Ever wondered how to find the best water
filter? After all, every brand and type
all make the same claim to deliver the
purest and healthiest, all with equally
sound arguments. What is one to do?
Some of the most common types are listed
below, listing their pros and cons, as
well as a brief explanation. Perhaps,
then, you can decide which the best
water filter.

Reverse Osmosis

A trend of late, reverse osmosis
involves pushing water through a
membrane with extremely small pores
under high pressure. In doing so, much
of the harmful compounds are kept out
(as they can?t pass through the pores);
however, minerals which the body can
benefit from are also retained. In many
cases, other synthetic chemicals can
also get through. As with most reverse
osmosis filtration, a good percentage of
water is wasted not having passed
through, as much as 75%PRCTG%.

Distillation

Although not common in homes,
distillation is still commonly used and
is one of the oldest methods of
filtration. The process is boiling the
water, leaving behind inorganic
contaminants, and then cooling and
condensing it back in its liquid,
drinkable form. Most bacteria are
destroyed during the boiling process. A
downside is not all chemicals are
removed, since some boil faster and
easier and therefore cool with the rest.

Carafe/Pitcher

Frequently seen at retailers and in
homes, and while better than nothing at
all, this filtration system costs the
most and is least efficient. Small,
dispensable carbon filters are purchased
and fixed on the top of a pitcher. Due
to their small size, their capability is
limited to most volatile organic
compounds; bacteria can easily get
through. The filtration process is
often slow and cartridges must be
replaced every couple of months.

Granular Carbon

Another common home filtration system,
here contaminants merge and bond with
granules of carbon. While it is one of
the best water filters to remove organic
compounds it can still leave metals or
other scale-causing contaminants. In
addition, its ability to perform depends
on largely on how much contamination
runs through it (the more, the sooner it
is rendered useless).

Some food for thought, the best water
filter system would be a combination of
these. Ideally, the contaminants,
compounds (both inorganic and organic),
and synthetic chemicals are withheld and
the natural minerals the body needs are
retained. Do yourself a favor and start
comparing each type carefully; the best
water filters have data performance
sheets listing what can and cannot pass
through. In the end, you and your body
will be handsomely rewarded.

Ever wondered how to find the best water filter? After all,
every brand and type all make the same claim to deliver the
purest and healthiest, all with equally sound arguments.
What is one to do? Some of the most common types are listed
below, listing their pros and cons, as well as a brief
explanation.

Technorati Tags : water through filtration filter

How important is water quality testing
to you? Do you know our water supplies
contain more than 2,100 toxic chemicals
that can cause cancer?

Wouldn?t you like to think water quality
testing finds these chemicals and
removes them before the water gets to
your tap? I like to believe that, but I
have found that is not what happens.

Most municipalities use reverse osmosis
to filter the water before they send it
out to your house through ancient pipes.
There are a couple of problems with
this scenario.

First problem is reverse osmosis is
great for some contaminates in water -
mainly the solid particle matter that is
in the water. The liquid toxins are a
different story.

The membranes in the reverse osmosis
systems will not filter out anything
that is equal to or less molecular
weight than water. So what you have
here is a problem with those liquid
chemicals that harm our body. They
remain in the water and we drink the
toxins right along with the water.

Some of these liquids would be weed
killers, pesticides, and liquid
pharmaceutical drugs that our bodies
don?t absorb and are flushed out of our
system into our wastewater that becomes
our drinking water. Unless the reverse
osmosis systems also have other
filtration methods used along with them,
such as carbon filters or sub micron
filters these contaminates are still in
the water.

It?s not something we like to think of
often - what we consume when we think
the water quality testing is enough to
guarantee us pure clean water. The EPA
sets standards for us, but are they
adhered to in all cases? I don?t think
so.

Even if the water is pure and clean when
it left the facility, which I don?t
believe in most cases it is, the second
problem is the ancient pipes that the
water travels in to get to your home.
Most of the pipes under ground are old
and corrosive; leaving dangerous
residues in the water that comes out of
your faucets.

So part of this second concern is - who
does water quality testing after the
water leaves the plant? No one in most
cases, unless you as the consumer
chooses to monitor your own.

Truth of the matter is most of us don?t
test our water. I know I don?t. What
I?ve done instead is I?ve installed a
reliable home water filter on my kitchen
tap water, and a shower filter for my
bathing water.

