Water quality is one of those topics that can get confusing fast, especially when you start
hearing words like PFAS, PFOS, “forever chemicals,” and microplastics. MasterCraft Plumbing aims
to keep things easy to understand, practical, and focused on what homeowners can actually
do about water quality.
First: “Municipal water” vs. “well water”
● Municipal water = you get a water bill every month. Your water provider is required to
test and publish reports.
● Well water = it’s highly specific to your property and soil conditions, and typically needs
an independent lab test to know what you’re dealing with.
Municipal water is the most common and the easiest place for homeowners to start.
Why does the city add chemicals to water?
Here’s the simplest way to think about chemicals in water:
Municipal treatment is like a banana peel. The peel protects the fruit while it travels. In a similar way, municipalities treat and protect water so it stays safe through miles of pipes and constant demand. Then the water reaches your home—and that’s where many homeowners want to “peel it back” and improve things like taste, smell, and overall quality using the right filtration.
Filtration isn’t one-size-fits-all
A filter doesn’t magically “remove everything.” Most filtration is designed to reduce specific
things—so choosing the right system depends on:
● what’s in your water
● what you’re trying to improve
● and what kind of system fits your home
That’s why we always recommend starting with your local water report before buying a solution.
The 3 Most Common Filter Types (with a kid-simple sponge analogy)
1. Loose carbon filter (whole-home “bucket of tiny sponges”)
Picture a big tank filled with thousands of tiny sponges. As water flows through, those sponges “grab onto” certain chemicals, especially the ones that affect taste and smell.
What it’s great for:
● reducing “pool taste” (chlorine-type taste/smell)
● improving odor
● helping with certain chemical contaminants depending on the media and design
Why homeowners like it:
● whole-home coverage
● simple concept
● usually longer life than small point-of-use filters (depending on water usage and quality)
2. Cartridge filters (replaceable “sponge in a tube”)
A cartridge filter is a replaceable filter you change out when it loads up. Think of it like a replaceable sponge that lives in a tube.
Here’s the key - cartridges can do two different jobs:
A) Sediment cartridge = “crumb-catching sponge”
This is the kind that catches sand, rust, grit, and visible particles.
B) Carbon cartridge = “taste-and-smell sponge”
This has carbon inside (similar idea as the big carbon tank, just smaller and replaceable). It helps with taste/odor and certain chemicals depending on the cartridge type.
Tradeoffs:
● cartridges can get expensive over time,
● they may clog faster if your water has lots of sediment.
3) Reverse osmosis (RO) (a “super-tight sponge wall”)
Reverse osmosis is usually installed under a sink for drinking water. Imagine a super-tight sponge wall with incredibly tiny “holes.” Water can squeeze through, but many dissolved contaminants can’t.
What it’s great for:
● producing very clean drinking water (point-of-use)
Tradeoffs:
● slower flow compared to normal faucets
● it creates “waste water” during the filtering process
● it can taste “flat” to some people because it removes minerals (good and bad)
Quick summary with points to consider
● Loose carbon: a big tank of “chemical sponges” for whole-home taste/odor
improvement
● Cartridge filters: replaceable “sponges” that either catch particles or reduce taste/odor
chemicals (depending on type)
● Reverse osmosis: a super-tight membrane system for very clean drinking water at a
sink
How to check what’s in your water (free)
A simple starting point is the EWG Tap Water Database. You can enter your ZIP code, select your utility and see reported contaminants, and then review filtration recommendations further down the page.
Want help picking the right system?
At MasterCraft Plumbing, we’re not here to fear-monger, rather we are here to educate and give you
options. The best path is usually:
- Check your water report
- Decide what you want to improve
- Choose a filtration approach that matches your water and your goals (sometimes that means a multi-filter setup)
If you’d like, we can help you interpret your report and recommend a practical setup and a solution. Give us a call for a no-obligation quote today at
404-456-1144, and our team will be happy to assist you with finding a great solution to your water health needs.
