Water filtration systems - necessary?

[dhoover123]

We are new to The Villages - 1 week. We just had a water test done. I'm wondering how people feel about the need for a filtration system. I welcome pros and cons before we make our decision.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Be very careful about this. Many companies who do water testing also sell the water filtration equipment and in their opinion your water is always bad and need some kind of system.
From what I understand, the water here in the Villages is perfectly drinkable. Now some people may be more fussy about their water and can tell the difference. I on the other hand would not put in any kind of filtration system unless I thought I was being poisoned. The water tastes fine to me and no one is getting sick from it as far as I know. In my opinion filtration systems are a total rip off, but there will be some that disagree with me.
If you really think you can tell the difference, another alternative is to get a five gallon water dispenser and buy drinking water. The neat thing about them is you get ice cold and almost boiling hot water at the push of a button.

[JoeC1947]

Be very careful about this. Many companies who do water testing also sell the water filtration equipment and in their opinion your water is always bad and need some kind of system.
From what I understand, the water here in the Villages is perfectly drinkable. Now some people may be more fussy about their water and can tell the difference. I on the other hand would not put in any kind of filtration system unless I thought I was being poisoned. The water tastes fine to me and no one is getting sick from it as far as I know. In my opinion filtration systems are a total rip off, but there will be some that disagree with me.
If you really think you can tell the difference, another alternative is to get a five gallon water dispenser and buy drinking water. The neat thing about them is you get ice cold and almost boiling hot water at the push of a button.

:agree:

[Markam]

You are not the first person with this question.

In my humble OPINION, the water is perfectly safe to drink the way it is. A call to the water company will confirm that they purify the water to at least minimum standards.

Some have found the taste, chlorine level, 'softness' or particulate level can be improved somewhat with treatment. Give it a few weeks to determine what condition you want to fix and then do a little shopping - including using the search function of this site.

I certainly would not advise buying a treatment system based on the result of one salesman's 'test'. I've had salesmen perform these 'tests' done both here and 'up north' and they all seem to indicate I am risking my family's health unless I buy their product.

[Ooper]

I agree with all the above... you absolutely do not need a water system unless you just want to spend money. Anything the water companies tell you is a scam... IMHO.

[wesmin]

there is a lab on hwy 44 in leesburg to do a water test you can decied what kind of filter you want depending on what you test for take water from tub as screens on sinks usualy have some growth

[buzzy]

Is there a whole house filter that primarily takes out the chlorine taste? I'd like all the faucets to taste as good as the refrigerator water dispenser.

[Challenger]

I agree with all the above... you absolutely do not need a water system unless you just want to spend money. Anything the water companies tell you is a scam... IMHO.

We have now lived in 9 homes with public water systems in several ares of the US. We are both 74 . No waterborne diseases or maladies. Children healthy. Never had water filtration or bought bottled water. Both are marketing schemes. IMHO. Buy the way , both of these water schemes are environmentally VERY Unfriendly.

[Jaggy]

We moved in on Friday.. Today is Monday morning.. at 8am.. YES 8AM!!!.... I received a phone call indicating she was from "welcome wagon" etc.. it was watertesting.. I am not interested.. I hang up.. before 9am I had 3 more calls.. all starting with welcome welcome gifts..etc.. they are all for water testing.. I found out there is not an official welcome wagon here ( which is ok) but who sold my home number to these guys?? I will drink the water I have and if it does the job on me that is seems to do on all the other villagers I see here that look so healthy, it will be great.. .

[Tom Hannon]

:agree:

I believe the water stuff is a scam. When I moved to TV in the first two weeks I was solicited a half dozen times. Stay away.

[Tom Hannon]

We moved in on Friday.. Today is Monday morning.. at 8am.. YES 8AM!!!.... I received a phone call indicating she was from "welcome wagon" etc.. it was watertesting.. I am not interested.. I hang up.. before 9am I had 3 more calls.. all starting with welcome welcome gifts..etc.. they are all for water testing.. I found out there is not an official welcome wagon here ( which is ok) but who sold my home number to these guys?? I will drink the water I have and if it does the job on me that is seems to do on all the other villagers I see here that look so healthy, it will be great.. .

As I mentioned in an earlier post to this thread the same thing happened to me. These people are like vultures. But if you were in sales you'd be the same way. How else can you sell nothing and get a good price for it.

