Why You Need a Drinking Water Filter: Health Reasons
August 9, 2008
If you are getting ready to buy drinking water filters, good for you. Some people still think that a drinking water filter for their home is an unnecessary expense. I really don’t understand, because they aren’t even that expensive, anymore.
Drinking water filters are far less expensive than a television or a personal computer. Yet many people feel that those are “necessities”. It is rare to see a household these days without a TV and a computer, but it’s just as rare to see a house with a drinking water filter on their tap.
Scientists and environmental groups keep warning governments about the dangers of chlorination, but the dangers of not chlorinating are real too. During the outbreak of cholera in Peru in 1991, health experts strongly suggested to local facilities to kill the cholera pathogen with chlorine. Because chlorination by-products or THMs increase the risk of cancer, local officials in Peru and other countries were resistant to use chorine.
Researchers in Canada recently estimated that a total of 703 cancer cases per year were caused by exposure to THMs. But, 10,000 people died from cholera between the months of January and February, 1991 in Peru.
THMs do increase the risk of cancer and everyone should consider having a showerhead and drinking water filters to reduce the risk. But, we can’t petition the government agencies to stop chlorinating the water, because it isn’t practical or objective.
Of course, chlorine is used nearly everywhere and government agencies try to control the amount of exposure as much as possible, but other disinfection methods are simply not as effective. Buying a point-of-use drinking water filter that removes chlorine and THMs is the only answer.
Water treatment facilities add chlorine, because if not algae will begin to grow in the pipes. Algae will not only affect the taste of water, but also other microorganisms that cause cholera and other waterborne illnesses would begin to thrive in the algae. These are very good reasons why treatment facilities couldn’t use carbon filtration to remove the chlorine before the water leaves the facility.
Another recent study found unacceptable the risk to those who swim in chlorinated pools combined with exposure at home from drinking and showering, and that something should be done about it. But, the study failed to recommend that people should at least get showerheads and drinking water filters for their homes.
The water treatment facilities in the US are required to publish an annual water quality report. The Environmental Protection Agency asks them to include on the list chlorine, chloramines and THMs.
The facilities annual reports was required after a study in California showed that women who drink five or more glasses a day of ordinary tap water have a higher rate of miscarriage, possibly due to chlorine. One wonders, why didn’t they suggest that pregnant women get a drinking water filter? It seems such an easy and inexpensive solution. It cost less than neo-natal vitamins.
Scientists want to warn you of the risks and government officials leave it up to you to make the decision. You can find the best drinking water filters on the market for less than $125 and showerhead units for even less. I believe your family’s health is worth the investment, don’t you?
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