Some people might mistakenly think that water treatment is something that only takes place at local treatment plant or large public buildings. But the truth is that the type of water treatment that you can benefit from the most should take place right at home! Today we’re going to talk about the role residential water filters play in the treatment process and the many ways you’ll benefit every day by filtering the water in your home!
What role do residential water filters play in the treatment process?
Your tap water likely originates in a body of water like a lake or a river. It then flows into a nearby treatment plant, where sediment is removed from the water and disinfectants like chlorine or chloramine are added. These disinfectants kill off dangerous pathogens that could otherwise spread deadly waterborne illnesses. After water leaves your treatment plant, it travels through a series of public pipes until it gets to your home.
Since water has already been treated by your treatment plant by the time it gets to your home, it should be perfectly safe to drink, right? Not so fast! As it turns out, there are a number of different water contaminants that are not removed or monitored for by your treatment plant.
In addition, the disinfectants that are added to public water supplies can create dangerous chemical byproducts that have been linked to serious illnesses after long-term exposure. Add that to the fact that water can pick up even more contaminants as it travels to your home and it should be easy to see why you would want to filter your home’s water before consuming it or putting it to use.
A residential water filter provides a last line of defense from all of the contaminants that are commonly found in tap water. The right filter will remove:
- The contaminants that your water treatment plant missed or ignored
- The contaminants that were picked up as water traveled to your home
- Traces of the disinfectants that were added to your water when it was treated.
Benefits of having water filters in homes
Filtering your water at home isn’t just great for your health; it can also provide you with benefits you might never have considered every day at home. These benefits include:
- Making food and beverages taste better. By removing offensive tastes and smells from your water, a residential water filter can improve the taste of the food and beverages you cook at home.
- Making showers more satisfying. By removing chlorine and hardness minerals from your water, your showers will feel better and your skin and hair will come out much smoother.
- Getting better results from dishwashers and washing machines. Certain water contaminants (such as iron) can stain your dishes and clothes when you use your dishwasher and washing machine. In addition, if your home has hard water, soaps and detergents will not later as well and your dishes will come out spotty, foggy and/or streaky. Filtering your water at home will keep your clothes’ colors intact and make your dishes shiny and spot-free.
- Protecting your plumbing system. There are a number of common water quality issues that can either clog or corrode your plumbing system. Examples include acidic water, hard water or water that’s high in contaminants like zinc or iron. By filtering your water at home, you can avoid expensive calls to the plumber and keep your water flowing freely out of your taps.
If you have any questions about water filters for your house, or if you’d like a water system serviced or installed in your home, contact North Carolina Water Consultants, your water softener and whole house water filter dealer in North Carolina and South Carolina. We provide service all over the Carolinas, including towns like Catawba, Stanley and Dallas, NC.