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Based in part on an interview with Chris Lee, chemist and water-treatment consultant based in Seattle.

Last issue we looked at in-home water quality: the history of drinking-water regulations, how to research the condition of your water and the contaminants you might find. (See "Purely Water: In-Home Water Quality," Issue #7 or read it in our Articles Archive at www.polishingstone.com.) Part 2 brings us to action — selecting an in-home water filtration system. Grab a tall glass of water while we look at our options...

Water filtration can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. If you're just looking for a bit of backup for the purification your municipal water supply already provides, you might be satisfied with a simple pour-through pitcher. Or it may make sense to remove certain contaminants throughout your house. Perhaps you're considering whether you want to install and maintain a system yourself. Chris Lee says that "budget and logistics" drive most in-home water purification decisions. His water-treatment clients often start with the desire to remove every possible contaminant and then begin to prioritize based on cost and ease of access to their plumbing system. Whether you've found time to research your water quality or just want a "good filter," Chris suggests answering two questions: What don't you like about your water and which of those things are you going to change? (See the grid on page 16 to match contaminants to appropriate water-treatment technologies. See boxes on this page and page 15 for an explanation of how these technologies work.)

Sticker Shock: There's no way around it, purer water is going to cost you. If you are on a municipal water supply, you are paying pennies per 100 gallons of water. In-home filtering will cost about 2 - 50 cents per one gallon of water. With an astonishing differential like that, you might want to grab the next Brita-style pitcher and a 3-pack of filters and head on home. But it is actually less expensive over time to purchase a more comprehensive water-purification system, even if it's a single countertop filter cartridge or a simple combination of cartridges under the sink.

Hidden Costs: Some proprietary systems are difficult to maintain without calling a service technician and can limit your options as technologies improve. Consider choosing standard filter cartridges instead or a system that you're able to maintain yourself. Chris recommends asking three questions before you buy: What are all the components that you will need to replace on a regular schedule? What are all the replacement parts that typically go bad over life of the product? And what is the life of the product?

Shopping Savvy: The water-quality improvement industry is extremely competitive. "Consider the source" is an essential piece of advice. Lowering the overall price — and thereby winning bids — can be achieved by suggesting a product that is not a good technological match to your needs or by recommending maintenance and filter-replacement schedules that are less frequent than the manufacturer's guidelines require. That can render your filtration ineffective, and you might end up with water that's more contaminated than you started with.

Single Faucet or Whole House? Are you simply looking for purer drinking water, or do you want to take a shower without dousing yourself in chlorine? Some contaminants affect both drinking and secondary water uses. For example, excessive iron stains toilets orange and deposits rust spots on your clothing. Your goals will determine where to install. Point-of-use (POU) filtering targets one water outlet and includes pour-through carafes, faucet attachments and countertop and under-the-sink systems. Point-of-entry (POE) or whole-house systems treat water directly from the main water-supply line before it's distributed throughout the home.

Your choice to use either or both will depend upon access to plumbing and the type and origin of contaminants you've decided to filter. Renters are often limited to simple POU choices, but homeowners or renters who have access to the main water-supply line can install a variety of POE systems. Even with a POE system, you might need a little backup filtering at POU for contaminants such as lead, which can leach from the in-house piping or the faucets themselves.

Do it Yourself: Simple problems can have very user-friendly solutions: Poor-tasting water might only need an easy-to-install carbon filter. Even semi-complicated systems are not out of reach if you are willing to do the research and have an aptitude for home maintenance. If the diagnosis is complex, you can hire a consultant and then do the installation yourself. Chris says, "There aren't so many bad products out there as there are bad applications of products." Over time, a good consultant may discover new uses for technologies or effective products whose manufacturers simply cannot afford glossy brochures or certification with the National Sanitation Foundation (see NSF in resources).

Just a "Good Filter," Please... Perhaps your granular carbon Brita-style pitcher feels "not enough," yet the mere thought of researching an appropriate system crumbles your resolve to do anything at all. Consider this: Good block carbon filters will remove quite a lot of what might ail your drinking water and are simple to install. They come in a range of prices and levels of sophistication. Choose one with a filter that is large enough to allow more contact time with your water. It also should be coated with heavy-metal-adsorption material (particularly for lead removal). Try a countertop unit that attaches to your faucet, rated as long-lived (the higher the gallon count the longer it lasts). Post a filter-replacement schedule on your calendar and stick to it.

If you'd like something a bit more comprehensive, under-the-sink reverse osmosis (RO) units have become cost competitive. Combined, as they generally are, with activated carbon filters, these systems will cover most water-quality issues. If you definitely want to "get rid of it all," a distiller produces the purest water. Some distill right into a water pitcher for convenient use.

Eco-Impact: "The most eco-friendly way of dealing with water is to accept that you have a decent municipal supply (at least in the Seattle area) and not treat it," says Chris Lee with a laugh. Each technology has some environmental drawbacks: high water or energy use, throw-away components, high plastic and polymer content or non-earth-friendly manufacturing processes. Though there are ways to minimize some of the eco-impact, this is definitely an industry ready for environmental breakthroughs.

Whatever route you select — buying a proprietary system or cobbling together one of your own — doing something consistently will inevitably improve your health. There is no greater gift than good water; treat it well...

Types of Filtration

Choosing the Filtration System that's Right for You

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