Thank you, Brad, for the inquiry.  At this point we know of no at-home water test kit exists that test for THM's (trihalomethanes) or other DBP's (disinfection byproducts).  Testing for those sorts of substances/compounds requires laboratory techniques and equipment.

With that said, companies like National Testing Laboratories offer mail-in water testing services that include tests for THM's. The most basic one we know of is called "Watercheck City-Check Basic" and you can read more about it in the Water Test Kit Store.

Results of testing carried out by National Testing Laboratories typically get emailed to customers about 10 business days after the lab receives samples for analysis.

What are THM's?

The term trihalomethanes describes a class of compounds in the disinfection byproduct family which get created when a disinfectant (example: chlorine in the form of hypochlorous acid) interacts with and/or neutralizes organic contaminants in water.

Scientists and health officials have determined that consuming water with elevated levels of THM's poses a threat to human health and therefore the EPA regulates the amount of THM's that public water supplies may possess.  If a water system's internal testing reveals higher than allowed levels of THM's the water system must immediately remedy the situation and in most cases must also report the failed tests to its customers within a specified period of time.

Filtering THM's Out of Drinking Water

Can home water filters remove or drastically reduce THM's in drinking water?  Yes, some do have that ability.  As an example, several of the home water filters in the Multipure product line have been tested according to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for the reduction of a number of potentially harmful drinking water contaminants including THM's.

During that testing Multipure’s Drinking Water Systems' Aquaversa, Aquaperform and Aquadome water filter systems effectively reduced concentrations of unwanted contaminants to less than or equal to the permissible contaminant limits for filtered water leaving the systems.

If you'd like to see the full list of potential drinking water contaminants Multipure filters remove or reduce, you can view that information here.

To our knowledge, Michelle, in the retail world filters using activate carbon have the ability to effectively reduce levels of trihalomethanes in water. Many RO systems come with activated carbon pre- or post-filters as an add-on or option so if your filter has one such filter as an option, then yes, your reverse osmosis system which includes some sort of activate carbon filter should work for trihalomethane reduction.

As far as test kits go, you will need to have your water tested by a laboratory since no at-home DIY water test kits for trihalomethanes exists. You can choose to use a local laboratory or a mail-in service like National Testing Laboratories.

Removal vs. reduction?

You may have noticed that we spoke of REDUCING trihalomethane levels rather than eliminating them altogether. We did so because in the world of water processing and filtration, although many filtration methods do an excellent job of taking unwanted contaminants out of water, current analytical tools only allow us to measure down to certain concentrations... and so the possibility exits that lower levels of the contaminants MAY still exist in treated/filtered water.

Does all public water contain trihalomethanes?

If your public water system uses 'free chlorine' as its primary disinfectant, then yes, your water system distributes drinking water that contains trihalomethanes.  Keep in mind, though, that the EPA has set what it considers safe limits for the amount of trihalomethanes that public water treatment facilities may distribute so in all likelihood your water does not contain levels of trihalomethanes currently deemed as harmful to humans.

Water distributed by water treatment facilities that use chloramines as the primary disinfectant does not typically contain harmful levels of trihalomethanes.  You should know, though, that at least one a year most chloramine systems do flush their lines with water containing free chlorine as part of a cleansing protocol to get rid of any accumulated 'line slime' that chloraminated water did not keep at bay.

Free chlorine vs. total chlorine?  Which do I have?

To determine what primary disinfectant your water supplier uses, you can usually pick up the phone and ask them or you can use a basic water test like the WaterWorks 2 Free & Total Chlorine test strip to find out for yourself.  The WaterWorks 2 product detects free chlorine levels and total chlorine levels at the same time and if you subtract the free chlorine level from the total chlorine level...  In most cases if the total chlorine test pad give a reading, and the free chlorine test pad does not, then your water system more than likely uses chloramination to keep the water safe.

Looking for reverse osmosis water filters?

Remember:  Reverse osmosis on its own cannot effectively reduce potentially harmful levels of trihalomethanes so if your water quality goals include reducing trihalomethane levels in your water, we suggest you consider water filtration systems featuring pre and/or post-filters that contain Granular Activated Carbon (often abbreviated as GAC). You can find a number of different filter brands and types on the following sites: FilterWater.Com, FiltersFast.Com and Filter-Drinking-Water.Com.

Free (available) chlorine refers to the concentration of chlorine molecules residing a water sample that have not, yet, oxidized contaminants. As a general rule you want to maintain a free chlorine residual in a body of water or water source.

Therefore, if a water sample has a total chlorine residual but no free, available chlorine, then the sample may or may not be ‘safe’. Some public (municipal) drinking water systems use only combined chlorine Why would they do that?

