City Water
Cities are primarily supplied by surface water from rivers and lakes. Although this type of water has a lot of contaminants and pollutants, it goes through a variety of cleaning processes before it ever enters your home. If the water has sub-terrain sources such as aquifers and springs, less filtration is usually required. Filters for City Water
(Article Pending - Check out details online:) Whole Home Water Filters Under Counter Filters/Alkalizers Counter Top Filters/Alkalizers Well Water
Well water comes straight from underground, and while it doesn’t go through the same cleaning process, the water is filtered naturally as it slowly trickles from the surface into underground reservoirs. 
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City water processing |
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Well water from deep sources is usually more pure than surface water.
Shallow well water can be unsafe; a well 40 feet deep or less has the chance of contamination. Excess Minerals
Water is considered to be “hard” if it contains an excess of minerals. Recommendations have been made for the maximum and minimum levels of calcium (40–80 ppm) and magnesium (20–30 ppm) in drinking water. Minerals in your water can build up on your glassware, shower door, fixtures, clothes or other items throughout your home. Iron Overload
More concerning than excess minerals is excess iron. Ground water, especially if the water is acidic, in many places contains excessive amounts of iron. Iron causes reddish stains on plumbing fixtures and clothing, and can lead to health problems. Iron can build up in vital organs, even in mild cases of iron overload, increasing the risk for diseases of the liver (cirrhosis, cancer), heart attack or heart failure, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, hypothyroidism and hypogonadism. Iron mismanagement resulting in overload can accelerate such neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer’s, early-onset Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Test First
The E.P.A. advises that you test well water annually, especially if you see signs of trouble like corroded pipes, strange odors or stained laundry. Determine which contaminants to test for. Underground water can vary greatly from one location to another. Therefore, it is wisest to get your well water tested before installing a filtration system. Ask for guidance from the lab or your local health/water department on which contaminants to test for. Find out whether radon or heavy metals like arsenic are present in underground rocks or soils in your area. Tell the laboratory if you live near a farm, an industrial cattle-feeding operation, a gas station, a mine, a factory, a dump, dry cleaners, gas stations, and/or automobile repair shops, as you may wish to consider testing for VOCs, metals, total dissolved solids (TDS), and petroleum hydrocarbons. Well owners in agricultural and livestock areas may consider testing for pesticides, nitrate, bacteria, and TDS. “Must Do” Well Testing
- Arsenic - If arsenic levels are over 10 parts per billion, homeowners should consider installing a water filtration system or change their source of water - Iron/Manganese - if one is at high levels, the other is likely high too - Total Coliform Bacteria - Nitrates - Radioactive Isotopes – Radon, Uranium Commonly observed well water contaminants are summarized in this PDF report. Microbes (viruses and bacteria) can come from sewage, septic systems, animal operations, and wildlife. Minerals, including salts, nitrate, and metals, can be naturally-occurring or can result from human activities at the surface. Pesticides and herbicides from agricultural, urban storm water, and residential uses can be found in well water. Pesticides or herbicides should not be applied within 100 feet of a private domestic well. Chemicals from industry, gasoline stations, agriculture, storm water runoff, and septic systems have been detected in groundwater. Radioactive elements typically occur naturally; however, human activities at the surface can release naturally occurring radioactive elements from sediments and bedrock. Table 1 outlines several common problems in drinking water, and substances you can test for. Not every problem and possible cause is a health risk. (Less-frequently encountered water quality issues are not listed in Table 2.) Consult a water treatment professional if your particular water quality problem is not listed.
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Filters for Wells
The best filters utilize a blend of high-grade activated carbon. The purpose of combining two types of carbons is to gain a wider range of contaminant filtering capabilities offered from each type of carbon. A good activated carbon filter and a small micron ceramic filter also works well together. These media are designed to filter chlorine, chloramines, pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, industrial solvents and hundreds of other contaminants that may be present in your water. Well water can be far more dangerous than municipal water, containing levels of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, barium, lead and uranium that are already way above the limits known to cause health problems. Arsenic, even at municipally accept levels is now implicated in type 2 diabetes. |
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