River of Support: Canadian Dealer Is Serious About Giving Back

In a time of economic uncertainty, some local businesses take it upon themselves to give back. When it comes to the local Culligan dealership, owner Paul Moorman sees charitable donations as vital to supporting our home community, on behalf of both the company and its employees.

“Above all else, the Culligan Man is a local resource, and we are always pleased to lend a hand to a variety of worthwhile causes,” says Moorman, who owns Culligan dealerships in Peterborough and Belleville, Ontario.

In 2009, Culligan donated 22,608 single-serve bottles of clean, potable water and 293 bottles of 18-litre Culligan water.

That’s more than 16,500 litres of water.

• Here’s just a few of the worthwhile organizations and events Moorman's Culligan dealership has supported during the past year.

o Rotary Club
o United Way Dragon Boat Festival
o Trump AIDS Walk
o Terry Fox Run
o Make-A-Wish Foundation
o ALS Walk
o Lung Association Pull for Kids
o AIDS Walk for Life
o PEC Marathon
o One to One Walk for Cancer
o United Way Casino Royale
o Relay for Life
o Lung Association Amazing Pace
o MS Walk
o Festival of Trees
o Children’ Water Festival – Peterborough
o Children’s Water Festival - Belleville
o Salvation Army
o Telus Walk to Cure Cancer
o Fiesta Buckhorn
o Easter Seals
o Canada Day Festival
o Alzheimers Society
o Walk to Cure Diabetes
o Rotary Loves Kids Golf Tournament
o YMCA Kids Reverse Triathlon
o Trenton Military Family Resource Centre

Know Your Culligan Man: Doug Oberhamer - Phoenix

The Water Wise Guy crew took some time to get to know Phoenix dealer, Doug Oberhamer. Doug is always full of great insight, and a knowledge of water issues that is second to none. Check out his thoughts in "Know Your Culligan Man."

If you could tell everyone out there one piece of advice when it comes to their home water quality, what would it be?

DO: There is a best quality of water for every use: Utility water plumbed to outside sillcocks for irrigation of landscaping, for swimming pools and hot tubs; softened water installed at the point of entry to the home for bathing, laundering, dishwashing, cleaning, and care of plumbing and major appliances using water; and filtration installed at the point of use for drinking, cooking and icemaking. With only one-half of 1% of all the water supplied in the typical community used for drinking and cooking, it doesn't make sense, economically or otherwise, to treat all of the water to drinking water quality standards.


What do you see for the future of the water industry?

DO: The medical profession telling us what the best quality of water is for most people, and our treating the water to that "recipe." The treatment will include removal of contaminants in the water source, such as pharmaceuticals in the waste stream, and the potential of the addition of minerals found deficient in most diets and determined to promote good health.


What makes your area unique when it comes to water issues?

DO: Living in the desert where water is scare drives a different mindset than areas where water is abundant. We already have all of the water we are going to get, so water conservation and reuse are part of every day living and planning for population growth.

Bottled water debate continued....

I hope everyone's Tuesday is shaping up nicely. I had a couple of people send me this video, and while the production is not fantastic, it still has some interesting facst, figures and angles.

One of the best slides in this piece is the one that points out bottled water users also use the tap heavily and vice versa.

The Water Wise Guy finds himself always engrossed in the tap water vs. bottled water debate, and I am going to let it rest for a moment and let this YouTube clip do the talking with pretty pictures.

New York Times Has Water High on Its Agenda

It popped into my Google Alert on Saturday afternoon: "Toxic Waters" by the New York Times. Interest piqued. I went on to read the series, and the depth and detail of the data belie how water has wandered into the paper's cross hairs. Here are just some of the Gray Lady's observations:

- 1 in 10 Americans drink contaminated water

- Well water is more at risk than municipal-provided water. (This is a point I can't urge strongly enough. Some state DNRs think less than 10% of people actually test their wells.)

- An estimated 19.5 million Americans "fall ill" every year to contaminated water.

These are just the latest in a series of stories about the water quality in the US, and people have taken notice. Atrazine was one of the big targets a few weeks ago, which quickly prompted a strong reaction from local, state and federal authorities all over the country.

Remember, the data above is just a sampling of the investigation, and I encourage everyone to do their research into their area's water history and issues.

Tap Water Safer than Bottled? Not According to the Facts!