It seems counter-intuitive that a public water systems would choose combined chlorine over free chlorine given free chlorine’s superior disinfecting (oxidizing) properties, but monochloramines do still have oxidizing capabilities and they do not create compounds (disinfection by-products, tri-halomethames, TTHM’s, etc.) that may cause cancer.

So… if you want to know how much free chlorine you have versus how much combined chlorine you have, simply subtract the free chlorine concentration from the total chlorine concentration:

(Total Chlorine) – (Free Chlorine) = Combined Chlorine

For pool water you can use a test strip like the Pool Check 6-Way to determine the free and total chlorine concentrations of a sample.

For drinking water you can use test strips like SenSafe Free Chlorine Water Check to determine the free chlorine concentration of a water sample and SenSafe Total Chlorine Water Check to determine the total chlorine concentration of a water sample.

OR, for an even easier test procedure, you can use the WaterWorks 2 Free & Total Chlorine Test Strip which tests for both free and total chlorine at the same time.

One particular disinfection byproduct of, trihalomethanes (often abbreviated as THM’s or TTHM’s), has gained enough notoriety that companies like PUR have started certifying some of their products to NSF/ANSI Standards for the reduction of trihalomethanes in drinking water.

Below you will find a list of several PUR water filtration products that have tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 (Drinking Water Treatment Units – Health Effects) for the reduction of TTHM’s and other unwanted drinking water contaminants:

• PUR CR-6000 Filtered Water Pitcher
• PUR CR-6000C Filtered Water Pitcher with LED Light
• PUR Faucet Mount Filter 3-Stage – Flavor Options
• PUR Faucet Mount Filter 3-Stage Horizontal Chrome
• PUR Faucet Mount Filter System 3-Stage Chrome

• PUR Faucet Mount Filter System 2-Stage White

For those unfamiliar with how trihalomethanes get into drinking water, they get created when free chlorine molecules attack, neutralize and become entangled with a biological contaminant. That process chain of events converts free chlorine into combined chlorine and in the process disinfection byproducts get created.

What harm can trihalomethanes in drinking water cause?

Four different trihalomethanes can form as a result of chlorination: Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, and Bromoform. The United States Environmental Protection has found that excessive exposure to these compounds has resulted laboratory rats developing cancer.

While many scientists may disagree on the exactly how much exposure to each compound constitutes overexposure, we think it wise to keep tabs on your local water treatment system’s track record of trihalomethane level management (data available in annual reports) and if deemed necessary, install an NSF certified water treatment system capable of reducing trhalomethane levels.

With Christmas fast approaching we will now begin throwing interesting and USEFUL gift ideas out in the hopes that some of you will bypass this year’s trendy gimmick gifts and instead buy something of substance and worth… for the people in your family that you like.

We don’t care if you still want to send lumps of coal (or stale fruitcakes) to the other people on your Christmas list, though.

Rain water in your shower

Most of us have fond memories of walking around outside on a nice, warm Summer or Spring day enjoying the feeling of rainwater falling on our face. Each of the large, gentle drops striking our face softly and washing away some portion of the day’s dust.

Now imagine getting that same feeling each and every day in your shower… and NOT having the unpleasant smell of chlorine in the water.

With the Culligan RainDisc, an NSF/ANSI 177 Certified product for the reduction of free (available) chlorine in shower water, you can have it!

Reduces chlorine and more

Not only does the Culligan RainDisc reduce free chlorine levels by 97% (test results verified by independent lab), but it also reduces scale, rust, sediment and the odor of sulfur (if present).

Chlorine keeps water safe… Why get rid of it?

While very true that tap water with a free chlorine residual will most likely contain a lot fewer bacteria and/or other biological contaminants than water without a free chlorine residual, but once the water reaches your shower, the chlorine has done its job — and most people want it to go away at that point.

Not only does chlorine have a tendency to smell really bad, prolonged and/or repeated exposure to chlorine residuals in shower water can dry out a person’s skin (especially in the Winter), damage their hair and in some cases cause acne.

Additionally, several studies have also pointed the finger at chlorine vapors given off by heated swimming pools and showers as potential sources of carcinogenic compounds called TTHM’s (Total TriHaloMethanes). Other studies have suggested that repeated exposure to TTHM’s may result in a higher likelihood of a person developing respiratory problems.

Worried that a lack of chlorine will result in bacterial growth?

The Culligan RainDisc uses a specially blended bed of KDF filter media whose chemical nature allows it to also act as a bacterial growth inhibitor as well as an effective filtration mechanism.

Easy to install

Worried that you (or the person you give this to as a gift) will need a plumber’s license to install the Culligan RainDisc RDSH-C115? Nonsense!

