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PUR pitchers appear in many reviews as the simplest solution to most water-quality issues. You get up to forty gallons of filtered water (approximately two months of use) before a filter change (*est. One disadvantage of pitchers is that tap water takes about fifteen minutes to filter through, and for some households, an eight or ten-cup carafe just isn't enough drinking water. In that case, consider a faucet mount or undersink model (see below for these).
If you need a steadier supply of filtered water, and if you'd like to use filtered water for ice cubes and coffee, a faucet-mounted water filter is the way to go. The PUR faucet-mount filter has a double layer filter system designed to reduce or remove off-tastes, metals, agricultural and industrial pollutants and cysts. Each filter delivers about 100 gallons of filtered water before needing to be changed. The PUR water filter also has a bypass feature for switching to unfiltered water and is available in five colors, including chrome and black.
If you prefer a more elegant solution to a faucet mount, reviews say undersink models get better water flow than faucet mounts and only need a filter change every six months or so. Downsides are that professional installation is recommended, and the system will require space under your sink. The filter attaches to the cold water pipe, and a separate, small faucet is installed for the filtered water.
The Kenmore 38440 whole water filter system is most often recommended in reviews. The filter attaches to the water main and provides filtered water for drinking, bathing, cooking, laundry and dishwashers. There is a bypass system that allows you to choose between filtered and unfiltered water. The advantages of whole house filtering are faster flow rate and less clogging than other systems. A filter isn't included with this model, so plan on adding about $15 for a sediment filter or a chemical/odor/taste filter.
Comparison Chart Full Story What the experts say, our analysis, and more... Updated November 2005 Health magazine states that, "Roughly 7 million Americans get sick every year from drinking contaminated tap water." If you want to protect your family from such unsavory elements -- or if you just want your water to taste better -- reviews from Consumer Reports, Mother Earth News and Organic Style magazine tell us that even inexpensive pitchers and faucet mounts easily and conveniently work to filter impurities and off-tastes from your water. We found all these sources useful in preparing this report, and all are included in our All Reviews chart. One of the original benefits of home water filters was cost savings over bottled water (which is a $35 billion industry in the US). But many recent studies show that most bottled water is no healthier or cleaner than ordinary tap water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the public or municipal water supply, but it is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that regulates bottled water and then only when the product is sold across state lines. The FDA only requires that bottled water be packaged under strict sanitary conditions and that it is as good as tap water. So bottled water may contain as many impurities as the water delivered through your pipes. A pitcher is the simplest and most popular way to filter drinking water, and it's much cheaper than buying bottled water. The most recognized manufacturer of water-filtering carafe units is Brita. Since both brands are competitive price-wise (about $20 to $30, depending on size), reviews cite the PUR Ultimate as the better choice. com, "only 86 of the 75,000 toxic chemicals used in our society are required to be tested for," so EPA standards are hardly comprehensive. Consumers can check the condition of their county's water supply by reading the Annual Water Quality Report that is legally required to be available to all citizens. org) has a comprehensive list of State Drinking Water Programs to help you learn about your state's water. gov/safewater) and click on Local Drinking Water Information. You can test your own drinking water by submitting a sample to a certified laboratory. Renters and homeowners can then decide for themselves if they need more contaminants removed from their tap water. At the very least, water filters improve the taste of tap water by removing impurities. The best way for consumers to get cleaner and safer drinking water is to use one of the various types of water filters currently available.
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