You can protect you and your family from almost every possible pollutant contained in many city water systems by using a drinking water filter system. Pollutants such as chlorine rust and sediment, prescription drugs, and yes, even human feces! Why would you want to take the chance of these things coming into your home via your water supply?

Chlorine is used by many municipal water treatments plants to prevent microspical germs that may be lurking in your water pipes. Chlorine is definitely not something you want to be drinking, as it has been associated with many health problems and can cause dry skin. It is also very bad for your hair. Have you ever noticed how many swimmers have problems with their hair due to the chlorine content in the water?

Water is the most important element to human life along with air. It’s a fact that our water supply is becoming more polluted every day. It’s now essential that you and your family have a safe clean source of pure water to drink, cook and bathe in. Having a drinking water filter system is a must have item for the health of you and your family. Bottled water is very expensive. On a per gallon basis, bottled water cost more than a gallon of gas! So having a drinking water filter system will also save you big money! This is one area you do not want to neglect when it comes to the health of you or your family.

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Reverse osmosis is the most expensive choice in drinking water filters    for home use.  They use them in large industries and public treatment facilities.  In certain situations, they are the right choice for the home, but most of us can do without them.

There best application is desalination, but without additional steps, the water is still not safe to drink.

The more reasonably priced drinking water filter    systems reach a top price of around $420.00.  They are typically some form of carbon filtration, combined with a micron filter and some sort of stage to balance mineral content and pH levels.
 
Practically the same drinking water filters can be purchased for less than $150.  The difference is mark-up.  Buying directly from the factory that manufactures the drinking water filter will save you hundreds of dollars.

 
For less than $150 and a dime a day, you can get one of the top ten rated drinking water filters, in the world.  These units are designed to sit on your counter, next to your sink.  They are more effective and less likely to leak than the units that screw directly onto the faucet.

There is typically an option to switch from filtered to unfiltered, in case you want to extend the filter life by doing dishes or washing vegetables in unfiltered water.  For cooking though, you will enjoy better tasting healthier foods, if you turn the drinking water filter to the “on” position.

You may be tempted by the really low priced drinking water filters that retail around $40.  We thought they might be a good reasonably priced alternative for a family on a budget.  We found that there were several problems.

Most are really chlorine filters, not purifiers.  Many harmful contaminants, such as THMs and VOCs, which have been linked to cancer, will not be blocked by the cheap models.  In some, the toxic metal lead is not removed.  Lead contamination is a big problem in many cities.  Not because the treatment facility isn’t doing their job, but because the pipes that run into the house are old.

Bacterial cysts are another type of contaminant that a cheaper drinking water filter cannot remove.  They can cause parasitic infections in the gastrointestinal tract and have been know to cause death in children, the elderly and people with a compromised immune system.

If that’s not enough, cheap drinking water filters cost more to use.  On average more than 20 cents per day, as opposed to the 10 cents per day that is available.  You see, they get you by charging a lower price initially, but then charging more for replacement filtration cartridges.  Or, the cartridge has a very short lifespan.  Either way, you end up spending more in the long run.

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Water Fountains also known as Drinking Water Fountains are designed to provide drinking water in much the same way as the more familiar water cooler. Connected to the mains water supply Water Fountains have a basin arrangement with a Tap or Bubbler that dispenses either continuously running water or water on demand.

Popular in areas of high usage such as sports centres, colleges and schools the fountains are typically made from stainless steel and may incorporate carbon filters to remove taste and bad odours from the mains water, they may also include a chilling system to reduce the water temperature.

All water fountains are fitted with some type of waste system which either allows gravity to get rid of the superfluous water, or a pumped waste system which may be used when the fountain is situated some way from adequate drainage.

What are the Benefits of a Water Fountain over a Bottled Water Cooler?

With their basins, waste systems and robust stainless steel bodywork Water Fountains are ideal for high usage areas such as corridors in schools and sports centres.

Although the systems can be perceived as being unattractive when compared to some bottled water coolers or plumbed in machines the systems themselves are very functional, they do not require bottled delivery or even much maintenance and may be left unsupervised as they are robust enough to handle some misuse.

Most Drinking Fountains today are fitted with a carbon based filter and a coil on coil chilling system allowing the system to dispense a continuous supply of fresh tasting chilled water, something that most water coolers are unable to achieve as these machines tend to be fed from a tank.

Most fountains can dispense up to 25 litres of chilled water per hour those systems with a pumped waste system can (because of the higher disposal capacity) dispenses up to 50 litres of chilled water per hour.

Why Drinking Water Fountains are the best choice for Schools

Recent research has shown that children aren’t drinking enough water at school as access to water in schools is often quite poor. Water can help prevent the tiredness and irritability often associated with dehydration and can improve a pupils concentration levels. The answer in many cases is to provide your school with water fountains or some type of water cooler.