[HMLRHT1]

We were called to by the "welcome wagon" and someone came out and tested our water. We did not go with them and did more research on what was available. Our concern was the chlorine level and taste in the water. To drink it this way does cause cancer. So we found a system that we liked that got rid of the chlorine and now we are happy. But drinking chlorine over time does cause cancer.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I believe the water stuff is a scam. When I moved to TV in the first two weeks I was solicited a half dozen times. .........

:22yikes:

Yeah, but what about the water stuff, Tom? :shocked:

Bill :wave:

[Challenger]

We were called to by the "welcome wagon" and someone came out and tested our water. We did not go with them and did more research on what was available. Our concern was the chlorine level and taste in the water. To drink it this way does cause cancer. So we found a system that we liked that got rid of the chlorine and now we are happy. But drinking chlorine over time does cause cancer.

Can you direct me to a competent medical source that would support your assertion that Chlorine in water causes cancer?

[Carmpat]

We used Florida Water Treatment instead of GE Systems and Eco Water who charges way over $4,000. We waited and did not rush into buying anything when we first moved in. We were skeptical and did our own research. We found Florida Water Treatment Family Owned & Operated Since 1951 at 800-292-7925 which received an A+ rating with the BBB so we used them The reason we did this was because of too much chlorine in the water. I don't even like drinking the water from some of the restaurants here in The Villages. You can actually taste the difference. They charged us $2400 for reverse osmosis system plus a water softener. I would recommend them if someone is thinking of having this done. A friend of ours here in The Villages had the water tested and told us years down the road all the pipes here will get corroded. Fl is rated among 10 worst states for tap water.

[Arubagirl2000]

DO NOT get involved with All About Water and Solar. I could write a book, but long story short we bought their system - ended up paying $2750 - down from their originally asking price of $6,100 for same unit. Don't ever pay anymore. It came with a free ROS - which I found out they wanted to come service every 6 months to change the filter, and I think the price was $129.00 or more. They refuse to take our phone calls. We have had it since May, and they refuse to send us the warranty, or any info on the water filtration system. I am beginning to suspect we did not get a new unit.

[mrsanborn]

We were called to by the "welcome wagon" and someone came out and tested our water. We did not go with them and did more research on what was available. Our concern was the chlorine level and taste in the water. To drink it this way does cause cancer. So we found a system that we liked that got rid of the chlorine and now we are happy. But drinking chlorine over time does cause cancer.

Try this test and see for yourself. Put a black sock in a glass of Village tap water, sit back and watch.

[justjim]

I have not researched chlorine amounts that could cause cancer but my educated guess is that the amount IMHO would likely have to be many many times the amount in our public water supply. To each his own, but unless you have a health issue that would require a water purity system or you just want "softer" water for your delicate skin----spend your money on a nice trip that is on your bucket list.

[Sunshine Mary]

Taking a shower in hot Chlorine water will also causes cancer .It not good for you

Can you direct me to a competent medical source that would support your assertion that Chlorine in water causes cancer?

Try this test and see for yourself. Put a black sock in a glass of Village tap water, sit back and watch.

[jimbo2012]

Need a medical source, just Google it.

Get a whole house filter with carbon, case closed <$400

[buzzy]

Need a medical source, just Google it.

Get a whole house filter with carbon, case closed <$400

Jimbo, at Home Depot I see both softeners and whole house filters. But the whole house filters all seem to be just for sediment, and do not indicate carbon. What should I be looking for, and where to go?

[andreoli]

Be very careful about this. Many companies who do water testing also sell the water filtration equipment and in their opinion your water is always bad and need some kind of system.
From what I understand, the water here in the Villages is perfectly drinkable. Now some people may be more fussy about their water and can tell the difference. I on the other hand would not put in any kind of filtration system unless I thought I was being poisoned. The water tastes fine to me and no one is getting sick from it as far as I know. In my opinion filtration systems are a total rip off, but there will be some that disagree with me.
If you really think you can tell the difference, another alternative is to get a five gallon water dispenser and buy drinking water. The neat thing about them is you get ice cold and almost boiling hot water at the push of a button.

I think I am replying correctly and hope this gets thru. We are not concerned about the potability of the water but it seems that without filtration mineral deposits are forming on nozzles, inside the dishwasher, etc. We do not want this. Does anyone have an opinion or experience on this?

