Mistake #1: Believing outrageous claims of equipment performance

During the last 10 years, many public water systems did indeed exhibit contamination problems. This has influenced millions of people to purchase bottled water or home water purifiers.

Unfortunately, many manufacturers and distributors of various types of home water systems have attempted to delude the public into believing that their simplistic, yet expensive home units were capable of Herculean feats of water purification. Millions of dollars have been wasted by customers all over the nation on these devices.

Most significant of these "oversell activities" has been those related to REVERSE OSMOSIS and CARBON FILTER home systems.

Today, we are beginning to see the results of these types of unscrupulous sales activities--- government lawsuits against filter manufacturers, equipment certification requirements and lastly, thousands of disgruntled customers who too late found out that their so-called "purifier" did nothing more than clean out their pocketbook.

How to Avoid Mistake #1

Recognize that there are two categories of home water treatment systems: Filters---and purifiers. "Filters" come in two forms: carbon filters and reverse osmosis. Water "purifiers" are systems called steam distillers.

Carbon filters remove only taste and odor plus chlorine and liquid chemicals. These contaminants account for only 1-2 percent of all contaminants which may be found in water. 98-99 % of the remaining chemicals, salts, bacteria, radioactivity and heavy metals remain in water after passing through a carbon filter.

Reverse osmosis(or R/O) filtration removes between 50 and 80% of all contaminants from water, depending on water pressure, types of contaminant, concentrations of contaminant and the number of gallons processed by the system since it was purchased. As time progresses, R/O water quality becomes poorer and poorer until such time(a few months, normally) you are once again drinking essentially tap water.

Because it does not remove dissolved salts such as sodium to levels below 10 milligrams per liter, nor kill bacteria, it cannot be called a water "purifier"---only a filter.

Steam Distillation kills bacteria by it's boiling process and through the simple, yet effective means of evaporation, lifts the pure water from the incoming water as steam, leaving behind heavier materials such as salts, metals and other undesirable materials.

Steam distillation consistently removes in excess of 99% of all incoming water contaminants, regardless of water pressure or other conditions.

Mistake #2: Buying water systems not certified by U/L, CSA or WQA Gold Seal Programs.

These certifications tell the consumer that the products are certified to perform as advertised and meet stringent design standards for installation, operation, maintenance and safety.

There are many water products which do not have the backing of such prestigious organizations such as Underwriter Laboratories(U/L), the Canadian equivalent of U/L(CSA) and the Water Quality Association Gold Seal Approval.

The reasons are twofold: (1) usually the equipment is too close to "junk" to stand a chance of qualifying for these stringent certifications; and (2) the manufacturer or distributors have no intention of being a permanent business in the water marketplace---rather they rely on "quick buck" activities such as multi-level, city-to-city marketing blitzes.

How to Avoid Mistake #2

Look for appropriate certifications on the product and the product literature. If they are not there---look for another product.

Mistake #3: Buying water systems at outrageously inflated prices

Door-to-door direct salespeople and "multi-level" or pyramid sales operations normally charge anywhere from 3 to 10 times the true retail price for their products. Very persuasive, professional salespeople are employed by many water products manufacturers to penetrate into individual's homes and sell systems for thousands of dollars. Virtually identical systems can be purchased at the local shopping centers within walking distance for only a few hundred dollars.

Likewise, multi-level products such as carbon filters or reverse osmosis systems are marked up very high to provide the financial pay outs to a half dozen "sponsors" and "promoters" who are part of the "stacked" programs of multi-level marketing activities.

How to Avoid Mistake #3

If you spend more than $150 for an under-sink carbon filter you are spending too much. Likewise, a good-quality reverse osmosis system can be obtained for about $450. Steam distillation systems can be purchased for between $900 and $1200.

Top line water softeners can be purchased for $800 to $1000. Buying a "whole-house" system for several thousand dollars wastes at least two thousand dollars of your money to pay for the direct-salesperson's time in your home--pressing you for a sale.

Mistake #4: Believing that simple water filters will solve most contamination problems.

