Looking for a reverse osmosis water purification unit? I would suggest that you consider all of your options, before you buy one, AND if you are serviced by a public treatment facility, you should know that you DO NOT need one.

If you have a private well, numerous contaminants or impurities may be causing you problems. If you haven’t had testing done, you should take that step first. Once you know what contaminants are present, you can learn about how they can be removed. With the technology that is available today, it is unlikely that a reverse osmosis water purification unit is your only option.

Those of us who are on a public waterline don’t need to have testing completed. Our treatment facilities keep us informed about some of the contaminants that are present. Chlorine, THMs, VOCs and lead are examples. We have also been informed by the Environmental Protection Agency that cysts (illness causing parasites in an early stage of development) might be present at any time, because regular testing is considered “unfeasible”. 

The EPA has warned that the illness caused by cyst consumption can be very serious, even fatal, to those who have weakened immune systems, either due to a long-term illness or the treatment of one, such as chemo-therapy or immuno-suppressive drugs.

They even warn that cysts may be present in some brands of bottled water, that exposure can occur when washing fresh fruits and vegetables or brushing your teeth. So, installing a system in your home that removes the contaminants is advisable, but you don’t need a reverse osmosis water purification unit to do that.

The units are expensive to install, operate and maintain. They do not remove chemical contaminants, such as chlorine, THMs and VOCs. They only reduce lead to the federal action level, and there are other disadvantages as well.

The whole house units require electricity to operate. They are large and noisy. The new under the counter units are complicated to install and have a very short lifespan. They require hand cleaning, which means that someone will come into contact with the impurities that are removed.

The larger, more expensive, whole house designs create gallons of wastewater that are dumped down your drain, taxing a septic system or increasing what your home puts into the sewer. Instead of a reverse osmosis water purification unit, here is what I would recommend for those of you who have a publicly treated supply:

Submicron filtration, which removes cysts and other particulates, granular carbon, which reduces chlorine and other chemicals, a multi-media block, which further reduces chlorine and traps THMs and VOCs that are normally difficult to remove, and ion exchange, which will remove more than 99% of all traces of lead in your supply.

It is important to note that most of the so-called “purifiers” that you see in department stores do nothing but reduce chlorine. You don’t need an expensive reverse osmosis water purification unit, but you do need more than a simple chlorine-filter. Look for performance, first. 

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About the Author:
Lauren Leddy is a consumer advocate and a dedicated researcher of health related issues. Visit her website now at http://www.safe-water-purifier.com and get free information on how to protect yourself from water contaminated with carcinogens, traces of drugs, hormones, parasites and other toxins.
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