This unit comes with everything the average person would need to get the job done in a matter of minutes and more or less just screws onto the same place as your/their old shower head.

Oh, and did we also mention you have the option of easily adding subtle, tasty flavors to the purified water it produces?

What importance does NSF Certified have?

Getting back to what really matters when it comes to a water filtration system, the PUR Pitcher Water Filter with PUR Flavor Options has passed independent laboratory testing and certified to NSF Standards for its ability to reduce levels of the following nasty water contaminants (if present to begin with):

• 2,4-D Reduction
• Atrazine Reduction — test for atrazine
• Benzene Reduction
• Cadmium Reduction
• Carbofuran Reduction
• Carbon Tetrachloride Reduction
• Copper Reduction — test for
• Cyst Reduction
• Mercury Reduction — test for mercury
• Simazine Reduction — test for simazine
• Tetrachloroethylene Reduction
• Toluene Reduction
• Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction
• Chlorine Reduction – Aesthetic — test for total chlorine / test for free chlorine
• Nominal Particulate Reduction, Class I
• Taste and Odor Reduction
• Zinc Reduction — test for zinc

The PUR Water Filter in this water filter pitcher was successfully tested and certified by NSF International against NSF / ANSI Standards 42 and 53.

No, this filter will not protect your family against EVERY possible drinking water contaminant, but it does offer a decent amount of protection against some truly unpleasant compounds that don’t belong in your water.

Know what contaminants your drinking water contains

The best thing to do before ordering a water filter of ANY size, brand or type… Get your water tested to find out what you need to remove! If you have serious reason to suspect your water contains contaminants, consult with a certified water testing laboratory with proper accreditation. A lab like that will have the equipment and expertise to accurately assess any risks posed by contaminants in your water.

As an example, National Testing Laboratories, a water testing lab certified to perform water testing in pretty much every State in the US, offers three different water testing packages as well as a host of other contaminant-specific tests to the general public.

Click here to view National Testing Laboratories residential water testing packages.

This multi-stage (six) inline filter does a lot more than just remove arsenic from water at a rate of up to 1 gallon per minute, a rate perfect for use with water fountains, bottleless water coolers, commercial coffeemakers, and ice machines. It uses all six of its filtration layers to effectively remove a number of drinking water contaminants.

• In stages 1 and 6 water flows through pre and post one – micron filters capable of removing suspended particles such as silt, sediment, cyst (Giardia, Cryptosporidium), sand, rust, dirt, and other types of unwanted matter.
• In stage 2 water flows through a specially engineered arsenic removal/reduction media.
• In stages 3 and 4 water flows through a media bed comprised of high purity KDF-55D ®, and KDF-85D ®, which operate using electrochemical and spontaneous oxidation/reduction (REDOX) principles. The combination of these two special media completely oxidizes any chlorine in the water.

  As an added bonus, heavy metals such as lead, mercury, copper, nickel, chromium, cadmium, aluminum, and other dissolved metals also get removed/reduced during this stage of filtration.

  While some KDF media beds can harbor unwanted bacteria, studies have shown that this particular unit reduces the likelihood of bacteria growth by as much as 90%, thus eliminating the need for silver, an element considered by some to pose health risks.

  Worried about the possible addition of copper or zinc to the water in any significant amount? On a sample of water containing 2.3 ppm chlorinated water, testing after filtration detected <0.05 mg/l copper and only 0.46 mg/l zinc. The EPA has set the aesthetic levels for copper at 1.0 mg/l and 5.0 mg/l for zinc. Additionally, the human body requires both zinc and copper for good health. The FDA recommends a daily intake of 15 mg of zinc and 2 mg of copper.

• In the fifth stage of filtration, water flows through granulated activated carbon (GAC) which adsorbs a wide variety of organic contaminants, such as any remaining chlorine (99.9%), chemicals linked to cancer such as Trihalomethanes and benzene, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), PCB’s, MTBE’s and a laundry list of other chemical contaminants that may exist in your source (i.e. tap or well) water.

What about replacement filters? Will I have difficulty finding them? Highly unlikely! The manufacturer of this inline arsenic filter, Crystal Quest has existed in one form or another in the commercial water purification industry for more than thirty years.

You can order replacement filters for the inline arsenic filter on FilterWater.Com, a leading online vendor of water quality improvement products from Crystal Quest and other manufacturers.

NSF/ANSI Standard 42: Drinking water filtration systems that are certified to this standard remove chlorine and sediment/particles from water for the purpose of improving its look, smell and taste. The design of these filter do NOT lend themselves to the removal or reduction of health-related contaminants.

