Choosing an Economical Water Filter System for the Home

Often we hear something like this when people approach us about choosing a water filter system for their home: "I want a good system that will do the job but is at the same time economical."

This question takes a little bit of analysis of what you are trying to removed from the water in your home in order to come up with some suggestions.

If you want to eliminate the potential of drugs in your drinking water you will need either reverse osmosis or distillation. Both reverse osmosis and distillation will remove up to 99% of all contaminants as well as minerals from your drinking water. The World Health Organization cautions against drinking water that has been demineralized siting that magnesium, calcium and other minerals in water can help protect against nutritional deficiency. Demineralized water also doesn't taste "right" to most people because it is the minerals that give it taste. So that will be the decision you have to make based on how concerned you are with pharmaceutical residuals in the water (which may or may not be the case in your city).

I generally don't recommend these types of filters unless you have a specific problem that you're trying to eliminate that a good quality carbon/kdf filter just won't handle.

So, drugs aside, that leaves the most common contaminants of Trihalomethanes (chlorinated by-products) which are known to increase your cancer risk and fluoride which causes a number of health risks including increased risk of bone cancer in children.

You have two choices here, a whole house filter or individual filters at the point of dispensing.

To remove fluoride, you will need a filter designed specifically for that purpose (unless you decided on reverse osmosis/distillation). Fluoride is only harmful if ingested so you only need to remove it at the kitchen faucet (or any other place you drink from).

Chlorine by-products can also be absorbed from your shower through your skin and from the steam you inhale. So I'd recommend a shower filter and a bathtub filter if someone in your home loves frequent long hots soaks in the bath.

So, the bottom line, is that you can decided to go several ways:

Reverse Osmosis or Distillation for the whole home which has some draw backs in demineralization of your water but the benefit of removing the potential of pharmaceutical residuals in the water.

Carbon with KDF filters for the whole home (fluoride included if your city adds fluoride) or at point of dispensing.

If you go with point of dispensing, you'll want kitchen and shower filters.

Now the shopping is up to you. We compare water filters by brand and by function at Home Water Filters. For more technical details visit Crystal Quest.

Home Water Filter to Remove Iron

I am often asked if any water filter such as a counter top model or a shower model will remove iron. The short answer is no. Let's start by learning more about iron in drinking water (typically well water).

Iron and manganese are not hazardous but can be a real nuisance in your water supply. Iron and manganese are chemically similar and cause similar problems. Iron is the most frequent of the two contaminants in water supplies. Manganese is usually found in iron-bearing water.

How do you know if you have iron and/or manganese in your water?

In deep wells, where oxygen content is low, the iron/manganese-bearing water is clear and colorless (the iron and manganese are dissolved). Water from the tap may be clear, but when exposed to air, iron and manganese are oxidized and change from colorless, dissolved forms to colored, solid forms. Water from shallow wells containing iron/manganese will come from the tap with a red or brown tint.

Depending on the amount of iron in the water you may see rid specs once the iron settles out or your water may have a red tinge which stains. Manganese will leave a black tint.

Iron and manganese deposits will build up in pipelines, pressure tanks, water heaters and water softeners. This reduces the available quantity and pressure of the water supply.

Another problem that frequently results from iron or manganese in water is iron or manganese bacteria. The bacteria is not hazardous but will leave a red or brown/black slime particularly where water sits like in the toilet.

A rotten egg smell from the water along with the red or brown tint indicates that there is also hydrogen sulfide in your water - which is not unusual with water that contains iron (with or without manganese).

Now, on to the question of how to get rid of this iron and the manganese and/or hydrogen sulfide.
There are two ways you can remove the iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide. Find a new source or water or install a quality water filter system that is designed specifically to remove iron and/or manganese and/or hydrogen sulfide.

These specially designed water filters passes the water through the filter media and there it gets oxygenated. Once the water is oxygenated, the iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide can then be trapped in the filter. A good quality water filter will pass the water through several filtering materials which will remove any other contaminants that might also be present. The result is clean, clear water that won't leave stains in your toilet or on your clothing.

Learn more about high quality water filters to remove iron at Crystal Quest.

Other home water purifiers

Will Fluoride Water Filter Remove Chlorine?

This is a question I get asked a lot. Many people want to remove both fluoride and chlorine from their tap water but are unsure whether one filter can remove both or if they will need two different water filters.

