Making sure your drinking water is clean and pure is one of the most basic things you can do to keep you and your family healthy.
Even if your water source looks crystal clear and untampered, you can bet on it that it still contains microbes that can make you sick.
This is where water treatment comes in. A high-quality filtration system keeps your drinking water safe and clean while saving you the cost of getting bottled water all the time. If you haven’t already, consider your needs and look at getting a filtration system for your home.
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Look at what’s in your water.
Obtain a water quality report from your local water authority to see what chemicals and possible contaminants are lurking in your drinking water. You’ll want to look for dangerous chemicals, such as lead or mercury, but any data you can gather will help in deciding which type of system to get.
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Compare your options.
Whole-house systems get rid of unpleasant odors and tastes, such as those that come with chlorine. They’re also used for filtering out mineral deposits and particulates. However, you’ll need to install another system to remove other contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides.
The other option is a point-of-use system that can either be a faucet-and-undersink or pitcher model. This system purifies the water right before you use it. Another example is a showerhead filter, which softens the water and is useful if your skin is particularly sensitive to the hard minerals in municipal water.
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Install a pre-filter.
Silt, sand, and sediment can muddy up your water and make it more difficult for your filter to clean things up. You might want to use a pre-filter to remove these larger particles before the water heads to the main system.
Pre-filters have filter media, such as silica sand, which holds on to the small solids in the water. The treated water then exits the pre-filter via the filter underdrains. These systems have to be backwashed every so often to prevent the fine solids from clogging the filter media.
Last but not the least, always get a water filtration system approved by the NSF International. Any device that has the NSF’s seal of approval means it has gone through rigorous testing and has passed rigid international standards for water safety.