Are refrigerator water filters as safe as other types?

QUESTION:

“I was wondering if anyone could tell me if the water filters in refrigerators are as safe as other types of filters such as the Brita water pitcher?”

ANSWER:

Water filters are a complicated subject, but I’ll try to quickly make sense of it.

First of all, there are many types of water filters (carbon, reverse osmosis, and carbon/RO combinations are the most common.) And, their effectiveness varies based not only on the product, but also on the water being filtered – and in some cases, the water pressure. So, to truly answer this question, I need to know what specific type and brand of refrigerator water filter you want to compare to what specific type of Brita water pitcher, as well as your water contaminant issues and water pressure.

Before we tackle that kind of analysis, allow me to give you (and all of our readers) a short guide to how to select the water filter that’s right for you.

1. Test your tap.

In order to know what type of filter you need, you have to know what contaminants are present.

a. If you are on a municipal system: Read your annual tap water quality report, known as the Consumer Confidence Report. You can request it from your water utility or look it up on the EPA’s website. Also, look up your city’s water in EWG’s National Tap Water Atlas.

b. If you have a private well: It’s up to you to figure out what contaminants might be present and test for them. Start by calling your local health department and private water treatment companies. Also, identify any sources of potential groundwater contamination (e.g. pesticides or animal waste from farms, heavy metals and chemicals from mines, industrial waste, etc). Then decide if you want to hire a professional or buy a do-it-yourself test kit. DIY testing kits are adequate for identifying the presence of some of the most common contaminants (lead, arsenic, bacteria, etc). If you’re testing for something more obscure or a wide range of contaminants, you may need a professional’s help. Testing can cost anywhere between $15 and hundreds of dollars. Contact the US EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visit www.epa.gov/safewater/labs to learn more.

Note: Private well owners should test their water at least annually. Some should test more often if there are significant potential changes in water quality – like the seasonal applications of pesticides and fertilizers.

2. Consider your risk.

Once you know what’s in your water, assess the results with a grain of salt. For some contaminants, you may be exposed to much higher levels through everyday products or even the food you eat than through your drinking water. For example, say you find very low levels of arsenic in your water, but you frequently eat conventionally raised chicken which can have disturbingly high levels of arsenic residues (due to a decades old practice of adding arsenic-based compounds to chicken feed). In this case, you’d be wiser to focus on your chicken consumption. Clearly, if there’s no issue of cost, you can tackle both – but that’s not the reality for most people. Weigh your risks and accept that you can’t eliminate all of them. (That may sound frustrating, but it’s a simple fact of life. Do what you can and then just try to live a healthy and happy life.)

3. Find a filter (if you feel you need one).

Prioritize your contaminant risks and find the right filter to reduce them. Use the EWG’s Water Filter Buying Guide to identify what fits your priorities and budget. Their database allows you to enter the type of filter you’re interested in, as well as what contaminants you’re concerned about.

a. Consider all the costs (expensive filtration systems are sometimes actually cheaper in the long-run). Look into the life span of the filter. Smaller pitcher filters sometimes only have a life span of less than a hundred gallons, while a larger filter may last for several thousand gallons. So, per gallon of water you could be paying over 20 cents with a pitcher and only about 10 cents with a larger system.

b. Be sure to maintain your filter properly. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for maintenance to ensure effectiveness. If you allow contaminants to build up, a filter’s efficacy decreases and it can actually make your water worse by releasing bacteria or chemicals back into your water.

c. Note: no filter removes 100% of contaminants. They just get very close.

One final consideration, depending on the contaminant, you may be taking in as much or more during showering. If there’s a major concern, you may want to look into a shower filter or whole house filter. Talk to your health care provider about your family’s risks and needs.

This answer was provided by our fabulous Senior Editor, Janelle. See all of our questions and answers at Get Answers. Do you have a question? Let us know!

Is there Lead in my reverse osmosis spigot?

QUESTION:
We have well water with a reverse osmosis (RO) unit under our kitchen sink. I recently met a man who was working with the laws for testing lead in Nebraska. He said that currently there are problems with many of the spigots leaching large amounts of lead into the RO water. He is trying to change the testing procedures to just test the first small amount of water that is drawn from the spigot first thing in the morning rather than the normal testing of one liter of water. He is worried that the one-liter testing is diluting the lead levels and not looking at real life use—filling up small glass of water for your child. He also said that the original spigots that come with the RO unit are not as bad; however, the replacement spigots that are often used to match other colors of kitchen faucets are sometimes showing up to ten times the allowable limit of lead. Our spigot is a replacement so I am really worried. I have contacted a state authorized lab for lead testing in water and we will be testing our RO water (both a small and one liter sample size for testing). I'm just wondering if others have heard anything about this? Does anyone know of a source for spigots that are lead free and safe from other contaminates, preferably manufactured in the USA?
Thanks!

