(HealthDayNews) -- Most American homes don't need a water filter to make their drinking water safe, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Even so, a water filter can improve its taste and make it extra safe for people more vulnerable to waterborne germs.

Your options include:

  • Activated carbon filters, which absorb organic contaminants that cause taste and odor problems. But they are not efficient in removing metals such as lead and copper.
  • Ion exchange units, which are used to remove minerals from your water, particularly calcium and magnesium.
  • Reverse osmosis treatment units, which generally remove a more diverse list of contaminants than other systems.

Above all, people who use home water filtration need to remember to change their filters often. If the filters aren't properly maintained, accumulated contaminants actually could make your water worse.



-- Dennis Thompson

Last Updated: Nov-17-2004