Water Quality Is Important: Do You Have the Right Water Filter Set Up?

Our planet has a significant problem: plastics. According to some sources, by 2021, we’ll be tossing out half a trillion plastic bottles per year. At this stage, we buy a million plastic bottles per minute. A great number of these are plastic water bottles.

The solution to buying tons and tons of plastic to get that great-tasting water is clear – a water filtration system and a reusable bottle. But how well do these work? And what exactly should you buy when making to switch to environmentally-friendly hydration?

Filters vs. Purifiers vs. Softeners: What’s the Difference?

To begin, the difference between filters, purifiers, and softeners can be a little confusing for some, so here’s a bit of clarity. Water filters are designed to sift out contaminants and impurities which affect the taste, appearance, and content of your water. Filters typically use activated carbon to achieve this.

Still, water that’s been filtered is not pure. To be considered “filtered”, the water must have 99.99% of certain pathogenic bacteria removed. Sounds good, but that still isn’t enough to drastically alter what you get from many municipal water systems. Just ask the many people who buy filtering pitchers, but eventually abandon them.

Purified water can still use filters, but does one better than filtering. For instance, reverse osmosis systems use a combination of high pressure and filtering. In addition to the removal of pathogenic bacteria, the standards for purified water include viruses. This is water that looks better, tastes better, and is more beneficial to your health.

Finally, water softeners do none of the above; they’re often installed as a supplement to filtration or purification. Most people go for the softener because they remove minerals which cause buildup on faucets, shower heads, dishwashers, and more.

Look for Something Cost Effective and Energy Efficient

The cost of pure water is greater than many can afford, especially when we’re discussing reverse osmosis systems. To get a system built into your house, it can cost thousands.   

For this reason alone, smaller, portable systems like The Berkey Filters have become incredibly popular. This system offers dual methods of cleansing your water – it’s a filter and purifier in one. Additionally, it only requires gravity to work its magic, so you can continue to reduce your carbon footprint and keep utility bills low.

The filters are also much more powerful than you’ll find in those mass-market pitchers, and don’t need to be replaced nearly as often. Such systems take up little space, and will work even when your electricity doesn’t. Being portable means you have potable water wherever you go, such as on camping trips. These features stand in stark contrast to the rather invasive installation of reverse osmosis systems, which are completely stationary. Perhaps best of all, these benefits come at a fraction of the price.

If you’re very concerned about what’s in your water supply, make sure you don’t just filter; you want to filter and purify your supply. Go for a simple system that does both, and you’ll be able to improve your health at the same time you reduce environmental impacts.