At iWater, we believe quality drinking water is a fundamental right of every American. To that end, we designed this website to provide you with unbiased, helpful insights and tips to help you improve the water quality in your home or community.
Concerned about the quality of water your family is drinking? There are solutions. Education is the key to empowering consumers, which is why our website focuses on content that provides insight into popular brands as well as DIY solutions for improving water quality.
Some of the things we love to talk about here at iWaterPurification include:
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No matter where you live, there are opportunities to improve the quality of water you consume. As home quality water experts, we’re here to help you make informed, educated choices on the best water quality products for your home. Even water supplied by your city is vulnerable to contaminants. Public water systems are tested routinely and health violations can occur. If you rely on a well for your water, it’s even more imperative that you regularly test your water for impurities.
source: Environmental Working Group
Investing in water filtration for your home is not as costly as you might think. The benefits of healthy drinking water include:
Published in 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency’s report on Drinking Water provides a snapshot of the quality of our drinking water supply.
The problem of water quality is in fact much broader and deeper than EPA statistics suggest. Reports by the US Census Bureau indicate that 1.6 million Americans live in facilities that lack “complete plumbing facilities”. This, of course, does not include communities that have plumbing but unreliable access to healthy drinking water, as is the case with residents of Flint, Michigan.
Generally speaking a city water department, otherwise known as a CWS, supplies water to residences in most communities across the US. Your public water supply is provided through an intricate system. First, water is pumped into a large reservoir or tank from a nearby body of freshwater. The water tank sits on a high point of land. A vast network of pipes and pressure valves connect the homes in your neighborhood to the water tower, which uses the flow of gravity to distribute the water. Rural communities rely on a local well, which functions in a similar manner as the public water system. A large reservoir basin catches rainfall. The water is then filtered for sediments. A pump uses simple pneumatic pressure to regulate the flow of water as needed.
Perhaps the most common water problem households face is hard water. While it’s not considered a health risk, repeated use of hard water in your home can produce minor rashes, irritations and increase wear and tear on your water tank.
Whether you’re a new homeowner or a long-time resident, healthy drinking water adds years to your life and greater value to your home. Your plumbing and septic systems should be tested and reviewed regularly to ensure the best water quality for you and your loved ones at all times.
Some of the most common reasons for improving water quality include:
So how exactly can you tell if your home water quality has been compromised? According to the EPA, there are 4 key symptoms:
If you experience any of the above, chances are you need to improve your water quality.
Once you’ve tested the water supply for contaminants and health risks, the next step is to treat your water. The process for purifying your water will vary depending on the type of contamination.
There are three methods for homeowners to improve water quality. We’ll also provide you with a few product recommendations to help you get started.
Ready? Then let’s begin!
Once you’ve tested the water supply for contaminants and health risks, the next step is to treat your water. The process for purifying your water will vary depending on the type of contamination.
There are three methods for homeowners to improve water quality. We’ll also provide you with a few product recommendations to help you get started.
Ready? Then let’s begin!
Hard water refers to drinking water that may contain a build up of minerals such as magnesium and calcium. The more calcium or magnesium, the harder the water. The build-up appears on plumbing fixtures and can reduce the effectiveness of soap/detergents, but poses no health risk.
If your water is hard, you’ll notice these signs:
You may also experience slight skin irritation from soap curds, and film on your hair after washing. In addition, repeated use of hard water in your washer and dishwasher can significantly reduce the lifespan and efficiency of your appliances as the mineral build-up increases over time.
So how do you choose the best water softener for your home? There are 3 basic methods:
Before investing in a mechanical water softening unit, perform a test for iron content and hardness levels. In some cases, you may not need to soften the water at all. Instead, managing iron and manganese levels could be a better option.
| Classification: | Milligrams per litre (PPM) | Grains per gallon |
|---|---|---|
| Very Hard | 180 + | 10.5 + |
| Hard | 120 – 180 | 7.0 – 10.5 |
| Moderately Hard | 60-120 | 3.5 – 7.0 |
| Slightly Hard | 17.1 – 60 | 1.0 – 3.5 |
| Soft | 0 – 17.1 | 0 – 1 |
Your water softener unit will need to regenerate to remove hardness from your water supply daily.
Not sure which softener is right for your home? Check out our Review of The Best Water Softeners in 2024.
Another great method for improving water quality is a water filtration system. Water filters use 2 basic methods for removing impurities: a) chemical and (b) physical.
Physical filters use a strainer to remove dirt. Chemical filters pass water through an active material with purifying chemical properties.
There are 4 different types of water filtration:
A) Distillation
Distillation, the most common method of purification, which requires boiling water, capturing the steam, then condensing the water again in a separate container. The heat kills off different types of bacteria.
Unfortunately, toxic metals, which boil at a higher temperature than water, are left behind. Other chemicals, such as VOC’s, boil at a lower temperature than water, and can remain after the condensation process.
If you’re buying a distiller for the first time, you might benefit from our Reviews of The Best Water Distillers of 2024.
B) Ion Exchange (Mechanical Water Softener)
The ion exchange method softens water by adding sodium. Sodium is added using zeolite beads, which attract magnesium and calcium ions like a magnet. Ion exchange filters need to be recharged periodically with sodium ions using a special kind of salt.
