Quality Residential Water Filtering Systems Can Clean All Of The Drinking Water In Your Home

There are many benefits of having residential water filtering systems. Some of these benefits might be obvious to the average consumer, while others are less commonly known. This is due to the fact that many people do not realize just how bad their tap water is to their health, and their wallet.

The best way to see the benefits of installing whole house water filtering systems is to take a look at the effects of unfiltered common tap water. The most obvious, and most common, complaint about tap water is taste. Almost any filer system that you get for your home or drinking water will improve the taste of the water.

Another common complaint about tap water is odor. Water should not have any odor at all. Unfortunately, most tap, especially in major metropolitan areas, has a definite odor that makes drinking the water extremely unappetizing. Any residential water filtering systems on the market will correct this problem as well.

There are many, less obvious effects of unfiltered tap water. It contains harmful toxins such as chemicals from pesticides as well as harmful organic compounds. Most whole house water filtering systems will filter out these toxins, which have been linked to some forms of cancer and other health problems.

A residential water filtering system can also help with skin conditions and help you have healthier hair. Tap water contains high levels of chlorine. Chlorine will dry out the skin and hair, making you more perceptible to dermatological issues such as acne. Eczema and psoriasis can also appear or worsen, especially in children. Most water filters for the home or shower eliminate or lessen the chlorine in the water you use when you bathe and shower.

Using filtered water for showering and bathing can also help your skin and your wallet in other ways. When you use residential water filtering systems that restore the PH balance in the water, you will find that you get much cleaner and are able to rid yourself of the soap film left by tap water. This soap film can cause dermatological problems to appear or worsen. It also saves you money, because PH balanced water requires less soap for cleaning.

Unfortunately, not all whole house water filtering systems are the same. Most of these filters are single filter or single stage systems. While these systems remove chlorine and most organic compounds from the water, they also strip the water of valuable minerals that are actually good for you and essential to your health. They also tend to let through more of the synthetic chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. Additionally, you will not find a PH balance in most of the water from these systems.

The best residential water filtering systems are those that that will perform well in all aspects, and address all of the concerns about tap water at one time. The systems that do this best are those with two filters. Each filter has its purpose, and together they clean the water to a level better than any other system.

Two filters are used with these systems: one of copper and/or zinc, and one of carbon. The carbon filter is that used on most residential water filtering systems. It cleans the water of some organic compounds, chlorine, and can restore the PH balance in the water. The filter of copper and/or zinc cleans the water of synthetic chemicals and other contaminants.

Many whole house water filtering systems use a carbon based filter, reverse osmosis, or distillation. Some multi stage water filtering systems use reverse osmosis in conjunction with a carbon based filter. While this is better than reverse osmosis alone, the process still strips water of its natural properties and minerals.

It is only when the carbon and copper and zinc filters are used together that the best results will be achieved. In order to reap all of the benefits of residential water filtering systems, you should make sure that the system you choose has a dual filter using metals and carbon.

Martin Spencer is a health researcher who has been studying water filtration for over 25 years. He is a regular contributor to Water Purification Guide, a site dedicated to various methods of treating and purifying water. Learn about whole house water filtering systems on our site.

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Total Hardness and Water Quality

Most adults have learned that water can be soft or hard. They have learned, too, that there is a connection between total hardness and water quality. Hard water reduces the power of your soap. In fact, hard water is often detected by noting the amount of soap required to form lather. Hard water may build up in hot water pipes and appliances, producing scale.

Hard Water Defined

Hard water is water that contains high levels of dissolved calcium, magnesium, and other mineral salts such as iron. The greater the amount of dissolved minerals in the water, the harder it is.

Total hardness is measured in grains per gallon (gpg) or parts per million (ppm). If water contains less than 3.5 gpg, it is considered soft water. If it contains more than 7 gpg, it is considered hard water. The American Society of Engineers' water hardness classification table breaks it down this way.

* Soft: 0 to 3.5 gpg - 0 to 60 ppm

* Moderate: 3.6 to 7 gpg - 61 to 120 ppm

* Hard: 7.1 to 10.5 gpg - 121 to 180 ppm

* Very Hard: More than 10.5 gpg - more than 180 ppm

Making the Connection

Total hardness and water quality are connected. Hard water is safe for drinking, cooking, and other household uses, but it can cause problems.

