Water Treatment Systems Purchasing considerations
Product Description
Before buying a water treatment system, know the quality of your water supply and if water treatment is needed. Consider the simplest and most economical water treatment systems solution to the problem. Removing the source of contamination, obtaining a new source of drinking water, or treating the water with a water treatment system may be appropriate solutions.
When purchasing a water treatment system, ask the following questions:
What testing is needed to evaluate my water supply? There is no single test to determine if water is safe. On-site demonstrations are not an accurate indicator of contaminant levels. Test water for suspected contaminants through a certified water testing laboratory.
Is the system designed to treat the specific water quality problem? Check the NSF rating for performance standards of water- treatment devices.
How many gallons of treated water does the unit produce per day? Is the amount sufficient for your household needs? If water need is low, purchasing bottled water may be more cost effective than purchasing home water treatment equipment.
Is there a sufficient water supply for the home water treatment system to work properly? Distillation and RO units use large amounts of water.
How will you know if the water treatment system is not working properly? An alarm or indicator light should alert you to a malfunction.
What maintenance is required? All water treatment equipment requires maintenance and service. The more water treatment you have, the greater your responsibility.
What routine servicing is offered? Is a service contract available? Unless you are unusually dedicated, automated and self- monitoring features or dealer's service agreements are recommended to ensure correct operation and high quality water.
Is there a warranty? What does it cover? Make sure any claims about the performance of the home water treatment system are clearly identified in writing.
What is the total cost? Consider the expected life, purchase price, installation cost, maintenance cost and operation cost. Every water treatment system has its own advantages and disadvantages.
If you rent the water treatment equipment, does your agreement include an option-to-buy provision? Compare the rental cost to the purchase price and expected life of the equipment.
The concentration of the contaminant and combination of various contaminants can have a major impact on the effectiveness of the treatment method.
References:
Shaw, Byron H. and James O. Peterson, Improving Your Drinking Water Quality, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. Water Treatment Fundamentals, 1983, Water Quality Association Education Services.
Copyright 1999 University of Missouri. Published by University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia.
When purchasing a water treatment system, ask the following questions:
What testing is needed to evaluate my water supply? There is no single test to determine if water is safe. On-site demonstrations are not an accurate indicator of contaminant levels. Test water for suspected contaminants through a certified water testing laboratory.
Is the system designed to treat the specific water quality problem? Check the NSF rating for performance standards of water- treatment devices.
How many gallons of treated water does the unit produce per day? Is the amount sufficient for your household needs? If water need is low, purchasing bottled water may be more cost effective than purchasing home water treatment equipment.
Is there a sufficient water supply for the home water treatment system to work properly? Distillation and RO units use large amounts of water.
How will you know if the water treatment system is not working properly? An alarm or indicator light should alert you to a malfunction.
What maintenance is required? All water treatment equipment requires maintenance and service. The more water treatment you have, the greater your responsibility.
What routine servicing is offered? Is a service contract available? Unless you are unusually dedicated, automated and self- monitoring features or dealer's service agreements are recommended to ensure correct operation and high quality water.
Is there a warranty? What does it cover? Make sure any claims about the performance of the home water treatment system are clearly identified in writing.
What is the total cost? Consider the expected life, purchase price, installation cost, maintenance cost and operation cost. Every water treatment system has its own advantages and disadvantages.
If you rent the water treatment equipment, does your agreement include an option-to-buy provision? Compare the rental cost to the purchase price and expected life of the equipment.
The concentration of the contaminant and combination of various contaminants can have a major impact on the effectiveness of the treatment method.
References:
Shaw, Byron H. and James O. Peterson, Improving Your Drinking Water Quality, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. Water Treatment Fundamentals, 1983, Water Quality Association Education Services.
Copyright 1999 University of Missouri. Published by University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia.
