Last week I talked about the different types of pollution, be it chemical or biological, that could be lurking in your pipes. This week, I'm going to tell you what you can do about it.
If you want to filter your tap water—and I believe that you should—there are a lot of options out there. Here's the run-down on the different types of water filters.
Pitcher - Good for drinking only; low volume
Pros:
- Relatively inexpensive
- Come in a wide range of styles so they fit your decor
- Require absolutely no installation
- Take up space in your refrigerator
- Must be refilled constantly
- Require frequent filter replacement
- Cannot be customized
On-tap / faucet - Good mostly for drinking and occasional other uses; medium-low volume
Pros:
- Relatively inexpensive
- Come in a wide range of styles so they fit your decor
- Minimal installation
- Take up very little space
- Require frequent filter replacement
- Cannot be customized
Countertop - Good for drinking and other uses (washing dishes or hands, etc.); larger volume
Pros:
- Relatively inexpensive
- Minimal installation
- Can be customized for to filter out specific pollutants
- Larger filter does not have to be changed as often
- Can be staged (e.g. lead > chlorine > sediment > general)
- Take up counter space
- No designer styles
Undercounter - When you want water for everything; large volume
Pros:
- Hidden under kitchen counter to save counter space
- Can be customized for to filter out specific pollutants
- Larger filter does not have to be changed as often
- Can be staged (e.g. lead > chlorine > sediment > general)
Cons:
- Requires installation
- Somewhat expensive
Whole house - When you have doubts about your water quality; largest volume
Pros:
- Completely out of sight; takes up little space in your kitchen
- Customizable to your needs
- Requires installation by a plumber
- Most expensive option
In addition to a drinking water filter, you might want to consider a shower filter. In a warm shower, your pores open up, allowing you to more rapidly absorb harmful chemicals from the water. An American Journal Of Public Health study showed that 2/3 of our exposure to harmful water comes while showering. Also, since chlorine vaporizes at a lower temperature and a faster rate than water, the steam you inhale while showering has a highly concentrated amount of chlorine vapor. The EPA says that there is an elevated level of chlorine gas in nearly every American home because of the level of chlorine in our shower water.
Unfortunately, most of us live with bad water, it's not something a lot of people talk about. Doing something about it by using a water filter can be a great benefit to your health.