The debate over bottled water versus tap water has recently found new life due to consumer curiosity on how the industry is regulated and enforced. While the argument is not concentrated on the purity of the water itself, the conversation challenges the current rules governing the sourcing and nutritional information bottled-water producers are required to let their customers know. Simply stated, this is a question of consumer choice when it comes to their drinking water.

But when municipal and city water utilities make the claim that their water is safer due to the perception of stronger oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they are strongly misleading the public. There are many variables to consider when it comes to water quality throughout the country, especially where the tap water suppliers are concerned.

Wherever the product comes from, the filtration process of the bottled water should not be dismissed or discounted. For example, Culligan dealers are independently owned and operated, and the individual franchisees are responsible for their own product. All of their water goes through the reverse osmosis filtration process, which eliminates up to 99.9% of impurities and contaminants despite the source. In terms of labeling and disclosure, the term “reverse osmosis” and “purified” meet all the standards approved and enforced by the Food and Drug Administration.

Before you ban the bottle and run to the tap, keep a few things in mind.

• The AP reported earlier this year there are 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals throughout the country’s municipal water systems. These are unregulated compounds. Quite simply, modern chemistry is outrunning the utilities’ technology.

• The health limits and legal limits provided by the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act are often different, with the legal limit at a much higher threshold than the health limit.

• Water utilities don’t have to include every contaminant in their water. Places like Chicago, for example, are mum on the pesticides and sex hormones in its system.

• Check how your tap water stacked up in one of the most intensive tap water studies ever done by the third-party Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database. According to their research, 140 million contaminants with no enforceable regulation are attacking your tap. Residents cannot pick which utility serves their home, but they can choose a consumer water supplier that can ensure its quality.

Culligan constantly develops technologies devoted to sustainable high water quality such as whole-house filtration systems and bottle-less water coolers. Culligan dealers are also quick to point out bottled water is crucial for disaster relief, since it is safely packaged and potable.In fact, an EPA study counted 433,947 documented illnesses and 73 deaths between 1991 and 2002 stemming from tap water. Bottled water has never been cited as a source for a large-scale outbreak.

There are many sides to the bottled water issue, keep the ‘source’ in mind.

What the heck is hard water?

You have probably heard the term, heard your mom complain about it and your dad curse it like a bad golf swing. Hard water is actually responsible for a huge amount of waste and destruction in your home and on your body, and it should be cursed.

Down-and-really dirty

Hard water is considered water with a high volume of hard minerals, usually calcium and magnesium.(Sounds like a bad 80s singing duo) Anything with more than 1 grain of hard minerals per gallon is considered hard water. Anything above 3 gpg, run, don’t walk, to get a water softener. Believe me, you will thank me and may even send me a present.(I need new sweaters by the way.)

What Hard Water Does

These two nasty elements then run amuck on your skin, hair and household appliances. Ever get out of the shower and feel like, how do I say, gunky? That’s because soap and other products can’t rinse properly and subsequently dry out your skin and hair. Remember in old Acme cartoons, the fleas used to build whole cities on the family dog? It’s like that, in mineral form.

Appliances are not spared from hard water’s wrath. A recent study shower showerheads can get clogged and rendered inoperable within 18 months. Ever pull out dishes from the dishwasher to be greeted by filth spots? You can thank hard water. If your sink looks like a frat house just used it during its latest social, hard water is probably to blame. (Disclaimer: If you actually did just have a frat party, that’s also the reason the toilet is in the front yard.)

Time Goes By So Slowwwlllyyy

I know the Righteous Brothers did not have hard water in mind when they came up with that line. But who says they didn't? Moving on.

A study by Ohio State University indicated that time required for typical cleaning taskes was increased by 50 percent.

So look around your house and in the mirror and ask: Is hard water costing me money and time? If the answer is yes, yell “Hey Culligan Man!”

McCardel Culligan Merges with Hendricksen

BIG RAPIDS, MI - Recently, McCardel Culligan Big Rapids and Hendricksen Water Conditioning announced the merger of their two organizations – providing residents in Osceola, Mecosta, Lake and Newayg Counties with over 100 years of water solutions experience.

“We are very pleased that our companies can come together to better serve our customers and our community,” says Bryan Send, general manager of McCardel Culligan Big Rapids and 23-year veteran of the water industry. “Hendricksen Water Conditioning has been a family-run business for 48 years, and we intend to ensure those values are kept intact through this time of change.”

