Question:
My roommate and I decided to stop buying distilledwater and he purchased a PUR water filter that goeson the tap from Home Depot for $30.00. The filterscost about $18-20, I think, and need replaced everyfew months. I can't tell the difference. He says hecan. Is it a gimmick?

Answer: I know it makes a difference for me, with my tap water, as well as myparents (who live several states away) and their tap water. (Theirs,especially, was undrinkable from the tap.) If your tap water tastes ok toyou, go ahead and drink it and let the roommate drink the filtered water -- you'll make the filters last longer that way.

We use the PUR pitcher/container, so I have no experience with the type thatattaches to the faucet. If you can't easily switch between unfiltered andfiltered water, my suggestion would need to be modified for you to use thebathroom faucet to get your drinking water.

But, yes, in my family's opinion, the filtering that PUR does is noticeable.

If I remember correctly, Consumer Reports gave Pur fairly high marks.The best way to tell if a water filter is effective is to send a sampleof filtered water and water to a lab to have them analyzed. Noteverything that gets filtered imparts flavor to the water, which is whya lab analysis is the most effective way to determine how effective awater filter works, and if indeed a water filter is even necessary.

it does make quite a difference, depending on what is in your tapwater. He might want to look carefully at the cost per gallon,though. Those PUR things are quite expensive, especially compared tothe 47 cents a gallon for distilled water at the local Walmart.

I have a home distiller that I bought when I lived in Pa where thewater wasn't fit for man nor beast. I developed a taste for distilledwater so I continue to use it. Our electric rate is quite low so Ican distill a gallon for much less than it costs at the store. Evenif I couldn't, I'd still use the still for the convenience of havingdistilled water on tap.