Revisiting: Do we really need water filters?

The original post with the same title "Do we really need water filters?" came out almost 9 years ago and it is still one of the most well read posts. Along the way, I have written many other posts to further explain this fascinating topic.

Recently, a well known media company interviewed me on the various aspects of drinking water in Singapore - bottled water, water filtration, alkaline water, tap water. Eventually, my interview was not published but I will not go into the reasons here.

However, I found one particular question to be highly relevant for a revisit: are there any benefits to installing filters in homes?

Seriously now CK, do SG homes actually need water filters?

Long time readers of my blog probably know that I am not an advocate of water filters in the SG home. Our tap water is good enough to drink straight so why do we need to fork out our hard earned Yusof Ishaks for an "unnecessary" filter and its never ending replacements?

With the benefit of age (Uh, I mean experience) and its companion known as hindsight, there can indeed be benefits to using a water filter in the SG home.

Peace of mind

I am not kidding! Psychological health is every bit as important as physical health. Healthy mind leads to healthy body, right? If you are totally convinced that you need that ABC water filter to allow you to drinking healthily, please go ahead to get it (within your means of course). For that matter, if you absolutely need that alkaline (or hydrogen or ionised etc.) water to function at peak efficiency, please go right ahead. You know you body best and if you believe it benefits you, I will not argue with that.

Reducing intake of controversial pollutants

Let's face it - even WHO drinking water guidelines are not omnipotent. They cannot be 100% reliable in their recommendations. Nevertheless, they are still VERY useful and possibly the best currently available guidelines for drinking water.

Over the years, various chemical species have received much attention in parts of the world. One is chlorine which is the most common disinfectant. Under the right conditions, it can give rise of various other chemical species in water. They are known collectively as disinfection by-products (DBPs) and have various levels of negative health effects.

The other water treatment additive is fluoride which supposedly fights tooth decay. It has its fair share of opponents citing concerns about fluorosis - a condition caused by an overdose of fluoride.

And if you want to reduce the levels of such controversial pollutants below the levels currently found in tap water, you have to install your own water treatment unit. Just make sure that it can indeed reduce these pollutants to a level you feel safe.

Reduction of actual pollutants

In my opinion, the chances of this happening is rarer. Reasons are usually accidents, human error or else something has gone wrong. Who is to say it is impossible that your water supply piping may just happen to be cracked and sewage has somehow entered it? Then you are looking a possible dosage of human pathogens in your water. A water filter that can eliminate pathogens will come in handy.

I still remember the time when the body of a maid was found in the water tank of a HDB block. This kind of situation basically contaminates the water supply of the entire block. And if you are using an effective water filter, more power to you.

Better taste

I have met individuals sensitive to the taste of chlorine in their water. And if you are one of them, sure, get a filter to remove chlorine. The other group of people will be coffee/tea aficionados. They aim to brew the best cup of coffee/tea at home and will spend resources to achieve this aim. A water filter to remove chlorine and possibly metals become a necessity.

Actual health issues

Though rare, it is possible to have chlorine allergy or allergy to any of the other impurities in water. In such cases, removing chlorine (or other allergen) from drinking water and other sources of skin contact (think bathing, washing) is necessary. I am no doctor but I imagine there are patients who need to be cautious about the kind of dietary intake through drinking so they need water to be purer than a normal tap can supply.

Figure: My kind of taste enhancer for drinking water if I ever find plain old aqua to be bland