The newly merged dealership, which will remain McCardel Culligan Big Rapids, will be retaining Hendricksen Water’s principals Rosemary Kailing and Tom Hendricksen, in addition to keeping Shane Sova, who handles routes, deliveries, sales and installations.

Send points out that day-to-day business will continue as normal, including bottled water service, salt deliveries, water softener maintenance, commercial water solutions and all the other services residents have come to expect.

“Whether you are a Culligan customer or were a Hendricksen client, we are here to help with all your water issues and answer any questions you may have about new technologies, such as reverse osmosis and deionization,” adds Send.

Keith McCardel, who has been involved in the water industry for 42 years, also owns and operates Culligan of Traverse City. His dealership was recognized in 2008 for “Excellence in Customer Service & Consumer Relations” by the corporate Culligan system.

The McCardel Culligan Water Conditioning stores are members of the Water Quality Association, Michigan Water Quality Association, Culligan Dealers Association of North America and the International Bottled Water Association.

Founded in 1936 by Emmett Culligan, Culligan continually develops new technologies to treat hard water and rid water contaminants. All products have been perfected through research and development, set standards in the water treatment industry, and are used by homes and businesses worldwide.

Iowa Culligan Dealer Offers Eco-friendly, BPA-free ‘Bagged Water’

New technology can replace five-gallon bottles on home and office coolers

QUAD CITIES, IA - Recently Vetter’s, Inc., a Culligan Water dealer located in the Quad Cities has obtained licensing rights to produce and distribute PURELOCK™, a home and office water system that operates using “bagged water.”

The PURELOCK™ system uses a single-use, three-gallon bag that does not contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a common additive in the production of polycarbonate and PET water bottles. Furthermore, the bags are made of an FDA-approved, 100%-recyclable, low-density polyethylene that can be attached to an existing water cooler through an upgraded cooler top. Lastly, the water used in the PURELOCK™ units is the same used to fill the bottles.

“As a leader in the local water industry and business community, we feel it is our responsibility to continually provide our customers with cutting edge technology and more eco-friendly alternatives,” says Marty McCarthy, vice president of Vetter’s, Inc. “This product offers added levels of convenience and sanitation, plus it drastically reduces the carbon footprint associated with most polycarbonate and PET bottles.”

In addition to the environmental impact of this new technology, Vetter’s Inc. customers see many everyday benefits. For example, each PURELOCK™ unit weighs approximately 20 lbs. less than existing five-gallon bottles, making them much easier for anyone to lift onto their cooler.

McCarthy also points out that the storage of bags is much easier than that of five-gallon bottles.

Moreover, “bagged water” technology positively affects the overall function of the water cooler. For instance, the PURELOCK™ system reduces the airflow necessary to operate existing systems. This reduction of airflow can lead to less bacteria buildup over time, and consequently result in a healthier drinking system. In addition, the cooler upgrade unit is easily removable and is dishwasher safe making it easy to clean any time.

“All in all, this is a great product that offers the consumer so many added values,” added McCarthy. “In a value-driven and environmentally-conscious world, we feel this product is an example of creative problem solving and an example of our commitment to our community and customers.”

Vetter’s, Inc. currently services most of Eastern Iowa and parts of Western Illinois. For a limited time, the company is providing upgrade units free of charge.


Disclaimer: Culligan dealers are individually owned and operated. Vetter's, Inc. and their six locations are the first, and currently the only, to produce and distribute the PURELOCK™ units within the Culligan system.

Filtering systems and the WQA

While perusing some informational sites, I came across this fact sheet produced by the Water Quality Association in response to all the news about water issues - especially with pharmaceuticals. I thought I would share some of their thoughts for those who do not check this kind of information every day, like the Water Wise Guy does.

- Filtering systems in the home provide the highest technology available for treatment of drinking water. Less than two percent of all water consumed is ingested by humans, making these “point-of-use” systems the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

- While utilities are required to meet safety standards set by the U.S. EPA, home filtering systems act as a final contaminant barrier and can further purify water for drinking.