Bottled water coolers are not the best choice for schools as the cost of the bottled delivery is prohibitive, in addition to this it isn’t desirable for delivery people to be regularly dropping off bottles within the school grounds. The bottles also tend to take up room and use up valuable storage space which is at a premium in any school. The benefits of plumbed in water systems to schools include:

» A constant supply of water when and where your pupils and staff need it

» No need to change heavy bottles

» No bottle delivery

» No need to store the bottles

» Substantial savings on the cost of running a bottle fed system

All water systems including bottled systems require some maintenance in terms of regular sanitisation and filter changes. Plumbed in units such as fountains also require installation but this is relatively simple for anyone with good DIY skills, and as all schools have a Caretaker on staff to install and maintain the machine it would seem sensible to opt for this type of system over a bottled cooler where possible.

There are a growing number of websites that offer water fountains for sale rather than as a rental only option. Direct purchase is preferable to those schools who don’t want to be tied into an onerous rental contract that require continual monthly payments.

Should I choose a Freestanding Fountain a Wall Mounted Fountain or a Sink?

Most fountains today are available as either freestanding or wall mounted units, they both work in the same way as each other but capacities may vary between the two types of system. Some websites also stock stainless steel bubbler sinks which are ideal if you are on a limited budget as they have no chilling system, they also require no maintenance other than an occasional clean.

Some schools may require a shorter wall mounted unit but site it on the floor to ensure that small children can access the water.

If you want the cheapest possible fountain that requires no maintenance other than an occasional clean you can opt for a wall mounted stainless steel sink.

Can I Install a Water Fountain Outside?

Lots of people ask about fitting a drinking water fountain outside and while this can be possible we would never recommend that you do this with a normal fountain fitted with a chilling system. Many manufacturers are now constructing machines that don’t chill the water and also there are a range of wall mounted sinks which are ideal for outdoor use.

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Our technological advancements have allowed us to do many things that previous generations did not even dream about.  But, those same advancements have threatened our ability to get clean drinking water.

Our Water is Polluted

Rivers, lakes and streams could easily become polluted.  There was always the possibility of animal waste upstream and if someone unknowingly drank from the stream, they could become very ill.

The purest drinking water was found underground.  It was protected from animal waste and the soil itself acted as a filter to remove debris and bacteria.  So, we dug wells or drank from protected springs.  But, as time went by, the soil that protected the groundwater became polluted.

The use of pesticides and herbicides has affected our ability to get clean drinking water, even from a well or spring.  Chemical dumping, industrial waste, gasoline spills, leaks from underground storage tanks and even the pipelines use to transport the water are all sources of the contamination that we now face.

Losing Our Clean Water

I would venture to say that the purest drinking water no longer exists in a naturally occurring aquifer.  There are simply too many people causing contamination.  Even those of us who are very careful about polluting the environment must flush, shower, shave, do dishes and laundry. 

Everything that goes down the drain ends up in the groundwater.  Of course the public facilities make every effort to provide clean drinking water. 

When something goes down the drain and into the sewer, it ends up a treatment facility where many steps are taken to remove solid waste and other contaminants, but eventually, the facilities dump the treated water back into a river or the ocean.  The solid material that is left behind is often used as fertilizer.  The rain falls and all of those contaminants filter through the soil and back into the groundwater.
 
Farm runoff ends up in the reservoirs carrying E coli and other bacteria, along with protozoan life forms and microscopic cysts.  In an effort to provide the purest drinking water possible and protect citizens from waterborne illnesses, the facilities use chlorine to kill the bacteria and other life forms, but the microscopic cysts survive. 

Technology caused a lot of our problems, but it has also given us the ability to clean drinking water right in our homes.  The old purifiers were expensive and wasted lots of energy.  The new ones are affordable and operate without electricity.

Getting Back to Clean Water

Today, the purest drinking water comes through a filtration device that removes chlorine and its byproducts, along with the cysts that are resistant to public disinfection methods.  A single unit can remove all of the pesticides and herbicides, the industrial waste and chemical contaminants that cannot be removed by treatment facilities.  It can even remove the lead that seeps in because of city pipelines.

Shop Carefully for an Efficient Water Filter System

Of course, you have to compare quality and contaminant removal.  Businesses know that you have a need for clean drinking water and they sometimes take advantage of this need by supplying inferior products.  So, be sure to shop wisely.  For more information see my website. – Larry L. Taylor

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Many people do not know what is in their tap water, and there in lies the shock. A few of the ingredients in your tap water include bacteria, viruses, uranium, radium, nitrate, arsenic, chromium and fluoride. One of the most prominent ingredients in tap water is dissolved toilet tissue. Doesn’t sound very appetizing does it?

Where does this contamination come from? Some of it actually comes from natural sources such as rock formations that find their way into our water supply. Some chemicals such as chlorine are actually placed into our water supply on purpose to kill off harmful bacteria. The problem is, chlorine can be very harmful to the human body and has been linked to certain cancers. This is why many people have turned to using a drinking water filter.

