PUR faucet water filter/are they good enough for DC water?

[Anonymous]

I am considering buying one. Do they filter out all the bad stuff?

[Anonymous]

I don't have DC water so don't pay that much attention to it. It's had some problems with lead, right? Anything else? Both Brita and Pur filter out lead and mercury. Pur is better at things like cryptosporidium than Brita is.

I think DC and surrounding areas have had troubles with traces of prescription drugs (including hormones) in the water. I don't think the generic filters like Brita or Pur can do anything about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have DC water so don't pay that much attention to it. It's had some problems with lead, right? Anything else? Both Brita and Pur filter out lead and mercury. Pur is better at things like cryptosporidium than Brita is.

I think DC and surrounding areas have had troubles with traces of prescription drugs (including hormones) in the water. I don't think the generic filters like Brita or Pur can do anything about that.

there was a thread on this a while ago. Do NOT count on brita or pur to take lead out of your water, especially if you have small kids. too dangerous.

[Anonymous]

There are heavy-duty filters you can install under your sink with separate mini faucets that are supposed to do the trick. We put ours in several years ago, but I remember we considered a reverse-osmosis filter, then were advised by a friend who was an engineer in GE's water purification division that one step down would be sufficient. Ours says "Smart Water" on the side. HTH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have DC water so don't pay that much attention to it. It's had some problems with lead, right? Anything else? Both Brita and Pur filter out lead and mercury. Pur is better at things like cryptosporidium than Brita is.

I think DC and surrounding areas have had troubles with traces of prescription drugs (including hormones) in the water. I don't think the generic filters like Brita or Pur can do anything about that.

there was a thread on this a while ago. Do NOT count on brita or pur to take lead out of your water, especially if you have small kids. too dangerous.

Do you have a link? I've never heard of filters having trouble with lead. ?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I have an impossible time using the search function, but I do remember that Brita claimed to take out lead and someone posted research that showed it only removed lead for like the first 9 gallons or some such.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I have an impossible time using the search function, but I do remember that Brita claimed to take out lead and someone posted research that showed it only removed lead for like the first 9 gallons or some such.

I couldn't find it using the search function either. I'm just curious, because I was always told that if a product has NSF certification, it's highly effective at removing lead.

[Anonymous]

Wow, you're even worse than me (kidding). OK, here's the link.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/23658.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I have an impossible time using the search function, but I do remember that Brita claimed to take out lead and someone posted research that showed it only removed lead for like the first 9 gallons or some such.

9:15 here-- Our friend told us that pitcher and faucet-mounted filters were insufficient because at the time, reported lead levels in DC were running too high. Those filters were designed to deal with lower lead levels.

[Anonymous]

op here- so what filter should I buy? Could you be specific?
TIA

[Anonymous]

I think we might have something like these: http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=RESULTSPAGE&CATEGORY=CA0118&SITEID=GEA

These would be even better: http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=RESULTSPAGE&CATEGORY=CA0117&SITEID=GEA

[Anonymous]

We have this one from Multipure: MP880EL

http://www.multipureco.com/mpdws.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op here- so what filter should I buy? Could you be specific?
TIA

In order to make sure all lead and pharmaceuticals are out of your water you have to use reverse osmosis. Now the bad thing about that, is that for every gallon of water that is produced, two to three gallons of waste water are created. The magnesium that is naturally in water, is also removed, which is essential for heart function. Purified water you buy at the store is the same thing.

You could also get spring water. There is a possibility that it has traces of antibiotics in the water, because of cattle that tend to be in the area. This is a far lesser concentration than you would find in city water, and there also not antidepressants and estrogen in that water.

The Brita or Pur filters wont get rid of much of things you may be worried about. They won't get rid of any of the pharmaceuticals, and probably not much of the lead that is in the water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have DC water so don't pay that much attention to it. It's had some problems with lead, right? Anything else? Both Brita and Pur filter out lead and mercury. Pur is better at things like cryptosporidium than Brita is.

I think DC and surrounding areas have had troubles with traces of prescription drugs (including hormones) in the water. I don't think the generic filters like Brita or Pur can do anything about that.

Interesting. Are they enough to affect small children? Do you have any specifics on what's in our water or can you direct me to any links where I can read about this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have DC water so don't pay that much attention to it. It's had some problems with lead, right? Anything else? Both Brita and Pur filter out lead and mercury. Pur is better at things like cryptosporidium than Brita is.

I think DC and surrounding areas have had troubles with traces of prescription drugs (including hormones) in the water. I don't think the generic filters like Brita or Pur can do anything about that.

Interesting. Are they enough to affect small children? Do you have any specifics on what's in our water or can you direct me to any links where I can read about this?

The Associated Press came out with a huge investigative story about this last March. This caused me to do a ton of research and figure out which water source, filter, system... was best for my family.

One of the biggest problems in the ecosystem results from birth control pills. A woman's body only absorbs 10% of the pill, and the rest is flushed out of her system, and into our water ways. Fish have been greatly effected by this, and are changing genders. This is occurring right here in the Potomac.