- While specific product performance standards have not yet been developed for pharmaceuticals, many point-of-use technologies have proven effective for some of these emerging contaminants. Nano-filtration and reverse osmosis systems removed drugs tested by the Colorado School of Mines at full-scale facilities in Arizona and California. Activated carbon, distillation, ozonation, and advanced oxidization have likewise shown promise in removing many of these contaminants. Individual manufacturers can also test products for specific pharmaceuticals if they choose.

- According to Utah State University Extension, up to 90 percent of oral drugs can pass through humans unchanged. These often then move through wastewater into streams and groundwater. It is generally cost prohibitive for utilities to use systems such as nano-filtration, long contact activated carbon, and reverse osmosis. However, these top technologies have proven successful at removing many contaminants in home water treatment systems.

- In addition to pharmaceuticals, water quality experts are examining other emerging contaminants, such as those found in personal care products and pesticides. These are often referred to as endocrine disrupting chemicals. Home filtering systems have also been proven to treat threats such as lead and mercury.

- WQA provides Gold Seal certification for products that remove a variety of contaminants. ( Culligan AC-30 is one of these systems, by the way.)

To learn more, check out the WQA at http://wqa.org/sitelogic.cfm?ID=2059

Culligan Tweets!

ThingsMomsLike@culliganh2O Hey Culligan maaaan! I used to make my grandmother say it because she said it like the lady in the commercial LOVE WATER!

cwroblew@culliganh2O Watertown. We've been real happy with the service in general too. We let Culligan do all the work.

kstevenson#MrTweet I recommend @culliganh2O because they educate me about what contaminants are in my water that I would have never known about!

susanraisch@culliganh2O Thanks for the great reminder Culligan. Dehydration is no fun.

iVillage@culliganh2O Thanks a lot and have a good weekend. :)

Water Quiz of the Day (6/2)

( I will try to do these in the beginning of the day...the Culligan Man got busy.)

On average,Americans use _______ more water than Europeans.

a)2x
b)3x
c)4x
d)5x

Water Quiz of the Day (6/1)

By the time you feel thirsty, what percentage of your body's total water amount have you already lost?

a)1%
b)3%
c)5%
d)10%

Comment on the blog with your answer or send a DM or @Relpy via Twitter @culliganh2o.

Nice Video Explaining Water Hardness (Look out Utah!)

H-2-Uh Oh!

This is a simple tally of all the reported contaminants found in our country’s water this year. Keep in mind, the year is only half over.

All of these pharmaceuticals, chemicals and compounds were reported in a variety of news and government sources, including the Associated Press and the US Geological Society.

From rat poison ingredients to rocket fuel, your drinking water is constantly assaulted by substances both regulated and non-regulated. While the 1974 Safe Drinking Water sets minimum standards for water quality, modern chemistry might
simply be outrunning the utilities.

On another note, some of these contaminants were prevalent in private wells, which do not have to pass the Safe Drinking Act’s requirements if the well serves less than 25 people.

Don’t chance it. Filter it.

• Atrazine**** (Welcome to the list!)
- America's most loved herbicide that has been known to disrupt hormones and cuase birth defects

• Anti-convulsants*
- Treats epileptic episodes, and now conveniently at your tap without a doctor’s prescription.

• Arsenic***
- Skin and circulatory system can be at risk with arsenic in the water.

• Boron***
- Affects gastrointestinal, reproductive and developmental functions – sounds exciting.

• Codeine*
- Powerful painkiller used in a variety of ways.

• Dichloroethylene***
- This agent used in dry cleaning chemicals has been shown to incur liver issues. Ask the people of Crestwood, IL how they feel about it.

• Hydroquinone*
- Everyone loves a little face cream in their water, right?

• Fluoride**
- Children could get mottled teeth. Utilities are actually reconsidering their fluoride policies these days.

• Iron***

• Lithium carbonate*
- Believe it or not, this chemical is actually used in fireworks because of the deep red flame it gives off upon combustion. Mmmmmm….

• Maganese****
- Can result in damaging neurological effects.

• Mood stabilizers*
- Who doesn’t want psychiatric medication coming out of the tap?

• Mercury**
- Drinking water with mercury can hurt your kidney functions.

• Nicotine Compounds *
- These compounds are associated with the production of nicotine patches.

• Nitrates***
- Infants younger than six months can become seriously ill with too many nitrates in the water. Babies beware.

• Perfluorochemicals**
- This substance is used to make firefighting foam.

• Perchlorates**
- Rocket fuel anyone?

