Town Water Supply Purification Methods

If you do not trust your town's water supply and do not want to purchase bottled water, purification is the best way to secure plentiful drinking water.

If you live in an area where the town water supply is not particularly clean or hygienic, you may wish to invest in some form of home water purification. Purification systems provide clean, safe and good-tasting drinking water. There are several options for how to purify water in the home, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

Boiling

Boiling is a somewhat rudimentary method of purification, yet an effective one. Boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes is enough to kill any bacteria or parasites that may be growing in your water. Boiled water, however, has a poor taste, and boiling water isn't very practical if you only need one glass of water, or if you need a very large amount of water. For this reason, boiling should only be used if you suspect your water supply is contaminated, and you are unable to find an alternative water source.

Filtered Pitchers

One method of water purification is the use of filtering water pitchers, such as the Brita brand filters. These allow you to not only purify water quickly and easily, but also provide a container in which to store the filtered water. The pitcher can be kept in the fridge to ensure that a cold glass of water is always easily available. But this method suffers drawbacks as well. For instance, the pitcher's size may be limiting if you suddenly have need of a large amount of drinking water.

Tap Purifiers

Another commercial alternative for clean water is the tap-attached purifying filter. These filters attach directly to your kitchen faucet, providing filtered water directly from the tap. This is very useful, as it essentially affords all the advantage and convenience of tap water while still providing adequate filtration. The unfortunate drawback to this method is that the filters tend to wear out quickly and frequently require replacing.

Other

There are several other methods of water filtration available if none of the other alternatives seems suitable. For instance, iodine is a commonly provided additive water purifier, available at sporting or camping supply stores. Other methods such as home distillation are useful in extreme circumstances. Still another alternative is using a refrigerator with a water spout, as these are often filtered as well.

References

• Outdoor Action Guide to Water Purification

Resources

• WaterFilters.net