Filtered Water vs Tap Water - Which is Safer?

Hardly a day goes by that we don't hear some story in the news about toxins or contaminants in the water supply. Can we trust the water that comes out of our taps anymore? Or are the stories overblown and represent only a small number of unusual cases? Judging by the number of people getting home water filters from Clean & Clear Water, most people are not trusting the water.

The question really isn't about which is safer, since there isn't any particular risk to filtered water. The issue is more about whether or not filtered water is really any better than your tap water.

What's in Tap Water?

Before you can compare filtered water to tap water, you need to have an idea of what kinds of possible pollutants can be in your tap water to start with.

The EPAdoes keep a close eye on possible contaminants in municipal water supplies, and will takes steps when problems arise. As the situation in Flint Michigan has shown us, you just never know when a water supply will still end up with dangerous levels of toxins. Policies alone don't protect you, and organizations like the National Resources Defense Council work hard to get these laws enforced.

So, you can't assume your water is clean just because it's supposed to be. And on that note, you may have any of the following common contaminants in your tap water:

·Arsenic
·Cadmium
·Copper
·Lead
·Barium
·Nitrates
·Mercury
·Radium
·Ammonia
·Percholorate
·Various bacteria, microbes and viruses (like E.coli)

And of course, there are the popular intentional contaminants, fluoride and chlorine. Though added for our health and safety, they aren't necessarily something you want to be drinking on a regular basis from the tap.

How Does Filtering Help?

This will depend a lot on what kind of filter you're working with. Small charcoal-based filters (like you would see in a jug filter) has a more limited range than a larger reverse osmosis system, for example.

Even the smallest carbon filter will remove the chlorine in your water, and that alone can improve the taste and safety of your water. You'll need something better for a more thorough filter. A solid block carbon filter will remove quite a lot of these toxins, and a large reverse osmosis system does too. If you get serious with a whole-house multi-stage filter, then you can remove almost every possible threat from your water.

So Which is Better?

It goes without saying that removing toxins, contaminants or pollutants from your water is always going to be better than not doing anything. It will partly depend on the nature of your water supply in the first place, and the kind of filter system you are using. If you have very clean water and only use a basic charcoal filter, you may not be doing any good at all. On the other hand, if your supply is contaminated and you have a better quality filter in place, you will definitely be making your drinking water safer.