Drinking Water Filters, Why Aren’t You Using One?

Let's face it, in some cities, drinking water filters are an absolute necessity. But, no matter where you live, a good drinking water filter will improve the taste and quality of one of life's basic necessities.

Reports of drugs and hormones found in tap water have many people concerned about their health and that of their families. Some think of drinking water filters as health aids or insurance, not a luxury.

There is no way to determine how much affect drugs and hormones can have on an adult's health, but when it comes to the children, we know that no amount is safe. Drinking water filters are an inexpensive way to get protection.

In some cities, the biggest threat is lead contamination. Lead is a toxic metal that has found its way into tap water, because of aging pipes and soldered joints. Or, at least we believe that is where it came from. There's no way to tell for sure, but we do know that its there.

A drinking water filter has to be specially designed in order to block lead, so you have to choose carefully.

No matter what one's age, there is no safe level of lead intake. The health problems it can cause are numerous. They include learning problems and damage to the brain and other organs. Drinking water contaminated with lead has been linked to osteoporosis and Alzheimer's.

The risks are great. You can have your water tested by an independent laboratory however, a good countertop drinking water filter runs the water through its own tubing, so you won't have to worry about your pipes. But, if you have whole house drinking water filters or an under the counter unit, you should consider the age and quality of the pipes and joints in your home. They could be a source of lead contamination.

The reduction of health risks is important, but not the only reason that drinking water filters are desirable. Many people currently use bottled water for drinking at home or while traveling. Estimates vary, but it appears that 80% of the plastic from the bottles ends up in the landfill, rather than at a recycler.

Manufacturing those plastic bottles requires more water than the bottle contains. Gasoline and oil are used to transport the bottles from factory to points of purchase. The waste of natural resources (both water and oil) has many environmentalists suggesting in-home drinking water filters as a "green" alternative to bottled water.

Make no mistake about it, a good drinking water filter will help you save natural resources and money. Bottling your own filtered water at home will cost pennies, as opposed to dollars per day. Besides, most bottled water is simply tap water that has been run through a drinking water filter and there are few regulations regarding the purity of bottled water.

The best drinking water filters come with product performance data, so that you can be sure about what you are drinking. Buying a drinking water filter saves money, natural resources and could be a safer choice than drinking bottled water.

Fraser Baillie is a passionate advocate of living a healthy lifestyle and a researcher of drinking water filters. Visit his site now at www.clean-pure-safe-water.com to discover which drinking water filters Fraser recommends after extensive comparisons.