Reverse Osmosis Systems Treat Pharmaceutical Drinking Water Contaminants

A breaking investigation by The Associated Press found that at least 41 million Americans are being exposed to trace pharmaceuticals in their drinking water supplies. This report signals that now is a better time than ever for Americans to consider advanced water filtration options for their sustained health and safety.

HANOVER PARK, Ill. (Business Wire EON) March 11, 2008 -- A breaking investigation by The Associated Press found that at least 41 million Americans are being exposed to trace pharmaceuticals in their drinking water supplies. This report signals that now is a better time than ever for Americans to consider advanced water filtration options for their sustained health and safety.

Everpure's Reverse Osmosis Systems offers water that is both clean and delicious, because consumers should never have to wonder what, exactly, their families are drinking.

During the five-month investigation, prescription drugs such as sex hormones, antibiotics, anti-convulsants and mood stabilizers were detected in the water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas. Everpure, LLC, the leading authority in drinking water treatment, offers a wide array of commercial grade water filtration systems expressly designed to eradicate dangerous contaminants from tap water in the home.

A growing number of studies show that, even in low dosages, pharmaceutical drug remnants may be damaging to humans. Because the federal government has not established safety limits for drugs found in drinking water, consumers are left largely responsible for the safeguarding of water sources.

Because removing pharmaceutical traces from water is logistically challenging, reverse osmosis is widely agreed upon as the best available treatment method. With Everpure’s Reverse Osmosis III (ROM III) system, water first undergoes the reverse osmosis procedure (effectively filtering out the heavier molecular particles common in many pharmaceutical drugs), then passes through a granular-activated carbon membrane, which serves to filter out smaller impurities. The ROM III system also removes contaminants such as arsenic, lead, copper, sodium, nitrate/nitrite, fluoride, cysts, dissolved solids and chlorine taste and odor.

Although many under-sink filters contain activated carbon, the carbon membrane does not remain in contact with water long enough to sufficiently remove pharmaceutical remnants. With the news of this AP investigation, some consumers may turn to bottled water as a solution, yet many companies simply bottle filtered tap water with no systems in place to test and treat the presence of pharmaceuticals. Since reverse osmosis is exceedingly expensive to execute on large-scale supplies, drinking water treatment plants frequently employ chlorine, a chemical that may make pharmaceuticals even more toxic to humans.

“Bottled water and instant filtration cartridges are no longer a viable match against today’s complex drinking water contaminants,” said Eleni Yianas, director of residential marketing for Everpure. “Everpure’s Reverse Osmosis Systems offers water that is both clean and delicious, because consumers should never have to wonder what, exactly, their families are drinking.”

About Everpure:

Since 1933, Everpure has been a leader in manufacturing commercial water filtration products worldwide. More restaurants depend on Everpure for their water filtration needs than any other brand. Everpure has also become a trusted provider of drinking water systems to vending, consumer, marine and aviation markets, and has aided numerous industry leaders in the improvement of their water treatment. Everpure is part of the Water Technologies Group of Pentair, Inc. (NYSE:PNR). For more information, contact Everpure at (800) 323-7873 or visit www.everpure.com.