With so much information about the contamination of drinking water supplies in the news lately, many people run right out and purchase a home water filter to reduce and remove contaminants of health concern. While we agree, the best way to battle the ever increasing threats to our drinking water is to use a water filter, not all filters are created equal.
Turns out the most popular water purification products DO NOT reduce or remove the most dangerous water contaminants. As consumers, we have a right to know if the products we buy do what they say they will do. For water filtration, we expect the unit purchased will clean our water and make it safe to drink. But, is the filter purchased doing the job? How do we know?
Enter NSF International
NSF International is an independent agency dedicated to public health and safety. NSF does not mean National Science Foundation as some may think. NSF was founded in 1944 as the National Sanitation Foundation, they changed our name to NSF International in 1990 and expanded their services beyond sanitation and into global markets. The letters in the organization’s name do not represent any specific words today.
Manufacturers, regulators and consumers look to NSF International for the development of public health standards and certification programs that help protect the world’s food, water, consumer products and environment. Their mission is to protect and improve global human health. As an independent, accredited organization, they develop standards, and test and certify products and systems. They provide auditing, education and risk management solutions for public health and the environment.
NSF and Water Purification
When making a water filter purchase, it is important to do the research. Look for the NSF seal of approval. Then read the fine print. Products are certified for many aspects by NSF. The seal on some water filter products is actually not for the contaminants it reduces, but rather for the durability of the unity itself. So look at the fine print to see what is actually certified. Or better yet, visit NSF International’s website and look up the brand you are considering. Find out why it is certified.
Here is a good image comparing some popular home water filtration products.
Everyone should use a quality home water purification system to insure that their water is safe to drink. The purchase of a water filter must be taken seriously so the correct filter is purchased. There is a lot of information on the quality of home water treatment products. Make sure you are purchasing the one that will reduce the most contaminants.