Table of Contents:
What Contaminants Can Be Found in Water?
What Are the Effects of Drinking Unfiltered Water?
Should You Filter Tap Water?
Does Your Refrigerator Need a Water Filter?
How Long Do Water Filters Last?
What to Consider When Choosing a Water Filter?
Conclusion
Water is an essential part of our lives. As such, it is only natural that we take the necessary precautions to ensure that the water we consume is clean and safe. Unfortunately, water can contain several types of impurities that are harmful to our health which is why we must filter water before drinking it. The impurities found in unfiltered water can have dire consequences on your health and also affect the water's taste. Water filters purify water by removing harmful substances, thereby mitigating the risk of water-borne diseases. There are different water filtration processes and water filters, each with different mechanisms but with the same purpose; to purify water by removing contaminants.
Before water filters came to be, people drank water directly from taps, but tap water and other unfiltered water sources are considered unsafe and unhealthy. Since the invention of modern water filters, you now have the power to clean water in your own home. This has been especially useful for homes with children, older people, and those who lack strong immune systems. These groups of people are highly susceptible to diseases caused by impure water.
What Contaminants Can Be Found in Water?
Drinking water everyday keeps us healthy. But we can't drink just any water; we need to drink clean water because drinking contaminated water can cause various diseases. Different types of contaminants can be found in water, each with varying health effects. The EPA issued a complete list of possible water contaminants.
We need to understand that contaminants in water refer to any other molecule that is not water. This definition covers chemical, physical, biological, and radiological contaminants. This list can be further divided into;
- Inorganic chemicals,
- Organic chemicals,
- Disinfectants,
- Disinfection byproducts,
- Microorganisms,
- Radionuclides.
What Are the Effects of Drinking Unfiltered Water?
The effects of drinking unfiltered water can range from mild to severe depending on the type of water contaminant and the quantity you consume. Contaminated water can cause fever, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramps, and in more serious cases, death. A water filter removes the pollutants that cause these diseases and ensures that you drink clean water. Some diseases that can be gotten from contaminated water are;
Diarrhea: This is the most common disease caused by drinking contaminated water. Infants are the typical victims of this disease. It can be treated with medication but will lead to death if left untreated.
Typhoid is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria, a common microorganism found in contaminated water.
Cholera: This water-borne disease is caused by Vibrio cholerae, a commonly found bacteria in contaminated water or food. It can have dreadful consequences on people with weak immune systems.
Hepatitis A: It develops due to the Hepatitis A virus and directly attacks an infected person's liver, causing them to experience inflammation. The worst part about this disease is that unaffected people can contact it when they are close to an infected person, so your whole house could end up infected.
Amoebiasis: This condition attacks the intestines of its victims, making them feel feverish and suffer from cramps and bloody stool.
Other possible diseases include; Giardia, Escherichia Coli, and Dysentery. The complete list of possible water-borne diseases is long, but you can avoid all these scary viruses with a water filter.
Should You Filter Tap Water?
Tap water undergoes several screening processes, but its journey through the pipelines before it reaches your home makes it unfit for drinking. On this journey, the water might mix with contaminants in the pipelines, so you need to filter tap water.
Most people who avoid drinking tap water drink bottled water instead, but why spend money on expensive bottled water when you can get a water filter?
Does Your Refrigerator Need a Water Filter?
Just like tap water, the water from your refrigerator travels for miles in the pipeline before it reaches your fridge; this means that it can pick up different contaminants on the way. A refrigerator water filter removes all the possible contaminants and gives you the healthy water your body needs.
How Long Do Water Filters Last?
Overtime particles begin to gather in your water filter, clogging it up and making it unable to filter water effectively. This is why you need to clean and replace it regularly.. Most water filters last for about 6 to 12 months before they need to be replaced and about two months before being cleaned. Cleaning your water filter often guarantees that it continues to protect you from harmful bacteria.
Read the manual that comes with your water filter so you know exactly how long you can use your water filter before replacing it.
Many signs let you know when your water filter needs replacing. Most signs are easily detectable, such as odor, taste, and tiny particles. Other ways to know your water filter needs replacing are by measuring its TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) levels and tracking how fast it filters and the number of gallons you use.
What to Consider When Choosing a Water Filter?
Water filters are available in different sizes and for different uses. The water filter you choose depends on many factors, including;
- The number of people in your home.
The more people in your home, the more gallons of water you go through and the more work your water filter has to do. So you need to choose a water filter that is strong enough to handle all that work.
- The personal needs of everyone in your home.
There might be specific health needs of someone in your family, so when buying a water filter, you need to consider them.
- The cost of maintenance
It costs money to maintain water filters; they need to be cleaned and replaced often, so keep in mind that you will probably spend a little extra money on maintenance.
You need to think about other factors, like what type of water filter you want and where you want to use it. Glacier fresh water filters offer various water filters to suit your needs.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that you need a water filter. It's a guaranteed way to protect yourself from any nasty particles that could cause serious harm. The EPA has regulations that protect the water we drink, but no matter how hard they try, they can't control all the contaminants; this is where your water filter comes in. You can never be too safe; protect your home and family with a state-of-the-art water filter. Check out http://glacierfreshfilter.com to get a filter now!