You can find the home water filter I use
by visiting my web site listed in the
bio section below. You can be assured
of having clean pure water every time
with a system like mine.

How important is water quality testing to you? Do you know
our water supplies contain more than 2,100 toxic chemicals
that can cause cancer?

Technorati Tags : water quality filter testing

Swimming pool filters are absolutely
essential for keeping pool water clear
and clean. By removing debris and
contaminants from the water, filters
help to make your pool a pleasant and
healthy environment for swimming. If
you own an above ground swimming pool,
there are three main types of above
ground pool filters that can be used to
maintain the cleanliness of your pool's
water -- sand filters, cartridge filters
and diatomaceous earth (DE) filters.
Each type of filter works in its own way
and has its own advantages. In order to
decide which type of pool filter will be
the best for your above ground swimming
pool, it's important to understand the
design as well as the pros and cons of
each category.

All pool filters for above ground
swimming pools serve the same purpose
but in a slightly different way.
Ultimately, however, the main function
of swimming pool filters is to remove
dirt, debris and microorganisms from the
pool water. This is achieved with the
help of a swimming pool pump, which
forces the water from the pool to the
filter where the contaminants are
trapped. While this describes the basic
function of all above ground pool
filters, sand pool filters, cartridge
pool filters and DE pool filters differ
in the type of media used to remove
contaminants from the water.

Sand pool filters, for instance, use a
sand-filled pressure vessel to remove
contaminants. Typically, these vessels
will contain a series of chambers, each
one with a bed of special sand referred
to as pool grade #20 silica sand. The
particles of this special type of sand
have sharp edges which separate
contaminant particles, thereby promoting
filtration. As water passes through the
top layer of sand, dirt and other debris
are trapped by the sand while the clean
water is allowed to continue on and exit
through the bottom layer.

As time goes on, the sand will become
clogged by the trapped dirt and debris,
causing the vessel's pressure to rise as
it becomes more and more difficult for
water to pass through. When this
occurs, sand pool filters should be
backwashed, which simply involves
reversing the water flow so the dirt can
be knocked out of the filter and sent to
the waste line. Generally, backwashing
will need to be performed every few
weeks in order to keep your sand filter
working efficiently and effectively.

In contrast to sand pool filters,
cartridge filters use cartridge elements
to remove contaminants from water, just
as their name suggests. These cartridge
elements are often constructed from
reinforced polyester and are reusable.
As the pool pump propels water through a
cartridge filter, the surface of the
cartridge element screens out dirt and
other unwanted particles. Like sand
filters, cartridge pool filters will
eventually come clogged. However, they
are easily removable and can be cleaned
simply by pressure washing with a garden
hose.

DE filters constitute the third category
of above ground pool filters and use
diatomaceous earth to keep water
brilliantly clean. Diatomaceous earth
is a naturally occurring, mined
substance comprised of the fossilized
exoskeletons of diatoms. A porous
powder, DE is used to coat grids found
inside the filter housing, creating a
sieve effect. As water flows through
the powder-coated grids, dirt, dust,
algae and microorganisms are trapped by
the DE and prevented from moving on
through the filtration system with the
water. Similar to sand filters, DE pool
filters need to be cleaned every so
often either by backwashing or by
draining the clogged DE to the pool's
waste line and then recharging the
filter with fresh DE.

Depending upon the type of media used,
and therefore the type of filter used,
you will experience different pros and
cons. To begin with, the different
types of swimming pool filters do not
filter out debris and contaminants with
the same effectiveness. For example,
sand pool filters will trap and remove
debris as small as 20 to 40 microns in
size. However, cartridge filters will
trap debris as small as 10 to 15 microns
while DE pool filters will filter out
debris particles as small as 2 to 5
microns. Obviously this means that DE
pool filters are the most effective at
removing contaminants from above ground
swimming pools.

Of course, the various types of pool
filters for above ground swimming pools
also differ with respect to the ease of
maintenance. As cartridge filters have
a greater surface area than sand and DE
pool filters, they become clogged less
often. Also, many pool owners enjoy the
fact that cartridge filters can be
cleaned in a matter of seconds simply by
washing them down with a hose. Another
great advantage of cartridge swimming
pool filters is that they operate at a
lower pressure than sand and DE filters,
which means that they exert less back
pressure on the pump.

While there are many differences between
the various available above ground pool
filters, all three types of filters will
help you to keep your swimming pool
sparkling clean and clear. By
familiarizing yourself with the
advantages and disadvantages of each
filter category, however, you can choose
the type of filter that will best suit
your swimming pool as well as your
particular pool maintenance routine.

