Make your water merry (Learning the in’s and out’s of water filtration)

Water makes our world go ‘round. We need it to survive. If our water isn’t healthy - we’re not healthy. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 90 percent of the world's water supply is unfit for drinking without some sort of treatment. So, it only makes sense that something so important would be treated with the utmost respect.

At the end of the day, there are no disadvantages to purifying water. Although, what people may not know is that even after purification, there may still be contaminants left behind. To help clarify, here’s a list of contaminants water purification helps protect against.

Harmful Organisms
Untreated water may contain microorganisms that can cause diarrhea, vomiting and even death. Water purification systems kill these microorganisms to make the water safe to drink. There isn’t just one way to purify water. Some of the more popular ways to make water safe is boiling, chemical treatment with chlorine or iodine and filtration systems.

Toxic Metals
Untreated water isn’t just a safe haven for microorganisms. It’s also a source of minerals, including copper and magnesium. While some minerals don't necessarily pose a health threat, they react with other minerals in the water and cause deposits, which may make the water unsuitable for drinking. Other minerals sometimes found in water, such as lead and copper, are dangerous to your health. Disinfectant agents, chemicals and filtration systems are used to remove as much of the minerals as possible to help reduce risk and illness.

May Not Remove Pesticides
Unfortunately, not all contaminants are removed from drinking water, even after water purification. The main contaminant - pesticides. Pesticides used on farms and on lawns can seep into water supplies. Municipal water can be treated for pesticide contamination, but if you have a well, you may not be aware that pesticides are in your water unless you have it tested.

Maintenance Needed
Home purification systems will help keep your water safe by filtering out all the harmful organisms and metals. However, if you're not replacing or cleaning the filter as recommended, you may be doing more harm than good. Drinking water filtered through a dirty filter may be almost as harmful than drinking water straight from the tap.

If you have any questions about the quality of your water, simply call your local Louisville Dauenhauer, any hour.