• Pesticides***
- It’s just poison in the water.

• Radium***
- Increased risk of cancer when radium is regularly in your diet.

• Radon***
- Radon is shown to increase the risk of lung cancer.

• Sex hormones*
- Enough said.

• Strontium***
- Linked with abnormal bone development, fun to say and more fun to drink.

• Tetracycline hydrochloride*
- Treats acne and tastes great!

• Tranquilizers*

• Uranium***
- Shown in tests to increase the risk of cancer.

• Vanadium***
- Shown to stimulate cancer cells in animal tests

• Warfarin *
- Agent used in rat poison and also handy in blood thinner.

Wondering what kind of filters are right for you and your family? There are plenty of options out there, and you should consult an expert.

For example, Culligan’s reverse osmosis system, Aqua-Cleer, is the only filter on the market with a dedicated arsenic filtration membrane. So if arsenic is an issue in your area like it is in places like Minnesota, you may want to call your Culligan Man.

*Reported by the Associated Press; ** Reported by multiple sources; *** Reported by the US Geological Society, **** Reported by The New York Times

Healthy hydration should start at a young age

What is 75 percent water and absorbs ten times the amount of contaminates than their older counterparts? The answer: children.

It is vital that the water you choose to drink is the purest you can find, especially for your children. Beginning during pregnancy, water has a crucial impact on your baby’s health and development. With that attitude in mind, local Culligan dealers stress the importance of minimizing contaminants in water with a home filtration system.

In fact, many parents are not aware that water improves the digestive function, increases energy levels and even protects children against certain illnesses in adulthood.

According to the parenting Web site babyGROE, water in its purest form may even help alleviate symptoms of asthma, eczema and other pollution-related health problems.

It is no secret that young children are tempted with drinks loaded with sugar, and rarely ask for a glass of water. Most kids choose soda or Kool Aid—not surprising considering some area’s tap water carries an unpleasant taste and odor due to contaminants, like chlorine. Culligan dealers are quick to point out that when the water simply tastes good, it starts a healthy chain reaction, and your kids will be reaching for water instead of soda in no time.

Tips to get kids to more drink water:
• Serve water cold
• Make ice using fun-shaped ice cube trays
• Purchase a special cup that the child knows will be used only for water
• Serve with colorful, bendy straws

AP Story: Drinking from the Tap is Like Drinking from a Pharmacy

By JEFF DONN, MARTHA MENDOZA and JUSTIN PRITCHARD, Associated Press Writers Jeff Donn, Martha Mendoza And Justin Pritchard, Associated Press Writers – Mon Apr 20,
Sun Apr 19, 12:40 PM ET
In this photo taken on Feb. 26, 2009, aeration basins are seen in operation at the Wilmington Wastewater Treatment Plant in Wilmington, Del. Scientists took samples from the Delaware River nearby and found elevated concentrations of the painkiller codeine that are prompting them to try and track the source of the drug; this treatment plant handles sewage from a nearby pharmaceutical factory that makes codeine.

U.S. manufacturers, including major drugmakers, have legally released at least 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals into waterways that often provide drinking water — contamination the federal government has consistently overlooked, according to an Associated Press investigation.

Hundreds of active pharmaceutical ingredients are used in a variety of manufacturing, including drugmaking: For example, lithium is used to make ceramics and treat bipolar disorder; nitroglycerin is a heart drug and also used in explosives; copper shows up in everything from pipes to contraceptives.
Federal and industry officials say they don't know the extent to which pharmaceuticals are released by U.S. manufacturers because no one tracks them — as drugs. But a close analysis of 20 years of federal records found that, in fact, the government unintentionally keeps data on a few, allowing a glimpse of the pharmaceuticals coming from factories.

As part of its ongoing PharmaWater investigation about trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals in drinking water, AP identified 22 compounds that show up on two lists: the EPA monitors them as industrial chemicals that are released into rivers, lakes and other bodies of water under federal pollution laws, while the Food and Drug Administration classifies them as active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The data don't show precisely how much of the 271 million pounds comes from drugmakers versus other manufacturers; also, the figure is a massive undercount because of the limited federal government tracking.

To date, drugmakers have dismissed the suggestion that their manufacturing contributes significantly to what's being found in water. Federal drug and water regulators agree.

