Until recently, the point-of-use water treatment industry focused on improving the aesthetic quality of drinking water. The industry has lately been thrust into the forefront of treatment of contaminated drinking waters that pose a serious health hazard. The response has been an explosion of companies and products promising to render the consumer's drinking water safe and contaminant free.
Although many sellers of water treatment units are legitimate, some are unscrupulous. As part of their sales pitches, some dealers may falsely claim that the drinking water in your area contains a harmful level of chemical contaminants, such as chlorine or lead. Although certain communities may experience various levels of water contamination, your community may not. Therefore, you may wish to verify the dealer's claims about your drinking water with your local or state department of health before purchasing any product.
Some dealers also may claim that certain government agencies require or recommend widespread use of water filters in homes or restaurants, or that the government approves a particular unit. This is not true. If you see an EPA registration number on a product label, it merely means that the manufacturer has registered its product with the EPA. A registration number does not mean that the EPA has tested or approved the product or substantiated the manufacturer's claims.
Some sellers advertise in the local media, offering a free in-home test of your drinking water if you call. Although in-home testing may be a legitimate sales tool, some promoters use unsophisticated tests to convince you of the need to purchase their product. For example, they may test only for acidity/alkalinity, water hardness, iron, manganese and color. None of these indicate the presence of harmful contaminants. Others may test only for chlorine, which, although present in your drinking water, may not be at harmful levels. If you suspect your water is contaminated, review all sources of information, consult a qualified water quality contractor and/or have your water tested by an independent laboratory before investing in a water treatment unit.
Be aware that water filters sometimes are sold as part of prize promotions, which may not be legitimate. Some companies send out postcards saying that you have been selected to receive a prize, and, to receive further details, instruct you to call a telephone number, usually toll-free. If you call, you may discover that you must purchase a water treatment unit to be eligible for a prize, which may be of little or no value. Sometimes sellers will request your credit card number, saying they need to verify your eligibility for a prize or to bill your account. Be cautious about giving your credit card number over the telephone to someone you do not know. Many consumers who have purchased water treatment units from telephone sales have found later that the units do not remove contaminants from the water and that they cannot cancel their orders or return the products to obtain refunds.