Tap Water: It’s Cheap, But Is It Safe?

I used to be strictly a tap water guy. It’s inexpensive and everything I read about the water in Chicago, where I live, told me it’s among the safest in the country.  Reading an article entitled “Message in a Bottle” in Fast Company only furthered my commitment to avoid bottled water.

Troubling News About Water Safety

But then I read a disturbing article about the Chicago suburb of Crestwood, where village officials are accused of knowingly supplying residents with tainted water, all the while sending notes with water bills touting the safety of the village water supply.

That was followed by news about a study commissioned by the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) that found hexavalent chromium in the drinking water in 31 out of 35 U.S. cities tested, including Chicago.  Hexavalent chromium is the carcinogen made famous in the film “Erin Brockovich.”

While there are some who feel the dangers highlighted in the EWG study are overstated, in our family we’ve heard enough to convince us to filter the water we drink.

Which Water Filter is Best?

Of course, there are many different types of water filters, along with a range of benefits and price tags.  The EWG offers a good comparison of the various types on its site.

The research we’ve done has led us to use water filtered with reverse osmosis.  Reverse osmosis seems to be the filtering process that removes the most contaminants, including hexavalent chromium.  It also removes most of any fluoride that’s been added to the water.  But that may be a good thing since the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently recommended lowering the amount of fluoride in public water systems, noting that people are likely to get all the fluoride they need from other sources and too much fluoride can cause a condition called dental fluorosis.

Reverse osmosis not only appears to be the most effective water filtration system, it’s also relatively inexpensive.  We pay 49 cents per gallon for water dispensed by a grocery store machine into reusable containers.  If we run out temporarily, we use water filtered by an under sink dual filtration system that was already installed when we bought our house.

As a personal finance writer and speaker, I’m all about finding cost-effective options for the things we buy.  But this is just one more example of something I believe very strongly: the lowest cost option is not always the smartest option.

What type of water do you drink and why?  Leave a comment below.

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9 Responses to Tap Water: It’s Cheap, But Is It Safe?

  1. Brett G February 8, 2011 at 8:58 PM #

    Well this is actually a very relative topic to me. I have recently read articles about how bad chlorine is for you (among so many other things that are in our public water system). I am considering two whole house filters currently: 1. Pelican (with the added no salt water softener) and 2. Dr. Mercola. I know they are both pricey systems- but the health and well being of your family cannot have a price tag placed on it. I am all about saving money- but there are two things in life you cannot buy and that is time and health. Anyone know anything about these two systems I would love to hear your comments.

  2. CatB January 29, 2011 at 3:30 PM #

    PS ~ On the finance side, Fiji Water 1.5 liter bottles are a BARGAIN BUY at reliable grocers like Whole Foods and Trader Joes!

    On the subject of safety, the water safety reports only cover the substances that are in their tox screen. This leaves a whole host of other chemicals in the US water system that are simply unreported. Most troubling of all to me is the residue of various prescription drugs that make their way into the system as waste and then get recycled into the drinking supplies. These include hormones and psychoactive combinations that are unaccounted for and definitively detrimental when ingested on an ongoing basis.

    Our USA water is still better than what people have to drink in large portions of the population, but when I began being chronically ill, i started filtering and have been steadily getting better ever since. Now, when I drink tap water, even filtered, it makes me THIRSTY! Something is wrong with that!

  3. CatB January 29, 2011 at 3:23 PM #

    We use a countertop PUR 3-stage filtering system for ingested water (that’s cooking, washing veggies, making tea/coffee, etc). I drink Fiji Water, about 1.5 liters per day plus a good, calcium-rich mineral water from a bottle. Fiji Water has gone to great lengths to make their process carbon positive and their bottles user/planet-friendly.

    We also have a filter between the pipe and the shower head. We plan to go to a whole house system when we can.

    I’m getting ready to start a neighborhood campaign to drive more of our used plastics into the upcycle/recycle programs at Terra Cycle because I believe that USA should lead the world in this sort of technology.

    Matt, thanks for raising an important topic. ~CatB

  4. Matt Bell January 15, 2011 at 9:14 PM #

    Jeff – Do I understand this correctly? You’re drinking filtered rain water?

  5. Jeff Herron January 15, 2011 at 12:32 PM #

    We have a cistern and filter all of our drinking water through a Big Berkey. Costs for replacement filters more than offset by having no water bill at all!

  6. Kerry January 14, 2011 at 2:12 PM #

    Just something to think about on the reverse osmosis it can use up to 10 gallons of water to 1 gallon of filter water. Plus some containments are more concentrated in that one gallon of water.
    I put a website up there where you can find info on their water filtration system. If you have any questions contact me. One other thing to think about get the list containments each remove and compare.

  7. Melvin January 14, 2011 at 1:59 PM #

    I now use reverse osmosis filtered water. Why? After evaporating gallons of tap water I discovered significant white residue in the container and decided I didn’t want to continue ingesting those chemicals.

  8. Rick January 14, 2011 at 1:41 PM #

    We have our own well so that’s what we use but all this information about what’s okay to drink and what isn’t just shows that jumping on the bandwagon without as much information as possible can head you in the wrong direction and even digging all you can still can leave you wondering who’s telling the truth.

  9. Amy W January 14, 2011 at 1:09 PM #

    Tap water – it’s hassle free and cheap. Inevitably I’m going to die – and probably not from what has long been stated as some of the best water in the world (great lakes).

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