Off Topic: water filters

Fayk40 · 10-10-17, 06:13 PM

I've been reading more and more that you should filter your tap water. I've been researching water filter systems and feeling overwhelmed with all the chooses. Was wondering if you do what kind you use and if you like it?

Diana3271 · 10-10-17, 08:51 PM

I would like to have a whole house water filtration system, but I don't. Currently we are using Pur for our kitchen faucet at home and the Pur pitchers at work. We can taste a difference between using it vs. not. I don't think it removes all the bad stuff, necessarily, but for us we prefer using it.

bzar · 10-11-17, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diana3271

Currently we are using Pur for our kitchen faucet at home and the Pur pitchers at work. We can taste a difference between using it vs. not. I don't think it removes all the bad stuff, necessarily, but for us we prefer using it.

^2.

there's a video on youtube where someone cracked open a used PUR filter. it was pretty nasty looking.

Pratima · 10-11-17, 02:22 PM

I grew up in northern AZ and didn't have one then. It was fresh mountain water and fine to drink, IMO. Here in the metro Phoenix area, our water is super chlorinated, so much that my kids often say it smells like the swimming pool when they take a shower.

We've always used a reverse osmosis system. Might be overkill for some since it filters out pretty much everything. The water tastes significantly different with it. If your water doesn't taste bad, something like the Pur or Brita might be sufficient.

beyond.omega · 10-11-17, 05:10 PM

I was thinking about water a while back because I live in an area with really disgusting well-water which is tested yearly and safe, but still gross.

Taste is not necessarily an indicator of quality. Most of the really bad stuff in water is tasteless, and sewer water smell, while very unpleasant, is actually not harmful. And then there is cholorination: necessary to kill harmful bacteria, but can result in small amounts of organic compounds that are harmful. Most of these harmful elements are not removed by a basic Brita filter.

If you are really worried about bad stuff in water you should get a reverse osmosis system put in place. Installing one can be expensive, but I think if you can afford it, it's worth it. I can't afford it...plus I rent, so I was thinking about getting 3-gallong jugs to fill at the grocery store, but haven't done it. Right now, I'm just drinking our gross smelling, but tested safe water.

Pratima · 10-11-17, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyond.omega

I can't afford it...plus I rent, so I was thinking about getting 3-gallong jugs to fill at the grocery store, but haven't done it. Right now, I'm just drinking our gross smelling, but tested safe water.

When our r/o system wasn't working (before DH replaced the tank), I was filling up gallons at the grocery store in those big dispensers. My son complained that the water tasted bad! I guess we're all really used to the r/o water.

I don't think it's super expensive though. I think the system was around $200? And we got a handyman to install it, so that was relatively cheap. I drink SO much water, it was definitely worth it. We also have the r/o hooked up to the fridge so we get cold filtered water too.

beyond.omega · 10-11-17, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pratima

When our r/o system wasn't working (before DH replaced the tank), I was filling up gallons at the grocery store in those big dispensers. My son complained that the water tasted bad! I guess we're all really used to the r/o water.

I don't think it's super expensive though. I think the system was around $200? And we got a handyman to install it, so that was relatively cheap. I drink SO much water, it was definitely worth it. We also have the r/o hooked up to the fridge so we get cold filtered water too.

Whole house systems can run upwards of $1000, but would also take care of shower chlorine and hard water. Again, my town's water is safe, but gross, but a whole house system would be awesome. But, yeah, taking care of just your drinking water would be much cheaper way. However, our grocery store offers r/o water, so I think that is better solution for me.

Pratima · 10-11-17, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyond.omega

Whole house systems can run upwards of $1000, but would also take care of shower chlorine and hard water. Again, my town's water is safe, but gross, but a whole house system would be awesome. But, yeah, taking care of just your drinking water would be much cheaper way. However, our grocery store offers r/o water, so I think that is better solution for me.

I'd love to have whole house r/o but I think that's impractical here. The tap water is very hard, so we have a water softener. Without that, the hard water seems to kill everything (clothes, appliances, countertops) pretty quickly, and I can't imagine how often we'd have to change the filter on an r/o system.

