions, or those concerned about specific contaminants present in local drinking water, may wish to further treat their water at home or purchase high quality bottled water. Before purchasing a home water treatment unit, consider local water quality, cost and maintenance of the unit, product performance, and certifications to make sure that the unit will meet your needs.
Local water quality
Begin by learning as much as possible about your tap water. If you haven’t already received it, contact your local water supplier and ask for the annual water quality report (sometimes called a consumer confidence report).This report lists the levels of contaminants that have been detected in the water and shows how these levels compare with EPA’s drinking water standards. Some contaminant levels remain constant throughout the year, while others vary according to season, weather, or from house to house. For example, lead typically occurs when it leaches from the lead pipes and solder that are in some homes. If you are concerned about a contaminant whose level may vary, consider getting your water tested (use a certified laboratory for the most reliable results). Use this information to help decide on a home water treatment unit. If your water comes from a household well,EPA recommends annual water testing for nitrates and coliform bacteria.In addition,check with your health department or local water systems that use ground water for information on contaminants of concern in your area. Armed with this specific information, you can determine your purpose in buying a home water treatment unit: to remove specific contaminants; to take extra precautions because a household member has a compromised immune system; to improve the taste of the water, or some combination of these concerns.
Cost and Maintenance Prices vary depending on type (pitcher, faucet filter, etc.),where and how the unit is installed, and what contaminants it removes. Prices can range from $20 for a simple pitcher to hundreds of dollars for a reverse osmosis unit. All units require some maintenance, and it is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for replacements. For example, activated carbon filters are designed to filter a certain amount of water; after that, the filters become clogged and ineffective. Check the schedule and cost for replacement filters. Performance The following information briefly describes how different types of home water treatment units work. For details, read information that accompanies the product and look for independent certification of manufacturers’ claims. Different units remove different contaminants or classes of contaminants from the water. Sophisticated units may use multiple technologies to remove several types of contaminants and to provide backup protection in case one treatment fails. A water treatment device can either be free-standing, attached to a tap, plumbed in with a dedicated faucet (also called a point-of-use device) connected to a refrigerator’s water and ice dispensing system; or centrally attached to treat all water entering a house (a point-of-entry device). For most contaminants, a point-of-use device is ffective for treating only the water that is consumed. However, some contaminants, such as radon, disinfection byproducts, and some organic chemicals, easily turn into gases and may pose a risk when inhaled, such as when showering. A point-of-entry device can reduce concentrations of these contaminants and others that cause aesthetic problems such as scaling, staining, or odor.
Point-of-Use Devices:
Filter pitchers:Water filtration pitchers are an affordable and commonly used free-standing home water treatment device. Most water pitchers use granular-activated carbon and resins to bond with and trap contaminants.These filters are effective at improving the taste of water, and many will also reduce lead and other contaminants. Specific contaminants removed vary by model and depend on the pore size and other factors. An activated carbon filter, by itself, is not designed to remove all disease-causing organisms. Carbon filters have a specified shelf life and should be replaced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Advice for people with severely compromised immune systems. Some people may wish to take special precautions with the water they drink. In particular, people with immune systems that are weakened by AIDS, chemotherapy or transplant medications are more vulnerable to microbial contaminants in drinking water such as Cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that lives in the intestine of infected animals and humans. It passes in the stool in its dormant oocyst form.The oocyst is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants. It occurs mainly in surface water sources, such as lakes,streams and rivers.In healthy adults,Cryptosporidium can cause illness, but for people with weakened immune systems, it can cause severe illness and even death. Those who wish to take extra measures to avoid waterborne cryptosporidiosis can bring their drinking water to a boil for a full minute. Boiling water is the most effective way of killing Cryptosporidium.As an alternative to boiling water, people may take the following measures:
Use a point-of-use filter: Consider using point-of-use (per-sonal use, end-of-tap, under sink) filters that remove particles one micrometer or less in diameter. Filters that use reverse osmosis, those labeled as “absolute one micron filters,” or those labeled as certified by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) – accredited organization to ANSI/NSF Standard 53 for “Cyst Removal” provide the greatest assurance of removing Cryptosporidium. As with all filters, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for filter use and replacement.
Use bottled water: Check the label or call the bottler to find out how bottled water is treated. The following bottled water treatments protect against Cryptosporidium: reverse osmosis, distillation,ultraviolet light,or filtration with an absolute one micron filter. Bottled waters derived from protected well and spring water sources are less likely to be contaminated by Cryptosporidium than those containing untreated municipal drinking water from less protected sources such as rivers and lakes. Those who choose to take these precautions should remember that they can be exposed to waterborne pathogens through water used for brushing teeth, making ice cubes, and washing fruits and vegetables – not just through water they drink.
Improve taste If you object to the chlorine taste of your tap water, try placing the water in an uncovered pitcher in the refrigerator overnight. This will reduce the chlorine taste. Most tap water is treated with chlorine to kill diseasecausing microbes.Water systems use chlorine because it is an effective disinfectant for viruses and bacteria, and because it continues to disinfect water as it travels through pipes.
Reduce lead
If you have tested your water and know that it has high levels of lead, or if your home has lead pipes, flush the cold water tap by running it until it becomes cold if the water hasn’t been used for several hours. Lead accumulates after extended contact with lead pipes. You may use this flushed water to water plants and do other household chores.