But some researchers say the lack of required testing amounts to a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy about whether drugmakers are contributing to water pollution.
"It doesn't pass the straight-face test to say pharmaceutical manufacturers are not emitting any of the compounds they're creating," said Kyla Bennett, who spent 10 years as an EPA enforcement officer before becoming an ecologist and environmental attorney.

Pilot studies in the U.S. and abroad are now confirming those doubts.
Last year, the AP reported that trace amounts of a wide range of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in American drinking water supplies. Including recent findings in Dallas, Cleveland and Maryland's Prince George's and Montgomery counties, pharmaceuticals have been detected in the drinking water of at least 51 million Americans.
Most cities and water providers still do not test. Some scientists say that wherever researchers look, they will find pharma-tainted water.

Consumers are considered the biggest contributors to the contamination. We consume drugs, then excrete what our bodies don't absorb. Other times, we flush unused drugs down toilets. The AP also found that an estimated 250 million pounds of pharmaceuticals and contaminated packaging are thrown away each year by hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Researchers have found that even extremely diluted concentrations of drugs harm fish, frogs and other aquatic species. Also, researchers report that human cells fail to grow normally in the laboratory when exposed to trace concentrations of certain drugs. Some scientists say they are increasingly concerned that the consumption of combinations of many drugs, even in small amounts, could harm humans over decades.

Utilities say the water is safe. Scientists, doctors and the EPA say there are no confirmed human risks associated with consuming minute concentrations of drugs. But those experts also agree that dangers cannot be ruled out, especially given the emerging research.

Putting Dehydration On Ice…Water

TUCSON, AZ – The temperature in Arizona is up – way up. As spring weather moves in for a retreating winter, Arizona residents have to take extra precautions to stay safe in one of the hottest climates in the U.S. Proper hydration is one of the most essential factors in fighting desert heat, and Culligan Water is reaching out to its customers and neighbors to make sure hydration is on the top of everyone’s minds.

“The Arizona lifestyle is facilitated by its generous amount of sunlight and warmth,” says Rex Ruddick, general manager for Culligan Water of Tucson. “But residents of this region should be very aware of the dangers of dehydration, which can lead to everything from discomfort to even death.”

Just a two to five percent loss of fluid can lead to dry skin, muscle cramps, headaches and noticeable fatigue. Anything near 10 percent can dim your vision, cause seizures, shrivel your skin and could ultimately lead to death. Medical professionals are also quick to point out the long-term effects of dehydration can result in permanent damage to internal organs like the kidneys.

According to Ruddick, suitable fluid intake should become a part of every Arizonians daily routine.

“There is a reason a whole aisle at the grocery store is dedicated to water, people want good quality water because it tastes better and is better for you,” adds Ruddick. “The more you drink, the stronger and healthier you feel and the better prepared you are for the Southwest’s high temps. Here at Culligan, we have products that can give you great tasting water from the home faucet, keeping your body and wallet from overheating.”

Minneapolis Residents Have Options When It Comes to ‘Smelly’ Water

Recently, Minneapolis residents have been complaining of “smelly” and “bad-tasting” water coming from their city-provided tap water. In a response to these concerns, Culligan Water of Minneapolis is undertaking efforts to educate the area’s citizens about filtration options for the city’s treated water.

“If you are not satisfied with the quality of water coming from your tap, there are solutions out there for you, “ says Kyle LeMay, sales manager of Culligan Water of Minneapolis. “For example, installing a carbon or reverse osmosis filter is one of the best and most economical choices available to improve the taste and condition of the water in your home or office.”

A reverse osmosis filter uses multiple membranes and filters in order to remove various contaminants, both organic and inorganic – including sodium, lead, zinc and pesticides. This type of filtration system is shown to actually remove 99.9% of impurities from the water.

This line of products has become even more relevant since recent news cycles around the country have been filled with city water issues, from rocket fuel component perchlorates to cancer-causing radon.

Even if the Minneapolis’ city water meets the federal and state standards as safe to drink, there still may be trace elements of harmful agents. These filters are considered one of the surest ways to prevent water-borne chemicals and contaminants from affecting yourself, your children and your pets.

“Water is essential to health and any concern about its quality should be addressed quickly and thoroughly,” adds LeMay. “Unappetizing water sets off its own chain of events because it causes hesitation when you reach for that glass of water. You should be confident in the water you drink and cook with, at the very least – it shouldn’t smell.”