Every living thing on this planet needs water to survive, there’s no doubt about it! Most of us get our water from taps and that water goes through water treatment centers just to make it drinkable.
People in developed countries have the luxury of choosing what type of water to drink. There’s bottled, mineral, purified, sparkling and filtered. But does it really matter what kind of water you drink?
Is Tap Water Safe?
There used to be no issues with using tap water. It’s there and it’s free. No one really gave much attention to where their water came from.
But now, tap water raises so many questions. Millions of liters are consumed and in many cases, there’s also a large number of households using some form of water-filtration or water-treatment system. So even if someone is having a glass of water, it’s likely that they are drinking filtered water.
Concerns With Tap Water
The bad rep with tap water comes from the way it looks, it’s taste and what’s in it. The first is a matter of preference and the third is all about safety. So… is contamination really an issue?
In Australia, the state water system is heavily treated to remove chemicals, particles, bacteria and other types of contaminants. Generally, fluoride and chlorine are added to disinfect the water. Although these safety steps are made, not all systems are perfect and on rare occasions, some pathogens, pesticides or fuel byproducts can still be found in local water supplies.
Bottled water is also a controversial option because of its packaging. Even though people find it safer than tap water, environmental concerns about plastic bottles filling landfills is a concern for environmentally-minded people all over the world.
This leaves filter water as another smart choice. If implemented properly, it can be a reasonable and more practical solution to tap water.
Filtered Water
If your tap water tastes too much of chlorine, filtering can fix that. Water filtering takes out many safety concerns like bacteria, pesticides and other contaminants. Some filters can remove nearly everything and some filters can remove specific contaminants. Filtered water is as convenient as tap water and there are different filters available that can be attached to your faucet or a pitcher that you can keep in the fridge for chilled filtered water.
Home Filtration
Filters manufactured for homes use activated charcoal or other natural substances. The carbon molecules attract toxic chemicals and other minerals and trap them.
1. Carbon Filters
Carbon is fairly non-toxic and will remove chlorine and other toxic chemicals, but it will not filter out most toxic materials and fluoride. Carbon filters will eventually clog up and you should follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on cleaning and changing the carbon filters.
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2. Polypropylene and Ceramic Filters
These types of filters use fibres that are packed very tightly together to form a fine mesh screen that physically traps any foreign particles from the water. These filters will also get clogged over time and should be replaced with a new one.
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3. Reverse Osmosis Filters and Distillers
These filters are the most expensive and sophisticated systems. These filters are capable of removing bacteria and most residual chemicals, including minerals from a water source.
4. Ultra Violet Disinfection
This filtering technique eliminates parasites, bacteria and viruses with UV light, but doesn’t remove chemicals and metals from the water.
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Restaurant Filtered Water
At present many restaurants and hotels have begun to offer their customers house-filtered bottled water or water in filtered jugs or bottles. Such establishments should inform their customers of the water they are serving and should always provide safe and sanitary water. The filtered water served should meet the state and federal safety standards.
Mineral Water
Mineral water is taken from mineral springs and contains minerals like calcium, magnesium and sodium. The primary benefit of mineral water is its taste. Many people buy this type of water because they enjoy the taste variety it offers and is very convenient to carry since it’s mostly bottled.
If you don’t like the taste of mineral water and you want to ensure your home or office has the safest drinking water possible, look into water filter solutions.
The cost of water filters will vary depending on the product. There are simple water filters like two-tiered jugs, while others are directly connected to the kitchen tap or under the sink.
If you are concerned about getting safe drinking water to those who need it, check out this Australian Charity – Water Aid Australia.