Monday, April 15, 2013

Using An Under Sink Water Filter May Remove Contaminants From Tap Water

By Esme Spence


It isn't easy to tell if the water in your house is safe to drink; however, if you have a purification system such as an under sink water filter, you may feel a little better. You can rely at least a little on your senses to alert you to things that might be making their way into the water system of your home, such as sulfur or too much chlorine; however, in most cases, contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, lead, and other chemicals can't be smelled or tasted. In the case of your water smelling like rotten eggs, tasting like salt, or spots on your glasses, you might want to test your water, or have it tested, to assure quality. Certain additives, such as shilajit powder, can also help assure the water in your home is clean and safe.

Most municipal systems within the United States have safe drinking water because any system that serves 25 people or more must comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. So, unless your water is supplied from a private well on your property or you live in remote rural area, chances are good that your water is relatively safe to consume. Unless you have reason to believe otherwise, the water you receive in your home must meet federal safety standards; however, unless you are using an under sink water filter, the only way to know for sure if your water is safe to drink is to have your individual water supply tested. How then can I test my tap water? Should I test my well water? And with all the risks involved in consuming tap water, would I just be better off using filters or drinking bottled water only?

Testing your tap water on a municipal system within the United States, might be as easy as calling your local water supplier. They, by law, must provide you with the results of the testing routinely performed for your area. Of course, this will not be specific of your individual home, rather a selective sample of the system as a whole. Some municipalities will come and test the water directly from your tap, free of charge; otherwise, you may have to have a test done by a state-certified lab or independent firm. You can also perform a water test yourself with a home test kit. Most of these tests do not report for everything, but they can detect the more serious contaminants such as lead, arsenic, pesticides, and bacteria. Whichever method of testing you choose, be sure to use the first-draw water, water that comes out of the faucet first thing in the morning, as this will be your most accurate measure of contamination that might be present.

Since federal drinking water standards do not apply to private wells, it's up to you to have your water tested if you are in a location that utilizes one. Your local health department can advise you of possible wide spread well-water contamination in your area but testing your own water regularly and considering using an under sink water filter might be a good idea in these instances. Well water should be tested at least once a year for nitrates, coliform bacteria, total dissolved solids, and pH. Checks for lead, copper, arsenic, radon, pesticides, or other substances might also need to be conducted based on your location.

With all the contaminants that can get into municipal and well water, some people wonder if they are just better off using an under sink water filter, combined with shilajit powder, or wholly drinking bottled water. The answer is not necessarily. Bottled water, while more expensive then tap water, may not be any safer. In fact, in about one-fourth of instances, bottled water is simply tap water that has been processed and repackaged. The quality of bottled water varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and also depends on where the water originated. Filtered water can be an excellent solution as they remove lead and other contaminants from the water, but they do not necessarily remove all contaminants.

Obtaining safe drinking water then, in most instances, can be achieved with an under sink water filter, combined with shilajit powder.




About the Author:

Want to learn more about an under sink water filter, then look at Esme Spence's website to learn more about this and shilajit powder.


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