DGREEN

GUIDE BUYING GUIDE

Buy a filter certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, which independently tests products like this pitcher filter to ensure they actually remove what manufacturers claim they do ( nsf.org).

Testing Your Well For the estimated 20 million Americans who have wells, testing for contaminants should be done at least once a year— more often if a test reveals elevated levels of certain chemicals or bacteria. For a guide to well water quality and issues, click on the “Well Water” link at nsf.org/consumer/drinking_water.

After learning what is, or isn’t, in your water, you might decide that it’s clean and safe enough. “If it doesn’t have contaminants at a level that’s a concern, and you’re okay with the taste, you really don’t need any kind of filtration,” says Andrew.

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MATCH YOUR FILTER WITH YOUR NEEDS. Once you know what you want taken out of your water, you’ll need to find a filter that will remove it. Some filters are better at removing biological contaminants ( important if you’re using the filter for drinking water) and others remove metals and

minerals that could clog faucets or stain laundry. Other considerations may include family members with compromised health who can get sick from levels of bacteria that most of us take in stride.

If you simply want clean drinking water, a pitcher or faucet-mount filter is an easy solution. Refrigerators that dispense water often have filters that can purify your daily quota. But if you want to filter all the water in your home, you may need a system that requires changes to your plumbing.

Still, says Andrew, “There is no perfect, one-size-fits-all technology that will cover everything.” Filters and filtration methods vary in the contaminants they remove. Plan to spend some time at the store reading labels, which list the specific contaminants removed by individual products. Look for these filtration methods:

CARBON OR ABSORPTION/FILTRATION

Inexpensive and great for drinking water, these remove bad tastes, bad odors and lead, among other contaminants, but must be changed often. They’re used in pitchers, refrigerator doors and sink-mount filters. KINETIC DEGRADATION FLUXION (KDF) These are often used in combination with carbon and remove chlorine, lead, mercury and iron. KDFs are used for drinking-water filters and whole-house systems.

WATER SOFTENER/ION EXCHANGE SYSTEM

These are whole-house systems best suited for people with stains on laundry or mineral buildup in plumbing. They replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium or potassium, which may not be healthy for those on diets with such restrictions. Because they add salinity to wastewater, they’ve been banned in some locations. ULTRAVIOLET (UV) UV filters remove some bacteria and viruses from drinking water. However, they’re powered by a continuously lit 60-watt bulb and can consume as much electricity as some refrigerators. REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO) Water is forced through a semipermeable membrane that blocks contaminants. The process takes out dissolved metals and ions not removed by carbon filters (as well as some types of pharmaceuticals), and it is effective at filtering contaminants that make those with compromised immune systems sick. They do consume several times as much water as they produce, but newer RO systems