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A filter is a device that removes impurities from water by means of physical barrier. They vary in the type of barrier they use. They also vary in how each filter type gets the water to the filter and how the water is dispensed (for example, refrigerator water filters, shower water filters, and pitcher water filters).
You may want to install a water filter to get one or more of these benefits:
Each type of water filter removes or neutralizes different substances. It is important to know the composition of your water before you select a type of water filter. Here is a list of the substances that are of most concern to water filter shoppers:
|
Top 10 Water Filter Target Substances |
|
|---|---|
| 1 |
Iron |
| 2 |
Fluoride |
| 3 |
Sediment |
| 4 |
Chlorine |
| 5 |
Arsenic |
| 6 |
Lead |
| 7 |
Nitrates |
| 8 |
Heavy Metals |
| 9 |
Hydrogen Sulfide |
| 10 |
Radon |
Excessive levels of iron in water (above 0.3mg per liter) do not have negative health effects, but can cause your water to have a metallic taste and offensive smell. High iron level in water create an additional nuisance: red, brown, or yellow staining of laundry, glassware, and dishes.
Many communities supplement their drinking water with fluoride to promote dental health. The EPA has set maximum levels of fluoride at 4 mg/L. However, children under nine should not drink water that has more than 2 mg/L of fluoride, because of the risk of dental flourosis. Dental fluorosis affects developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums, and may cause brown staining and/or pitting of the permanent teeth.
Sediment is matter you can see in your water, but is too small to feel between your fingers. Sediment is not a problem in and of itself, but may be an indicator that harmful organism or heavy metals are in your water.
Chlorine is a toxic, inorganic chemical that municipal water systems add to water to kill bacteria and living organic matter. Chlorine has been linked to colon and bladder cancer. A hot shower or bath will vaporize chlorine, and in this form chlorine is an irritant to the mucous membranes and lungs.
Some people who drink water containing arsenic in excess of EPA's standard over many years develop skin and circulatory conditions. High levels of arsenic in drinking water increase the risk of getting cancer.
Lead is rarely found in source water, but leaches into water from plumbing in older buildings. Drinking water with high levels of lead can cause a variety of health problems. In children and babies, exposure to high levels of lead in drinking water can result in delays in mental and physical development, and deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, it can cause increases in blood pressure and kidney problems.
Nitrates are not dangerous to adults, older children, or toddlers. Nitrates are dangerous to infants before and after birth. Excess levels of nitrates can cause methemoglobinemia, or "blue baby" disease.
The three most pollutans heavy metals are lead, cadmium, and mercury, but include to a lesser degree arsenic, chromium, and thallium. Mining and construction can release large amounts of heavy metals into ground water, which in turn can end up in your home’s water supply. Older fruit orchards may be a source of arsenic, which was once used as a pesticide. At high levels, these metals pose a health risk, including renal, kidney and liver damager, circulation problems, and damage to the nervous system and brain.
Water containing high levels of hydrogen sulfide does not pose a health risk. It is, however, a nuisance because it gives water a “rotten egg” smell and taste.
Drinking water that has high levels of radon may increase your risk of developing stomach cancer, but breathing air high in radon concentration is more harmful to your health. Over a long time, breathing air high in radon concentration can increase your risk of getting lung cancer. Water with high concentrations of radon can contribute to your risks from radon in the air, because showering, washing dishes, and laundering can disturb the water and release radon gas into the air you breathe.