What materials are removed by running water through a water filter depends on the type of media, or filtering materials, used in the manufacture of the filter. Some water filters use only one type of filter medium while other will contain a number of different filtering media. In general the more media used in the construction of the water filter, the more levels of filtration that are provided and the more contaminants that get removed.

If the goal is to remove a single material from your drinking water, such as fluoride or arsenic, then a water filter designed to remove that material and containing only the necessary filtering medium will do the job. One such filter is the Crystal Quest Model CQE-CT-00131.

If, on the other hand, the desire is to remove many materials, a water filter with multiple levels of filtration and filter media will be required. For a good explanation of how this works, take a look at the Crystal Quest Model CQE-CT-00144 with seven levels of filtration.

For more information and comparisons of water filters visit us at The Best Water Filters.

The Fluoride in Drinking Water Controversy

For over 30 years, the controversy has raged about the benefits or the hazards of human consumption of fluoride. Despite numerous studies conducted by such organizations as the World Health Organization (WHO) we seem to be no closer to definitive answers to the question of whether fluoride in our drinking water really does prevent tooth decay or if it is, in fact, contributing to major health problems like cancer and osteoporosis.

Fluoride occurs naturally in drinking water is some areas of the world, including parts of the United Stated and Canada. Many cities and towns also add fluoride to the drinking water supply during water treatment. The addition of fluoride to drinking water began in the 1940’s because it was believed that fluoride prevents tooth decay. Since that time, many studies have been conducted and there is evidence that fluoride does play a part in preventing tooth decay although it is believed that with the level of dental hygiene practiced today in the developed world the addition of fluoride to the water supply is unnecessary. On a more sinister side, other studies have concluded the fluoride may cause some very serious health problems. The following quotation is taken from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website.

“Many communities add fluoride to their drinking water to promote dental health. Each community makes its own decision about whether or not to add fluoride. EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for fluoride of 4 mg/L (some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of this level over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones). EPA has also set a secondary fluoride standard of 2 mg/L to protect against dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis, in its moderate or severe forms, may result in a brown staining and/or pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums. Children under nine should not drink water that has more than 2 mg/L of fluoride.”

The EPA regulates the level of fluoride in drinking water because it recognizes the potential health hazards of the consumption of too much fluoride. Several countries in Europe, such as Sweden, France and Ireland have gone even further and sought medical advice from some very prestigious institutes such as the Nobel Medical Institute that recommends against fluoridation of drinking water and these countries have stopped adding fluoride to their drinking water.

A Harvard Study of boys drinking fluoridated vs. unfluoridated water, released April 5, 2006 concluded that boys who drink water with levels of fluoride considered safe by federal (EPA) guidelines are five times more likely to have a rare bone cancer than boys who drink unfluoridated water.

Dr. Hardy Limeback B.SC., Ph.D. in Biochemistry, D.D.S., head of the Department of Preventive Dentistry for the University of Toronto, and president of the Canadian Association for Dental Research states that "Children under three should never use fluoridated toothpaste," he counseled. "Or drink fluoridated water. And baby formula must never be made up using Toronto tap water. Never."

Even if we accept that the addition of fluoride at the EPA regulated levels, 1.4 and 2.4 parts per million (ppm) is save and will not increase our risks of developing bone or other rare cancers, we also need to consider the fact that many beverages we drink also contribute to the amount of fluoride we consume on a daily basis. In a study of fluoride levels in fruit juices, over 42% of the fruit juices tested were found to contain fluoride at over 1 ppm with some juices, particularly grape juices, as high a 3.0 ppm.

There seems to be as many scientists advocating fluoride as there are issuing warnings about it. In the meantime, we are left without clear answers about this long standing controversy. For those concerned about the potential health risks posed by fluoride consumption, or families with small children, home water filters can be installed that are very economical and very effective at removing fluoride from drinking water.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Linda Symonds grew up on a small island in rural Canada where she developed a love of the natural world. Linda believes that the polluted and toxic environment that we live in poses significant risks to our health and the health of coming generations. For more information about the plight of our water supply visit http://www.thebestwaterfilters.com

The dangers of fluoride in drinking water

What this dentist has to say about fluoride:





Now, having seen the video, you need to do 3 things.