The high levels of sodium make softened water a bad idea for watering plants, lawns or gardens. It can also be potentially harmful to individuals who must monitor their salt intake for health reasons.
C) Activated carbon
The active carbon method, commonly used by water treatment plants, utilizes charcoal as a purifying filter. The porous nature of charcoal attracts and traps chemical impurities and contaminants in your water through a process called adsorption.
Charcoal, which is highly porous, is great for removing pesticides, industrial solvents and chlorine, but not so effective at removing microbes, limescale, sodium, nitrates, or fluorine.
There is also the added cost of replacing the filters which eventually accumulate dirt and other impurities over time.
D) Reverse Osmosis
In regular osmosis, a filter is used to turn a less concentrated solution into a high concentrated one. Using osmotic pressure, a special porous filter is used to separate the undesired elements as water passes through the filter.
A coffee filter, for example, separates the grains from your coffee. As water passes through the filter, the coffee grains are left behind. In reverse osmosis, however, a more concentrated solution is made less concentrated by reversing the flow. In other words, you’d be turning coffee into water by passing coffee through a special porous filter or membrane that removes the coffee.
Reverse osmosis filters utilize an electric pump to reverse the flow of water through the membrane. The process, however, can result in a lot of wasted water. For every 1 litre of clean water, reverse osmosis discards 4 – 5 litres of wastewater.
Finally, reverse osmosis can remove nitrates, salt, and limescale, but doesn’t remove all contaminants. Bacteria, for example, can get left behind.
Check out our helpful guide to find the best reverse osmosis systems of 2024.
As the name implies, a whole house water filter system purifies water for the entire home at the source. A filtration system is connected to your main water line, before it separates into the hot water heater. With a whole house water filter, water from every faucet will be purified. If your entire home is in need of water purification, then a whole house water filter is what you need. Municipal water is typically free of contaminants, but a whole house water filter ensures the cleanliness of water to all parts of your home.
Standard Capacity Water Cartridge
A water cartridge is useful for removing sediment, chemicals, foul odors and taste. You can purchase a standard capacity water cartridge from a hardware store or department store. Remember to maintain and replace annually for the best results.
Heavy Duty Filtration System
A high performing, heavy duty system uses filter media to purify water entering your home. Once the filter media is placed inside the water tank, you won’t need to replace it for 5 – 10 years.
Still not sure which whole house filtration system to install for your home? You may find our Reviews of The Best Whole House Water Filters useful.
You might be surprised to learn that there are a number of options when it comes to choosing a water bottle. For anyone with a busy schedule, a water bottle is a simple way to stay hydrated, particularly in southern climates and dry seasons when air humidity is at its lowest.
Some of the features you should consider for your water bottle include”
Water Bottle Lids
The lid needs to be secure to prevent leaks and spills while traveling. Flip tops can eventually become loose over time. If you hold the water bottle upside down, the bottle should retain all the water without any leaks.
Bottle Size
Water bottles come in various sizes and there’s no ideal size. Most water bottles fall within the range of 8 oz – 33.8 oz. Choose one that fits comfortably in your carrying bag, purse, or cupholder for the most convenience.
Mouth Width
The width of your bottle’s mouth is important if you like to add things to your water. Ice cubes, for instance, don’t fit neatly through the mouth of your average 12 oz plastic water bottle. Fitting and removing a tea bag from a bottle with a narrow mouth can also be challenging.
Plastic Water Bottles
Plastic material may leave behind harmful bacteria after repeated use, and can leach harmful chemicals into water such as BPA (bisphenol-a).
There are 7 types of plastic to be aware of. Each carries its own unique features and potential risks:
Always look for plastic bottles that are BPA-free. BPA-free plastic bottles are typically shatterproof, lightweight, and dishwasher-safe. Opaque, see-through plastic bottles are generally BPA-free.
Avoid reusing or heating a plastic water bottle. Scratches on the surface can also leach contaminants into your water.
Glass Water Bottles
Glass bottles are a great alternative to plastic. They are recyclable, biodegradable, reusable, and do not alter the taste or chemical composition of water stored.
There are a number of different types of glass. Some glass, such as borosilicate is highly heat resistant. Others retain heat at a higher rate. Many are also designed to be shatterproof, which is handy for traveling.
Stainless Steel Water Bottles
Stainless steel is highly durable, cost-effective, and doesn’t alter the taste/chemical composition of your bottled water. Some metal water bottles, however, contains aluminum, which is not a food-grade material. As a result, manufacturers will often line their steel water bottles with plastic, which can contain BPA or other hazardous chemicals.
The safest kind of stainless steel is #304. If you are going with a metal water bottle, choose a 304 stainless steel one for the safest, most economic option.
Want to know more about water bottles? Read our review of the best glass water bottles!
Clean water and an energy-efficient home go hand-in-hand. By improving your water quality you’ll not only improve your health but reduce your energy bill as well!
While most of our recommendations can be applied without a professional, there are instances when hiring a water quality contractor is best. If you’re concerned about the quality of municipal tap water, or live near an environmentally compromised area, reach out to an expert before investing in a water filtration system.
You should also consult a physician if you’re on a low-sodium diet before treating hard water. In some cases, you may only need a water dispenser, or treatment in one room of the home (ie kitchen, bathroom, washer/dryer room).
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