Define Water Filtration

Billions of dollars are spent yearly on water filters for home faucets.

Water filtration is a process whereby tap water is run through a filter to remove harmful chemicals or additives.

Use

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that Americans spend billions of dollars each year on home water treatment devices. Some use them simply to make tap water taste better, others to filter out harmful ingredients.

Considerations

Normally, tap water contains trace amounts of contaminants but not enough to exceed EPA limits.

Contents

Some of the foreign substances typically found in water include lead, nitrates, coliform bacteria, arsenic, pesticides, radium and giardia. Radon, cleanser byproducts and organic chemicals, if not filtered out, can turn into gas and be inhaled when you shower or breathe in steam from hot water.

Types

Water filtration systems can be free standing, attached to the tap, point of use (filter pitchers, distillers, reverse osmosis units), point of home entry (absorptive media, aerators, water softeners), or attached to the ice or water dispenser of a refrigerator.

Certification

When buying water filtration products, the EPA recommends purchasing only those certified by NSF International, Underwriters Laboratories or the Water Quality Association. These three companies are accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and guarantee their home products meet or exceed EPA and ANSI guidelines.

References

• Filtration Facts