What Kind of Water Filter Do I Need?

GE Merlin RO System

As more and more people are taking drinking water safety into their own hands, many people are faced with questions over what measures to adopt to ensure their drinking water is safe. For many Americans, water filters have become the preferred method for improving water quality.

Types of water filters vary, but they all provide some measure of added security against water contaminants and chemicals that can pollute your water.

With the hundreds of water filter solutions available today, what should consumers look for when considering a water filter?

First, consumers should determine exactly what they desire or need in a water filter. Certain water filters are better equipped to deal with specific chemicals and others pollutants. So the initial step should be to determine exactly what you are hoping to eliminate in your drinking water. Most cities issue periodic drinking water reports, where consumers can see exactly what contaminants are present in their drinking water.

Next, after determining the need, you can look for what types of water filters eliminate that specific chemical—or which one does the best job in a particular price range.

Another option for consumers to consider is a reverse osmosis (RO) system, which is a point-of-use device that is installed at the tap. According to the Engineering Department at Purdue University, a reverse osmosis system “effectively treats various contaminants from all major classes of drinking water pollutants, such as organic chemicals, inorganics, bacteria and particulates. If a water quality problem from several different contaminants exists, RO may be the most cost-effective removal method.”

So while the options are extensive, with a little research consumers can determine their best option for drinking water safety.

Related posts: