Water FAQs
Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions page of waterfiltering.com. Bring your water questions here, and not only get an answer, but many times a link to a helpful, informative article that will answer more of your questions.
- How much water does a person need to drink in a day?
- How much of the body is made of water?
- How do I know if my tap water is safe to drink?
- How will I know if my (tap) water isn�t safe to drink?
- What should I do if my tap water isn�t safe to drink?
- What is an annual drinking water quality report (also called a consumer confidence report)?
- How can I get my (tap) water tested?
- What is a drinking water standard?
- My water tastes/looks/smells funny. Why?
- What should I know if I�m concerned about a specific contaminant?
- If I have a compromised immune system, should I drink my (tap) water?
- If I have my own drinking water well, do I have to get it tested myself?
- Is bottled water better than tap water?
- Do I need a home filtration system?
- Where does drinking water come from?
- How can I help protect my drinking water sources?
- How many public water systems exist in the United States today?
- How can I learn more about my public water system?
- What is the best container for storing filtered water?
- Do water treatment products require FDA approval?
- Are whole house water filtration systems better than counter top models?
- Are there benefits to magnetic water treatment?
- Are filters considered water purifiers?
- How does a water softener differ from other water filtering products?
- Why would filtered water appear cloudy?
- Do people with well water need shower filters?
- Are shower filters as important as drinking water filters?
- Do filter systems reduce the amount of radon in the water?
- Is chlorine harmful?
- Why is chlorine used if it is so harmful?
A person should generally drink 8 eight ounce glasses of water a day. If you are living in a hot or humid environment, that number should be higher.
The body is at least 70% water. That percentage can fluctuate up and down depending on body composition, environment, and how much water you drink.
Over 90% of city water systems meet the EPA�s standards for quality tap water, but if you are concerned, you can contact your water provider for more information.
The water provider must notify every customer by newspaper, television news, radio, or hand-delivered flyers if tap water doesn�t meet EPA standards, or if there is a problem such as a water main break.
The notification from your water provider should have instructions on how to sterilize your own tap water in an emergency.
An annual drinking water quality report is a report that water providers must deliver to their customers. It includes which contaminants have been found in the drinking water over the past year and how that compares to EPA standards on how much should be in the water.
Before getting your water tested, you should obtain a recent copy of the annual drinking water quality report to see which contaminants are in your water and at what level. If you still want to check for contaminants, such as lead, which varies from house to house, you will have to use a separate testing agency.
Drinking water standards are standards created by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act to outline the limit as to how much of a certain contaminant, in a total list of 90, that is allowed in drinking water without having any long-term effects on the person drinking it.
Even if water meets EPA standards, you may not find it aesthetically or palatably pleasing. This does not mean that your water is contaminated. For less of a chlorine smell/flavor, let the water sit out in open air, or try getting a water filter.
Any contaminant in water, if below EPA standards, does not pose a significant threat to normal, healthy people. Young children and those with compromised immune systems should be more careful as to the water they drink. If you are concerned about a specific contaminant, obtain the most recent copy of the annual drinking water quality report for the levels of it in your water.
If you have a compromised immune system from such things as chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS, you should consult your doctor after providing him or her with a copy of the annual drinking water quality report for your water provider.
Yes, you have to get your own drinking water well water tested yourself. The EPA suggests having this done every year, and even more frequently if there is any risk of contamination.
It depends on the manufacturer. Bottled water doesn�t have to meet any other standards than those set by the EPA for tap water, but many bottled water manufacturers take steps to filter out more substances in water.
If your water is to EPA standards, then the only reason you would need a filtration system is because of the taste of the water in your home or a little extra security.
Drinking water comes from two sources: ground water sources, and surface water sources. Ground water sources include wells that tap into aquifers, while surface water sources include rivers, lakes, and streams.
Protection of drinking water sources should be a community-wide effort. Contact your local state source water protection program for more information on how you can help through education, conservation, and other ways to protect drinking water sources.
There are nearly 170,000 public water systems in the United States today.
You can either contact your local water system provider or the EPA.
A glass pitcher is the best choice for storing filtered water. Some plastics can leave plastic deposits within the water, which defeats the purpose of it being filtered.
Yes and no. While there are no regulations stating how well a water filter must work, there are FDA regulations stating that all parts must be made of food grade quality materials.
The counter top models are by far the better systems. These allow you to drink the water right as you filter it and make you aware of problems before they become too serious.
While manufacturers claim there are, no studies have proven that magnetic water treatment helps or harms water in any way.
Technically no, because filters do not remove all bacteria, minerals, and other contaminants to make the water nothing but pure hydrogen and oxygen, and that is what the definition of �pure� water is.
Water softeners are not designed to improve the overall healthiness of water. They are simply there to decrease the amount of minerals that make water �hard.�
Usually this means some air bubbles got into the system.
If the water tests within the EPA standards, then it isn�t a need. But shower filters can help your physical appearance.
Certainly, since your body can absorb 10-50% more impurities and minerals from a 10 minute shower than it can from drinking a glass of the same water.
Yes, regular carbon filters will reduce the amount of radon in water if that is a problem in your area.
While there is no conclusive proof, studies have shown that there may be increased risks of cancer in people who drink water that has high levels of chlorine.
Chlorine is used because it is a cheap way to prevent waterborne illness.