Most Commonly Asked Water Questions

Q: Are there more in-depth contaminant tests that can be performed in a customer's home than OTO?

A: Not feasibly, most other tests for organic chemicals or heavy metals require testing by a spectrometer or by atomic absorption. Both methods are very accurate and require very costly equipment. Accurate and specific water analysis can be performed only in a laboratory. The best method of showing a consumer that there are other chemicals in his or her water is to obtain a copy of the water utility's "annual water quality report"; by law the utility has to provide it. The OTO test gives a good visual of the levels of chlorine in the water and the filter's ability to remove it.

Q: What is TDS?

A: Total dissolved solids, the total measurement by weight of all solids that are dissolved in water. The dissolved solids in water are primarily calcium and magnesium and would not be a measurement of contamination. Tests that measure the conductivity of water (often used by companies selling reverse osmosis systems) only give a rough estimate of dissolved solids and should not be viewed as an indicator of water quality.

Q: Is chlorine harmful?

A: Chlorine was first added to a community water system in 1908 in Chicago and was instrumental in eliminating many types of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever. Prior to chlorination, many major cities had death tolls of one in 1000 people from typhoid alone. Chlorine has been used to disinfect municipal water for over 80 years and has had some positive effects on public health. In the 1970s it was discovered that chlorine, when added to water, forms trihalomethanes (chlorinated byproducts) by combining with certain naturally occurring organic matter such as vegetation and algae. In 1992 the American Journal of Public Health published a report that showed a 15% to 35% increase in certain types of cancer for people who consume chlorinated water. This report also stated that much of this effect was due to showering in chlorinated water. The National Cancer Institute estimates cancer risks for people who consume chlorinated water to be 93% higher than for people who do not. The effects of drinking chlorinated water have been debated for decades. However, most experts now agree that there are some significant risks related to consuming chlorine and chlorinated by-products.

Q: Why do some areas test negative for chlorine?

A: Virtually all city water systems contain some level of chlorine. That level will vary based on outdoor temperature, the season, distance from water utility and current usage. While chlorine may sometimes be undetectable on a certain day with a standard OTO test kit, that level can change dramatically day to day. Also some cities use ammonia at certain times as a disinfectant in order to reduce chlorination byproducts. Without chlorine, the dangers of waterborne disease would be significant; an undetectable chlorine level, on a certain day, does not eliminate the need for an effective chlorine removal system.

Q: What do you do if you have water contaminated by radioactive matter?

A: Move! Radioactive water is not very common in this country and is a more serious problem than should be dealt with by a home water treatment system. Many people confuse the contaminant "radon" with radioactivity, when in fact they are quite different. Radon is produced from decaying uranium ore and can be effectively removed by carbon filtration.

Q: What are VOCs?

A: Volatile organic chemicals are synthetic compounds that turn into vapor at relatively low temperatures. VOCs typically vaporize at a much lower temperature than water does. Most synthetic chemicals found in water, such as pesticides and herbicides, are VOCs. According to the U.S. EPA, the vast majority of these compounds are Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs) and/or Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs). Consumers should look for filters that are certified for VOCs, THMs and Chloroform as these are representative of the vast majority of prescription drugs.

Compare Water Filters

Q: Why do the filtration systems not reduce TDS?

A: "Filtration" systems are designed to selectively remove contaminants and to leave the dissolved trace minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These waterborne minerals are healthful and give water a more natural flavor. Systems that remove minerals lower the pH of water and cause it to be more aggressive. Low pH water will seek to balance itself by leaching elements such as copper, lead or aluminum from plumbing fixtures and cooking utensils. Cooking in demineralized water will also draw the minerals from your foods causing a reduced nutritional value. Water with a balanced mineral content has much less tendency to take on foreign elements. TDS (total dissolved solids) is primarily made up of dissolved minerals and is not related to harmful contaminants. It is very deceptive for companies to imply that a reduction in TDS means improved water quality, in most cases it does not.

