How do you know the water filter you’re buying isn’t a fake? Cleveland’s Channel 19 News recently aired a report on the troubling trend of fake water filters being sold to consumers—with some of them even falsely using the seals of certifying bodies like the NSF, the Water Quality Association, and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).
Enpress owner Doug Horner was interviewed for the report, sharing his industry expertise in several areas—including weighing in on the scope of the problem. “They confiscated over 100,000 water filters in New Jersey being imported, so it is substantial,” Doug said in the piece. “That’s why everyone has to do their due diligence. ”
The report noted that legitimate certifications help ensure consumers that filters will perform as expected and won’t release any harmful chemicals into the water. Doug mentioned a potential hazard of using an uncertified filter made with the wrong materials: “Some carbon-based filters actually have arsenic in it. So if you’re not getting the right source of carbon. you could be adding arsenic to the water and making things worse.”
How can you keep from being fooled by a phony filter? The report shares a couple of practical tips:
- If a filter says it is certified by NSF, check the NSF’s website to make sure that filter is listed there. For example, you can find over 90 certified Enpress products on the NSF site. You can also search the Water Quality Association website for certifications.
- Look for certifying body logos on the back of water filter product packaging used only one time. Overuse of certification logos on packaging is a red flag.
As a final piece of advice, Doug also suggests a whole-home (or point-of-entry) water filtration system as a worthwhile investment to help decrease exposure risks. “The majority of your exposure is at the shower head,” Doug said. “You’re in the shower, the water which is contaminated because it’s not filtered at that point, is being atomized and it is soaking your epidermis which is your largest organ, and also you’re inhaling it.”
You can watch the full Channel 19 Consumer Alert News Report here
