Water Treatment - Myths vs. Facts
MYTH:
Physical water treatment processes are not viable or certified.
FACT:
The technology in DuPure’s EcoPur product has been certified to 99.6 percent efficiency by the only testing protocol in the world for physical water treatment (Europe’s DVGW). Beyond that, EcoPur is the only physical water treatment technology to earn certification.
MYTH:
Traditional water-softening processes are preferred because they’re effective.
FACT:
Most water softening process use a petroleum-based resin that removes hardness and substitutes salt. But the resin can deteriorate rapidly. Since cheaper softener products do not protect against this deterioration, they begin to lose their effectiveness immediately. Some of these cheaper products are also single-tank configurations that expose valve components to the corrosive effects of the salt, further increasing this deterioration.
MYTH:
Most water treatment companies represent their products accurately and honestly.
FACT:
A common industry problem has been misrepresentation of product performance specifications and the practice of selling products not configured to the specifications represented. The industry’s primary trade group – the Water Quality Association (WQA) – has established a certification protocol and issues a Gold Seal to members that have satisfied the rigorous testing. Still, many non-certified companies use the Gold Seal in deceptive ways. Because DuPure is committed to ethical business practices – and because we are certified – we file complaints with the WQA on a regular basis regarding any misrepresentations or violations.
MYTH:
The water industry imposes strict barriers to entry that keep “shady” companies out.
FACT:
The barriers to entry are minimal and create the need for an aggressive WQA policing agenda. Homeowners should be aware of this and conduct their own due diligence by asking water treatment providers a) about their insurance coverage; b) about state licensing compliance; c) whether the service work is being conducted by employees of the company or subcontractors; and d) whether their products are certified.
MYTH:
Plastic water bottles are typically recycled or biodegrade in a landfill.
FACT:
The plastic in the bottles is made from oil and does not biodegrade. Not a lot of those bottles are recycled, either. In fact, Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.
MYTH:
Bottled water is pure.
FACT:
Bottled water can contain multiple contaminants. The water in various brand-name products has been found to include methylene chloride, bacterial overgrowth, and aluminum. Additionally, chemicals from the plastic have leached into the water.
MYTH:
Bottled water is purer than tap water.
FACT:
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, government and industry estimates indicate that about 25 percent to 30 percent of the bottled water sold in the United States comes from a city’s or town’s tap water. Sometimes that water is treated; sometimes it’s not.