Why You Should Be Using A Water Filter In Your Shower
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How often do you shower? According to Harvard Medical School, over two thirds of Americans shower daily, and YouGov reports 6% showering or bathing twice daily.
Have you ever thought about what might be
in the water you’re using? |
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Although the United States generally has one of the safest water supplies in the entire world, the quality and safety of water varies quite a bit in different states, cities, neighborhoods, and even between houses. The Environmental Protection Agency requires community water systems to provide an annual water quality report (called the Consumer Confidence Report or CCR) to their customers each year. These reports provide information about local water quality, summarizing water sources, detected contaminants, compliance, and educational information.
You can find your local CCR here
Understanding your CCR (in case you’re not a microbiologist or hydrologist)
Understanding your CCR (in case you’re not a microbiologist or hydrologist)
Your CCR will help you determine the quality of your water but let’s talk about why you should be using a water filter in your shower no matter the what the report says.
It’s important to understand that there is no such thing as a natural, completely pure, source of water. Whether it has flowed in a river, sat in a lake, or filtered through rock and soil, all water contains some impurities. Some of these impurities are relatively harmless, but others can cause issues, especially manmade chemicals, bacteria, minerals, or unnatural contaminants.
Here are some of the contaminants a local CCR tests for:
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While many of these contaminants may sound scary, it’s also important to remember the EPA makes sure that public water is subject to federal regulations. And most American community water systems realize water quality is a serious matter, use complex treatment processes, take thousands of samples, and conduct numerous tests, in the interest of providing safe water. Despite these regulations, contamination still happens. In addition to fines and penalties that must be paid by the water supplier for consistent violations, or for failing to treat water for a specific contaminant, the water supplier is also required to send all people in contact with their water a notification of the contaminant they are potentially at risk for and how they should respond.
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So, what about the factors that can't be monitored by your local water supplier? Such as how long ago your home was built, what kind of pipes run through your house, and how old your shower-head is.
In an attempt to address these issues, most water suppliers add disinfectants after filtration, such as chlorine, chloramine (a mixture of chlorine and ammonia), and other chemicals to kill additional harmful bacteria and germs.
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How effective are these chemicals at killing bacteria?
Professor Norman Richard Pace Jr., an American biochemist, a distinguished professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at the University of Colorado, and a principal investigator at the Pace lab, lead a study in which 50 shower-heads from nine cities in seven states that included New York City, Chicago and Denver were tested. The study concluded that 30% of the shower heads tested contained bacteria and microorganisms.
Filtering your shower water is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to make a big difference in reducing your exposure to chemicals, bacteria, fungus and other contaminants in your water that have the potential to affect not only your overall wellness, but your hair, skin, and aging process as well.
There are so many different brands and
types of shower filters available.
types of shower filters available.
Here are our favorites:
For most people, a shower head filter is definitely worth the cost and minor maintenance. It helps to protect you from dangerous chemicals and bacteria and, although no filter will ever be 100% effective, they do decrease your exposure, leaving you with noticeably softer skin and hair while guarding you and your family from potential harm.
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