Until I have my tap water tested, I'm using a combo of PUR water filtration

[no_hypocrisy]

on my faucet, followed by a second filtration of a Brita pitcher.

Do these things work as far as removing metals like lead, mercury, etc.?

[Lionessa]

1. Water filters have specs as to what the filter. Best thing to do is read,

as not all filters are the same, even within some same brands, different models handle different things.

[eShirl]

2. or you could just get bottled water by the gallon jug

[cbayer]

5. Much bottled water is just tap water bottled.

And it is creating huge problems with non-recyclable plastics.

I am rather vehemently against bottled water, unless you really can't get water that is potable.

[Warpy]

3. Most of them use activated charcoal

and that does a great job of reducing lead by about 94%, so it would likely have an equivalent effect on most mercury molecules, also. If you think your water is really bad, you might want a temporary water service, water delivered in 5 gallon carboys. Most of them sell small hand operated pumps for them very reasonably.

I lived in one town that had water badly contaminated by TCE in a pollution plume from the military. It was so bad they told us no baths, just quick showers. I had a water service for years.

I think that's why I won't drink bottled water. It's a whole different ballgame when you can't drink your tap water.

[MineralMan]

4. Call your city's water department for a report

of the most recent tests. Every city I know of makes these available. It might even be on the company's website.

I don't know where you live but, every state I know of requires that those test results be made public on request.

The kind of testing required to give you meaningful results is very expensive. If you're not paying a bunch for it, I wouldn't pay much attention to private tests.

[cbayer]

6. What's wrong with your water?

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Got a notification from public water that there is a "minimal" excess of lead in my water.

Not to say that it hasn't been there up til now.

I already use a Brita filter pitcher but I wanted more insurance. So now I have the PUR water filtration attached to my tap. That should remove 96+% lead from my water (if it's true). Then I filter THAT filtered water through the Brita filter.

I just put out my question in case y'all know more than I do and I'm wasting my time and money on amateur water filtration and I should be investing in a major number for under the sink.

Do you have any ideas for me please? I really don't want to ingest lead.

[cbayer]

8. Found this link:

http://www.water.info/home.comparefilters.PUR-Brita.html

Their info looks like you should be ok, particularly since you are looking a "minimal" levels.

Hope that helps.

[no_hypocrisy]

9. OK, you reassured me.

I'm still getting the filtered (2X) and unfiltered water checked by an independent lab.

[cbayer]

10. Good idea. I would be interested in what you find out.

We make our own drinking water from sea water for the most part, but do store water in big tanks as well.

I Brita everything, just for reassurance, and have felt really comfortable with that.

Best of luck.

[no_hypocrisy]

11. Thank you for everything.

I promise to return with the results.