What are your Options for Home Water Filters in Nebraska?
If you are seeking to improve the taste and quality of your tap water in Nebraska, you may have considered an in-home water filter. As more and more homeowners today search for residential water filtering systems, manufacturers from all over the world are striving to meet this demand. While the good news is that there is a larger variety of product available on the market than ever before, it can also mean that many homeowners are a little overwhelmed by their almost infinite options. 
Fortunately, most of the residential water filtration products can be divided into one of several categories. Each of these types of products, in fact, treat water in a different way, so it is important to understand these options to determine which one is best suited to your specific home based on where you live in Nebraska.
Reverse Osmosis or R.O.:
Reverse Osmosis, commonly referred to as R.O. has been in use for well over fifty years. It was originally conceived for the desalination of ocean water, however, it has also proved very effective in separating and extracting dissolved minerals and other contaminants in tap water. It is in fact the very same technology used by large scale commercial water bottlers who sell the major brands you have come to know and trust at every Supermarket, 7-11, convenience store, automated dispenser, sport venue or movie theater. Reverse Osmosis works by passing water under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane leaving behind any impurities. Many of today’s reverse osmosis units now feature a number of filters to remove sediment and lighter weight organic matter. This allows for nitrates, lead, chlorine and other pollutants, such as detergents, to be totally filtered out from your water supply. Reverse osmosis can be an economical option for your home drinking needs, producing high quality drinking water as an alternative to home delivered jugs or as a cheaper alternative to store bought bottled water.
Carbon Filtration and Carbon Filters:
Carbon filters are often used with other treatment methods, as activated carbon does not remove bacteria or inorganic chemicals. Carbon filters are available as pour through countertop pitchers, faucet attachments, under counter units and whole home filter systems.
Activated carbon filters can be used to remove any unpleasant odors or tastes, especially chlorine characteristically found in almost all municipal water supplies. Some filters can even remove certain organic materials.
UV (Ultraviolet Light) Anti-Bacterial Systems
This type of treatment system passes water through glass tubes. The tubes are clear and allow the water to be exposed to UV rays (ultraviolet light) from special bulbs. The ultraviolet light kills or sterilizes viruses and bacteria, and it can also alter certain organic materials to make them inert and no longer harmful. If the water is contaminated by materials making it cloudy, ultraviolet light systems are not very effective however. The microorganisms must be exposed to the UV rays in order to be sterilized or killed.
Each of these systems has their own advantages and limitations. In order to choose the system that is best suited to your residential needs, you will need to consider whether you wish to have a whole house system or an under counter unit. Obviously, budget will be a factor in the decision, but it is worth considering that although more sophisticated systems such as a reverse osmosis (R.O.) combined with whole house water softening systems and whole home filtration, can be more costly, they can deliver the best results in the long run. These more elaborate set ups ensure that your tap water in the kitchen is as pure as it can be and that the water in the rest of your home is softened and free from toxic contaminants such as lead or nitrate, which could compromise the comfort and health of your entire family.
About The Author, Terry Reeh, EcoWater Systems of Nebraska:
With more than 25 years experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Terry is a WQA (Water Quality Association) certified water specialist, LEVEL 3, as well as a WQA certified sales representative. EcoWater Systems of Nebraska is one of the biggest water treatment and water delivery businesses in the state, Terry currently sits on EcoWater Systems (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) national Peers committee, as a water treatment expert advising other water professionals with less experience on best trade and technology practices.