[2 Oldcrabs]

We were bleaching clothes because of chlorine reading of above 4ppm. (swim pool is around 1.5ppm) Installed GE filter housing GXWH40L with a FXHTC filter that removes Chlorine.(now less than 1ppm). Bought from Home Depot and installed myself. Cost about $200 with shut off & bypass valves. My one mistake was buying a clear canister. After 7 weeks the white filter now looks like rust & mud. I am not sure I want to know what I use to drink! The down fall to removing the chlorine is you have to clean the toilets more often. Buy a test kit from a swim pool store and do some very basic test yourself. Test different times of the day. I found chlorine to be highest in early AM.:cus:

[shalabama]

We purchased a GE system and are very happy with the quality of our drinking water, not to mention that we now use less soap products and no longer have any soap scum anywhere in the house. I have googled cancer and chlorine and find many medical studies relating chlorine and cancer. Even if the risk is small, I consider this another plus for buying the system. To me, it is a personal choice just as smoking, overeating and drug use are.

[NannyO12]

We are not satisfied with the water quality and know for a fact that is highly chlorinated! We have had tests done at the house and while they may be over-exaggerated I believe they cannot falsify the results totally. We do have hardness issues and chlorination issues here and should take care of them. We are looking into buying a whole house system from Lowes to deal with the chlorine (which is proven to be very damaging to our health short term and long term) and have a plumber install it - much less expensive than getting a system from one of these dealers who advertise. Be glad to chat about this subject (esp. drinking alkaline, antioxidant , micro-clustered Kangen water) with you if you so desire.

[NannyO12]

We just saw some at Lowes that address the chlorine problem - under $100 - be sure to read the info on the replacement filters and you'll see if they include chlorine and not just sediment.

[gomsiepop]

I'm originally from New York where the water takes as good as bottled water. When I purchased in The Villages I found the taste of the water without filtration nasty. I also had many salesmen call and try to convince my husband and me to purchase different systems. My only concern, at least for now, is the taste. Solved this problem by purchasing a refrigerator with a filtration system for the water AND the ice. So far, so good. This may change in the future, but, some of the whole house water filters are so costly. Too costly for me.

[jimbo2012]

Funny story, I get call offering me a HD gift card if someone could just stop by with some water filter info, FREE & gift card sure stop over.

What a slick line of crap, but I played along as I want the $50 card.

He was a factory employed & trained GE employee, I started to ask questions to see if he was telling the truth about them or not.

He did raise a few points one was that the hard water will clog all your PVC plumbing pipes in the house and your slab will need to ripped up to replace all plumbing costing tens of thousand of dollars.

So if you buy my $5000 filter you will be safe...talk about scare tactic selling.

Now we all know this isn't true but wait he show me proof of a pipe taken from a house north of LSL, just three years old that is loaded with crud.

So according to him 60,000 houses in TV will need new pipes in 3 years.

What a line of BS.

So I said ok do the test, so I can get my $50 I was working on my laptop while he was doing it so it's not like he was taking my time.

My wife needed to go out to shop, he chirped up and said GE required that both home owners be present during the test, if she left he could not proceed........:(

That was the straw that broke the camels back, I showed him the door.

I know this is a major company but two things first it is double the price of other brands.

two it does nothing different.

The Axion water softener are about $1500 and have the features.


But I will still say the triple canister 20" filter with two gauges is a much better deal for $275.



.

[jimbo2012]

We just saw some at Lowes that address the chlorine problem - under $100 - be sure to read the info on the replacement filters and you'll see if they include chlorine and not just sediment.

I believe that is not a heavy duty filter .

How many cartridges are there, are they 10" or 20" tall, does it have input water pressure and output water pressure?

[Bavarian]

Seems like water quality differs by area. When here for LSV and to choose house, the houses we were put up in had bad tasting water. Where our house stands, water so far has been good, not as good as well water we have at MD house.
Softeners use salt which is bad for blood pressure,
Have apartment in Bayern with heavy water, must change faucet areaters often. I have seen water softening syetems on-line and catalogs that wrap a coil around the main feed to the house, must be copper. charges the particles and claims to make them flow right thru, not collect on pipes. Wish I had bought one when $79.99, now over $1000.
Awhole house fileter should have carbon filter, I put one in in Northern House until Well started running clean.

Lots of options.

[Golfingnut]

we have a whole house system from a local plummer that includes sediment and carbon for less than 400 installed. These 3 4 thousand dollar systems are a rip off in my opinion.