OK, So What&#39;s Up With Pure Water Filters?

!±8± OK, So What's Up With Pure Water Filters?

Just because they are advertised as pure water filters doesn't mean that they actually provide purity. You can only find an effective pure water filter, if you know what to look for. Here's a little shopping help.

For families on a municipal water treatment system, there are a number of hazardous impurities that should be removed before drinking, cooking or showering. These include cysts, lead, chlorine and Trihalomethanes (THMs).

Many so-called pure water filters only remove chlorine and odor. Most do not remove THMs. It all depends on the technology that the water filtration manufacturer chooses to include, but a high price does not always indicate high quality.

A reverse osmosis pure water filter, for example, removes cysts, but not chlorine or THMs and they only reduce lead to the federal action level. If you are serviced by a public provider, the facility must advise you when levels exceed the federal action level.

But, in truth, no level of lead consumption is safe. You should look for a pure water filter that includes an ion exchange step to remove at least 99% of all lead traces.

Pure water filters that remove chlorine may include granular activated carbon, a carbon block or both. The dual-stage systems reduce chlorine by more than 99%. If a system only includes granular activated carbon, they can "leak" bits of the granules into your glass.

With the best dual stage systems, the last step is a carbon and multi-media block with a .5 micron channel to capture any cysts, sediments or bits of carbon. The carbon and multi-media block design will also trap THMs.

THMs or trihalomethanes are always found in public supplies when chemical disinfectants have been used to kill bacteria and control algae growth. There is a maximum action level for them, as well, but there is no consideration of how quickly the levels can rise as chlorine remains active and continues to encounter bacteria and algae in the pipes.

By the time the water gets to your home, the level could be astronomically higher than it was at the facility. Trihalomethanes are a major concern because they are toxic to the nervous system and increase a person's risk of cancer. There are thousands of new cases every year that are directly caused by THM exposure.

The Ever Pure water filter does not remove THMs. Neither does Brita or PUR. I am not sure how they can continue to call them pure water filters when they do not reduce the risk of THM exposure, but they get away with it.

You should be aware that THM exposure can occur during a shower or bath, because the compounds become vaporized and are inhaled. They can also be absorbed through the skin. So, you really need a pure water filter for the kitchen and the shower.

You can expect to pay about 5 for the best pure water filters. My favorite company offers a package deal that includes both kitchen and shower filtration for around 0. You can't find a better deal for an effective product anywhere on the market. Happy shopping!