喝水的那些事：你做得对吗？

Should I use a water filter at home?
在家该使用滤水器吗？

Yes, if water tests show that your drinking water contains pollutants or if it has an unpleasant taste or color. The right filter can remove impurities and toxins, including bacteria, copper, lead, mercury, parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, pesticides, radon, and volatile organic chemicals such as methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and dichlorobenzene and trichloroethylene (TCE).
是的，设想水测试显示你家里的饮用水含有污染物或水有难闻的味道或颜色。好的滤水器可以清除杂质和毒素，包括一些细菌、铜质、铅、水银、如鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫这些寄生虫、杀虫剂、氡和有机挥发物如甲基叔丁基醚(MTBE)和二氯苯和三氯乙烯(TCE)。

There are many types of filters on the market, from activated carbon filters that fit on your faucet to whole-house “anion exchange” systems, so your first step is to learn what you need to filter out of your water. Ask your local water-treatment authority for a report on your water quality. If you’re on a private well or want more in-depth information, consider hiring a private water-testing company.
市场上有很多种滤水器，从适合你家水龙头的活性碳过滤器到全屋阴离子交换系统都有，所以首先你要做的就是学习家里的水需要过滤掉的是什么。向当地水处理部门要一份水质量报告。如果你有一个私人的井或者想要更加深入的信息，就考虑请一个私人的水测试公司去测试水质量。

If you simply don’t like the way your water smells or tastes, an activated carbon filter may be all you need in order to enjoy your drinking water again.
如果你只是不喜欢水尝起来或闻起来的味道，那么，活性碳过滤器就可以满足你的需求，让你再一次喜欢你家的饮用水。