Do I Need to Use Filters or Softeners to Make My Water Safe?
There are some parts of the country where the drinking water may technically be safe to use, but you’ll find much better results by using a filter or water softener—and between the two, water filtration in Scottsdale, AZ is definitely the way to go. A water softener can help you get your drinking water to taste better, but it doesn’t do nearly as much as filtration to actually clean the water and make it safer.
About hard water and water softeners
Hard water is water that has more dissolved solid materials in it than average. Examples of these substances include magnesium and calcium. It’s also likely to have a higher concentration than average of multivalent cations. This water isn’t contaminated, but it can be quite a nuisance and at the very least result in your drinking water having a poor taste, or your laundry or dishes having leftover residue on them after being washed.
Water softeners essentially act as a magnet to remove these particles. The water goes through a system with sodium ions, and then the chemicals and substances found in the water exchange their ions with the sodium ions. This results in those substances being sucked out of the water. Really, though, all this process does is exchange calcium and other substances for salt—the water isn’t really any safer for use than the tap water, it just removes some unwanted substances and makes the water saltier.
Opting for filtration
If your goal is safer, more “pure” water, then filtration is your better bet. This doesn’t just focus on removing the calcium from the drinking water—it removes other harmful contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chlorine, chloramines and much more.
The ability to remove chlorine is particularly beneficial. In small amounts, chlorine is quite safe in water. In fact, it’s been used for decades as a primary means of disinfecting public drinking water, which means it helps provide more people with clean water they can drink. However, too much chlorine in water can result in an increased risk of some types of cancer for people. Studies from the National Cancer Institute indicate cancer risks are nearly twice as high for people who consume chlorinated water than for people who consume unchlorinated water.
Other cities use chloramines as a primary disinfecting agent for their municipal water. They don’t create as many byproducts in the water as chlorine, and remain in the water all the way through the distribution network. However, you may still wish to filter them out of your system once they actually come into your home and out of your taps.
So, do you absolutely need softeners or filters to make your water safer to drink? Not necessarily. Most areas of the country have water that is not contaminated and is safe to use on an everyday basis. But there are certainly many benefits associated with water filtration in Scottsdale, AZ! Contact WES Water today to learn more about how we can help you enjoy clean, fresh water!
Categorised in: Water Purification System