Many individuals are attempting to make their drinking water safer and better tasting via various means such as home water filters, water jugs fitted with filters, drinking only bottled water and more, but what is actually the best method?
Although there are strict standards in place regarding drinking water quality, there are still problems with some of the chemicals used to process the water; some people do not like the taste or smell of chlorine and fluoride is unhealthy for us in the long term, despite what our governments tell us.
There are four main kinds of home water filters that once can use:
- Activated Carbon Filters can remove various organic contaminants that affect both the taste and odour of your drinking water. Some activated carbon systems can also remove solvents, chlorination by-products, and pesticides, as well as metals such as copper and lead.
- Distillation Units make drinking pure by boiling the water and then condensing the steam, creating distilled water.
- Ion Exchange Units with activated alumina remove various minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These types of units are often used together with another type filtration method, such as reverse osmosis or carbon absorption.
- Reverse Osmosis units with carbon remove sodium, nitrates, pesticides and petrochemicals.
No single form of filtration can remove all drinking water contaminants, so it would be a good idea to have your water tested to see what contaminants it contains in order to ensure that you are using the right type of water filter.
Remember that no matter which type of water filter you decide to make use of, it is important that you maintain it carefully and regularly so that contaminants do not build up in the filter, which could create more health problems.
Of course, one of the easiest ways to ensure that the water that you are drinking smells and tastes great and is contaminant-free is to invest in a watercooler. Mains water coolers get attached to your main water supply and can be fitted with a good filter to ensure that you have 24/7 access to chilled, fresh, great-tasting drinking water. Many of the water coolers also offer ambient and hot water options which makes them perfect all year round, and the upmarket models require virtually no maintenance.