Other sources of water contamination include not getting rid of everyday items in your house such as cleaning solvents, paint, and motor oil in a proper manner. Then you have problem of industrial waste. Seems like everyday you read about some kind of accidental leakage or a large company using illegal methods to get rid of its waste. Pesticides are also another item that has found its way into our water supply.

Our local water treatment plants do try to do a good job in making sure our water is safe, but it’s next to impossible to get rid of all the contaminants. We are also faced with a dwindling supply of fresh pure water, so many cities have turned to using reclaimed water. Reclaimed water includes the waste that is flushed down your toilet, and then is chemically treated and used in our drinking water supply. You should consider using a drinking water filter if you live in an area where reclaimed water is being used.

Many people would like to use a drinking water filter, but don’t know where to start. There are many types and brands available. They most expensive is not always best. Same goes for the cheapest. Some drinking water filters are cheap and do a fair job, but they need replacement cartridges often, which can end up being more expensive in the long run than higher priced drinking water filters.

Some higher priced filters do a poor job but carry a high price tag just to make a profit for the promoter. Doing a little research when choosing a drinking water filter will not only improve your health, but will save you money in the longer term.

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The presence of contaminants in your drinking water does not necessarily mean that you are going to become sick. But if surface water, such as a river is the source of your water, it could have been vulnerable to acid rain, pesticide runoff, and dumping from industrial plants. The air, sunshine, and some types of micro-organisms can be a sort of cleansing agent but not entirely.

The bad thing about effects from exposure to contaminants in water is that they are more chronic problems than immediate. Some of these diseases may include cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.

Certain water requires a longer time to become totally free of the contaminants that are being removed. The chemical that is being used to sanitize the water is not always used in the right concentration or it is not left in the water long enough to work properly. Another consideration is temperature. Certain chemicals only work correctly under certain temperatures. Which means that in certain instances your water may not be sanitary at all.

If your water comes from a well or from a source that supplies public water, it does not become contaminated as quickly. On the other hand, it does not go through the natural cleansing as quickly either. Pathogens, liquid waste from septic tanks and garbage dumps, or storage tanks underground may leak into the underground water. So even if you think well water is purer than most, you may not be drinking as pure water as you think.

Research has shown that our water, whether it comes from a well or from a municipality is not as safe as it once was. The contaminants that are becoming more prevalent in today’s world are slowly making their way into the air we breathe and the water we drink. Chemicals are one of the contaminants that have found their way into our drinking water. Even chlorine has been found not to be a disinfectant that we want in our drinking water.

A filtration system can help to clean the water you drink and remove anything that can have adverse effects on the body. When you think about it, water is something that we use constantly without even thinking about it. In order to have the highest quality water that you can have, a filtration system is necessary.

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If you’ve stored all this rain water, then why not drink it and bathe in it?

In many countries they do but, in the UK it is deemed non-potable.

However, I would like to advise that a determined UK homeowner can get the okay to use rainwater as potable water. In practice, it is vital to get water tested if the users or authorities want to be certain of its quality. There are testing companies all over Britain and one can identify them locally when required.

The UK Government’s requirements are at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2000/20003184.htm. It’s quite a read.

The World Health Organisation has its say at :

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/gdwq3rev/en/index.html.

The majority of council inspectors will require test results and a supplier’s confirmation that the equipment will be able to deal with whatever may be polluting the water. The most common pollutants and their remedies are as follows:

1) Bacteria. Bird droppings and the bacteria these carry is the most common pollutant of rainwater from the roof of a building. Ultra-violet filtration kills bacteria, but remember that the filter must be turned on 24/7 and there must be a way of warning the users that a bulb is failing or has failed. Double bulb UV filters are available, as are ones with suitable alarms. A cartridge filter prior to the UV filter ensures that bacteria does not get through the UV filter hiding behind a particle; that’s what authorities might be concerned about. If the rainwater has been filtered and stored in an underground tank with rodent protection, calming device at the input and floating intake to the pump, then a second filter in line with the UV filter is not required because the water will be particle free (as with the Carat systems).

2) Chemicals. If the building is in the lea of an industrial zone then testing might show that there is a level of chemicals in the water. A carbon filter is necessary to absorb such chemicals.

3) Heavy metals, nitrates and nitrites. If tests show a presence of heavy metals, then redox alloy cartridges are needed.

4) Reverse osmosis removes everything. If you need only a small amount of high quality drinking water then a reverse osmosis plant can supply glass-fulls with everything removed (and that includes the taste).

We know of nobody who extensively recommends the installation of equipment for adding chemicals to rainwater, but it’s an option.

The bulk of tests in the UK show the presence of minute quantities of bacteria (as would spring or well water) for which Ultra-Violet filtration is ideal. Our recommendation is to install the Carat tank with a UV filter, then have a test done after commissioning and the first couple of rainfalls.

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