A drinking water filter system if designed correctly should remove the bad and dangerous items that can get mixed in the water you drink. These "bad" items include chemicals like chlorine and pesticides, plus toxic microbes and metals. Unfortunately, some systems do not do a quality job of providing you with safe water.

The advantages of getting the right method are obvious. The drawbacks of a substandard drinking water filter system may be difficult to "see". Most of the impurities that we face are invisible to the naked eye, as well as being odorless and colorless. The only way that you can be sure is to have your water tested. You can pick up a do-it-yourself test at home and building supply stores.

One chemical that you can smell, taste and sometimes see is added at the treatment facility to prevent bacteria, algae and other things from growing in the pipes that lead to your home.

It is called chlorine and it is a fairly effective disinfectant, but most people do not like the way that it tastes or smells. Chlorine removal is one of the most common reasons that people give for wanting a drinking water filter system.

Since you can taste it and smell it, you may be fooled by the so-called "purifiers" that only block that single chemical. For many reasons, a drinking water filter that only targets that one problem is not the best choice.

First of all, they cost as much as other systems that do a better job. Secondly, a drinking water filter system that seems inexpensive may need replacement filters more often, leading to a higher cost of use. Most important of all is that other infiltrates could be even more hazardous to your health than chlorine.

Studies have established a link between chlorinated drinking water and cancer. This you may know, but you may not know that when chlorine interacts with bacterial contaminants cancer causing by-products (THMs) are released. You would think that any drinking water filter system that blocks chlorine would also block its by-products. It seems logical, but that is not the case.

The safest choice is to choose a drinking water filter system that blocks THMs. The technology is available. It is just not used by all manufacturers.

EPS standards limit the amount of THMs that may be present and still be classified as "safe". But, the standards are based on what would be immediately toxic to a 175 pound adult. Of course, smaller individuals are not protected by these standards. Another concern is that, cancer is not a result of a single exposure, but prolonged exposure over a number of years. In other words, the more you take in over your lifespan, the higher your risk of developing cancer.

A good drinking water filter system can reduce the risk. There are only a few on the market that block THMs, but they are worth looking for. They are reasonably priced and easy to install, either on the kitchen counter or under the sink. You can think of the purchase of a drinking water filter system has an investment in your children's future. You are doing all that you can to protect their health.