the Adventure Lifestyle magazine

THE UNITED STATES SPENDS $22 BILLION EACH YEAR TO OPERATE, TREAT AND MAINTAIN TAP WATER WHICH LEADS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA), TO CLAIM THAT AMERICA HAS SOME OF THE SAFEST PUBLIC DRINK- ING WATER IN THE WORLD. STILL, THERE'S MORE FLOWING OUT OF OUR FAUCETS THAN H20. IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR BODY FREE FROM IMPURITIES, AND FREE FROM THE BOTTLED-WATER INDUSTRY, HERE ARE SOME WATER FIL- TERS TO CONSIDER. Milwaukee is a typical Midwestern city that sits at the confluence of the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan. Until recently, it was known more for its beer than its water. But in 1993, high levels of the gastrointestinal disease-causing protozoa cryp- tosporidium infected the city's water supply. More than 400,000 people-two-thirds of Milwaukee's residents-were estimated to have the disease; 4,000 people were hospitalized and as many as 100 died. It was the worst recorded outbreak of waterborne disease in the United States. Outbreaks of that magnitude are rare in the USA, but less significant contamination issues are more common and appearing with increasing frequency. According to a 1996 EPA study, 8.6 percent of the nation's 55,000 commu- nity water systems violated at least one drinking water health standard. It's a fact-there is more than H20 flowing from our faucets. Scientists have found asbestos, arsenic, cysts, lead, mercury and other minerals, MTBE, nitrates, pathogens, pesticides and herbicides, radon, as well as a host of volatile organic chemicals, in American tap water. Recently, studies have found that chlo- rine, which 95 percent of water utilities use to treat water for bacteria and viruses, may create cancer- causing byproducts called trihalomethanes (THMs) when chlorine combines with decayed organic material that slip through the filtration process. Current EPA guidelines allow up to 4 milligrams of chlorine per liter of treated water. A growing number of people no longer trust public water and have turned to home water- treatment systems, which cost more upfront than bottled water but are usually more economical over time. Not to mention the huge environmental incentive to using water purifiers rather than accumulating plastic bottles. There are more types and brands of home water treatment systems than possible drink- ing water contaminants and the major difference between them is the process they use to filter water. The most common systems screen contami- nants through a carbon filter in a process called adsorption (see sidebar for other types of house- hold filtration). Some systems connect to main waterlines and filter all water entering a residence. Others connect at specific points of use, usually the kitchen sink. Under-the-counter and on-the-count- er systems, faucet attachments, and inexpensive pour-through systems fit into this category. We here reviewed under-the-counter versions because they offer the best filtration, fastest flow rates and, because they fit under the sink, they leave counter tops free for more impor- tant things, like cooking or making love . But under-the-counter systems have drawbacks, too. They must be hooked up to the waterlines under the sink and require installing a secondary faucet- neither task requires a plumber, but can be tricky. They also are more expensive than other types of household filters. Their performance, however, more than makes up their shortcomings. Nearly all of the systems we reviewed use activated carbon filters, which remove a long list of harmful pollutants and organic chemicals, improve taste, have a high flow rate. On the basis of how much it removes, the eSpring b~ows other filters out of the water. Its three- stage activated carbon-block filter removes 140 dangerous substances, including lead, proto- zoan cysts like giardia and cryptosporidium, MTBEs and VOCs. It also is one of the few filters on the market with an ultraviolet light treatment, which destroys microorganisms. A monitor noti- fies users if the filter needs replacing. Delivering 1,320 gallons the eSpring also has one of the longest filter lives and the system delivers fresh water in torrents. At 0.9 gallons per minute, it's the fastest of the pack. It is, however, also the largest unit reviewed and three times as expensive as other filters. Replacement filters and bulbs will run about $164 a year. eSpring, 800-253-6500, www.espring.com. $539 68 . '.. '-"""'.:, ; ,{~., ' .. ~_ ,\.'-.. ~ _~_" -.'"f-

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