First, protect your kids from fluoride by installing a water filter that will remove fluoride from your drinking water. (Currently on sale so go do it now!). Comparisons of fluoride water filters at fluoride water filters comparisons.

Secondly, replace your toothpaste with toothpaste that does not contain fluoride like the Xlear Spry Toothpaste NON-FLUORIDE

And last (but certainly not least) is to send a message to congress to stop the contamination of drinking water with fluoride. Fluoride Action Network.

Now, having seen the video - tell me this - did you know that fluoride in drinking water was this dangerous?

President Obama speaks out about food safety - but what about drinking water safety?

Yesterday (March 14, 2009) President Obama said he is forming a Food Safety Working Group to "upgrade our food safety laws for the 21st century," and he formally named former New York City health chief Margaret A. Hamburg as his new Food and Drug Administration commissioner.

President Obama talked about the peanut contamination and his concerns about his children and all our children who are eating peanut butter sandwiches on a regular basis. That's great news, President Obama. I, for one, am delighted that you are taking action to ensure the safety of our food supply and that you care about the health of your children and ours.

But - and this a big. What about the water supply?

Mr. President, our drinking water contains drugs that are not being tested for, and removed, before we consume them each and every day! You need to get concerned about that! You need to start NOW to protect our children AND our grand-children from the contaminants in our drinking water!

I cannot do a better job at stating this than did this YouTube user 'reality2me4u'. Watch the video now.





If this video makes you upset like it does me, then it's time to do something about it. The United States of America now has a President who is concerned about the safety of American children. NOW is the time to let him know that you care about what drugs in your tap water are doing to your children.

It's never been easier to let a President of the United States know what concerns you. It's simple. You just go fill out this form. Go there now and tell President Obama that you want him to do something about the drugs in our drinking water!

If you don't know what to say then here's a suggestion:

"Mr. President Obama: I am concerned about the drugs that are contaminating the drinking water of your children and mine. Every drink from the school cafeteria, every soft drink and even every reconstituted fruit juice poses a risk to our children. It is time to have our water supply cleaned of dangerous drugs and chemicals!"

In the meantime, what can you do? You can do nothing about the water and drinks you and your children drink outside your home. You CAN do something about the drinking water IN your home. Compare kitchen reverse osmosis water filters and whole house reverse osmosis water purifiers and get one installed as soon as you can.

We compare water filters so you don't have to spend your time trying to figure out which ones are the best.

Yet Another Health Risk from Contaminated Water

More than 700 current and past citizens of Shannon, near Quebec City, Canada are alleging in a class-action suit against the federal government that the chemical trichloroethylene, or TCE, seeped into the town's water supply from a nearby Canadian Military Base.

Toxicologist Michel Charbonneau says the results of his three-year study show a strong connection between an industrial TCE, and an abnormally high number of cancer cases in the town.

It is well-know that trichloroethylene is as a carcinogen for humans. The Canadian military affirms the risk of contaminated water was removed several years ago and maintains there has been no danger to the public since 2001.

This is another example of finding out too late, and after many needless deaths, that the drinking water has been contaminated.

Find out how to protect your family at The Best Water Filters.

Lead found in water in Toronto homes

A study, recently released, found that drinking water in more than half of 100 older Toronto homes tested last summer exceeded the acceptable level of lead - by as much as eight times the accepted standard!

The culprit? Aging water pipes. Those aging pipes, which would have been installed sometime before 1955, could be putting up to 65,000 households at risk.

Lead can seriously harm the intellectual and behavioral development of infants, young children and particularly babies in the womb, who are particularly vulnerable to ingesting and absorbing the heavy metal.

I can't help but wonder if the people living in those homes know that there are dangerous levels of lead in their drinking water; and whats more, if the people living in those 65,000 households know what they need to do to eliminate the lead in their drinking water.

There are several simple things that residents can do to lesson the amount of lead they will get in their drinking glass - like running the faucet for at least 5 minutes before using the water (what a waste of water - not to mention time). By far the most effective way or removing the lead contamination and saving water and time is to simply install a water filter that has the ability to remove lead.

This problem of lead in older water pipes is certainly not isolated to Toronto. If you live in an older home, in any city, you need to be concerned about lead contamination in your drinking water. The risk to children, both born and unborn, is great but the solution is simple and will cost less than a night at the movies. Can you afford to take the chance?

Learn more about your water filter options.

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink...

