Idaho residents get tap water that meets most government safety standards. However, these standards do not guarantee that water treated at your local water department is free of contaminants and microorganisms that can pose significant health risks. You still need additional protection to ensure the quality of the water you and your family drink, cook, and shower with.
1. Safer Drinking Water
Your own water treatment system guarantees that you are drinking pure water. Water treatment plants often use fluoride and chlorine as their standard practice. While disinfecting water, they add chemicals you may want to avoid ingesting. An advanced home water filtration system will remove them and over 2,000 known toxins in drinking water.
2. Improved Water Taste and Odor
Chlorine and other compounds such as sulfur, algae by-products, iron, and manganese cause unpleasant tastes and odors in water. Your filtration system can remove all of these compounds, making drinking your water more enjoyable. Your filtered water will also result in a better-tasting cup of coffee in the morning and can improve the flavor of home-cooked meals.
3. Protection Against Waterborne Illnesses
There are many microorganisms that live in water. The worst ones are giardia and cryptosporidium, which are resistant to chlorine. They cause symptoms like nausea, cramping, diarrhea, dehydration, and vomiting. A home water filtration system will remove them and other parasites often present in water.
4. Cost Savings Over Time
Switching to an advanced water filtration system can lead to significant savings over the years. The cost of buying bottled water can add up very quickly, straining your monthly budget. You will also avoid the medical fees, plumbing system repair costs, and appliance replacement expenses that result from consuming and using unfiltered water.
5. Environmental Benefits
Installing a water filtration system can reduce your consumption of single-use plastic bottles, as tap water becomes a much more reliable and viable alternative. This lessens your household’s contribution to the environmental impacts of producing and disposing of plastic water bottles.
6. Disaster Preparedness
A home filtration system can provide a crucial safeguard if a sewer line bursts near your home or your drain field leaches wastewater into the underground water table during a storm. You’ll be protected from bad microorganisms and chemicals that can render you and your family seriously ill.
7. Cleaner Dishes, Clothes, and Household Surfaces
Using filtered water can significantly reduce the minerals that leave behind streaks and spots on your dishes, glassware, and countertops. This not only enhances the appearance of your possessions but also improves the effectiveness of your dish soap and other cleaning products, allowing you to use less detergent over time and save money.
Additionally, soft, filtered water prevents the buildup of soap scum and mineral deposits in your kitchen and bathroom sinks. These deposits can also accumulate on clothes, making them feel stiff, wear out faster, and sometimes develop unpleasant odors. By reducing mineral content, filtered water helps keep your household surfaces cleaner and extends the life of your attire.
8. Healthier Skin and Hair
Water filtration systems can greatly benefit the health of your skin and hair by removing harsh chemicals like chlorine, calcium, and dissolved salts from your water supply. These substances can strip away your skin’s natural oils and disrupt moisture balance, leading to dryness, irritation, and itchiness after a shower. With filtered water, your skin is more likely to retain its natural moisture, reducing the risk of dryness, while your hair can feel softer and more manageable without the damage caused by mineral buildup.
9. Convenience and Overall Better Quality of Life
Easy access to clean water without the hassle of purchasing, transporting, and storing bottled water simplifies and enhances your quality of life. In addition, good-tasting water can encourage more water consumption, which leads to higher energy levels, better digestion, and improved cognitive function.
Water Filtration Systems
A water filtration system is a device designed to remove or reduce various contaminants in water, including microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and parasites, as well as sediments and heavy metals. Many residential systems utilize a process called reverse osmosis, where water from your home’s main supply is pushed through a semi-permeable membrane that filters out dissolved solids, chemicals, and other impurities. This membrane effectively blocks particles larger than water molecules, resulting in cleaner, safer water.
However, reverse osmosis alone may not capture all types of contaminants. The most effective filtration systems combine reverse osmosis with additional methods, such as activated carbon filters, which remove chlorine and organic compounds, or UV disinfection to kill bacteria and viruses. These multi-stage filtration setups ensure a more comprehensive purification by targeting a wider range of pollutants, providing healthier water for your household.
Activated Carbon
Activated carbon is a highly porous material that effectively traps and holds molecules, atoms, and ions on its surface, a process known as adsorption. It’s especially beneficial for improving the taste, odor, and color of water. Activated carbon filters can remove various contaminants, including dissolved radon, herbicides, pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and even heavy metals like lead. Additionally, it can reduce chlorine and other chemicals commonly found in tap water, making it a popular choice for households looking to enhance water quality.
Ultraviolet Disinfection Technology
Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology uses UV light to disrupt the DNA of viruses, bacteria, and parasites, effectively rendering them unable to reproduce or cause infection. This method is especially useful for eliminating harmful microorganisms in water without using chemicals.
Keep in mind that UV systems require continuous electricity to operate, which can increase energy costs. Additionally, UV light does not remove other types of contaminants, such as heavy metals or chemicals, so it’s often combined with other filtration methods for comprehensive water purification.
Whole-House vs Point-of-Use Water Filtration Systems
Whole-house water filtration systems are installed where the main water supply line enters your house. This means all water distributed through your home is clean and safe.
Point-of-use filtration systems are attached to single fixtures, such as kitchen sinks or bathroom faucets. They provide filtered water only at the specific location you need.
Which Is Best?
A whole-house filtration system filters every drop of water in your home. The water you use to cook, shower, brush your teeth, do laundry, and drink is clean and pure. Even your plumbing system and appliances are protected. The only drawback is that they require a high upfront cost to install.
Point-of-use filters are less expensive to install, and you can use them as an added protection for the water you consume and shower with if your main water supply is generally clean. Their drawback is that they leave your appliances and plumbing system vulnerable to the effects of hard water, chemicals, and other contaminants.
Contact the Experts
At Perfect, Plumbing Heating & Air, we have served the residents of Garden City, ID and the surrounding areas for over 40 years. We offer plumbing services, including installing water filtration systems, water softeners and treatment systems. Additionally, we can help with all your heating and cooling needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