One way in which total hardness and water quality are connected is the effect of such water on household plumbing. Total hardness means a build-up of scales inside pipes, especially those carrying hot water.

Total hardness and water quality are also connected in their effect on appliances that use water. Dishwashers and washing machines can decrease in cleaning and laundering ability. Water heaters can become less efficient. Refrigerators that dispense water can become clogged.

Aesthetically, total hardness and water quality are connected in those white, chalky deposits that accumulate on tubs, sinks, and cookware.

U.S. Water Quality

According to the 1997 National Water Quality Survey, 1 of 5 people surveyed in the U.S. is dissatisfied with the water quality in his or her home. This is related to the fact given by the U.S. Geological Survey: that 85 percent of the U.S. has hard water. Many people install water softeners in their homes to improve water quality.

Determining Water Quality

You can have your water quality tested if you are moving into a new area or a new home. If you have been living in the same home for a while, you will know if your water is hard by looking for these 7 signs:

1. You have difficulty working up lather from a bar of soap.

2. Your soaps and detergents don't seem to clean well - you have dingy laundry in spite of your efforts to get it clean.

3. In the shower or bath, your soap leaves a film on your body and hair - you have dry skin and dull, limp hair.

4. You have to battle soap scum on bathtubs, shower tiles and doors, basins, and fixtures.

5. You see an increasing buildup of scale on your cookware such as tea kettle, coffee maker, and pasta pot. Your plumbing also contains scale.

6. Clogged pipes or appliances mean that water flow is reduced.

7. Your water heating costs are increasing due to scale buildup and mineral deposits, and you have to replace hot water heating elements more often.

Improving Water Quality

Treatment can improve water quality. You may use electromagnetic water conditioners, water filters, or water softeners.

Electromagnetic water conditioners improve water quality by sending water through a magnetic field. As the water passes between the magnets, its calcium and magnesium ions lose their scale-causing properties. Studies show that this relatively new invention does not technically soften water, but water quality is improved in that it no longer causes buildup of scales. Clothing also lasts longer, which is a definite increase in water quality.

Water filters are a second option for improving water quality, especially drinking water. Water filters can provide healthy drinking water by removing chlorine and other contaminants contained in water. Water filters can soften water, but they will not prevent scale buildup in pipes and water heaters.

Water softeners are a common way of improving water quality, and come in two types: chemical and mechanical. The water produced by chemical water softeners is not acceptable drinking water. Packaged chemicals are added directly to improve water quality in laundering and bathing, and are effective both in protecting clothing and guarding against dry skin and hair. Mechanical water softeners installed in your home will replace dissolved calcium and magnesium salts with sodium. This water is also not acceptable for drinking, especially by those who have hypertension. The water quality is greatly improved, however, for other uses. Lime scale is prevented; water heaters function efficiently; and laundered clothing is both cleaner and longer-lasting.

Soft Water

On the other end of the spectrum, total hardness and water quality are a benefit when that hardness level is below 3.5 gpg or 60 ppm. Soft water allows you to use less shampoo and soap, yet have shinier hair and softer skin. Soft water requires less soap or detergent in shower, laundry, kitchen, and household cleaning chores. It helps close look cleaner and last longer. It keeps water-using appliances and plumbing from wearing out as fast. Soft water keeps dishes and eating utensils spot-free, and extends the life of tea kettles and other cookware. Soft water reduces cleaning time by eliminating soap scum and buildup of scales.

Total hardness and water quality are closely connected, and you may find it worthwhile to use a water treatment system to improve your water quality - especially your drinking water.

c2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about water quality at http://www.healthydrinkingwaterblog.com Anna has also posted information on that site about salt water. If you want to learn why you should not drink water softened with sodium, you won?t want to miss her article on that subject.

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Water Quality of Glaciers - Do We Want It?

Water quality is an important topic, since we all drink quantities of water over our lifetimes. Even if we drink only minimally, we still want top water quality.

So what about the water quality of glaciers - do we want it? Is the water quality of glaciers really pristine, as we are led to believe?