When I was a child, growing up on a small island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, my father used to recite that little rhyme "Water, water everywhere; And not a drop to drink". He would usually say it when we were out in a boat. Obviously, he was talking about the sea water and the fact that if we had not brought fresh, clean water on board with us, we would have no water to drink even though we were completely surrounded.

That was forty years ago and that old adage is becoming alarmingly true even when we're on dry land. Much of the "fresh" water that exists on our planet has become contaminated and is no longer available for drinking. As a civilization, we have created a water crisis with fresh water now being called the "Oil of the 21st Century".

According to the Water Footprint Network, the production of one kilogram of beef requires 16 thousand liters of water. Production of agricultural products consumes, by far, that greatest volume of available water supply with animal production consuming the largest share.

Every day we hear about becoming more "green" and our "carbon footprint" referring to the greenhouse gasses we all produce on a daily basis. But we rarely hear anything about our "water footprint" and how much pressure our world is putting on clean water supplies.

Think of some simple ways you can save water. They can be as simple as turning off the tap while you brush your teeth or shave. Perhaps, the car isn't quite as dirty as you thought and it really doesn't need a bath today.

You can calculate your water footprint at http://www.waterfootprint.org/index.php?page=cal/waterfootprintcalculator_indv_ext. My water footprint was 674, mostly for food production. Find out your own water footprint. Let us know - how did you do?

We can no longer take our water supply for granted.
Find the best water filters for your home.

Drinking Water for Weight Loss

Will water help me lose weight? That's a question that gets asked a lot - particularly after the holiday season when everyone is looking at dropping those extra pounds gained over the holidays.

If you're looking for a fast way to lose weight, drinking lots of water is NOT the answer. Drinking water CAN help you lose weight but it's not the weight loss secret of the ages.

Now having said that, it is important that you know that drinking water can be a help to the dieter. There are some ways that you can make water your weight loss friend. Here are some that I've found useful over the years:

1 - Sipping water throughout the day can help to curb your appetite but it's not going to stop you from getting hungry. Go ahead and keep water on your desk and take a sip often. Remember that room temperature water is better for you than ice cold water.

2 - Drink a large glass of water with your meals and snacks. It will help to make you fell fuller a little longer.

3 - Sip calorie free beverages throughout the day - iced tea with lemon is good if you use a sugar substitute. This can help to curb sweet craving.

4 - And last but not least - here's a final way that I believe water can help you lose weight. Drinking more water means more bathroom breaks. That means more steps that you'll take during the day. If you take the long way around to the rest room, you'll burn even more calories. Better yet, take the long way around where ever you're going - that's what will really help!

4- DO NOT consume more than 8 glasses of water a day. It is possible to drink too much water and that can make you very sick.

So that's it. Drinking water is not the magic weight loss bullet. But, eating a little less and eating lower calorie foods PLUS moving more will get you there - and water can help. Just be sure it's clean, chemical free water.

How clean is your water? Find out more at The Best Water Filters.

Alkaline Water Ionizers Compared

We are very pleased to announce that Best Water Filters is now providing comparisons of Alkaline Water Ionizers. There is a great deal of misinformation about what these systems do and how they work - and even IF they are of any benefit at all.

Water for Life says it best:

"Simply put, mother nature never intended for us to drink water from the tap. Water in its natural state is alkaline (between 7.5 and 9.5 pH), full of oxygen, minerals from rocks, and energy from the sun that works like an antioxidant in our bodies. But when water is treated municipally, it loses it's energy because it sits around in holding tanks for long periods of time, the oxygen dissipates, and any alkalinity is lost making the water acidic. What's worse, the water is also contaminated with fluoride and chlorine and other substances toxic to our bodies.

The acidic tap water we drink (and acidic bottled water too...) along with acidic foods we consume like meats, bread, rice, oil, and potatoes end up making our body pH acidic. Our bodies must remain at least at a neutral pH of 7.0 to feel good, balanced, and energized. Acid breaks down our bones and tissues, it makes us feel stressed, it gives us headaches, it messes up our bowel movements and digestion, and leads to adult onset diseases like cancer, arthritis, and more."

So how do these water ionizers create "natural state" water?

Water Ionizers emulate the same conversion of glacial H20 into pure alkaline, ionized, oxygenated drinking water, by 'splitting' H20 (Two Hydrogen atoms, one oxygen atom) into two separate streams of water;

1. OH- One atom of Oxygen and one atom of hydrogen negatively charged - the Hydroxyl ion. This is the prized Alkaline water that we drink.

