Safe Drinking Water
A major misconception about safe drinking water is that it only comes from a bottle bought in the supermarket. Many consumers believe they are helpless when it comes to the quality of water emerging from their faucets. In fact, the opposite is true. Federal regulations governing bottled water only apply if it is transported across state lines, and then only require it to be as good as tap water. Most bottled water is bottled and sold within the same state to avoid these regulations. Therefore, there are no assurances or requirements that bottled water is of any higher quality than tap water.
A recent National Resource Defense Council report focused on the fact that 60 to 70 percent of all bottled water is exempt from the FDA's standards because it is bottled and sold within the same state. According to the NRDC, bottled water companies have used this loophole to avoid complying with basic health standards, such as those that apply to municipally treated tap water. What you also may not know is that carbonated or sparkling waters are completely exempt from FDA guidelines that set specific contamination limits. What this means is that the "safe" water you pay high prices for at the store may potentially be more harmful to you than your own tap water.
Water Purification Systems: Affordable and Dependable
The reality of bottled water is that people pay from $1 to $4 a gallon for what they perceive to be higher quality water, when in fact the quality of bottled water is at best unknown. Point-of-use water treatment, such as a countertop water filter or an under the counter device, is by far the most economical, convenient and effective way of producing healthy, great tasting water. Filtering out the chlorine, lead and other contaminants with a quality home water purification system is the only way to know for sure that you have safe drinking water.
If you're wondering just who is keeping any sort of an eye on water quality, look to the National Sanitation Foundation. They are a non-profit organization that provides an unbiased, independent view of water treatment standards and practices. NSF rates product claims, manufacturing practices, product design, and even advertising for many water treatment products on the market. When a product earns the NSF seal of approval, it will be noted on the packaging. This certification means that the component or product has been tested and meets NSF's strict water quality guidelines.
