Among other things, tap water contains chlorine as a disinfectant. This gets rid of bacteria and prevents the spread of diseases carried by pipes and potential infiltrations, but once it is clean and out of your tap, do you need to drink that much of it? Besides, there are other impurities that can make their way into your drinking water in the space between the nearest filtering station and your house, especially in crisis situations. So here is why you should consider filtering water at home, all the time!
The Benefits of Filtering Water At Home
1. It’s Better For Your Health
On top of the chlorine, the water that comes out of your tap contains salts and minerals that can dry your skin and hair. Filter these out by using a house-wide filter or one that attaches to your tap. These will also help in the situation when the general water supply has been contaminated in the case of a disaster or system failure because they clean the water all the time. This means that when the tap water is not safe to drink or use, you already have a system in place to clean it without you knowing or having to worry about it. Prepare for a tough situation before you are in that situation and filter your water!
2. It Helps The Environment
You need to have water stored for emergencies if you are to be truly prepared. The alternatives are to either store bottled water or to have your own storage. The first option is not really environmentally friendly, because it involves plastic bottles on top of plastic bottles, just to be ready for the first 72 hours. Those bottles need to be produced, filled, transported, and when you are done with them either recycled or sent to a landfill. It’s more green to just filter tap water, which is the same as the bottled water and store it in your own containers.
3. Filtering Tap Water Helps Your Finances
It may not seem like installing water filtering systems is cost-effective, and in the short run, it probably isn’t. But being prepared means thinking ahead and going for the long game, And in the long run filtering tap water at home is more cost-effective for multiple reasons. First, it saves you the price of the bottles you would otherwise buy. Even a filtering and storing system will prove cheaper the longer you use it. Second, it saves you medical costs. The salts and minerals in the water build up in your body and can manifest as kidney stones, which need medical attention. Better prevent them and filter the water that comes out of your tap!
4. It’s Very Convenient
Being prepared for anything is very much about making tasks automatic so you don’t have to think about them. Automatic doesn’t mean relying on electricity though. Let’s take a look at water: even a simple filtering system, like a pitcher, can make your life so much easier. You can refill it at any moment, it looks good and you don’t have to worry about storing bottles. This way, you are always prepared to receive guests and you have as much water as you need! House-wide filtering systems are even easier and more convenient. With one of those, you are ready for dirty water and you don’t even have to worry about it. Your appliances and pipes will be better for it too!
5. It Contributes To Education and Awareness
You can use the filtering system to teach and prepare your children and, why not, your friends, for situations when water is scarce or dirty. So many places function without running water, and with the installation of the filters, you can take the opportunity to teach water awareness. If you are installing a house-wide filtering system you might have to store water and use only that for a day or two. Take this opportunity to see how you and your family handle a tight spot, tech responsibility, and how important water is for life. Become aware of your own privilege and at the same time become more prepared to handle situations when water is low. Study the filters you have with your children and use them to explain how to purify water in a crisis and make sure you are all prepared for the worst.
How Filtering Water At Home Works
Most water filters work the same, and it is important to know how they do, so you can recreate the system in a pinch. The basic idea is to pass the water through layers and layers of various sizes and textures. These stop, in turn, large and small particles, and the different chemical components of the filters also remove viruses and bacteria. For example, a classic pitcher filter contains activated charcoal and some also contain silver ions to disinfect the water passing through. Just tear apart a used water filter and see what is inside.
To recreate the filtering system, you can use multiple layers of cloth, fine sand, and why not, finely powdered charcoal from a safe wood fire. To be sure the water is safe to drink, you should also boil it after filtering. Tap water is a different situation. If you have no reason to doubt the public water source is safe and clean, filtering is enough, but if there is news of contaminated water, you should boil even the water that comes out of your tap. Use boiled water to drink, wash fruit and vegetables and dishes. Keep yourself and your family safe by being prepared to do all it takes to get them clean, safe water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to filter tap water?
There is no “best” way to filter tap water, rather you need to find the best filtering solution for your particular needs. We recommend getting a water testing kit or contacting your local authorities to test the water for you. After the test is done, you should now know what the pollutants in your water are. Depending on said pollutants, it’s time to figure out which filtration method you should choose. For all intents and purposes, many people prefer reverse osmosis systems because they not only filter water but also soften it without adding any sodium. Though, to be fair, that method tends to waste a lot of water.
How do I filter my tap water without a filter?
One of the most effective filtration methods in an emergency is distillation, though it isn’t always convenient as it takes a lot of time to perform and requires a distiller. Another method is boiling, though that isn’t all that effective because it won’t completely filter out everything, especially sediment and other similar pollutants. But without taking too much of your time, here is one article about effectively filtering and storing water.
What is the healthiest water to drink?
Ironically, the healthiest option for drinking is tap water – with the condition that you filter it first. You see, bottled water or softened water might contain small traces of sodium, whilst tap water doesn’t as long as you filter it properly. Another reason for this is that hard water straight from the tap contains magnesium and calcium, which are highly beneficial elements for anybody. Yes, if we’re talking solely about drinking, then hard water should be your go-to solution thanks to its numerous benefits. Overall, you’re better off getting a filter or a reverse osmosis system with a remineralization feature.
Filtering Through
So here are the benefits of filtering water at home, along with a few tips on how to do it yourself in a pinch. Don’t forget to tell us why you installed (would install) a filtering system and what is your favorite part about having one! The comments section is open and waiting for your stories!
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