If you reside in a city, your water is delivered through pipes from a municipal supplier that sources it from lakes, rivers, and occasionally wells. This water is treated to be clear, odorless, germ-free, non-corrosive, and palatable before being pumped to your home. The treatment process includes adding chlorine or chloramine, a chlorine and ammonia mixture, to eliminate pathogens. Additionally, chemicals are added to clarify the water and prevent pipe corrosion. Some cities also introduce fluoride, an industrial waste product, to combat tooth decay.

The journey from the treatment plant to your home involves miles of pipes, some old and made of various materials, which can affect the water quality if they leak or break. Thus, the water that arrives at your home is not identical to what leaves the treatment plant.

City water plants generally excel at cleaning raw water from natural sources, removing debris, and producing water that is clear, palatable, and safe. However, the quality of water meant for tasks like washing driveways may not inspire confidence for drinking or bathing once homeowners see the condition of their incoming pipes.

The good quality water supplied by the city can be further refined at home, which is a more logical place for the final water treatment. This often involves using activated carbon filters in cartridge or tank-style systems to remove disinfectants.

Here are two lists of contaminants found in public drinking water and in the water after reverse osmosis, along with their respective percentages:

Contaminants found in public drinking water:

Bacteria: 10%
Dirt: 5%
Lead: 3%
Chlorine: 2%
Fluoride: 1%
Contaminants found in water after reverse osmosis:

Bacteria: 0.01%
Dirt: 0.001%
Lead: 0.001%
Chlorine: 0.005%
Fluoride: 0.002%
Please let us know if you need any further information.