Whole House Water Purification: Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Though most household water in the United States is professionally treated, whole house water purification systems are nonetheless experiencing a dramatic rise in popularity. Given the centrality of water to our daily lives, it’s perfectly understandable that homeowners desire access to the cleanest, healthiest water possible, even if that means secondarily treating it after it enters the house. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency already establishes rigorous standards with regard to public drinking water supplies, many Americans nonetheless feel that their water could stand to be better. In response, manufacturers have developed a wide range of products that are capable of addressing just about any water quality problem.

The CDC, in A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment Technologies for Household Use, offers a helpful overview of the specific water-treatment products that are available to today’s consumers. These include:

• Microfiltration systems – A microfiltration system has a pore size of about 0.1 micron.
• Ultrafiltration systems – An ultrafiltration system has a pore size of about 0.01 micron.
• Nanofiltration systems – A nanofiltration system has a pore size of about 0.001 micron.
• Reverse osmosis systems – A reverse osmosis system has a pore size of about 0.0001 micron. Unlike micro-, ultra-, and nanofiltration systems, reverse osmosis systems purify water by forcing it through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure.
• Water softeners – A water softener is an appliance that is used to remove water hardness minerals that make it difficult for soaps, shampoos, and detergents to properly lather.

According to the CDC, technologies like these can be used either alone or in conjunction with one another, depending on your local water quality conditions and household needs.

If you’d like to learn more about whole house water purification, contact your local authorized RainSoft dealer. Since 1953, RainSoft has been a preeminent developer of water treatment solutions for the home, including water softeners, drinking water purifications systems, problem-solving water filtration systems, and more.