What's the difference between Water Softeners and Water Filters?
Water Softeners remove minerals such as Calcium and Magnesium from your water supply if you live in a hard water area. These minerals form limescale when the water is heated and that scale furs up pipes, central heating systems and household appliances causing damage. Hard water is also harsher on your hair, skin and clothing and increases your usage of detergents and toiletries.
Water Filters remove impurities and contaminants that can make their way into the water supply in its journey from treatment plant to tap, as well as chemicals water companies deliberately add to water in order to kill bacteria. Filtered drinking water is therefore purer and generally tastier than tap water - it's like bottled water on demand in your house.
WHAT'S IN YOUR WATER?
Chlorine
Is added to water during treatment to kill bacteria. Chlorine is safe, but has an unpleasant swimming pool smell and taste
Bacteria
Micro-organisms can enter your water supply between treatment centre and home. Coliform bacteria such as E.coli can cause gastro-intestinal problems in high risk groups such as children or the the elderly.
Pesticides
Compounds such as Metaldehyde, commonly used by farmers and gardeners to kill slugs and snails, can enter the water system. Above regulation levels have been found in UK water supply in past tests.
Lead
Lead contaminants enter your drinking water as it pases through old pipework in its journey to your home. If your house was built before the 1970s you may have lead pipes that are contaminating your water.