Michael Audette said:
> MTBE is a gasoline additive.... it binds with water very well, and is
showing up in wells all over the U.S.
Before you all run out and buy Britta filter, Pure filters, or other pour
through pitchers, carafes, loose granular filters, or any other water
filter, you should know what each type of filter can and cannot do. There
are other things you should know as well, so that you get your money's
worth. There are more than 2500 systems on the market. Many look alike,
although they do not all have the same performance capacities.
I have many articles on water contaminants and water purification for
magazines and have been researching this topic and industry for 12 years (as
a lay person!) I'd be happy to send an article or two to any of you by
e-mail. Many filters on the market, such as Britta's and other pour through
carafes, small faucet mount filters, etc. are merely TASTE AND ODOR FILTERS.
Oftentimes people think they are protecting themselves when the filter they
buy doesn't do mor than make the water taste and smell better. Sadly,
peopleoften they pay more (for an inferior H20 purifer) but get less!!!
From my article *DRINING IN SAFETY: Tips for Budying A Water Purifier*
(Men's Exercise, Nov. 1999).
#1. Is it NSF certified?
NSF is an internationally recognized, third party, non-profit organization
with more than 50 years of experience testing and certifying consumer and
industrial products to ensure that they meet the most stringent public
health standards.
To get NSFıs seal of approval a) the contamination claims must be true; b)
the unit must not add anything harmful to the water; c) the unit must be
structurally sound; d) the advertising, literature, and labeling must not be
misleading; and, e) the materials and manufacturing process must not change.
(Unannounced inspections are conducted!)
The best systems are NSF certified under Standards 42 & 53, indicating
that they effectively reduce chlorine and particulate matter, asbestos,
certain pesticides, micro cysts, lead, THMs (Trihalomethanes), turbidity,
and VOCs (41 volatile organic chemicals and pesticides).
Only 66% of water purifiers on the market are NSF certified; 40% are
certified to remove offensive tastes and odors; about 376 are certified to
remove one or more contaminants; about six are certified to reduce a wide
range of contaminants, including difficult to treat substances like
asbestos, VOCs and THMs.
# 10. Does it remove the widest range of contaminants? Pour-through
Pitchers: If changed every 35 gallons as recommended by manufacturer;
removes two or three harmful contaminants and two healthy minerals; taste
and odor filter only; will not remove THMs (trihalomethanes), pesticides,
micro-cysts, turbidity, asbestos, or VOCs (volatine organic chemicals).
Mixed Media (KDF, ATS) Filters: Effectively reduce chlorine, lead;
ineffective against other contaminants (e.g., THMs, herbicides, pesticides,
and VOCs).
Reverse Osmosis: Canıt effectively reduce VOCs, pesticides, or THMs unless
it is combined with a Solid Carbon Block; reduces healthy trace minerals.
Distillation Units: Effectively kill cysts, remove heavy metals; not as
effective at removing VOCs; removes beneficial minerals.
Solid Carbon Block: Most effective system; reduces widest range of
contaminants; leaves in beneficial minerals.
There is a lot more you need to know to make a wise investment (in something
that should be durable enough to last a lifetime), but I won't tie up the
digest with it. E-mail me privately if you want to know more.
Rachel Albert-Matesz, FW, HCC, CI, WPP, PDE
(just joking about the letters but not the things they stand for!!!! :))
Freelance Writer, Healthy Cooking Coach, Cooking Instructor, Water
Purification Professional, Paleo Diet Enthusiast!!!
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