Do you buy the r/o water in gallons? I don't think I've seen it here and we could definitely use it.

marki64 · 10-12-17, 12:34 PM

We have always had reverse osmosis for drinking water. My DH installed it under the sink. It's relatively inexpensive. It's the best way to go. We have well water and there is absolutely no bad taste.

Lisa C · 10-12-17, 04:42 PM

We are on well water and have Reverse Osmosis (RO) for our drinking water. This one is very easy to install and it is super easy to change the filters. I like it much better than our previous RO system.
https://www.amazon.com/Brondell-Circ...J9A/ref=sr_1_2

The only problem is filters are expensive. $75 every 6 months. I wouldn't mind so much, but we have a 2nd RO for our refrigerator, so it is is $300 a year. But I do love clean drinking water.

RO might be overkill depending on the quality of your water. When I had access to our city water, we just used a Britta filter for our water and it worked fine.

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10-10-17, 06:13 PM
Fayk40 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Pennsylvania	Off Topic: water filters I've been reading more and more that you should filter your tap water. I've been researching water filter systems and feeling overwhelmed with all the chooses. Was wondering if you do what kind you use and if you like it?

10-10-17, 08:51 PM
Diana3271 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Carolina	I would like to have a whole house water filtration system, but I don't. Currently we are using Pur for our kitchen faucet at home and the Pur pitchers at work. We can taste a difference between using it vs. not. I don't think it removes all the bad stuff, necessarily, but for us we prefer using it. __________________ I started my most recent weight loss journey January 2008. I lost 1/2 of my starting body weight and entered into maintenance May 2011. Now the real work begins! You can fight it, or do what you've got to do to get it done. The choice is yours. ~Diana You have the rest of your life to get old. Stay young, as long as you can. ~Diana 10 Pound Slimdown Xtreme Graduate 02/12 Insanity Graduate - I actually survived! LM Combat 02/13 21 Day Fix Survivor! 6/14 Diana

10-11-17, 02:22 PM
Pratima Exchange Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ	I grew up in northern AZ and didn't have one then. It was fresh mountain water and fine to drink, IMO. Here in the metro Phoenix area, our water is super chlorinated, so much that my kids often say it smells like the swimming pool when they take a shower. We've always used a reverse osmosis system. Might be overkill for some since it filters out pretty much everything. The water tastes significantly different with it. If your water doesn't taste bad, something like the Pur or Brita might be sufficient. __________________ Don't care what people say, just follow your own way. -- Enigma, Return to Innocence DISCLOSURE: I have professional relationships with several producers of fitness videos and related products; please see my profile for details.

10-11-17, 05:10 PM
beyond.omega VF Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006	I was thinking about water a while back because I live in an area with really disgusting well-water which is tested yearly and safe, but still gross. Taste is not necessarily an indicator of quality. Most of the really bad stuff in water is tasteless, and sewer water smell, while very unpleasant, is actually not harmful. And then there is cholorination: necessary to kill harmful bacteria, but can result in small amounts of organic compounds that are harmful. Most of these harmful elements are not removed by a basic Brita filter. If you are really worried about bad stuff in water you should get a reverse osmosis system put in place. Installing one can be expensive, but I think if you can afford it, it's worth it. I can't afford it...plus I rent, so I was thinking about getting 3-gallong jugs to fill at the grocery store, but haven't done it. Right now, I'm just drinking our gross smelling, but tested safe water.

10-12-17, 12:34 PM
marki64 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Wisconsin	We have always had reverse osmosis for drinking water. My DH installed it under the sink. It's relatively inexpensive. It's the best way to go. We have well water and there is absolutely no bad taste.

10-12-17, 04:42 PM
Lisa C VF Supporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chicago suburbs	We are on well water and have Reverse Osmosis (RO) for our drinking water. This one is very easy to install and it is super easy to change the filters. I like it much better than our previous RO system. https://www.amazon.com/Brondell-Circ...J9A/ref=sr_1_2 The only problem is filters are expensive. $75 every 6 months. I wouldn't mind so much, but we have a 2nd RO for our refrigerator, so it is is $300 a year. But I do love clean drinking water. RO might be overkill depending on the quality of your water. When I had access to our city water, we just used a Britta filter for our water and it worked fine. __________________ Lisa C.