H2O! The fundamental human requirement. In fact, 60% of your body is water. Without water, you would die within a few days. It’s not surprising that healthcare professionals advise us to ensure we drink at least two liters of water per day for optimum health. Most of us are fortunate enough to have access to water daily. In countries such as Africa, clean water is not readily available, and they’re forced to drink water riddled with bacteria. Clean water is a human right, and dirty water can cause a plethora of health problems. If we live in the Western world, how can we be sure that the water we drink is pure and toxin-free?

Home Water Filters

Using a water filter is an excellent option to ensure the water we drink is free from harmful contaminants. There are several systems to choose from, but the San Antonio filters experts suggest investing in whole house water filters that remove pollutants that are harmful to the health. They also highlight other benefits. What are they?

Another advantage of a home filtration system is that it can save money overall. Firstly, you will no longer need to buy bottled water which is costly and bad for the environment. Secondly, it takes less energy to heat water with no metals, saving precious dollars on electric bills. Lastly, it saves money by prolonging the appliances that use water, such as washing machines and dishwashers. No corrosive chemicals mean a longer shelf life for our machines.

When considering a home filtration system, be sure to choose an option that clearly states what chemicals and compounds they eliminate. Full systems can be costly, so choosing one that has all the necessary features is crucial.

How Do Whole House Filters Work?

Usually, a filter is installed to the waterline where it comes into the house. This way, the water supply is purified through all the pipes into your home. Once it’s installed, there is little maintenance required proving to be a good investment for complete peace of mind. What precisely does it remove? It removes most pathogens that are missed or added during the purification process, such as:

  • Chlorine
  • Lead
  • fluoride
  • Aluminum

Why is it so important to remove these substances from our water, especially as Chlorine is added in the initial process?

Dangers of Chemicals

Lead has long been known for its harmful effect on our health. Lead poisoning can build up over time and is often caused by lead pipes leading into our houses. The toxic lead buildup can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, high blood pressure, and anemia.

Lead is present in the environment, so it cannot be avoided entirely. Older houses are more likely to contribute to levels of lead in water, due to older and more corrosive pipes.  Investing in a home filtration system will ensure you eliminate any lead present in the water, thus reducing exposure.

The dangers of ingesting chlorinated water have been a subject of ongoing debate. Chlorine is a highly toxic chemical that can cause damage to several organs in the body. According to researchers, drinking chlorinated water is linked to higher incidences of bladder, rectal, and breast cancers; this also goes for bottled water, also treated with chlorine. It’s useful to check your annual water safety report to identify what chemicals are present.

Those who suffer from allergies such as asthma and eczema should be especially careful when drinking water from the tap.  Studies have shown that allergies can get worse or even be caused by overexposure to chlorine. The increase in inflammatory cells can cause irritant induced asthma in some. 

Fluoride has been added to our water for years because of its benefits to teeth. However, excessive exposure can cause thyroid, neurological, and bone problems, so caution is advised when drinking non filtered water if you have any existing illnesses.

Purification Process

Most of our water comes from lakes, rivers, or groundwater, or the water extracted from beneath the earth’s surface in certain rock formations.

The coagulation process removes particles and large amounts of organic compounds to remove viruses and bacteria. It also removes minerals such as iron to avoid nasty tasting water.

After coagulation, a filtration process will begin to remove the remaining impurities. After that, the water will go through a disinfection procedure and finally chlorination. There may be other procedures depending on water quality. But are these actions enough to guarantee pure and safe drinking water?

The World Health Organization set guidelines for what levels of chemicals and pathogens are considered safe in our water, but these targets are often not met or measured.

A home filtration system is well worth the investment. And one that will reap the rewards for many years to come. You can’t put a price on good health. Cheers!