Let’s face it, if you do a little reading about water purification, it will make it easier for you to shop for an effective water purifier. There are a number of water purifiers on the market. Some designed to “fit any décor”. But, what really matters is what the system does, not how it looks on your countertop.
Water purification is a complicated process. But, there’s no need to worry, you only need to learn where to look for information. You don’t need to learn how to build your own “home-made” water purifier. It wouldn’t really work anyway.
Manufacturing water purifiers is largely unregulated in most of the country. That is why you have some products that do very little. They may be advertised as a water purification system, but don’t buy into the hype.
Now, the lucky thing is that in some states, water purifier manufacturers must provide certifications and product performance data, along with their “sales” pitches. These are independent evaluations that tell you what the water purifier can really do.
So, no matter where you live, if a water purification company does business in a state where they are required, their water purifiers will have product performance data. Since most reputable companies sell their products all over the country (and all over the world, thanks to the internet) most of them have product performance data. Here’s what you will find.
A water purifier should block chlorine. The data sheet will tell you how much. Some of the popular name brands that you see in department stores only block about 75% of the harmful chemical. The better water purifiers block 99.99%, certified by Underwriter’s Laboratory.
A good water purification system should block lead, because it is toxic at any level and has been found in many public drinking supplies. The technology that allows the water purifier to block lead also blocks copper. https://www.paiinternational.in/shop/details/water-purifier/hindustan-unilever-pureit-ultima-ro-uv-water-purif/ So, if you have a problem with excess copper staining your fixtures, the right water purifiers for your home will block lead and copper.
VOCs and THMs are cancer causing chemicals that have been found in most public water supplies. THMs are by-products of chlorine disinfection. Surprisingly, lots of water purification systems block chlorine, but most do not block the by-products. It doesn’t really make sense, but it’s the truth.
In many areas around the country MTBE has been found in the public water supply. It’s a gasoline additive that got into the ground water through leaky underground tanks and spills at gas stations. Only a few of the best water purifiers block MTBE.
The term “cysts” refers to a very early stage in the life of a parasite. Cryptosporidium cysts cause illness and death in people who drink water contaminated with them. In order for a water purifier to block cysts, it must have one of the most technologically advanced micron filters.
You want to look at water purifiers that block at least 99% of cysts. The water purification systems used at public treatment facilities cannot rid the water of cryptosporidium and they can’t test for it.