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Posted: 10/25/10 Written by: Mary Costa

It seems like more and more water softeners and water filtration companies are claiming to be “green” when in actuality they’re harming the environment. This deceptive promotion of environmentally friendly products is known as greenwashing. It’s important to educate yourself about what makes a product green so you will invest in a water filter that not only helps you but also helps the environment.

By the very nature of how they work, water softeners and reverse osmosis systems cannot be green. Water softeners require bags of salt added to it, which means that tap water, is stripped of essential minerals,( calcium and potassium), and those nutrients are replaced with salt.  The salt brine backwash from the water softener system and the salty water going down your drain ends up in city sewer systems.  The high level of sodium in the water prevents any reclamation and reuse as well damaging agriculture and plant life when it’s dumped.
 
This damage is a major reason why many cities (including Santa Clarita, Avila Beach, and Laguna Hills) have begun banning water softener systems in their communities.  They also offer rebates to have previously installed softener systems removed. According to the Sanitation District of Los Angeles County’s website, installing a salt or sodium-chloride water softener system in your home can be punishable with a fine up to $1,000!
 
Reverse osmosis systems are required for most homes with water softeners in order to provide acceptable drinking water.  They usually filter the water at the kitchen sink.  While they’re effective at filtering out sediment and chlorine (in addition to all of those good essential minerals), these systems are extremely harmful for the environment. They typically waste three to eight gallons of water for every gallon of filtered water.  This is no good, especially since water conservation is so important while in the midst of drinking water shortages.

Bottled water is not a green option either. While many companies have tried to use less plastic and change the design of their bottles to be more eco-friendly, bottles still create waste. Few of these bottles end up being recycled - a recent study showed that 86% of bottled water ends up in the garbage.  The waste caused by bottled water consumption combined with the waste caused by creating the bottles is immense.

Luckily, there are some legitimately certified water filtration products, like LifeSource Water Systems, which also happen to be eco-friendly. A LifeSource System features a proprietary blend of coconut shell granular activated carbon.  Sediment and chlorine cling to this eco-friendly carbon, but essential minerals like calcium and magnesium are retained in the filtered water.  The system backwashes automatically every two weeks, but since there is no salt added, the water is perfectly safe for recycled use in gardens and agriculture. No pollution, no wasted water – that’s green.

It’s so important to invest in a water filtration system that provides great tasting water without hurting the environment. Many green advocates, including Ed Begley Jr., have a LifeSource System in their home, and they encourage others to follow in their footsteps.  The Federal Trade Commission is currently reworking the guidelines for environmental marketing claims to help prevent future greenwashing.  In the meantime, you can help the earth and hurt companies guilty of greenwashing by learning more and investing in a truly green water filtration product.  Do your part!

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