There are a variety of water purification methods that were specifically designed for the "point-of-use" or in the home.
Sometimes, I hear people say that any water purifier is better than none.
While that may be true, to a certain extent, some of the devices on the market are not really water purifiers.
What do you think a water purifier should do? If you are only concerned about chlorine, then granulated carbon is fairly cheap and practically every system on the market includes it, except for single-stage reverse osmosis.
Reverse osmosis water purification has been around for a long time.
It is often suggested, but most people don't know why.
Personally, I never suggest it, because there are better alternatives.
Reverse osmosis water purifiers are the most expensive, but they do not address many of the issues that we face today.
They do not remove chemical contaminants, such as chlorine and industrial byproducts, pesticides and herbicides.
They don't remove the byproducts of chlorination (THMs) or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), either.
Of the most common contaminants, they only remove lead and cysts. Cysts can be removed with a water purification device that has a submicron channel.
This channel will not allow anything larger than one micron to fall into your glass.
Lead can be removed with a water purifier that includes ion exchange. That step also removes copper and exchanges the metallic particles for sodium and potassium.
The pH balance, the taste and the healthfulness are improved with this step.
You need water purifiers with another special step to remove all of the pesticides, herbicides, volatile organic compounds and chlorination byproducts.
It's a special block that contains a variety of filtering media that specifically target certain compounds.
But, don't worry. You can get a water purifier that includes all of these steps for around 5.
Yes, that's a little more than you would pay for PUR or Brita, but they don't remove THMs, VOCs, and some of the other cancer causing chemicals that are present in our waters.
The same water purification technology is available to all manufacturers.
It's just that some choose not to use it, because of the added expense.
Even though a Brita water purifier is cheap to purchase, because the manufacturer does not include the latest technology, it costs more per gallon than a more effective, slightly more expensive product.
Water purifiers that include everything that you need for safety's sake cost less than a dime per gallon. Brita costs 25 cents per gallon, over twice as much.
So, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars on a reverse osmosis water purifier, but you don't want "cheap" purifiers either.
The middle ground is the best ground, in this case.
With the multiple stages mentioned here, you can have an unlimited supply of drinking water, for less than the cost of a six week supply of bottled waters.
Remember that bottled is bad for the environment and you never know what kind of water purification method the manufacture uses.
They may even be bottling tap-water. Drink smart and healthy, right in your own kitchen.