2. HO- One atom of Hydrogen and one of oxygen. This is the acid water we use externally and for germicidal cleaning.

This 'splitting' of the H20 Molecule happens in a sealed ionization chamber within your filter for ionized water, under exact control of a dedicated microcomputer, to ensure the exact result time after time. As filtered tap water passes across 5 specially designed Titanium electrodes, it separates into the two components noted above.

How can I find the best water ionization unit?

Now you can compare the best alkaline water ionizers on the market using our detailed comparison criteria. Determine which Alkaline Water Ionizer is right for your home BEFORE you spend a cent!

Dr. Mehmet Oz recommends Carbon Water Filter

We all know Dr. Mehmet Oz as America's Doctor and a frequent guest on the Oprah show. Recently Dr. Oz conducted an interview with Gary Ginsberg, co-author of What's Toxic, What's Not.

One of the things that were noted as toxic is our drinking water straight from the tap. And if you think bottled water is any less toxic, better read on. This quote from Dr. Oz's interview with Gary Ginsberg tells us that to reduce the toxicity in our lives we need to be concerned about both our water from the tap and water from bottles.

"Often bottled water is city tap water that may be run through an extra filter, which you can do at home for pennies a day and save yourself [money]," he says. "Then you have the plasticizer issue [with bottled water] because plastics do leech into water." Instead of risking the consumption of plasticizers and polluting the environment with empty bottles, Gary says you should use a carbon filter with your tap water and transfer it into portable containers."

A carbon water filter for your kitchen faucet costs less than $30 and can save you money as well as potentially saving you and your family from health problems related to consumption of chlorination by-products. A good quality faucet water filter should have more than a single carbon filter inside. Crystal Quest faucet mounted filters, for example, contain 5 layers of filtration and last from 6 - 12 months (2000 gallons of water).

You can learn more about faucet mounted water filters and compare them at The Best Water Filters - Faucet Mounted Filters.

Shower Water Filter for Handheld Shower Nozzles

I recently stayed with a friend for a few days and her shower is the standard mounted shower head. I was shocked at how used I had grown to my hand held shower head and how much I missed it while showering at my friend's home.

When I asked her if she'd ever considered a hand held shower nozzle, I was shocked again by her response. "I can't have a shower water filter and a hand held shower head so I opt for the filter".

Wow! She didn't know! She wasn't aware that there are great quality shower water filters available with hand held shower units. Wow! I was so excited to be able to tell her about the Crystal Quest hand held shower filter.

What do you think she did when she found out? Yep - you guessed it. She now has a brand new Crystal Quest hand held shower water filter on order and is waiting impatiently for it's arrival.

As for me, I'm just glad that I can stay over at the next "girls night" and not miss the luxury of a shower with a hand held shower unit WITH a water filter. Oh...and did I mention that it massages too!

Oh, and one more thing. The filter lasts about a year!

See our water filter comparisons at The Best Water Filters

Drugs found in Southern Ontario Drinking Water

The following article appeared in the Toronto Sun newspaper on March 25, 2008. Drugs have been found in the drinking water supplies of large cities in the US so it only makes sense that Canadian cities would have the same problem.

Here's the article:

Drugs found in Ont. drinking water

By SHARON LEM, SUN MEDIA

The Toronto Sun

Low concentrations of pharmaceutical drugs were found in drinking water across 15 southern Ontario cities, but the risk is "minimal," researchers say.

The study found that trace levels of eight drugs including Ibuprofen, cholesterol-lowering drugs and anti-inflammatories like Naproxen, along with cardiac drugs, and a common household antibacterial agent triclosan, were found in surface water exposed to sewage treatment.

"We cannot say there is no risk, but these are very low concentrations of compounds in common use. It represents a minimal amount of risk," said lead author Dr. Mark Servos, a University of Waterloo researcher.

"Science doesn't support that this is a big problem. We shouldn't panic about this and we shouldn't stop drinking water. This is an issue that has been known for five years," he said.

TRACE LEVELS

Most compounds were reduced to trace levels after passing through water treatment plants, but the researchers say the fact any chemicals were found is a sign of potential exposure to many more.

