Using An Under Sink Water Filter May Remove Contaminants From Tap Water

By Lucy Cho


It isn't always easy to tell if the water in your house is safe to drink, but if you have a purification system, such as an under sink water filter, you may feel more assured. While you can rely at least a little on your senses to alert you to things that might be making their way into your water system, such as sulfur or too much chlorine, in some cases, contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, lead, and other chemicals can't be smelled or tasted. It might seem obvious, but if your water smells like rotten eggs, tastes like salt, or spots routinely appear on your glasses, testing your water will help to assure safety. Certain additives, such as shilajit powder, may also help with water quality.


The water in most municipal systems within the United States is safe because any system that serves 25 people or more must comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Unless you have a private well on your property or live in remote rural area, chances are that your water comes from a municipal system. Unless you have reason to believe otherwise, you can reasonably assume that the water you receive in your home meets federal standards; however, unless you are using an under sink water filter, the only way to know for sure if your water is safe to drink is to have it tested. This brings up a few questions, such as: how can I test my tap water? Should I test my well water? And am I better off just using filters or drinking bottled water?

Testing your tap water on a municipal system within the United States, might be as easy as calling your local water supplier. They, by law, must provide you with the results of the testing routinely performed for your area. Of course, this will not be specific of your individual home, rather a selective sample of the system as a whole. Some municipalities will come and test the water directly from your tap, free of charge; otherwise, you may have to have a test done by a state-certified lab or independent firm. You can also perform a water test yourself with a home test kit. Most of these tests do not report for everything, but they can detect the more serious contaminants such as lead, arsenic, pesticides, and bacteria. Whichever method of testing you choose, be sure to use the first-draw water, water that comes out of the faucet first thing in the morning, as this will be your most accurate measure of contamination that might be present.

Since federal drinking water standards do not apply to private wells, it's up to you to have your water tested if you are in a location that utilizes one. Your local health department can advise you of possible wide spread well-water contamination in your area but testing your own water regularly and considering using an under sink water filter might be a good idea in these instances. Well water should be tested at least once a year for nitrates, coliform bacteria, total dissolved solids, and pH. Checks for lead, copper, arsenic, radon, pesticides, or other substances might also need to be conducted based on your location.

Are we just better off using an under sink water filter, combined with shilajit powder, or wholly drinking bottled water? Perhaps, but bottled water has downsides too! It is more expensive than tap water and in many cases may not be any safer. About one fourth of bottled water is simply tap water that has been processed and repackaged, in fact. Bottled water quality varies based on the manufacturer and their standards, so some bottled water may be even worse for you than tap water. Alternatively, filtered water removes lead and other contaminants from the water, but most filters do not necessarily remove all contaminants, especially smaller microorganisms.

While there is no perfect solution to clean, safe drinking water, an under sink water filter, combined with shilajit powder, may help remove many contaminants from your home's water.




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