NSF/ANSI Standard 44: Water treatment systems certified to this standard typically function as cation exchange water softeners designed to reduce or eliminate water hardness (i.e. calcium and/or magnesium). Water filters designed to remove barium and radium may also certify to this standard.

NSF/ANSI Standard 53: Water purifiers certifying to this standard have designs that remove health-related contaminants such as waterborne organisms and industrial chemicals. Cryptosporidium, giardia, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) and trihalomethane compounds (THMs) fit into one of those categories or the other.

NSF/ANSI Standard 55: Devices rated to this standard function as point of use (POU) or point of entry (POE) ultraviolet microbiological water treatment systems. These water treatment systems feature designs which disinfect microorganisms (such as bacteria and viruses) potentially present in water.

NSF/ANSI Standard 58: Typically one will find reverse osmosis water systems (RO) certified to this standard. Devices in this category will normally have the ability to fully remove organic contaminants, but may only partially remove inorganic compounds and heavy metals.

NSF/ANSI Standard 62: Certified to this standard one will typically find water distillers. The process of distillation removes a wider range of drinking water contaminants than all other methods of drinking water purification. Arsenic, mercury and bacteria all get eliminated through the use of water distillation systems.

NSF/ANSI Standard 177: Water filtration units certified to this standard function as shower head filters designed to remove chlorine from water.

Crystal Quest pitcher replacement filter

Manufacturer: Crystal Quest
Model Number: CQE-RC

4 stages of convenient filtration with a 2,000 gallon capacity.

In stages 1 and 2 KDF55 and KDF85 media reduce iron, mercury, copper, nickel, chromium, other dissolved metals, and harmful bacteria.

Stage 3 features an ion exchange resin that reduces heavy metals (such as lead, copper, aluminum) and lowers water hardness.

The fourth and final stage, a bed of granulated activated carbon (GAC) reduces chlorine by 99.9%, gets rid of bad tastes and odors, reduces pesticides and chemicals that are linked to cancer risks (i.e. benzene, THM’s, toxaphene).

How do you know if you need a water filter?

The answer, quite simply, involves testing your water. You can either test it yourself using a home water testing kit like the Water Quality Test Kit from SenSafe… or you can have a certified water testing laboratory such as National Testing Labs analyze your water.

In cases where homeowners suspect contamination, we always suggest using a certified water testing lab. Better to play it safe than sorry because… It’s your water, your health… and your LIFE!

Ultraviolet Water Sterilizer Systems meet the most demanding needs of residential and commercial microorganism control — which sometimes proves difficult for traditional disinfectant methods given that microorganisms can range from bacteria and viruses to algae and protozoa. UV treatment systems for water accomplish the goal of disinfecting water faster than chlorine and without without cumbersome retention tanks filled w/ corrosive and potentially harmful chemicals.

Manufactured with axial flow reactors in 304 stainless steel for durability, the Crystal Quest Ultraviolet Water Sterilizer Systems incorporates natural ultraviolet light energy to damage the DNA of microbiological contaminants and in doing so kills them and/or renders them incapable of reproducing.

Applications for UV sterilization systems include post undersink water filters, post whole house water filters, water coolers, pre and post osmosis systems, private wells, camp grounds, hotels, bottlers, aquaculture, hospitals, food, cottages, restaurants, breweries, laboratories, marine, pharmaceutical, dairies and many other applications.

Advantages of Crystal Quest Ultraviolet Water Sterilizer Systems include:

• No need to add chemicals to the water which could form carcinogenic disinfection byproducts (DBP’s) like trihalomethanes (THM’s).
• Eliminates the need to store and handle dangerous chemicals.
• Requires only two water connections (in and out) and a power connection.
• UV sterilization typically does not alter the taste, odor, pH or conductivity or general chemistry of the water it treats.
• Works faster and more effectively against viruses than chlorine.
• Systems can treat hundreds of gallons of water for each penny of operating cost.
• Immediate treatment process eliminates need for holding tanks, long retention times, etc.
• Units operate automatically and require almost no attention.
• Most units require only periodic cleaning, if any cleaning at all, and annual lamp replacement.

Naturally you want to know what a unit like this costs, right? FilterWater.Com carries units rated for 1, 6, 8, and 12 gallons per minute GPM. Costs begin around $150 for the smallest unit and go up to around $543 for the largest unit.

What about replacement bulbs? How much will they cost? Good question! FilterWater.Com carries replacement bulbs for Crystal Quest UV Sterilizer Systems rated for 1, 6, 8, and 12 GPM.

Need a larger, more powerful UV Sterilization System? Take a look at the selection on WaterFilters.Net, another company that carries a great selection of water filter systems and replacement filter cartridges for residential and commercial water filtration applications.