Are you looking for the right type of water filtration for your business?
As an employer, you’re required by OSHA to provide safe drinking water for your employees. However, there are many different ways that you can offer that water. You might feel overwhelmed by looking at all the different types of water filters out there. Which one will be the safest, most cost-effective, and most environmentally friendly choice?
In this guide, we’ll break down what you need to know to make the right choice for your employees. Keep reading to learn how to choose the best type of water filter at work!
Why Buy Water Filters?
Using a filtration system ensures that the water at work is safe to drink, meeting OSHA standards and keeping your employees healthy and happy.
It’s hard to know if your water is safe without a filter. The EPA requires water suppliers to provide a Consumer Confidence Report, or water quality report, to customers each July. If you rent your building, you can get in touch with your local water company or building manager to get a copy. However, private wells aren’t regulated so if you’re on a well the report won’t be available.
In this report, the levels of contaminants found in the water will be stated and compared to the drinking water standards given by the EPA. But this actually doesn’t form a reliable source of information about the safety of the water.
These reports on the water quality let you know the safety of the water in your area. However, they don’t say anything about the safety of the water in your building itself. Lead-free pipes weren’t mandated until the ’80s, so if the building is from before that, the water may not be safe.
You can use a test kit to find out about the water. However, it’s just as safe and easy, and much more efficient, to find a great water filtration system instead.
What to Look for in a Filtration System
No matter what kind of filter you choose, there are a few things it should be able to do. Let’s take a look at the key features a good water filter should have.
1. Contamination Removal
First and most obviously, the water filter needs to do a good job of removing contaminants from the drinking water.
The contamination in the water can lead to serious health effects if it’s not trapped by the filter. Micro-parasites, cysts, and bacteria can make their way through the water to spread diseases. Studies have also found dangerous chemical pollutants in drinking water, which can cause a wide range of issues such as obesity, high cholesterol, and hormone suppression.
Sone water may even have lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals that are linked to cancer. To decide which filter is best for you, you may want to get the water tested to find out exactly what’s present. However, you can also choose to just get a high-quality all-around filter that will take care of any contaminants present.
2. Filtration Rate
If you’re buying a filter for a business, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the filtration rate. This is something that doesn’t really matter with water filters for home but can make a big difference at work.
The maximum filtration rate measures how much filtered water the system can make each day. If the daily water consumption at your business is higher than the maximum amount of water the system can produce, you’ll want to look for a different filtration system.
The kinds of filters available differ a lot in their maximum filtration rates, so be sure to compare. While you don’t need one that filters way more than you need since that can get expensive, make sure the system you buy will exceed your needs by at least a little bit.
3. Water Quality
In addition to removing contaminants, your filtration system should be able to boost the overall quality of the water. This means getting rid of any bad smells or tastes, balancing the pH level, and keeping the good-for-you minerals in the water supply.
It’s ideal to find a filtration system that removes impurities, but not all the minerals in the water. A lot of natural essential minerals that we need can come through the water we drink, such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, and fluoride. Without these minerals, we can start to experience problems ranging from joint conditions and bone issues to heart disease.
Without minerals, the water also becomes more tasteless and acidic, so it’s unpleasant to drink. If you can’t find the right filter that preserves the mineral content, look for one that remineralizes the water after it’s been filtered.
The Right Type of Water Filtration
The most basic type of water filter is a screening filter. These filters can catch dirt, sediment, rust, grit, and other particles. However, they won’t catch the smaller particles that can cause disease and other issues. For that, you’ll need one of these types of water filters. Sites like www.waterfilterstogo.com can help you figure out more about the right filter for you.
1. Carbon
Does the water smell, look, or taste bad? Then a carbon filter may be right for your company. These filters can also remove radon, chlorine, herbicides, and other chemicals from the water.
2. Reverse Osmosis
To get rid of chemicals like metals, salts, asbestos, and more, try a reverse osmosis system. These filters usually include carbon filters to catch other contaminants, making them one of the best ways to get water completely pure.
3. UV Water Purifier
Finally, you might try a water filter that uses ultraviolet light to purify the water. However, these filters don’t effectively get rid of chemical pollutants and bacteria.
Which Water Filter Will You Try?
The best type of water filtration depends on your water supply, the age of your building, and exactly how much you’ll need. What matters most is that you choose one as soon as possible so your employees can have healthy drinking water.
Looking for more ways to show your employees that you care? Check out our guide to employee gifts here.