A reliable water filtration solution is an effective way to make your water safer while improving its flavor and aroma. Contaminants, from organic material to heavy metals, can change how your water tastes. You may be surprised how good your home’s drinking water tastes once you have the right filter in place. Plus, you’re investing in the health of your family by making your water safe as well as delicious.
However, not every filter is effective for every property. That’s because your source water contains different contaminants depending on where you are and how you access your water.
Getting to know your source water better can help you choose the right water filter for your home.
Understanding Your Source Water
To really understand what’s coming into your home when you turn your faucet on, you can start by understanding where your water comes from.
There are around 150,000 public water systems in the United States. Each of these is bound by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet certain water safety standards. The EPA is, in turn, required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974 to continually establish and enforce standards that help keep water safe for everyone.
Private Wells
The public water supply accounts for about 90% of usage, with the other 10% relying on private wells. Private wells aren’t covered by the SDWA, so owners or distributors must handle water safety concerns themselves. One in five wells may contain contaminants at a greater level than is safe for human health. So, understanding these contaminants and how to filter them out is essential.
Ground Water
Well water is a type of groundwater: water that starts as precipitation and soaks into the ground, where it’s naturally stored in aquifers. There’s over 1,000 times more water beneath your feet than in the planet’s combined lakes and rivers.
Because groundwater moves through rocks, soil, and other obstacles, it can be full of minerals, heavy metals, and organic contaminants. Sometimes, the rocks and sediment can filter out some chemical pollutants, but not always.
Surface Water
Surface water, on the other hand, is water found in lakes, rivers, and streams — any body of water on the surface of the earth.
Surface water can be more prone to chemical contaminants than groundwater. Additionally, surface water can be more likely to contain bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. It’s also more susceptible to temperature changes, which can change the level of biological contaminants.
Captured Excess Stormwater
Captured stormwater is another water source, although mainly used in eastern coastal areas. Excess stormwater is guided into combined sewer overflows (CSOs), treated, and reused in a variety of ways.
Possible Contaminants in Your Drinking Water
Each of these sources may introduce different contaminants into your drinking water. Public water systems may offer water from ground or surface sources, but you can ask your provider for more information on your local water. They should provide you with an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) that explains what’s in your water at its source. You can also use the EPA’s interactive map to find out more about your local drinking water supply.
Although municipal water systems remove contaminants to meet SDWA standards, that water can then travel through aging infrastructure to reach your home. Along the way, it inevitably picks up more contaminants.
For example, chlorine is added during municipal water treatment to kill microorganisms. However, during its journey to your home, chlorine can react with biological content in the water pipes, creating undesirable byproducts. A carbon-based filtration system is ideal for ensuring these are removed from your drinking water.
Possible contaminants in groundwater include:
• Heavy metals and similar substances, including arsenic, cadmium, and lead
• Salt and other minerals, such as calcium, iron, manganese, and magnesium
• Fertilizer, nitrates, and pesticides from agricultural use
• Industrial chemicals, including PFAS (forever chemicals)
• Effluent from nearby sewage systems
Some contaminants, like PFAS, have maximum contaminant limits (MCLs) set by the EPA. Many organizations believe the MCLs don’t go far enough. The Environmental Working Group, for example, states that the recent stance on retaining MCLs for just two PFAS could put, “millions at risk.” Yet another compelling reason to invest in an effective filtration system.
Contaminants you’re more likely to find in surface water could include:
• Bacteria
• Viruses and other pathogens
• Organic particles from a variety of sources
• Algae
• Parasites
• Chemicals in water runoff from industrial and urban zones
Different types of water filtration solutions address different contamination concerns. Activated carbon filters with appropriate certifications are effective at removing heavy metals and similarly sized molecules. But to handle bacteria, nitrates, and PFAS, you’ll need a filtration system with an incredibly fine membrane, such as a reverse osmosis (RO) setup.
Whole House Filtration Systems
Investing in a whole house water filtration system means that you’ll get safer, cleaner water from every faucet in your home. There are multiple water filtration solution types to suit your source water.
Multi-Purpose Systems
A multi-purpose water filtration system is ideal for homes and businesses connected to standard municipal water systems. These filtration solutions reduce a broad range of contaminants, from PFAS and disinfection byproducts to VOCs, sediments, and more.
Anti-Scale Systems
Excessive calcium and magnesium in your water make it “hard,” which can cause scale (sometimes called limescale) buildup. Scale looks unsightly but can also damage pipes and appliances over time.
Three-stage filtration dramatically reduces the volume of these minerals, improving the quality of your water and extending the lifespan of your home’s plumbing system and attached appliances.
Heavy Metal Systems
Metals, including lead and mercury, are linked to numerous health concerns. They also impact the efficiency of your washing machine and other devices.
These water filtration systems use three filters to take out sediment, rust, pesticides, and heavy metals, creating water that tastes better and is healthier for your whole household.
Iron and Manganese Systems
Iron can cause water to have a strong, unpleasant metallic taste. Manganese is linked to neurological issues such as memory loss. Both minerals, although essential in small quantities, are problematic when they accumulate in your water supply. They can also damage pipes, and manganese causes black, unpleasant stains.
Iron and manganese water filtration solutions use three-stage filtration, including a specialist resin that captures and prevents these minerals from infiltrating your water system.
Water Softening Systems
If you struggle with hard water that’s rich in minerals but low in other contaminants, a water softening system may be the right choice. These advanced systems use cation resin to capture corrosive minerals, producing softer water.
When water is softer, showers are more enjoyable, dishes get cleaner, and drinking water is tastier. Plus, your appliances and plumbing systems will last longer.
As a final step to ensure every last contaminant is removed, you can add ultraviolet light disinfection to your home filtration system. UV-C light has germicidal qualities, effectively destroying pathogens that could make your family sick.
Filtration Solutions for Every Water Type
Finding out more about your local water supply is just the first step on your journey to safer drinking water. Brio Water provides trusted water filtration solutions for every home and water type.
Contact us with any queries or browse our range of filtration systems online.
