Why Filter Your Tap Water?

The Environmental Working Group tested tap water in 45 states a couple of years ago and found 202 chemical contaminants that are not subject to any government regulation or safety standards for drinking water.

• Chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and by-products from the chlorination process
• Residue from waste particles, bacteria and micro-organisms that cause illness
• Heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, and more (lead can enter tap water from pipes in older homes long after the water has flowed from a municipal water treatment plant, and is STILL one of the largest preventable sources of poisoning in children!)

What about bottled water? Despite the marketing hype, bottled water is not necessarily safer than tap water and it can cost up to 1,900 times more! In fact, industry reports show that up to 44 percent of bottled water is just tap water, tainted with the same pollutants. No to mention the single-use plastic being tossed into our landfills. So your best bet is to purchase a high quality water filter that removes the largest number of contaminants.

Which Water Filters Remove the Most Contaminants?

Choosing the right water filter can be really difficult, especially with the convincing marketing strategies being used. Most everybody’s heard of big names like Brita and Culligan, but the problem is that they only remove a fraction of the pollutants we’re most concerned about. After some in-depth research, we’ve confirmed the following brands and styles to be the most effective on the market.

Pur Pitcher System ($19.99-$34.99) Carbon filter removes 95% of mercury, 96% of trace pharmaceuticals, cadmium, micro-organisms, chemical industrial pollutants, pesticides and herbicides, and reduces chlorine taste and odor. Good for 40 gallons.

Pur Advanced MineralClear 3-stage Faucet Mount Water Filter ($34.99-$44.99) Sediment filter, Activated charcoal and Natural mineral filters remove 99% of trace heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium), pharmaceuticals, microbial cysts, micro-organisms, and chemical industrial pollutants, pesticides and herbicides, reduces chlorine taste and odor. Good for 100 gallons.

Crystal Quest 3-stage Shower Filter ($50.00) Removes chlorine, chloramines (byproducts of ammonia disinfection), VOC’s, trihalomethanes (THM’s are the byproducts of chlorine disinfection), pesticides, herbicides, sulfur, heavy metals, hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg odor), iron oxides (rust water), dirt and sediment.

Krystal Pure Reverse Osmosis Under Sink Water Filtration System: Model #KR10 comes with a 3.2 gallon reserve tank ($220.00) Features M.A.P (Maximum Absorption Process) that gives 60 times more carbon contact for better filtration and removes 75% of all dissolved solids. All reverse osmosis systems work the same: Incoming tap water is pushed through the filtering membrane(s) which removes sediment, bacteria, pyrogens (micro-organisms that cause fever and sickness), viruses, hydrocarbons (benzene, petroleum), radioactive contaminants, chlorine, detergents, industrial wastes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, asbestos, dissolved solids, sodium, lime, sulfates, VOC’s, and heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium).

Crystal Quest Whole House Reverse Osmosis Systems ($1,900)* High quality whole-house like this one not only offers all benefits of a reverse osmosis system for your drinking water, it also removes contaminants from steamy vapors you and your family inhale while showering and washing dishes.  *See above for a complete list of contaminants that reverse osmosis systems remove/reduce. And last, but not least: don’t forget to choose a stainless steel, glass or BPA-free reusable plastic water bottle to carry your filtered tap water on the go. P.S. Wondering about NSF Certified water filters? The EWG says if a filter is labeled “NSF certified,” it may be certified their product evaluation company to improve water’s taste and odor but not necessarily guaranteed to remove any specific contaminants. So be sure to read the fine print.

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