Household drinking water filters

The thesis summarizes the current knowledge about the use of domestic point-of-use water filters and evaluates their advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of using these devices is the removal of unwanted substances that can be found in drinking water. These substances can be, for example, disinfection by-products and micropollutants, such as pharmaceutical or pesticide residues. Especially for well water users, filters can be a a good option for arsenic and nitrates removal. Filters are also able to improve the organoleptic properties of drinking water. Among the undesirable effects of using home filters is a change in the microbiological quality of the filtered water, caused by regrowth of bacteria on the filter. An increase in the concentration of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria in filtered water can be problematic, this can pose a risk especially to immunocompromised persons. Another undesirable effect can be the unintentional removal of necessary minerals, especially when using devices operating on the principle of reverse osmosis. The concentrations of silver that can be released from bacteriostatically treated activated carbon are so low that based on current knowledge, they should not pose a health risk. Based on the collected information, several recommendations are proposed..