The presence of pharmaceutical and personal care products in the environment is a rapidly emerging international issue, and they have been found in sewage effluents and surface waters in Europe and the U.S.

The 15 southern Ontario cities where the traces of drugs were found in drinking water are not identified.

"This is a good example of researchers being proactive. We need to continue research to find effective innovative ways to further reduce exposure," Servos said, adding this study signals potential exposure to many more chemicals that haven't been studied yet.

Canada's drinking water is cheap, affordable, clean and safe and Canadians are fortunate to have access to clean water said the study published in the Water Quality Research Journal of Canada."

** End of Article **

If you live in one of these cities where trace amounts of drugs and pharmaceuticals have been identified in your drinking water - and it's a concern that your kids are consuming those trace amounts of drugs, what can you do about it?

There is a relatively inexpensive and simple solution and that is to install a reverse osmosis water filter system. Reverse osmosis water filters can remove the greatest amount of impurities from your drinking water including drugs. Under sink reverse osmosis water filters can be purchased for about $350. A whole home reverse osmosis water filter will cost about $2000.

Visit our website to compare water filtration systems.

How to Remove Drugs from your Drinking Water

A wealth of information is available on the internet these days about drugs and hormones being found in our drinking water. Much of the information relates to it's impact on fish that have developed both sex organs and other reproductive issues.

Our drinking water treatment facilities have never been equipped to handle such an situation. The treatment facilities that deliver water to our homes have been developed to kill organisms and parasites, plus sand and silt but not much more.

So where does that leave a home owner who is concerned about drugs and pharmaceuticals in the drinking water coming into his home? It leaves that home owner with no choice but to filter the water himself.

But here's the real question - what water filter will remove drugs from drinking water? Not a faucet mounted water filter!! Not any kind of carbon filter. Only a good quality reverse osmosis water filtration system will remove drugs from your drinking water.

Having said that let's be clear - even a reverse osmosis water filtration system MAY not COMPLETELY remove every impurity from your household water. BUT they do the best job of any water filter on the market. Reverse Osmosis is the system of water treatment that water treatment facilities will eventually be forced to use in order to remove drugs from your drinking water supply - but they are expensive on a large scale so it is going to be years before these systems are in place.

In the meantime, installing either an under-counter reverse osmosis water filter or a whole home reverse osmosis system is the best way to eliminate drugs from your family's drinking water.

Which to choose? An under-counter water filter or a whole home water filter? If you're concerned about the amount of water that gets wasted then filter the least amount of water possible.

One of the major downsides of reverse osmosis water filtration systems is that the filters must be "backwashed" frequently to remove the contaminants they have collected from the water. That means that reverse osmosis water filters can waste up to twice the amount of water they clean.

Make your water filter decision with the facts and filter the water you need to clean in your own situation - but if drugs in the water supply is a concern, then reverse osmosis water filters are the water filter option.

Compare Water Filters for the Home

Excellent Article - The Truth About Our Drinking Water

I recently had the pleasure of reading an article by Dr. Robert O. Young in his blog Articles for Health entitled The Truth About Our Drinking Water.

In the article, Dr. Young gives detailed information about the drugs contaminating our drinking water and how little the authorities are prepared to do about it.

The following quote "But the presence of so many prescription drugs -- and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen -- in so much of our drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health."

The article is extremely well written and provides tons of information. I really suggest reading it here.

Compare Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

Drinking Water - Recommended Reading

The Drinking Water Book: How to Eliminate the Most Harmful Toxins from Your Water by Colin Ingram - this new book takes a level-headed look at the serious issues surrounding America’s drinking water supply. Unlike water purifier manufacturers and public health officials, Ingram presents unbiased reporting on what’s in your water and how to drink safely. Featuring all the latest scientific research, the book evaluates the different kinds of filters and bottled waters and rates specific products on the market.

Colin Ingram wrote - "I wrote this book because after extensive communication with government agencies, universities, non-profit organizations and private sector manufacturers, I simply could not find objective information about drinking water safety and consumer options. Since I have been a professional writer and editor for over four decades, I decided to bite the bullet and do it myself. I spent five years researching material for this book and I have no axes to grind; just the desire for truth. This is the 2nd edition of this book. The 1st edition was hailed as the definitive consumer book on drinking water, and I believe this book is even better. You'll find that it contains the most objective, complete and easy-to-understand information on drinking water that is available, and this opinion has been confirmed by many authorities in the field of drinking water safety. Thanks for your time, Colin Ingram."

