Last Updated on January 20, 2022 by TODD FRANZEN
How many times have you heard someone say “I don’t need a water filter because I drink bottled water”. Or “I only drink filtered water at home”? Water treatment misconceptions are common and can lead to some serious health consequences.
Today’s post can give you a quick overview of the most common misconceptions that we hear from our customers on a day-to-day basis.
It’s important to know the facts about what types of filters exist, how they work, and what contaminants they remove before making decisions about your drinking water.
There is a common misconception among many people that buying a big water filter with top-level filtration technology will take care of all the contaminants they need to be concerned about. But here’s the thing, technology has improved immensely. And water has many, many different contaminates in it. In compact, affordable options for everyone!
10 Common misconceptions about filtering water
Water filters are expensive!
Not true! Actually, water filters are reasonably priced. With big ones being slightly more expensive. Many water filters work for various types of needs, so there is always one that fits your budget.
Technology and production have simplified the manufacturing process and in turn, helped really bring down the cost of filters over the last 10 years. Making the treatment of water affordable.
But they can get expensive. Especially when you get into the hole home and commercial type of treatment. Generally speaking though, there are some point-of-use systems that solve a good-sized chunk of the contaminants that are lurking in your water.
I need to hire a plumber for installation!
False! Don’t worry, you don’t have to call up your plumber buddy for the installation of most water filters. Point-of-use water filters are easily installed in under 10 minutes by just about anyone. For those of you out there that have replaced a faucet, adding a filter or purifier is just as easy.
Manufactures saw the value in making these products user-friendly, accessible, and maintainable for anyone with a little DIY intuition. And most come with very clear directions any beginner can accomplish.
People who install water filters themselves are surprised at how easy it is to install! In general, the installation of point-of-use water filters usually takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish. Most of the time, it requires simple tools aside from what’s included in the package.
Maintaining a water filter is a pain in the ass!
Not true! It may be the case with some filters, but not all. There are many water filter systems that can clean themselves. You just have to make sure you set it up initially and then only backwash or flush the filters every couple of months as needed! In fact, reverse osmosis has a self-cleaning feature built-in so you get the convenience of an easy maintenance system.
Some water filters are very low maintenance, others may require more attention depending on the type of filter you decide to get. This is not something to be overly concerned about unless you’re frequently missing reminders or appointments (not that I want to speak for everyone).
And the reality is if you are maintaining it with routine backwashing or flushing, before long your investment will pay for itself with the money you would have spent on bottled water.
Bottled water is a safe solution.
False! Bottled water isn’t perfect. It has to pass the same safety standards as municipal tap water, but it is not tested nearly as frequently or thoroughly.
High-quality point-of-use water filters are tested multiple times before leaving the factory. Point of use systems undergoes thorough testing as well as an NSF certification process for quality. There are many studies that have shown that bottled water is not as clean as most people think. Check out this great reference about Bottled Water Quality from Consumer Reports.
I don’t need to use a filter, my tap water is safe!
Think again. There are tons of different contaminants in tap water that you should be concerned with. This varies depending on where you live. But there are many places in this country where the water quality is compromised, even if the government claims it’s safe for consumption.
There are many different contaminants in tap water and unfortunately, the government doesn’t always manage this very well. Depending on your location, there can be contaminants present in your drinking water that you should take care of with a good water filter!
I don’t have the space!
False! You might feel like you live in the smallest apartment, but the reality is there is always space to be had. Some of the most space-saving filters live under your kitchen sink. Heck, even under your bathroom sink. There are even filters that attach to the sink faucet.
Again, this modern world has afforded us the simplicity and convenience of clean water from any source. A lot of these manufacturers have created foundations to help those that don’t have clean water. especially in third world countries where disease is rampant.
Off-the-shelf water filters remove all water quality concerns including bacteria.
False! Water filters are specific at removing specific things. Carbon filters are good at removing contaminants that cause taste and odor. Things like chemicals and heavy metals. Ion exchange binds pathogens like viruses protozoa’s and bacteria.
If you read the box of a Britta or PUR water filter, it will tell you that it is not a purifier. But they do remove a lot of contaminants. This is the reason why you wanna know what’s in your water before you purchase any water treatment products.
It’s not going to make a difference!?
False! I have to shake my head at this one. There is no such thing as a pure source of water anywhere on earth. All water has some sort of dissolved solids or contaminants of some sort in it.
Take it from me, taking water treatment seriously could be just what you need to get over chronic ailments. It has been huge in my recovery after lymphoma and protecting my vital organs during treatment. This is crucial in maintaining my weight.
It will make a difference in many different areas, not just health!
Removing dissolved solids from water will deprive me of healthy nutrients
False. This is more of a purity and potency issue. We don’t know what is in our water. Some dissolved solids, like magnesium and potassium, need to be filtered because we don’t know how pure they are. Also, it is unknown what type of byproducts are associated with dissolved water naturally.
Medical reports have shown that some inorganic compounds don’t get digested the same way as regular nutrition does.
The thought is if you do your best in the removal of contaminates, the better chance you have at receiving the benefits of all the good stuff.
Softening, filtering, and purifying are all the same
False! Each one of the treatments has a specific purpose. Softening removes dissolved solids, filtering removes sediment, microplastics, and some biological pathogens. Purifying is a broad term that means it can take water from any source and make it biologically dead.
Treating water is interesting. The closest and best personal treatment system I have found is a gravity system that strips the water of most contaminants. And it feels good to know that the treated water that I have created on my own is helping with recovery and giving me a boose in overall health!
If you want to know my top Choice for home water treatment and purified water, Click Here.
Final thoughts
Water treatment is something that needs to be taken seriously by everyone. It’s not just about your health, but also the quality of your water. Water filtration is a complex subject, and we encourage everyone to do some research before choosing a system. We hope this info post has helped clear up some of the top 10 water filter misconceptions in the industry!
Many people are still uninformed about the benefits of clean water. I hope this article has helped to change your perspective on it! And the goal of this post is to have a conversation about issues that are relevant in the water filter industry.
Please let us know what water filter misconceptions you have had in the past.
We would love to address them!