Article provides guidance on selecting right above ground
pool filter for your swimming pool. Find out difference
between cartridge, sand and DE pool filters.

Technorati Tags : filters swimming filter water

If you are planning to buy a pure water
filter, there are some essential facts
that you should know first. These are
the things that you should keep in mind
while selecting a filter from the many
pure water filters available in the
market.

With the increased awareness, most of
us today understand the need and
importance of drinking pure and clean
water. The fact that the quality of the
water supplied to our homes is not
suitable for consumption is not a news
anymore. The water coming out from our
taps is heavily contaminated with
bacteria, viruses, chlorine, lead,
pesticides, cysts, metal traces etc.
Consuming such water is not healthy.
There are no two ways about it.

The only way to ensure drinking clean
water is to make sure it passes through
a pure water filter.

The market today is full of water filter
companies but not all of them are good
and effective enough. In fact there have
been recent cases where one brand of
water filters were found to be adding
some chemical to make the water taste
good. The added adulterant turned out to
be harmful and caused health issues to
the consumers. Eventually the brand was
completely pulled out from the market.

It is not difficult to find out the
correct filter provided you are ready to
do some research on the available pure
water filters. Here is a quick fact
sheet for you:

- Some water filter brands do nothing
more than removing chlorine from the
water.

Chlorine is the most common contaminant
which is mostly added by the water
companies to keep bacterial growth in
control. Not only does it have a bad
odor, it also reacts with the organic
contaminants present in water to
generate hazardous by-products which are
very harmful for our health.

A few water filter brands use a simple
carbon filter to remove chlorine from
the water. The bad odor as well as
chlorine is removed but what about the
other organic and chemical contaminants?
The water is still contaminated and
impure.

- Some water filter brands are simply
ineffective for a notorious contaminant
i.e. lead.

Lead is a toxic material which is very
harmful for us. High levels of lead
contamination can result in convulsions,
major neurological damage, organ
failure, coma, and ultimately death.

There are some water filters which are
extremely efficient in removing
contaminants from water. But the common
contaminant that they usually fail to
handle is lead. The water generated by
these filters is again not pure.

- Some water filter brands remove
essential minerals from the water.

The natural water contains some
essential minerals like calcium,
magnesium, sodium, iodine etc. These
minerals are good for our health.

The water filters which are based on the
principle of reverse osmosis actually
de-mineralize the water i.e. strip away
essential minerals from it. The water in
this form, though free from
contaminants, is not pure. It has been
tampered with. Add or remove, if you are
tampering with the water, it does not
qualify to be called pure.

Multi stage pure water filters provide a
good and effective solution to this
problem. They are based on a combination
of carbon filtration, ion exchange and
sub micron filtration techniques. This
makes them capable of removing all
organic and chemical contaminants
including chlorine and lead. They also
retain the essential minerals in water.

My recommendation - multi stage pure
water filters. Look out for one which
can provide you clean and pure water
which you rightly deserve.

Technorati Tags : water filter filters which

Have you decided to detoxify yourself by
following the 5 day body detox plan? If
so, let me congratulate you first. You
have made a very good decision. Thanks
to the unbelievably polluted environment
we live in and the unhealthy food that
we eat, our body has become full of
toxins that need to be flushed out every
now and then. Regular detoxification is
the best way to do it.

When it comes to the 5 day body detox
plan, there are three important things
you should be aware of - diet, exercise,
and water.

1. Diet - Eating the right kind of food
is what detoxification is all about. You
should eat plenty of raw, organic food.
Fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, brown
bread, and fresh yoghurt are something
you need to eat every day during this 5
day body detox plan. Do not eat any
packed fast food. Do not eat anything
with added preservatives, fats, or
sugar. By eating this kind of diet, you
are bound to feel hungry at times. To
avoid this, drink some unsweetened fruit
juice or unsweetened herbal tea between
the meals.

2. Exercise - A little bit of physical
exercise during these five days can make
a lot of difference to this detox plan.
Since you might feel a little weak in
the first few days, you need not do any
strenuous exercise. Just a brisk walk
for about half an hour will do.

3. Water - This is easily the most
important part of the 5 day body detox
plan. You need to drink plenty of water
to flush the toxins out of your system.
So, make sure you drink at least five
liters of water every day. Always carry
a water bottle when you go out and keep
yourself hydrated all the time.

