Clean, running water is something you may take for granted. That is, until there’s a problem. Some homeowners decide to install purification systems, use a water filter pitcher, or only drink bottled water. At the end of the day, we all want purified water available whenever we need it. Let’s explore your home water purification system options.
Is Tap Water Safe To Drink in Connecticut?
There are over 2,500 public water systems in Connecticut. According to Connecticut’s Department of Public Health, around 85% of residents get their drinking water from community systems. This water is treated to meet strict standards before being allowed into your home.
Connecticut’s Department of Public Health states that over 90 percent of water systems meet the EPA standard for tap water quality. However, if you’re curious about the quality of water, the best source of information may be your water supplier. Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or get additional information from the EPA’s website www.epa.gov/safewater.
What Is the Best Way To Purify Water
Outdoors
If you’re out exploring the great outdoors, don’t be quick to drink the river, pond, or lake water. These natural sources may contain bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other harmful substances. Either bring an adequate amount of drinking water with you, or you can follow these three steps.
- Collect water in a clean container from a moving source like a river or stream. If not possible, collect it from the top layer of lake water.
- Use a filter to get rid of protozoa, bacteria, and large contaminants like leaves, dirt, and more. Filter until the water is less cloudy and does not have floating particles in it.
- Disinfect the water by boiling it. Boiling will kill harmful viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It can also treat cloudy or murky water. Aim for a rolling boil between 1 to 3 minutes.
At Home
If you want to purify your water at home, look into a water filtration system. Water filters work well at helping your water stay free from harmful substances. Some water purification systems address cloudiness, while others will target debris. You can also find water purification systems that use a reverse osmosis membrane to remove heavy metals like lead or other contaminants like bacteria and viruses.
How Do Water Purification Systems Work?
Before installing, it is important to know which type of purification system would work best for your home.
Reverse Osmosis System
- Water flows through the line and passes through the reverse osmosis pre-filters.
- In the pre-filters, dirt, chlorine, and sediment are removed from the water.
- Then the reverse osmosis membrane will help remove other contaminants.
- Water will then go through the post-filter, which helps remove odors and improves taste.
- After that purification step, water will enter the storage tank.
- The storage tank will hold treated, purified water.
- Wastewater will go through the drain line.
Ulta Violet Filtration
An ultraviolet filtration system typically uses a UV lamp to purify the water. Using a high-powered UV lamp, its rays will deactivate pathogens in your eater. UV rays can modify pathogen DNA so they do not multiply and can kill up to 99.9% of microorganisms.
Ultra Filtration
Using hydrostatic pressure, the ultra-filtration process pushes water against a semi-permeable membrane that helps remove bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. It’ll also help remove odors. Although similar to reverse osmosis in nature, ultra-filtration differs in that it retains molecules of different sizes.
Help With Water Purification: Call HARP
Want to help ensure your drinking water is as safe and pure as possible? Contact HARP to discuss installing a water filter system in your home. Our team is ready to help you decide which system is right for your needs and can install the one you’ve chosen. Give us a call at 1-860-481-3040 or schedule online.