Reader Review: "...Several chapters deal with water purifiers and how they work. They include information on filters, distillers, alternative methods, and suggestions for combining types of purifiers. Ingram included suggestions on how to evaluate these systems, types of installations, a cost comparison of purifiers, and a comparison of the cost of bottled water versus that of a purifier."

Want to know what water filters Colin Ingram recommends in the The Drinking Water Book: How to Eliminate the Most Harmful Toxins from Your Water? Crystal Quest Water Filters.

How does The Best Water Filters rate Crystal Quest water filters? Check out our Water Filter Recommendations and find out.

Save 50% Today on Whole House Water Filter

Crystal Quest, by far one of the best water filter manufacturers, is currently offering many of their whole house water filters at 50% off.

If you have been considering installing a whole house water filter system, this is a great time to do some comparisons, find the right filter system for you home and save 50%!

Check out our whole house water filter comparisons to find the best unit for your home.

Compare water filtration systems and Save!

Test Your Knowledge of our Water Supply

Think you know a lot about our water supply? Think you know more than your kids? Take the test and see!

The EPA has developed a great online quiz that is fun to play for children (high school level recommended) or adults.

I scored a 45 out of 50. Not bad but I have to admit I goofed on a few.

Check out the online Safewater Quiz. Post a comment to tell me how you did.

Compare Home Water Filters and save up to 50%!

Remove Radon From Drinking Water

What is Radon?

Radon is a gas that has no color, odor, or taste and comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in the ground. You can be exposed to radon by two main sources: (1) radon in the air in your home (frequently called "radon in indoor air") and (2) radon in drinking water. Radon can get into the air your breathe and into the water you drink. Radon is also found in small amounts in outdoor air.

Most of the radon in indoor air comes from soil underneath the home. As uranium breaks down, radon gas forms and seeps into the house. Radon from soil can get into any type of building - homes, offices, and schools - and build up to high levels in the air inside the building.

Radon gas can also dissolve and accumulate in water from underground sources (called ground water), such as wells. When water that contains radon is used in the home for showering, washing dishes, and cooking, radon gas escapes from the water and goes into the air. It is similar to carbonated soda drinks where carbon dioxide is dissolved in the soda and is released when you open the bottle. Some radon also stays in the water.

Radon is not a concern in water that comes from lakes, rivers, and reservoirs (called surface water), because the radon is released into the air before it ever arrives at your tap.

Why is Radon a health concern?

Because radon in indoor air is the larger health concern, EPA recommends that you first test the air in your home for radon before testing for radon in your drinking water. EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend testing all homes for radon in indoor air (and apartments located below the third floor). EPA recommends that you take action to reduce your home's indoor radon levels if your radon test result is 4 pCi/L or higher.

If you have tested the air in your home and found a radon problem, you may also want to find out whether your water is a concern:

• If you get water from a public water system: Find out whether your water system gets its water from a surface (river, lake, or reservoir) or a ground water (underground) source.

  • If the water comes from a surface water source, most radon that may be in the water will be released to the air before it makes its way to your tap.

  • If the water comes from a ground water source, call your water system and ask if they've tested the water for radon.

• If you have a private well: EPA recommends testing your drinking water for radon. Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) which can provide phone numbers for your State laboratory certification office or call the Radon Hotline (1-800-SOS-RADON) which can provide phone numbers for your State radon office. Your State laboratory certification office or State radon office can direct you to laboratories which may be able to test your drinking water for radon.

What can I do about Radon in my water?

If testing your private well shows that you have high levels of radon in your drinking water and you are concerned about it, there are some things you can do to improve the water. The most effective treatment you can apply is to remove radon from the water right before it enters your home. This is called point-of-entry treatment. There are two types of point- of-entry devices that remove radon from water:

• Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters (which use activated carbon to remove the radon), and

• Aeration devices (which bubble air through the water and carry radon gas out into the atmosphere through an exhaust fan).

GAC filters tend to cost less than aeration devices, however, radioactivity collects on the filter, which may cause a handling hazard and require special disposal methods for the filter.

For more information on aerators and GAC filters, you should contact two independent, non-profit organizations: NSF International at (877) 867-3435 and the Water Quality Association at (630) 505-0160.

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