Glaciers Store About 75% of the World's Freshwater

Freshwater contains very minimal amounts of dissolved salts, especially sodium chloride. It is found only in lakes, streams, and rivers - never in oceans or seas. Glaciers have, therefore, potentially good water quality. Is that water quality pristine, though?

Glacier Bottled Water

Several water bottlers have chosen a glacier as a symbol of purity. Some use the words "glacier" and "virgin" in labeling or advertising. But water quality does not always match the symbol. According to government and industry estimates, 25 to 40 percent of all bottled water is actually bottled tap water - despite pictures of glaciers!

Before recent FDA intervention, the label on one brand of bottled water read: "Alaska Premium Glacier Drinking Water: Pure Glacier Water From the Last Unpolluted Frontier, Bacteria Free". Why was that bad if water quality in those bottles was so high? The water apparently flowed into the bottles from Public Water System #111241 in Juneau, Alaska, not from glaciers.

Some bottlers imply top water quality by referring to their water's origins as streams flowing from glaciers, or glacier-fed lakes, but in Alaska, such wording is forbidden.

"If it says 'glacier water,' it's got to be right from the glacier without the influence of any other surface sources," says Mike Gentry, program coordinator for the Alaska State Department of Environmental Conservation's Food Safety and Sanitation Program. He added that if it's a blend, direct glacier water could have been mixed with other water from a stream or a lake fed by glacier.

If the label will read "pure glacier water," the bottler must use water taken right from the glacier. He may not add or remove minerals, but even glacier water quality can be changed by filtering and treatments.

The label on another brand of "Alaskan" bottled water (unchanged at the time of writing) boasted of high water quality:

"Mother Nature recycles all water. Get it from a river, get it from a spring, get it from a well, seven years ago that water was used by someone (or something) else, unless... Unless your water was stored in the Eklutna Glacier, for 23,000 years."

The implication here is that glacier water quality is unsurpassed since it has been stored away for so many years. One can almost imagine a glacier with an airtight, liquid-tight seal for ultimate protection!

The True Water Quality of Glaciers

Because of their frozen state, glaciers may have lower levels of contaminants and bacteria, but how low?

One FDA investigator noted that, aside from marketability, glaciers are a rather imperfect water source, since animals traipse across them all the time, contributing contaminants and lowering water quality.

I am not an expert on glaciers, but I do know that when Eklutna Glacier formed, however many years ago, its ice was not pure. Yes, its original snow was free of much contamination such as we know, but its snow was never chemically pure.

1. Each flake of glacial snow began as a small droplet of water or ice crystal that formed around a nucleus. The water needed a tiny particle around which it could condense. It might have used a microscopic salt crystal released into the air by an ocean wave. It might have used a particle of ash from a forest fire. It might have condensed around ash from a volcanic eruption, but each snowflake had to have that microscopic bit of material. Glacial water quality is affected by billions of old salt and ash particles.

2. Each flake of glacial snow helped scrub acids from the atmosphere. Acid rain is not new - only industrial acid rain. The atmosphere contains about 350 ppm CO2, and ancient volcanic eruptions filled the atmosphere rapidly with more CO2. When our glacial snowflakes fell, they dissolved some of that CO2, and made carbonic acid snow. Glacial water quality is affected by "acid rain".

3. Each flake of ancient glacial snow was further contaminated by animals. You have undoubtedly heard of wooly mammoths. You have heard, too, of migratory humans who likely hunted wooly mammoths. Can we believe that neither the ancient animals nor the hunters that stalked them ever walked on the glacier from which we are now urged to drink? As your parents may have told you, "Never eat yellow snow." Glacial water quality is affected by "yellow snow".

Glacial Water Quality in a High School Lab

As a former high school teacher and principal, I would have to say that any high school science lab with a distillation apparatus could supply better water quality than that found in a glacier. So do I want the water quality of glaciers? I think I'll pass.

c2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about healthy drinking water at http://www.healthydrinkingwaterblog.com/ Anna continues to post additional valuable information on that site about understanding clean water?s importance and making sure you have the best drinking water. If you are eager to learn about what is in your bottled water, glacier pictures or not, you won?t want to miss Anna?s articles on the subject.

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