Using An Under Sink Water Filter May Remove Contaminants From Tap Water

By Esme Spence


It isn't always easy to tell if the water in your house is safe to drink, but if you have a purification system, such as an under sink water filter, you may feel more assured. While you can rely at least a little on your senses to alert you to things that might be making their way into your water system, such as sulfur or too much chlorine, in some cases, contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, lead, and other chemicals can't be smelled or tasted. It might seem obvious, but if your water smells like rotten eggs, tastes like salt, or spots routinely appear on your glasses, testing your water will help to assure safety. Certain additives, such as shilajit powder, may also help with water quality.

The water in most municipal systems within the United States is safe because any system that serves 25 people or more must comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Unless you have a private well on your property or live in remote rural area, chances are that your water comes from a municipal system. Unless you have reason to believe otherwise, you can reasonably assume that the water you receive in your home meets federal standards; however, unless you are using an under sink water filter, the only way to know for sure if your water is safe to drink is to have it tested. This brings up a few questions, such as: how can I test my tap water? Should I test my well water? And am I better off just using filters or drinking bottled water?

Calling your local water supplier if you receive your water from a municipal system will help you know if it is safe to drink. These organizations, by law, must provide you with the results of the testing routinely performed for your area if you request it. This is not specific to your individual home, however. Rather, it is simply a selective sample of the system as a whole. If you request it, some municipalities will come and test the water from your home system completely free of charge; otherwise, you may have to have a state-certified lab or independent firm test your water. A home test kit can also be used. Whichever method of testing is selected, be sure to use the first-draw water, water that comes out of the faucet first thing in the morning, as this will most accurately measure contamination levels.

Private wells do not receive federal regulation standards, so in these instances, it is up to you to have your water tested if you are in a location that utilizes one. Possible wide spread well-water contamination in your area can be reported by the local health department but your own water may or may not require testing or use of an under sink water filter in individual cases. Well water should generally be tested yearly for nitrates, coliform bacteria, total dissolved solids, and pH. Lead, copper, arsenic, radon, pesticides, or other substances can be detected through additional testing.

With all the contaminants that can get into municipal and well water, some people wonder if they are just better off using an under sink water filter, combined with shilajit powder, or wholly drinking bottled water. The answer is not necessarily. Bottled water, while more expensive then tap water, may not be any safer. In fact, in about one-fourth of instances, bottled water is simply tap water that has been processed and repackaged. The quality of bottled water varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and also depends on where the water originated. Filtered water can be an excellent solution as they remove lead and other contaminants from the water, but they do not necessarily remove all contaminants.

Clean, safe drinking water can be obtained in most instances with an under sink water filter, combined with shilajit powder.




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