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Water Purifiers
With growing concerns about the quality and
safety of drinking water, many people are
installing water filtering systems in their
homes as a quick and economical way of having
a constant supply of clean, safe water. Before
purchasing a water system, here are a number
of points to consider.
First, determine what method
and quality
of water treatment you desire:
- Mechanical - water passes through a filtering
system that can be adapted to meet various
needs. Using water pressure and high-grade
filters, these systems generally give the
quality of water most people desire by removing
chlorine, lead, cysts and other polluting
materials. They do not reduce the amount
of fluoride, nitrates, sodium or minerals
that cause hard water.
- Distillation - water is heated and the water
vapor is cooled before using. An advantage
of this system is removing all impurities
and minerals but it can leave the water with
a "flat" taste.
- Reverse osmosis - water is treated using
a system of filters and an osmotic process
that removes impurities leaving pure water.
This method requires a holding tank, works
better with soft water and requires a higher
water pressure.
- Ultraviolet light - water is exposed to ultraviolet radiation,
which kills bacteria, viruses and other pathogens
Second, you also need to consider
where you
want to put your filtration system.
Possible
placements are:
- Directly on a faucet to avoid using counter
space.
- Connected to the faucet but a tank sits on
the counter.
- In-line filters installed in your cold water
lines.
- Under-the-sink systems that direct the treated
water to a separate faucet in the sink.
Lastly, regular maintenance is
important
for the continued high quality
of treated
water. Consideration should be
given to the
frequency and ease of cleaning
and replacing
parts, the cost and availability
of parts,
and the cost per gallon of water
to operate
the system. |
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