Filter jugs - are they healthy?

December 2, 2020

More and more is being said about water quality. Although local governments encourage drinking tap water, this does not apply to all cities. Many parents wonder how to clean tap water and won't the water from the filter jug ​​be healthier?

Better and better opinions about filter jugs

Filtering jugs are getting better feedback on the wave of interest in the trend zero waste. In the past, packets of good mineral water were a status symbol, today filtered water from a jug or bottle takes its place. The first possibilities appeared recycling of filter cartridges, therefore, this technology is certainly more environmentally friendly than bottled water. Many pro-ecological people no longer doubt whether filtered or mineral water is better. This opinion about filter jugs is becoming more and more common. 

How does the filter jug ​​work?

The principle of the water filter jug ​​is simple and the filter keeps substances that have a negative effect on the taste, smell and quality of the water. For this purpose, they are used carbon filters. It is a natural, safe solution. However, if you are wondering if filter jugs are healthy, remember that activated carbon traps sand, chlorine and some chemicals, but not bacteria or viruses.

If you are wondering if the filter jugs are healthy, pay attention to the quality of the carbon filter. It can be:

  • enriched with ion exchange resin, which softens the water, which prevents the formation of sediment on the dishes during cooking;
  • mineralized, i.e. with iodine, magnesium or potassium for people who need them especially in the diet. Remember that the amount of these macronutrients in the filter, as well as their bioavailability from the filter, is not clear. Therefore, water from such a jug cannot be treated as a substitute for a healthy diet or supplementation.
  • with an alkaline bedwhich improves the pH of the water and enriches its mineral composition;

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Anna Milewska

Senior specialist in the Department of Assessment and Cooperation Development, Institute of Mother and Child

Disadvantages of filter jugs - bitter water, chlorine smell?

Water from the filter jug ​​should not have defects. If bitter water comes out of the tap, it will taste the right way when filtered. It should not smell like chlorine or be visibly contaminated. If the water is bitter even after filtering, it must be filtered again. If that doesn't work, the jug is probably of poor quality or the filter needs to be replaced. This is another argument to buy only filter jugs in proven places - in the event of defects, you can immediately complain about them.

You also have an influence on the quality of the water in your jug

The French Food Safety and Environment Agency (ANSES) issued a statement warning that:

  • impurities can penetrate the water from the filter cartridges: silver, potassium, ammonium and sodium ions,
  • can negatively affect the pH of the water,
  • and even reduce its microbiological quality.

Therefore, he cautions to choose certified jugs from proven producers and use them as intended. It is obvious, but not everyone knows how often the manufacturer recommends changing the filters in his jug, how quickly you need to drink it after filtering and how to clean it properly. Better jugs will have a clear indicator telling you when to change the filter.

The research conducted at the University of Ohio in 2018 shows that some jugs available on the local market, despite the manufacturers' declarations, allow toxins, such as algae seeds, to enter the water. On the other hand, Polish Sanepid warned in 2013 that some jugs unnecessarily sterilize the water from minerals, and even that the filters accumulate dangerous bacteria. Application? When it comes to whether the water from the filter jug ​​is healthy, it all depends on what you buy and how proven the manufacturer is, and how you handle the jug (there are specific guidelines on how many hours the filtered water should stand, and the jug itself needs to be washed and prevent the growth of microorganisms)

Aleksandra Swiebod

Head of the Department of Assessment and Development of Cooperation at the Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

The few jugs available on the market are made of glass or borosilicate glass. However, it is worth looking for them, because plastic toxins penetrate into water much more easily, which will remain in such a jug for hours, often in the sun. Manufacturers of borosilicate glass jugs claim that they are easier to clean, are of higher quality, and do not tarnish.

Alternatives to the filter jug

An alternative to the filter jug ​​is faucet filterthat traps contaminants even before water starts flowing out of the tap. In it, you also need to replace the cartridges. While the price of the jug is about PLN 30-150, the tap filter costs PLN 150-250. For about PLN 400 you can have it reverse osmosis system on the tap, thanks to which the water will be even cleaner. It is safer, for example in the case of your own well - the filter jug ​​may not cope with specific pollutants. However, while the jug allows you to get only a certain amount of clean water, the filter cleans any amount of tap water. If you additionally test the tap water and it turns out that it has good parameters, you will not have to wonder if filtered or bottled water is better - you will have just as good a tap as a bottle.

Recently, on the wave of the zero-waste trend, which requires you to take your own drinks from home when you go out, bottles with filter cartridges have become fashionable. It turns out that many people, having a choice: filtered or mineral water, choose the former. It is very convenient on the go, but the small capacity makes it unsuitable for the home. You also have to be careful about the raw material from which the water bottle or bottle is. Remember that the bottle will have to be washed like other dishes at high temperature. Those of lower quality will deform and destroy after a few washes. A BPA-free, certified plastic, eg Polypropylene (PP), will be better.

Filtered water for babies? 

Can I give filtered water to my baby? On the websites of most manufacturers, in response to the question whether filter jugs are healthy for babies, you can read that such water can be given to children from 1 year of age. Therefore, it is better not to experiment with filtered water for babies, opting for low-mineralized water from the bottle.

Author

Aleksandra Swiebod

Head of the Department of Assessment and Development of Cooperation at the Institute of Mother and Child

EU funding
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