We certainly appreciate importance of water filtration. Water is a prerequisite for all life on Earth. About 60% of the human body is made of water, where it’s used for everything from regulating body temperature and digestion to protecting tissues and flushing out toxins. Without access to fresh, clean water, people wouldn’t be able to survive.
Unfortunately, the water coming from the taps isn’t always as fresh and clean as homeowners might believe. Florida homeowners should know that water impurities are already quite common, and as climate change, pollution, and an ever-growing population place additional strains on municipal systems, concerns about water purity will only rise. The best solution is to install a point-of-use or whole-home Water Filtration System.
What’s the Difference Between Point-of-Use and Whole-Home Filtration?
Point-of-use water filters are designed to filter water as it approaches the kitchen sink and routes it to a separate, specialty faucet. They often feature both carbon filters and reverse osmosis systems, ensuring that all the family’s drinking and cooking water is free of contaminants. Point-of-use filtration systems are very effective, and they make a great replacement for bottled water. However, they only filter the water leaving a single faucet, having no effect on the rest of the home.
Whole-home water filters are installed directly in the home’s freshwater lines. They use high-quality carbon, sediment, and iron filters to remove contaminants, soften water, and ensure all the water entering the home is safe to drink and use for household tasks. Whole-home water filters cost more than point-of-use alternatives, but most families find that they’re worth the money.
Types of Contaminants Removed From Water
Today’s water filters use advanced technology to remove all kinds of chemical, biological, and environmental contaminants. These contaminants can enter the water supply at any point between the treatment plant and the home’s faucet. The farther away from the treatment facility a home is, the more likely its water is to contain dangerous contaminants, which can include the following. Part of the importance of water filtration is its ability to protect our health from harmful contaminants in tap water.
Biological Contaminants
There are many dangerous water-borne pathogens. Arguably the best-known of them are E. coli, norovirus, and Giardia. These common contaminants can cause devastating health consequences, so it’s important for residents to make sure they never make their way into the home’s drinking water supply. All high-quality filters will remove biological contaminants.
Dangerous Chemicals
Organic and inorganic chemicals can be found in any modern ecosystem, but they’re especially common in cities and agricultural areas. Runoff from farms and commercial or residential landscapes is often laden with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and all kinds of organic chemicals, all of which can negatively impact human health. Heavy metals and radiation can also enter drinking water supplies, especially in rural areas.
Excessive Minerals
Even water that doesn’t contain any organic or inorganic contaminants may not be healthy to drink or safe to use on clothes, dishes, and skin. If there are lots of minerals in the water, they can build up in the home’s pipes, affecting water pressure and ruining the plumbing. They also dry out skin and hair and make it nearly impossible to get dishes or clothes clean. Consuming some minerals in excess can also be unsafe. The only effective way to alleviate this problem is to install a whole-home water filter that also has water softening capabilities.
Benefits of Filtering Water
The most obvious advantage of filtering water is that it ensures the water it is safe to drink. However, there are plenty of secondary benefits that come with installing either point-of-use or whole-home water filtration systems.
Improved Taste
Impure water often has an unpleasant taste or aftertaste, even if the contaminants found in the water supply are not dangerous to human health. The municipal tap water in cities and towns undergoes testing to show that levels of contaminants are below the levels mandated by the EPA. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean it’s 100% free from all water-borne contaminants, and even supposedly safe tap water often has an unpleasant taste or aftertaste. Installing any kind of water filter will improve the taste of tap water so that everyone can enjoy it. The importance of water filtration goes beyond serious health implications. It also just makes water taste great!
Improved Smell
The contaminants found in many municipal water supplies don’t just make water taste bad. They can also impart unpleasant scents. Even the chlorine and chloramine added to the water supply to prevent biological contaminants from growing have strong, unpleasant chemical odors. Those concerned about how their water smells should note that only a whole-home filtration system will remove the scent from water supplied to showers and faucets other than the specialty faucet designed to dispense filtered water.
Protect the Environment
Some people turn to bottled water as an alternative to drinking potentially unsafe tap water. While bottled water is generally contaminant-free, so it is better for residents’ health, it’s terrible for the environment. The bottles get used just once, then wind up in landfills. Even in places that have recycling programs, water bottles dutifully placed in those separate binds often don’t get recycled. Drinking filtered tap water is a far more ecologically responsible option.
Make It Easy to Stay Hydrated
If the water coming from the tap smells or tastes bad, most people have to force themselves to drink it. The fresh, clean water coming out of a well-maintained water filter is delicious and refreshing, making it easier to keep up with experts’ recommendations regarding proper levels of hydration. Proper hydration is essential during any stage of life, but families with children should also note that ensuring access to contaminant-free water is essential for ensuring proper development in youngsters.
The Bottom Line
Water is everywhere, but much of it isn’t safe or pleasant to drink. Even the municipal water coming from water treatment facilities can pick up contaminants along its route to local homes, and water that meets the EPA’s standards for cleanliness still won’t always taste or smell great.
Homeowners in Florida can contact Air & Energy online or by phone to discuss water filtration options. This family-owned company has been providing Florida homeowners with all the home services they need for decades, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. They’ll have the answers customers are looking for about the importance of water filtration.