What to look for in water filters

Water filters are in the news, with many investing in home devices. A study into such treatment devices separates the good from the bad.
BEFORE you rush off to buy a filter to further purify your tap water, check out the step-by-step guide published by researchers at the University of Johannesburg.

Dr BarnardDr Tobias Barnard: public should be educated about the quality of tap waterIt is also advisable to keep in mind that Joburg recently received another Blue Drop award for its high quality tap water.

The 2010/2011 Blue Drop report, released in June, highlighted that Joburg was providing excellent drinking water to consumers after the City received a 66 Blue Drop award, up from its previous 38 Blue Drop award in 2009/2010.

Despite the award, however, some residents are still cautious about drinking tap water without using some form of home water treatment filtering device.

Water quality in general has been open for discussion, prompting an investigation by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) into claims about these filters and the quality of tap water.

As part of this study, it was decided that an easily accessible pamphlet should be distributed to educate the public about water quality and help people wanting to buy home filters. This pamphlet was released on 26 July at the Advancement Boardroom on the university’s Doornfontein Campus.

To undertake the study, the Water Research Commission awarded funding to Dr Tobias Barnard, the director of water and health research at the university, and Dr Delene Bartie, a senior medical scientist at the National Institute for Occupational Health, to investigate the claims made about products by manufacturers and suppliers of these devices.

Concerns about the quality of tap water countrywide have sparked an increase in the number of consumers buying treatment filters that are pricey and sometimes not even certified.

Water quality pamphlet
A UJ study educates the public about water quality and water treatment devices. Read more.
The pamphlet is a step-by-step guide of things to consider before buying a filter, it educates users about the quality of tap water in South Africa, about filter devices, questions to answer to determine if a filter is needed in a home, and the different types of drinking water treatment technologies, as well as information about certification on filters.

The research study is ongoing. “The aim of the research is to educate the general public in South Africa on water quality as well as the types of filters available,” said Barnard.

“We fully appreciate that in some areas of South Africa the water quality might not be up to standard, or that people simply want to use filters to remove the taste of chlorine or any contaminants they think might be in the water. We, however, want to make consumers aware of the fact that all filters are not the same or of the same standard.”

The next step in the investigation will involve the laboratory testing of each filter available on the market to ensure that it meets the criteria needed for its specific use.