How to Avoid Mistake #4: Manufacturers and dealers for simple, carbon filters have a tendency to try to make the customer believe that their units do more than they actually do. In other words, they want their products to "grow up" and do what more expensive, more complex systems such as reverse osmosis and steam distillers will do.

You will hear claims(but rarely see documentation) about these inflated performance attributes by any number of filter distributors.

If you hear or see claims for carbon filters which exceed basic taste and odor or organic chemical removal, avoid the products. Claims for removal of heavy metals such as lead, bacteria, radioactive particles and so forth are not truthful and indicate that the manufacturer or distributor is simply misleading you. Look for another dealer.

Mistake #5: Putting too much faith in "instant water experts" and friends who are selling water products for part-time income.

How to Avoid Mistake #5: Many of your friends and neighbors may be involved in "pyramid" or "multi-level marketing" programs for water systems. Others may be selling products for health or cosmetics companies and will be promoting some type of inexpensive filter or purifier system as part of what their multi-level company sells.

Most of these individuals have received no training in water quality and little or no understanding of the complex issues surrounding our drinking water and the alternative solutions which apply to various types of water problems.

Their enthusiasm for their product line may be enormous. This does not mean that their products are any good nor does it mean that what they are telling you about their products or your water quality has any relationship to reality.

Avoid wasting money on products sold in this manner. Once you find out that product is less than what you bargained for, you may find it difficult to obtain a refund---particularly if you are buying from a close friend or relative.

Mistake #6: Expecting to get a "bargain" water system via mail order

How to Avoid Mistake #6: Unless there are some means to verify that the mail order operation is legitimate and doing more than operating out of a family garage, spare bedroom or P.O. Box, do not expect to get a bargain from those companies. If they do not have the commitment to establish a formal retail outlet for their products, chances are they will not be around when you need technical or warranty help. You will then find out just what type of "bargain" you purchased.

Mistake #7: Expecting to get a "bargain" water system at discount stores or home improvement stores

How to Avoid Mistake #7: Be aware that you will usually get what you pay for in water purifiers. "Big Box" and discount stores usually carry the "bottom of the barrel" in equipment quality. Hence the lower prices. If you are looking for a new car, you look for one with seat belts and other safety features. When you are buying that car you can expect to pay more for those safety and quality features than other cars which may not have those features. The same is true with water purification and filtration systems. You will find bargain basement prices on products which have bargain basement quality and safety features. They simply cost less to manufacture---and there are plenty of manufacturers of water systems out there who really don't have an interest in top quality---they are only interested in the number of units which will be sold.

Mistake #8: Not shopping around

How to Avoid Mistake #8: The Internet has become a virtual wealth of information(and mis-information in some cases) for topics such as drinking water systems. It is a mechanism for you to investigate a particular technique, product or device before you commit to a purchase. If you do not have reputable water dealers in your area which carry all types of water treatment products, you should seek out those information sources which evaluate all types of systems. Shopping for information will save you considerable grief and anger if you buy from the first person who you happen to stumble across in your search for a home water purification or treatment system

Mistake #9: Buying a product from a company or individual who has not put their specific claims to paper

How to Avoid Mistake #9: Perhaps the most striking example of this mistake occurs in direct sales activities in a customer's home. In this case, a cleverly orchestrated sales pitch, verbally making claims as to a specific product's performance or capabilities, is where one will find this mistake being made by unwary consumers. Direct, in-home sales persons are chosen for their ability to verbally persuade consumers to part with extraordinary amounts of money for equipments which in many cases are not capable of producing the results stated by the salesperson.

If you are unwise enough to invite one of these slick salespersons into your home for the evening, expect a lot of verbal claims that are not backed up on paper---and in most cases never questioned by the potential customer(you) because the salesperson will not allow the conversation or discussion to drift in that direction. The moral: avoid buying water purifiers, conditioners or filters in an in-home environment, unless you are fully equipped to counter the technical points being made by the salesperson.

Mistake #10: Ignoring mistakes 1 through 9