Now, one thing I should tell you about
this 5 day body detox plan is that you
should be very careful about the kind of
food you eat and the water you drink
during these five days. You should try
to eat organic food and drink clean
water to get the best results. If you
eat what you eat every day, you will end
up adding a lot of toxins to your body
instead of getting rid of them.
Similarly, if you drink tap water, you
will end up adding a load of unwanted,
harmful substances to your body. To
avoid this, you should do two things.

1. Eat only organic food. Look for the
USDA label to make sure it is 100%PRCTG%
organic.

2. Get a good water filter and drink
only clean water.

My suggestion to you would be to get a
multi stage active carbon filter, which
I think is the best water filter
available on the market today. It can
get rid of all the unwanted substances
present in tap water including cysts,
heavy metals, drugs, synthetic
chemicals, chlorine, and harmful viruses
and bacteria. This way, you get to drink
pure water which can help flush the
toxins out of your system effectively.

There you have it friends. 5 day body
detox plan is a very good way to remove
the toxins from your body. If done
properly, it can make you feel
healthier, younger, and lighter.

Have you decided to detoxify yourself by following the 5 day
body detox plan? If so, let me congratulate you first. You
have made a very good decision. Thanks to the unbelievably
polluted environment we live in and the unhealthy food that
we eat, our body has become full of toxins that need to be
flushed out every now and then. Regular detoxification is
the best way to do it.

Technorati Tags : water detox drink should

Home filtration of tap water is an
affordable alternative to buying
bottled. It is also a safer
alternative, in nearly all cases.
Depending on the brand that an
individual buys, the most likely package
is a plastic bottle. Plastic bottle
leach chemicals used to create the
bottle. That means that in nearly 100%PRCTG%
of all cases, there are chemicals that
act like the hormone estrogen floating
inside that bottle. That was enough to
shock my son and make him start drinking
our home filtered water, but you might
need more convincing. You might also be
unaware that of the many popular
filters, they are just not that great.

A tiny percentage of companies are
starting to use glass containers again,
which I see as a good sign. It means
that companies are listening. But, it
also means that the price goes up. A
glass bottle costs more than a plastic
one. But, with effective home
filtration of tap water stored in glass
containers that some purification
specialists supply, you have safe, pure
water to carry anywhere for about a dime
a gallon.

So, what?s the rest of the story? Why
are some purifiers better than others?

The giants in the market are companies
like PUR and Brita. They attract
consumers with their low costs, but
there are some things that they are not
telling you.

The models that they sell in department
stores only reduce chlorine and odor.
Where my family lives, chlorine is a big
problem. Before we decided that home
filtration of tap water was a better
solution, we bought bottled, because you
simply cannot drink the water in our
home. It tastes terrible and smells
like it came straight from a swimming
pool.

Trying to save money, as the family
budget is tight; I bought a grocery
store brand. We were surprised when it
tasted and smelled just like our
tap-water. You see, bottling companies
are not required to use any purification
method at all. The government is
perfectly happy with the standards that
they have set for our tap-water. They
don?t require the companies to provide
anything safer than, only equivalent to,
what is currently flowing out of your
faucet.

Most store brands contain publicly
treated water that has not been run
through additional purification
processes. If you are going to buy
bottled, always read the label, so that,
at least, you know you are not buying
your own tap-water in a plastic bottle.
That just doesn?t make sense.

If you want something safer and better,
a home water filter is the only
alternative, but chlorine is not the
only problem. In order to get a PUR or
Brita filter that removes chlorination
byproducts, you must order it online.
They are not sold in stores.
Chlorination byproducts are a major
factor in the cancer epidemic that
plagues our society. The price of a PUR
or Brita filter might seem attractive at
first, but the filters are only good for
100 gallons. We would go through that
in a month!

When it comes to home filtration of tap
water, the best buy is a system that
lasts at least six months, depending on
your water usage. So stop buying
bottled water, and buy a home water
purifier today.

Home filtration of tap water is an affordable alternative to
buying bottled. It is also a safer alternative, in nearly
all cases. Depending on the brand that an individual buys,
the most likely package is a plastic bottle. Plastic bottle
leach chemicals used to create the bottle. That means that
in nearly 100%PRCTG% of all cases, there are chemicals that act
like the hormone estrogen floating inside that bottle.

Technorati Tags : water bottle filtration plastic