| Tap into reverse osmosis for cleaner, tastier water |
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INDYSTAR.COM By Jen Bingham How many times have you tossed out a half-full bottle of water you paid more than a dollar for? Or wondered about the fate of empty plastic bottles?Instead of paying for bottled water -- and then recycling or throwing away the plastic container -- consider installing a reverse osmosis filtration system in your home. With this system, you can fill aluminum bottles with filtered water, take them wherever you go and reuse them indefinitely. The initial investment to buy the system and a supply of reusable bottles is higher than purchasing a six pack of bottled water at the grocery, but eventually the cost evens out to just a few cents per gallon of water. And that includes the ongoing cost to maintain the system and replace the filters. Why reverse osmosis? Scott Cooper, co-owner of Cooper's Water Conditioning, is a fan of reverse-osmosis systems. "They're the most economical to operate, the most affordable and they give you everything you need," Cooper said. "Most commercial places like restaurants have them. That's why the drinks, the coffee and so on taste better, and it's why the ice is clear." These systems also are great for people on low-sodium diets because they remove sodium from the water. Reverse-osmosis systems can remove about 99 percent of the impurities -- including arsenic, chlorine, lead and mercury -- found in tap water. The process works by forcing the water through a membrane that removes most particles. A good system generally includes two other filtration steps. In the first step, larger particles are removed; in the final step, water goes through a carbon filter to improve the taste. Most home systems are installed under the kitchen sink. Filtered water can be stored in a small tank or dispensed from the tap. Cooper doesn't recommend filtration systems that attach to the end of the faucet, because they actually can increase contamination, he said. A good system can be purchased for less than $500, including professional installation. Reusable bottles cost about $10 to $20 each. |
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