Q: Do people on private wells need to use shower filters?

A: There are many health and cosmetic benefits to removing chemicals and compounds from shower water, even on nonchlorinated private wells. Virtually all groundwater contains traces of some chemical or chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. Also shower filters help balance the water's pH, which is a cosmetic benefit.

Q: How does a water softener differ from filtration products?

A: Water softeners are not designed to improve the healthfulness of water, but rather to decrease dissolved minerals and reduce scaling of pipes and appliances. These systems typically use a sodium-charged exchange medium that releases sodium ions and removes minerals such as calcium, magnesium or potassium. From a health standpoint, the minerals would be preferred over the sodium. Filtration systems are designed to specifically remove harmful contaminants and leave in the natural minerals.

Q: Do water treatment products require FDA approval?

A: No, however the certifications that apply to certified products require proof that all component materials meet FDA requirements for food-grade materials. The performance claims of a filtration system should be validated and certified by the California Department of Health Services to ensure compliance.

Q: How do filters compare to reverse-osmosis or distillation systems?

A: Reverse osmosis and distillation are nonselective demineralizing processes. The water produced by these systems has been stripped of all mineral content, which causes water to be acidic and aggressive. The healthiest water is water that is free from contamination but still contains a natural mineral balance. Filtration systems are designed to selectively remove contaminants and allow the natural minerals to pass through.

Q: How do you know if there are contaminants in your water?

A: All public water systems contain some level of one or more unhealthful chemicals. Regulations only require periodic testing of about 86 chemicals. There are now more than 75,000 chemicals used in our society, with over 1000 new ones being developed each year. Contaminant levels fluctuate throughout the year, making it impossible to know the actual level of contamination in a central water system. So far over 2100 toxic chemicals have been detected in America's water systems. The risk is high and the cost for a sure solution is low.

Q: What are some good web sites to find documentation on water problems?

A: NRDC.org (Natural Resources Defense Council), EWG.org (Environmental Working Group), EDF.org (Environmental Defense Fund) and CDC.gov (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) are all good informational sites with numerous documented studies on water problems.

Q: Do filter systems remove radon?

A: Radon is a gas produced by decaying uranium and is more often a problem when airborne; however, some areas may have radon in the water, which can be effectively removed by most carbon filters.

Q: If my municipal water company's Annual Water Quality Report shows that it meets all EPA guidelines, does that mean it's safe?

A: On October 1, 1999 a new federal law went into effect that requires water utilities to send each customer a detailed report showing what is in his or her water, appropriately called the "Right-to-Know" amendment. The most important thing to remember is that no matter how insistent these reports are that contaminants in your water do not necessarily pose a health risk, any level of contamination in our drinking water does in fact represent a danger to our health. Of the over 75,000 toxic chemicals used in our society, the EPA has only set standards (MCLs) for 86, and those 86 Maximum Contaminant Levels are not necessarily set on "health effects". The EPA considers limited health studies based on consumption of one certain chemical by a 175-pound adult when setting these standards. No consideration is given to the effects on small children or the combined effects of two or more contaminants, which some studies show are magnified by as much as 1000 times. Water utilities are only required to test for the 86 contaminants that the EPA has set standards for. Nobody knows how many toxic chemicals may actually be in tap water. According to the Ralph Nader Research Group, it reviewed thousands of pages of EPA documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act, more than 2100 toxic chemicals have already been detected in U.S. water supplies. Virtually all public water systems have some level of contamination. The water utilities are usually quick to point out that the chemicals found in their water are "below EPA's Maximum Levels," and in most cases they are. The fact is that even the smallest trace of a toxic chemical causes damage and science is just now starting to realize to what extent. In a recent report from the National Cancer Institute to the surgeon general it was stated that "no level of exposure to a chemical carcinogen should be considered toxicologically insignificant to humans," and we are learning the hard way the truth of this statement.