NEWBURY, OH -- With all the negative publicity in recent years
about the quality of the nation's water supply, more people are
thinking twice about what is in the water they drink. According to
national consumer research studies, "taste" is another
reason consumers may look for drinking water options other than
their own kitchen tap. As a result, many Americans have turned to
bottled water.
But what about those bottles? First, they're expensive — often
costing more than $1.00 per gallon, which translates into 200 to
1200 times the cost of tap water. Second, they're cumbersome to tote
around, and you have to go to the store to purchase them. Third is
the need for recycling all those plastic containers. And finally,
depending on the source of the bottled water, it may be nothing more
than filtered municipal water. In fact, contrary to the popular
image of the remote Alpine meadows and unspoiled streams, bottled
water sources are often near metropolitan areas.
But bottled water is not the only alternative, however. In-home
drinking water systems, which have also boomed in popularity in
recent years, deliver many of the same benefits, without the
inconvenience. And, over the long terms, they're proven to be less
expensive.
There are many different in-home treatment options, varying in
price and effectiveness. According to the Centers for Disease
Control, however, reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most
effective at significantly reducing unwanted minerals, volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), lead, pesticides and nitrates. RO systems
work by forcing pressurized water through a microscopic membrane
which filters out impurities.
The RO systems manufactured by Kinetico Incorporated, a leading
manufacturer of water treatment systems, are ideal examples of how
effectively consumers can protect their water through a multi-step,
in-home treatment process.
Thanks to their unique three-step process, Kinetico RO systems
are certified to reduce up to 99+ percent of many dissolved solids
in the water, including lead and other minerals. Exclusive to the
Kinetico system is the MACguard FilterTM which indicates
when it's time to change the system's prefilter and postfilter to
prevent overuse and protect drinking water quality.
Another Kinetico innovation is EverClean RinseTM,
which not only prolongs the life of the system's membrane but also
guarantees consistently high-quality water by automatically
cleansing the inside of the system with clean water.
Even if water looks and smells good there is no guarantee it is.
Harmful microorganisms or compounds such as arsenic, lead and
mercury may go undetected. Such was the case in 1993 in Milwaukee
(WI), where a cryptosporidium outbreak caused hundreds of thousands
of people to become ill. Or, water properly treated at a municipal
facility can become contaminated during the distribution process or
even through contact with plumbing joined by lead solder inside the
home.
Bottled water or an in-home drinking water system? Both can help
you achieve peace of mind regarding the water you drink if you have
all the necessary information. Read all bottled water labels
carefully to determine the source of the water, the type of
filtering process employed and what controls are in place to
maintain quality.
If you're shopping for an in-home drinking water system, be just
as thorough. Look for third-party certification on the system to
ensure it will perform as claimed. And scrutinize the list of
contaminants which the system will effectively reduce. If a product
is not certified for a specific contaminant, there's no guarantee
that it can effectively reduce it.
For more information about the water you drink, call Kinetico at
1-800-944-WATER (9283) and request the FREE Consumers’s Guide to
Protecting the Water Your Family Drinks. Or visit Kinetico's Web
site at www.kinetico.com for
more information about water.
