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PBTdence report).This Home Water Treatment Facts meticans spend bilions of dolars each year on home wish to further treat their 2 quality bottled warer Before purchasing a home water tre ier local water quality, cost ond mai oduct performance, and ceri sure thatthe uni will meet your needs. ocal water quality rants that have beenAt-home soluti water quality probler Cost and Maintenance Improve taste Prices vary depending on type (pitcher, ucet fier, et, where and how the uni installed, and what contaminants it removes Prices can range fiom $20 fora simple pitcher to hundreds of dotars for 0 reverse osmosis unit I you object to the chi taste of your tap placing the water Al units require some maintenance, and ici impor- tant to follow the manufacturers recommendations for replacements. For example, activated carbon fiters ‘are designed to fiter a certain amount of water; after thar, the fiters become clogged and ineffective. Check the schedule and cost for replacernent ites. Performance The folowing information briefly describes how differ- ent ypes of home water treatment units work. For details, read information that accompanies the product and look for independent certification of manufacturers’claims. Ifyou have tested and know that it els of lead, or if yo has lead pipes, fush water tap by running becomes cold if Different units remove different conterninants or classes Cf contaminants from the water. Sophisticated units ‘may use multiple technologies to remove several types ‘of contaminants and to provide backup protection in case one treatment fais. extended contact, pipes. You. may flushed water to and do other h chores. ‘A water treatment device con either be free standing, attached t0 a tap, plumbed in with a dedicated faucet {50 called a pointoFuse device) connected to a refrigerators water and ice dspensing system; or cen- twaly attached to treat all water entering a house (a pointofentry device) For most contaminants, a point ofuse device i efec- tive for treating only the water that és consumed. ‘However some contaminants, such as radon, disinfection byproducts, and some organic chemicals, easy tum At-home solutions to water quality problems: a | erecneesme smashes See Kill microbes If you have a contami Point-of-Use Devices: Filter pitchers: Water filxaion pichers are an affordable and commonly used freestanding home water treatment device. Mast water pitchers use gren- tlaroctvated carbon and resins to bond with and trop contaminants. These fiters are effective at improving the taste of water, and many wl oso reduce ead and other contaminants, Specie contaminants removed vary by model and “depend on the pore size and other factors. An acti- ted carbon fier, by tse not designed to remove disease-causing organisms. Carbon fiters have o specified shelf ifé and should be replaced regularly ccording to the manufacturer instructions.Fiters that attach to a faucet or are installed under the sink for a drinking water third faucet: These fiers general use the some technologies os thei pourthrough picher counterparts, Some fters use fabrics, fe or ceramic soeening to ply remove conta. rants. The most commen tes use a melded Block of ‘ctvted carbon These fers are effctive at improving the test oftap water and some wl abo reduce a pret 200n ops and mary ater contaminant Le fer pitchers, shefves and specific contaminant remved vary so ead the label and insiructons care Water Softeners: Worer sofienes use a cation ‘exchange resin, regenerated with sodium chloride or potassium chloride, to reduce the amount of harness (calcium, magnesium) inthe water The hardness ions in ‘the water are replaced with sum or potassium ions. lon exchange wate sofieners siuitaneousy remove radium and bariam while removing water hardness. Certification ‘Make sue thatthe unt you intend to purchase can Distillers: Disilers heat water to de boing poi, ‘and then colect the woter vapor as it condenses kling one of these orgonizations, contac the manufecturer rectly and ask for proof ofthe manufacturer's cis, designed to remove them. Dstiled water may taste flat to some people because the water's natural mineral and dasolved arygen often have been removed. Three orgonizains ore acreited bythe American [National standardsInstte (NSD, and they each certify tnt using ANSUNSF standards Each ANSUNSF stan dard requires verfection of contaminant reduction per- formance dis, an evan ofthe unt including its ‘materials and structural integrand a review of the product labels and sales Heroture. Each cers that home water treatment units perform to meet or exceed ANSIINSF and EPA dinkingweter stander ANSUINSF standards are sued in two different sets, one for heath concems (such as remo of pede contrrinants) and Reverse Osmosis Units: Revs oxo unis force water through a semépemeable membrane under res- sure leaving contaminants behind Reverse osmosis tnt use opprimatey tree ties os much water as they tear, but they are effective in einating al dsease- causing organisms and most chemical contaminants. Point-of-Entry Devices: Adsorptive media: Liq sos dissolved or suspended matter adhere to the sue of or inthe pores sod material Carbon fiters use ths technology vl be ted to one or both ofthese specie standard NSF International The NSFWater treatment Device Centcoton Program requires extensive product testing ‘nd unannounced audts of prodction faites The goal ofthis program isto preside assurance to consumers tat the water vectment devices they are purchasing meet the desir materia and perfomance requirements of national Reerators: Aerts force water to trvel oer aij. (Gontarinants tht easly tam nto gees such os sale components and don,are removed Other cantaminants care not The waner may be addtional fered after it passes ‘through tis sytem to remove additonal contaminant.EPA registration filters Some units have an EPA t tration number and For most units, an on Registration is endorsement of the its. performance. commonly used agent is si Underwriters Laboratories: Underwriters Laboratories Inc s an independent, accredited testing ‘and cerifcation organization that certifes home water treatment units which me ANSIINSF drinking water standé reduction, aesthetic concems, structural integrity, and materials soey Water Quality Association: Te Water Quolty Association is trade organization that tests water treatment equipment. ond awards its Gld Sel to systems that meet or exceed ANSIINSE standard for contaminant reduction performance, structural integrity, cand material safe treatment units: Analy 48113-0140 877.8NSFHELP, (877) 867-3435 wormnsforg info@nsforg Underwriters Laboratories, Inc 333 Pfingsten Rood Northbrook, IN 60062-2096 (877) 854.3577 www.ULcomiwater ‘mailto: water@us.ueom Water Quality Association 4151 Napervile Road Usle Ik 60632-3696 (630) 505-0160 wwwewqa.org info@mail.wqa.org a For more information about tap water: =] EPKs Sofe Drinking Woter Hotine 1 (800) 426-4791 wwrmepa.govisafewater- includes drinking water standard, state certifcation for woter testing and information for household well owners.