Houston Remodeling Guide 2008: Ecologically Responsible Healthy Living

As health concerns regarding the “purity” of drinking water reach an all-time high, many homeowners are turning away from their taps. But the ecological devastation caused by an explosive surge in bottled water consumption has caused increased concern among consumers and environmentalists alike. Monetary and ecological costs attributed to bottled water production, transportation and waste are causing many discriminating drinkers to look toward an eco-friendly, cost-effective solution: home water filtration.

Although water quality in the Houston area currently meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) minimum standards for safe drinking water, the presence of low-level contaminants, including arsenic and disinfection by-products, such as chlorine, may continue to pose certain health risks. Informed consumers are very sensitized to taste, color and odor factors in drinking water; meanwhile, a more insidious threat can be attributed to lead leaching into tap water due to the corrosion sometimes occurring in plumbing materials.

Bottled water, despite multi-billion dollar annual sales, is not a guarantee of superior quality. According to the Earth Policy Institute, roughly 25 percent of bottled water begins as plain city tap water, yet its cost-per-gallon can exceed that of milk, wine and gasoline. And because the EPA’s standards for tap water quality are more stringent that the Food and Drug Administration’s requirements for bottled water, many bottlers haven’t yet developed comprehensive quality standards by which to effectively test their waters and treat newly discovered contaminants, such as trace pharmaceuticals.

Cost and cleanliness aside, the environmental tolls associated with a water bottle’s lifespan—from production to distribution to disposal—are undeniable. Worldwide, 2.7 million tons of petro-chemical plastics are used to make water bottles each year. In the United States alone, annual bottle production calls for 10 million barrels of oil, and less than 20 percent of plastic bottles are recycled. The consequence is that millions upon millions of plastic bottles are tossed into landfills each year. The oceans and once pristine beaches are becoming littered with plastic bottles, and although there is no definitive equation for their decomposition, some scientists suggest plastic bottles could linger for as many as 1,000 years.

With the public consciousness having focused on the quality and safety of tap and bottled water, advanced filtration technology, equivalent to that of commercial-

grade systems, has become a much sought-after feature for new and remodeled homes. Two such residential filtration methods exist; point-of-entry (or “whole-house”) systems, which treat all the water that enters a home, and point-of-use systems, which purify water at the exact place of consumption.

A whole-house system acts ideally as a pre-filter for the home. Because only about 10 percent of a home’s total water is dedicated to drinking, perhaps the most effective and efficient point-of-use method is an undercounter filtration system. These systems, as opposed to faucet-mounted and refrigerator filters, generally remove higher percentages of more contaminants, have larger storage and filtering capacities and are extremely discrete. According to fastcompany.com, if tap water were to cost as much per gallon as the cheapest bottled water, average monthly residential water bills would soar to $9,000. On the other hand, water filtered via an undercounter system costs pennies per gallon and the systems need be replaced only about once a year (which is a do-it-yourself screw-in process that takes less than minute each year).

As many homeowners evaluate their priorities in the remodeling of their homes—specifically their kitchens—undercounter water filtration systems are becoming highly desirable enhancements to their new sinks and custom cabinetry. These simple-to-add but highly effective systems are both health sustaining and ecologically responsible while providing impressive cost savings and convenience when compared to bottled water. Because of the proliferation in residential filtration systems, manufacturers now also offer innovative options and accessories like instant hot-and-chilled water dispensers, carbonators and stylish accessory faucets, designed not only to offer complete peace of mind, but also to complement the aesthetics of the premium modern kitchen.

Consumer perceptions of bottled water products will continue to evolve, and tap water standards could soon be reexamined, especially as experts begin to evaluate the long-term health effects of contaminants. But the looming uncertainty over bottled water’s hefty price tag and potentially disproportionate quality means now is a better time than ever to consider home water filtration. In addition to offering convenience, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and style, installing a filtration system can provide clean, delicious water—pure and simple.