How to improve your home's drinking water

Many Canadians regard water filters as a relatively inexpensive way to improve the taste, smell and appearance of drinking water. But with so many choices available on the market today, how can you be sure which filter is right for you � or whether you need one at all?
To help you make the best choice for your home, Here are a few tips that will help you filter through your options, including:
If your drinking water is supplied by your local municipality or utility, then you probably don�t need a water filter. Municipally-supplied water is thoroughly treated and routinely tested to make sure it is safe, healthy and pleasing to drink.
If you dislike the taste, odour or appearance of your water, however, then a filter could be a good choice for your family. While water filters can�t microbiologically disinfect drinking water, they can improve the overall aesthetic quality of tap water.
Water filter systems are either small, point-of-use devices that are installed directly on a tap or in a pitcher, or point-of-entry devices installed on the main water supply entering a home. For both systems, there are three basic types of filter technology:
Particle filters use a membrane to screen out or trap particles based on their size. These filters keep out large particles such as dirt, asbestos fibres and some bacteria and parasites, but not lead, mercury, sodium or other dissolved contaminants. In general, the lower the number of microns (i.e. the smaller the size of the pores in the membrane), the more effective the filter.
Activated carbon (AC) filters rely on carbon particles to attract and remove contaminants. These include dissolved substances such as, lead, mercury, copper, chlorine and potentially harmful organic compounds. Removing these contaminants can help improve taste, odour or colour problems.
Resin filters use resins to remove contaminants such as lead, heavy metals and the minerals that can cause deposits to form in kettles and coffee makers. Resin filters can be combined with activated carbon filters to remove a wide range of particles and dissolved substances.
When using a water filter, make sure you use it according to the manufacturer�s specifications. If used improperly they will allow previously filtered contaminants to be released into the water.
It is also important to maintain your filter, as bacterial growth can form on your filter in short periods of time, such as overnight. Studies have shown that levels of bacteria present in water that has passed through an improperly maintained home filtration device may be up to 2,000 times higher than levels in unfiltered water.
If your drinking water comes from a well or you live in an older home, you should have your water tested periodically to see if it contains any organic, chemical or other contamination. If your water does contain lead, run the cold water each morning until it feels cool or use a filter that has been certified to remove lead.