The UK’s water supply is well-known to be one of the cleanest in the world, although localised issues can affect the taste, smell and appearance as well as causing some health risks.

In the last few years there have been a few outbreaks of water-borne pathogens like E.coli or cryptosporidium in the UK mains’ water supply. On top of this, single households or neighbourhoods can be exposed to harmful chemicals such as lead if old or dilapidated piping is in use around the properties.

On top of these issues, if you live in a hard water area of the UK, you may experience limescale build-up which can cause a whole host of problems.

To guard against these common water problems, many UK homeowners are choosing to filter their mains supply water through the use of a domestic water filter system. Usually fitted to the mains’ water supply under the sink, these filtration devices mean you receive filtered water round the clock, with only the cost of replacement filters needed once installed.

under sink water filter system

 

Why Use a Water Filter System?

If you are experiencing any of the following issues with your tap water, a water filter system could be the solution:
 

  • Taste & Odour

Chlorine and chloramines are crucial in keeping the water supply clean, but many people complain it can affect the taste and smell of their water.

If you do find the taste or smell of water off-putting because of chlorine, a carbon-block water filter system can help to remove chlorine without causing any health concerns.
 

  • Limescale

Limescale is the white, powdery deposit that forms when hard water is heated. Particularly prevalent in the South East of England, limescale can look unsightly; cause your appliances to run less efficiently and break down; as well as tasting different to soft water (although whether it tastes ‘good’ or ‘bad’ usually depends on the person).

The UK is generally split between softer water areas in Scotland and West of England, with the East generally harder, however there are pockets of hard water dotted around the country. It’s worth using a water hardness postcode checker to check the level of water hardness where you live and whether it could cause you any issues. If limescale is becoming a problem in your home, then you may want to consider a filter containing polyphosphate scale inhibition media which prevents limescale from forming on kitchen surfaces and appliances.
 

  • Bacteria

Thanks to the rigorous water treatment process across the UK, outbreaks of bacteria harmful to human health such as E.coli and cryptosporidium are rare, but not unheard of. These risks escalate massively if you rely on a private water supply such as a bore-hole, well or stream which can be more easily contaminated and go undetected due to the varying levels of testing and water safety implemented by the owner of the supply.

If there is an outbreak of a water-borne pathogen in the UK’s water supply, the local water provider has a duty to households in the affected areas to inform them how best to treat their water, if it can still be used at all. If you wanted to cover yourself against the risk of an outbreak of harmful bacteria in the water supply, you may want to consider an ultra-fine mechanical water filter such as a Doulton ceramic filter.
 

  • Particulate or Sediment

Do you regularly find sand, silt and rust in your tap water? Although these elements are considered harmless in such small amounts, this sediment could harbour more harmful bacteria, damage pipework and appliances as well as affecting the appearance of your water.

This is another problem more commonly seen in private water supplies, where larger organic matter such as leaves and twigs may find their water into your taps. If you feel that particulate or sediment is reducing the quality of the drinking water in your home, you may want to consider a mechanical water filter to remove those unwanted and unsightly particles!

 

Should you opt for a Water Filter System?

If the water supply to your household is suffering from one of the problems above, or if you simply want to guard against them occurring in the future, a domestic water filter system could suit your needs.

If you are avoiding tap water by drinking bottled water, you may want to consider that a water filter system is both more cost-effective and more environmentally friendly than this option. Therefore, if you’re conscious about the effect of plastic on our marine ecosystem, or just keen to save a few pennies from buying bottled water, a water filter could be for you.

water filter vs bottled

As with all the water solutions for domestic purposes, we aim to make these water filter systems as user-friendly as possible, with many able to be fitted easily by the homeowner without any specialist plumbing knowledge. That said, if you would like to consult with one of Aqua Cure’s water purity experts, please get in touch today!