Faucet FiltersAt-home solutions to water quality problems
Improve taste
If you object to the chlorine
taste of your tap water, try
placing the water in an
uncovered pitcher in the
refrigerator overnight. This
will reduce the chlorine taste.
Most tap water is treated
with chlorine to kill diseasecausing
microbes.Water systems
use chlorine because it
is an effective disinfectant for
viruses and bacteria, and
because it continues todisinfect
water as it travels
through pipes.
Reduce lead
If you have tested your water
and know that it has high levels
of lead, or if your home
has lead pipes, flush the cold
water tap by running it until it
becomes cold if the water
hasn’t been used for several
hours. Lead accumulates after
extended contact with lead
pipes. You may use this
flushed water to water plants
and do other household
chores.
Kill microbes
If you have a contaminated
private well, have special
health needs (see left side of
page 2), or in an emergency
situation such as a flood, boil
water for one minute to kill
microbes (or three minutes
at altitudes greater than one
mile) and place in a clean,
covered container.