Faucet FiltersPerformance
The following information briefly describes how different types of home water treatment units work. For details, read information that accompanies the product and look for independent certification of manufacturers’ claims.
Different units remove different contaminants or classes of contaminants from the water. Sophisticated units may use multiple technologies to remove several types of contaminants and to provide backup protection in case one treatment fails.
A water treatment device can either be free-standing,
attached to a tap, plumbed in with a dedicated faucet
(also called a point-of-use device) connected to a
refrigerator’s water and ice dispensing system; or centrally
attached to treat all water entering a house (a
point-of-entry device).
For most contaminants, a point-of-use device is effective
for treating only the water that is consumed.
However, some contaminants, such as radon, disinfection
byproducts, and some organic chemicals, easily turn into gases and may pose a risk when inhaled, such
as when showering. A point-of-entry device can
reduce concentrations of these contaminants and
others that cause aesthetic problems such as scaling,
staining, or odor.