Here are some considerations when deciding how to change the quality of your water

We Test Your Water 
Prior to selecting a water treatment device, the Department of Environmental Services recommends that your water quality be tested for important contaminants common to your region. Some drinking water contaminants have taste, odor, or color characteristics that make their presence known without laboratory testing. However, many health related contaminants found in drinking water, such as bacteria, radioactivity, arsenic and fuels and industrial solvents, exhibit none of these simple taste and odor indicators. The presence of these contaminants and most others that pose a health risk can only be determined by laboratory testing. By testing your water we can also customize your water system to your particular needs.

We Customize Depending on Your Needs 
Water treatment devices come in two basic sizes: "point-of-use" or "whole-house." Each type is explained below. The nature of the contaminant dictates which type of treatment should be used. The concentration of the contaminant(s) and water volume needs to be determined to the relative size the treatment device.

Point-of-use devices are typically installed near the kitchen and treat only a few gallons of water per day. The purified water is taken from an extra faucet installed at a location of your choice, typically at the kitchen sink. Such a system might be used for such contaminants as arsenic, beryllium, fluoride, uranium, nitrate or radium where only the water to be directly consumed or used for cooking generally needs to be treated. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a commonly selected point-of-use device. 

Whole-house devices typically treat all water used within the home, about 100-300 gallons per day depending on family size. This size treatment device might be used for such contaminants as odor, iron, hardness, manganese and radon gas.

For Those Customers Who Want to Know Everything 
It is good practice for consumers to request information and study each proposed alternative treatment method before purchase. Asking the following questions will help you make the best selection:

• What is the recommended generic treatment method (not just the marketing name of the device)?
• What are the technical principle(s) governing the process?
• What other treatment options are available?
• If funds are limited, can plumbing connections be installed for the addition of future treatment devices?
• Why were the other treatment options not recommended?
• Which type of equipment and treatment options do your neighbors or co-workers use if they have the same problem with their water supplies?

• Understand the chemical or physical principles used by the treatment device.
• Understand how raw water quality changes can affect the device efficiency.
• Identify any disadvantages inherent to the proposed treatment approach.
• What chemicals does the treatment add to the water?
• What desirable chemical(s) does the treatment process inadvertently take out?
• Where do the waste products go?
• Does the raw water require any preconditioning steps?
• What factors would cause this treatment process to malfunction and how would these factors or malfunctions be detected?
• What maintenance procedures are necessary for efficient operation of the treatment process?