ANSWER:
I wrote a post a couple of years ago about Lead-Free Water Faucets. I don't know what the regulations are for replacement spigots, but the lead issues may be similar.

I suggest that you test the water coming out of your R/O unit for lead to be sure.

Debra

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.

Do you recommend bottled water?

Bottled water may not always be what it seems. It may actually be less clean than tap water since bottled water regulations are weaker than tap water regulations. Additionally, manufacturing, distributing and disposing of plastic bottles creates an enormous amount of pollution contaminating our water sources even more . Your alternatives include buying a good water filter and bottling your own water.

What is the danger of chlorine in water? How can I get rid of it?

Chlorine is added to most water supplies to kill bacteria. However, when it reacts with organic matter (like leaves), it produces harmful trihalomethanes or THMs. THMs are chemicals that studies have shown to be linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, bladder and rectal cancers, and birth defects in people who have been exposed to it. High levels of THMs may increase the risk of miscarriage.

Filtration is one way of avoiding cholrine and THMs. Carbon-activated water filters place on showerheads and faucets remove THMs – distillers do not removed THMs. You can also dissipate THMs from tap water by leaving it in an open container in the refrigerator for a few hours, or boiling it for one minute. (Warning: If you have lead contaminated water, boiling will increase the contamination levels.) Installing a water filter is a cheap and effective way to obtain clean water even compared to bottled water that is less regulated than tap water. According to National Sanitation Federation, NSF Standard 42 is used on filters that can remove contaminants that reduce aesthetic quality (taste, smell, color), such as aluminum, chlorine, iron and sediment. NSF Standard 53 is the most comprehensive and used for filters that remove most pesticides, VOCs, cysts, fluoride, most heavy metals and THMs.

How do you know if you have lead in your drinking water?

To find out whether your water is contaminated with lead, you can have the water tested by a lead evaluation service certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or by an EPA-approved state lead program. Call your local health department or either of the following numbers to get started:

EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791
National Lead Information Center 1-800-LEAD-FYI

Why should you test your water? Even if your water is purified by your water company, by the time it comes through your faucet, it may have accumulated lead from the pipes or solder. Don’t just wonder what’s in your water, get it tested!

How can I provide safe drinking water to my family at home?

After you test your water, if you find that the levels of contaminants are high, you may want to invest in a water filter. Remember, though, that in order for the filter to be effective you’ll have to change filters and maintain the system, otherwise it can actually result in higher levels of contamination. There are many additional factors to consider; browse our Water FAQ section for more information. Follow these tips and more to ensure safe drinking water for your family.

What are some of the toxic contaminants found in drinking water?

The United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world, but across the country, groundwater is increasingly sullied by pesticides, fertilizers, industrial chemicals, septic systems and even personal care products and pharmaceuticals. That’s why it’s crucial to protect our water at the source. Click to read more details about toxic contaminants found in water.

Don’t just wonder what’s in your water. You should get your water tested because even if your water is treated by your water company, by the time it comes through your faucet, it may have accumulated bacteria and lead from the pipes through which it is carried.

What water should I use for making formula?

QUESTION: 

“I'm lost on what water to use when mixing my daughters formula, I can't seem to find out what is the safest route. We rent our home so we cannot modify anything, pipes are old...

I have a drinking water quality report, to be honest it might as well be in Japanese. it has tables that state the levels of contamination & that it meets federal standards. I'm trying so hard to make sure she is safe but we are below the poverty level & everyone around us has very different priorities. Can you recommend a site that I can compare the levels to what is safe?”

ANSWER:

Use the EPA's local drinking water website and consumer information as well as the EWG's tap water database to learn more about what’s in your water and how it compares.

You could also call your local department of health to find out if there's anything specific to be concerned about. One of your main concerns should be lead (from old piping or solder). Lead contamination is tap specific and will not show up on your municipal drinking water test reports. Everyone should test their water for lead.

You can get a test kit from a hardware store (or maybe your local health department knows of options for low-income families). Until you test for lead, let your water run for a minute each morning before using for consumption (flushes lead out). And never use hot water from the tap.

This answer was provided by our fabulous Chief Communications Officer, Janelle. See all of our questions and answers at Get Answers. Do you have a question? Let us know!