What's in Your Water? Benefits of Water Filters and Water Purifiers

Construction & Contractors Blog

Often clear water does not mean clean, safe, and healthy water. Some sources of water contain hundreds of chemicals that are used to kill bacteria and other microorganisms. Such chemicals render water unsafe to drink. It is for this reason that you should drink and cook with filtered and purified water. Water filters and purifiers help to remove and reduce chemicals and impurities in water while inhibiting the development of bacteria, fungi, and other contaminants.

What is in your tap water?

Tap water may look clean and safe on the surface, but it is full of chemicals that you would rather not be consuming. Here are some of these chemicals that are usually found in tap water and other unfiltered sources of water.

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): VOCs refer to harmful chemicals contained in herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and other chemicals. They usually come from agricultural run-off and contamination from industries that use chemicals. VOCs are harmful to human health when consumed in food or water.
• Fluoride compounds: Fluoride is usually purposefully added to community water. While it is used in toothpaste and mouthwashes to improve oral health, it is associated with various health conditions if consumed in large quantities.
• Chlorine: Liquid chlorine is mixed with water to kill bacteria. Chlorine itself may not be harmful to human health. However, if it interacts with organic matter such as leaves or soil in untreated water, it forms new chemicals called chlorine by-products, which are harmful to human health.
• Metals: Tap water may contain metals such as aluminium, lead, and mercury, which are harmful to human health if they accumulate in the body.

What are the benefits of water filters?

Water filters remove impurities such VOCs and other chemicals, fluoride, chlorine, and metals such as lead, mercury, nickel, magnesium, iron, copper and many others. Filtered water is good and safe for drinking, cooking, and for domestic use. It protects the body from diseases and improves overall health. What's more, it is cheaper than bottled water since all you need is to buy a water filter and maintain it properly.

Are water filters the ultimate solution?

While water filters remove most of the impurities in water, they may not eliminate bacteria and viruses. For this, you may need to purify your water using water purifiers. Water purifiers eliminate bacteria and viruses that may be present in water but do not remove metals and other chemical contaminants as filters do. You may need both systems to ensure that your water is entirely safe for use.

Most sources of untreated water provide unsafe and unhealthy water. Water filters and purifiers get rid of contaminants and chemicals and make water safe for consumption.

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20 June 2016