3 Steps To Ensuring Clean Tap Water

1. Read your water report. Local water utilities are required to send annual "consumer confidence reports" to all homes. Contaminants can include:

* Trihalomethanes (THMs), may increase the risk of cancer, miscarriage and birth defects, and damage the liver, kidneys and nervous system.

* Atrazine, a weed killer, is a suspected hormone disruptor.

* Coliform bacteria, may indicate the presence of dangerous microbes.

* Lead can damage developing brains and nervous systems.

2. Test drinking water for lead (828-251-6800,

www.leadtesting.org); for more lead-reducing water filters, including Brita carafes, see thegreenguide.com.

3. Filter if contaminants are found. The faucet-mounted Pur Ultimate FM-4010L reduces lead, THMs, microbes, atrazine, chlorine, mercury and some petrochemicals.