We are frequently asked why it’s necessary to purchase a bottleless water system when there are so many DIY water purification options. After all, why spend money on a purification system when it should be easy enough to just clean your water through other means? While it actually isn’t all that difficult to get rid of most microscopic compounds, getting rid of hazardous chemical impurities using simple DIY water purification techniques is a more difficult process.

It should be noted that overall using DIY water purification techniques to clean your water does not ensure clean, drinkable water. Many people like to believe otherwise, however. The myths and misconceptions that many people hold surrounding DIY water purification aren’t just false – they can be potentially harmful to your health. Today, We will be discussing common myths about DIY water purification so that you have all of the facts. Let’s get started!

Myth #1: Your Own Filter is More Than Enough
The first common myth surrounding DIY water purification that many people believe is that a homemade water filter is enough. Using an old t-shirt or clean sock to filter out the visible impurities in your drinking water, for example, increases the transparency of water. Further, boiling filtered water in order to get rid of microorganisms is a good idea.

That being said, chemicals and a variety of other toxins can easily find their way through these DIY water purification methods. In order to effectively filter out the impurities found in your water, it is crucial that you have filters designed to be sensitive to contaminants that are as small as fractions of microns. Put simply, this is something that your household clothes just can’t manage. For this reason, when it comes to filters you should know that there is immense power to be found in professionally made water purification and water filtration devices.

Myth #2: Boiling Water Solves All Problems
Another common myth surrounding DIY water purification techniques is that boiling treats all problems with your water. After all, boiling your water is thought to be one of the safest and least expensive methods of making sure that your water is drinkable. However, the substantial amount of heat energy needed to bring your water to a boil may not be worth it.

The tap water in your home is chlorinated. While chlorination is an easy and effective way to disinfect your water, the presence of chlorine can significantly increase your risk of developing cancer. Additionally, fluoride is commonly found in tap water, and excessive amounts of fluoride has been shown to cause severe neurological issues and even compromise your body’s immune system. Unfortunately, when you boil your water, the levels of chlorine and fluoride in your water only become more concentrated. Further, boiling your water provides absolutely no protection from lead, asbestos, mercury, and arsenic. Boiling your water also does nothing to remove the organic carcinogens found in herbicides and pesticides, which could very well be present in your tap water. For this reason, it is clear that, contrary to popular belief, boiling your water doesn’t solve your water problems!

Myth #3: DIY Filtration is Cost-Effective
Many people are under the assumption that DIY filtration techniques are more cost-efficient. After all, how expensive can boiling your water or dropping a pill or two of iodine in your water really be? As it turns out, these DIY water purification methods can be costly in more ways than one. For one, boiling water wastes a lot of energy, increases your energy bill, and chlorine and iodine can be downright dangerous to your health. Although water purification systems may cost more up front, they make up for it by keeping your energy bills low and potentially saving you thousands of dollars on medical bills in the future!

Myth #4: Chlorine and Iodine Do the Trick
Many people believe that when it comes to DIY water purification methods, using either iodine or chlorine to disinfect your water at home does the trick. After all, adding chlorine to your water has been shown to kill most pathogens, while iodine tablets provide similar results. Unfortunately, adding chlorine and/or iodine to your water can present a plethora of other issues.

So, while you get rid of the germs in your water when using chlorine or iodine, you now are presented with the problem of removing the chlorine or iodine from your drinking water due to the potential health risks posed by each of the chemicals. Many people are allergic to iodine, and the chemical has also proven to cause thyroid problems. Prolonged ingestion of excessive amounts of these chemicals has also been shown to lead to gastrointestinal problems, skin issues, and even depression. While iodine and chlorine may rid your water of germs, they present much bigger issues.