In today’s society, health conscious Americans understand the importance of abundant, clean drinking water. A recent poll commissioned by the Water Quality Association (WQA) shows that more than half of all Americans say they are concerned about water quality in their homes.

People are more educated than ever before about contaminants in the water supply, whether its from municipal sources, private wells or bottled water companies. The majority of consumers say they are willing to pay more to eliminate water contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, chlorine, chloramine, iron and other minerals.

News reports and scientific studies in recent years supported these concerns. For example, in 2010, the President’s Panel on Cancer recommended the use of home filtering devices to decrease exposure to cancer-causing agents. After warnings about excess chlorine in drinking water over the years, suppliers turned to using chloramine instead, but it also creates potentially harmful byproducts. Little is known about this toxic substance and its long-term health consequences. Chloramine is a mixture of ammonia and chlorine, which cause respiratory illnesses and contribute to leeching lead out of plumbing pipes and fittings. A recent report also found unacceptable levels of the probably carcinogen hexavalent chromium in water supplies across the country.

“This report is one more piece of evidence to consumers that final barrier technology should be utilized to provide a sense of confidence for their families’ water,” said Peter J. Censky, executive director of WQA. There are a wide variety of water conditioning systems available from trained, reputable plumbing service providers.

Industry experts list several benefits of water conditioning systems:

• Reduce sediment which may build up to clog pipes.
• Improve taste and odor of the water.
• Balance acidity (also known as pH) levels to make water less corrosive.
• Lower mineral content that tends to stain dishes, fabric and plumbing fixtures.
• Produce cleaner fabric after washing, as excell chemicals are no longer embedded in clothing.
• Prevent chlorine vapor from dishwashers, along with reducing soap scum on dishes.
• Save money on detergent and energy costs with softer water, which results in better cleaning in lower temperatures compared to washing in hard water.
• Alleviate allergies and asthma problems, which are aggravated by chemical vapors.

The WQA urges consumers to work with water quality professionals to find the best water treatment system to fit individual residential or commercial plumbing needs. Local plumbing contractors can advise you whether to install point-of-use water treatment at a one or more individual taps, or a point-of-entry system to treat water as it enters through the main water line.

Contact your local plumbing and water conditioning professionals today to learn more about how you can safeguard the quality of water flowing into your home.