Survey Finds that Most Americans Don’t Consider Specific Contaminants When Purchasing Drinking Water Purifiers

A recent survey of 942 American adults found that only one-fifth purchased water purifiers based on actual knowledge of the specific contaminants that are present in their local water supplies. In its 2013 Water Quality Survey, NSF International found that “water quality” is actually not the predominant reason why homeowners purchase drinking water purification systems in the first place. Factors that are more likely to influence someone to use a drinking water purifier include: the system came with their home (35 percent); it was recommend by family and/or friends (11 percent); or it received positive reviews online (8 percent). This lack of due diligence among consumers could potentially cause ill-informed purchases, as there are significant differences in the performance capabilities of commercially available drinking water purifiers.

NSF International Consumer Affairs Expert Cheryl Luptowski cautions that, because not all drinking water purifiers are designed to address the same water-quality problems, responsibility lies with each individual consumer to understand his or her water supply and buy a drinking water purifier that is certified to reduce the specific contaminants (if any) that are present. An excellent resource for gaining insight into the quality of your local water is your community’s Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), a federally mandated annual water quality datasheet that empowers consumers to make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their water consumption. Your CCR contains highly detailed information on where your water comes from, the specific contaminants that are in it, any potential adverse health risks associated with those contaminants, and more. Once you know what’s in your water, the task of deciding among different drinking water purifiers will become considerably easier.

For more information, please contact your local authorized RainSoft dealer. RainSoft is a manufacturer of drinking water purifiers that are Tested and Certified by NSF International and the Water Quality Association.