Sylvian from Orlando, Florida writes:

Should I treat my tap water? I was going to buy a water ionizer machine, but after reading your site, I won\’t buy it now. But what about a product called “RAINSOFT”? It’s a whole house water treatment/purification system which has a brine filter tank and an external salt pellet tank. Is this a scam too? What do you suggest I do? Should I simply drink tap water???

Hi Sylvian, thanks for writing in.

Very simply, here in North America municipally treated tap water is safe to drink.  The regulations are strict and much time and money is spent ensuring the public water supplies will do no harm.

Unfortunately, many water treatment companies rely on fear mongering tactics to sell more home water treatment equipment.  If a company that sells home water treatment equipment tells you that your municipally treated tap water will kill you or harm you in anyway, don’t believe them.  Much of these claims are based on half truths associated with treated water.  For example, while it is true that there is a potential for chlorinated water supplies to form carcinogenic compounds, it is not true that they will always be in your drinking water.  It’s also not true that municipalities don’t know/care about any of these things.  Some companies go so far as to say they are not tested for, which is completely untrue.

Municipal drinking water goes through a gambit of testing on a regular basis not only to ensure the water is free from harmful pathogens, but that is it contains less than the maximum allowable concentration of potentially harmful chemicals, both from natural water supplies and potentialy produced from the water treatment process.

All maximum allowable concentrations of chemicals are continuously under review by water treatment, health and government officials.

The bottom line is the quality of your drinking water is produced and monitored by people who are more qualified than any employee of a home water treatment store. And unlike some of these private treatment equipment sales organizations, the only ulterior motive water treatment professionals have is to ensure your water is safe to drink.

Now that you know that tap water is safe to drink, you can shop for water treatment devices without being lead astray by over zealous sales people looking only for more money.

If this Rainsoft product uses salt, it is an ion exchange unit designed to soften water.  While this will improve lathering and reduce the need for soap, it also adds sodium to your water, making it less healthy to drink.

Other considerations for aethetics are taste.  Carbon filters are available that removes the trace amounts of chlorine in your tap water and makes it more palitable but remember: change your filter often as carbon filters can be a place where bacteria can accumulate and grow.

I hope this has answered your question. Please write in again if you need further clarification or have another question.

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