Getting ready to buy drinking water filters? That’s a great decision. Some people believe that a drinking water filter for their home is not a necessary expense. This is difficult to believe because they are not expensive, at all.

Drinking water filters are far less expensive than a personal computer or a television set. But, many people feel that those are “necessary” items. It is rare to find a household these days without a TV and a computer, but it’s just as rare to see a house with a drinking water filter or filtration system.

Groups of scientists and environmentalist warn governments about the dangers of chlorination, but there are as well dangers associated with no chlorination. During the Peruvian cholera outbreak in 1991, the local facilities were advised by the experts to use chlorine to kill the cholera pathogen. Nonetheless, local officials in Peru and other countries were reluctant to use it, because chlorination by-products or THMs increase the risk of cancer.

In Canada, researchers recently estimated that 703 cancer cases per year were caused by exposure to THMs. Yet, about 10,000 people died from cholera between the months of January and February, 1991 in Peru.

THMs do increase the risk of cancer and everyone should consider having a showerhead and drinking water filters to reduce the risk. But, we can’t petition the government agencies to stop chlorinating the water, because it isn’t practical or objective.

Of course, chlorine is used nearly everywhere and government agencies try to control the amount of exposure as much as possible, but other disinfection methods are simply not as effective. Buying a point-of-use drinking water filter that removes chlorine and THMs is the only answer.

If treatment facilities do not add chlorine, algae will begin to grow in the pipes. Algae itself will affect the taste of water, but microorganisms that cause cholera and other waterborne illnesses would begin to flourish among the algae. I mention this in case you were wondering why treatment facilities couldn’t use carbon filtration to remove the chlorine as the water leaves the facility.

Another recent study warns that the risk to those who swim in chlorinated pools, combined with exposure at home from drinking and showering, is “unacceptable” and “something should be done”. Why don’t they just advise swimmers to get showerhead and drinking water filters?

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency now demands that facilities publish a quality report every year. On them, they need to include chlorine and chloramines, along with THMs.

They began to require facilities to do this report after a California study showed that women who drink five or more glasses a day of regular tap water have a higher rate of miscarriage, possibly due to chlorine. Why don’t they just suggest that pregnant women get a drinking water filter? A filter is less expensive than prenatal vitamins and it’s a reasonable solution that could achieve healthy results right away.

Scientists want to warn you of the risks and government officials leave it up to you to make the decision. You can find the best drinking water filters on the market for less than $125 and showerhead units for even less. I believe your family’s health is worth the investment, don’t you?

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