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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Mobile home tenants face rent increases with new leases from IPG ... Since You Asked: TV sound delay has other explanations ... Emergency Services, August 16 ... Mobile home tenants face rent increases with new leases from IPG ... Since You Asked: TV sound delay has other explanations ... Emergency Services, August 16 ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Water filters are convenient, not always cost-effective Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Am I missing something? Instead of running our precious commodity of water for two minutes to get rid of the lead, why not buy a relatively inexpensive faucet filter or pitcher? The faucet filter can be switched from drinking water to dish washing water with a switch. The filters get rid of lead, pesticides, heavy metals, etc. The cost of running water for two minutes eventually would pay for any filtration device. Win-win, in my opinion. — Lavelle, Medford, by email Lavelle, faucet and pitcher filtration systems, if properly maintained, are a great way to protect yourself and your family from any lead, as well as other metals and contaminates, in your drinking water. Although Medford’s water is routinely tested and shows that lead levels meet safety standards, the Medford Water Commission recommended that homeowners run their water for 30 seconds to two minutes before drinking it to flush the pipes, or until it runs cold, particularly after the water has been in the pipes for an extended period. This recommendation was prompted by the recent discovery of several lead pipes in the city’s water system. However, whether or not a filtration system is more cost-effective than flushing your pipes depends on the system and the cost of replacement filters. Medford boasts some of the lowest water rates in the state at 52 cents per 1,000 gallons for the first 5,000 gallons, 94 cents per 1,000 gallons for the next 20,000 gallons, a $9.06 monthly base charge and a 75 cent backflow fee, said Sara Bristol, a commission spokeswoman, in an email. The typical bill for a single-family home is $12.41 during the winter months, she said. The Culligan FM-15A faucet filter, one of the many faucet filters certified by the National Safety Foundation, sells on Amazon for about $22.47, and a replacement cartridge, which last up to two months or 200 gallons, costs $12.98. Given that 1,000 gallons of water costs less than $1, you’d have to use more than 7,000 gallons of water flushing your pipes each month for a filter — like the Culligan faucet filter — to be a cheaper option. “Of course we do encourage conservation, and there are several things people can do to waste less water while flushing their lines,” Bristol said. “First, understand that flushing for 2 minutes is recommended only after water has been sitting in pipes for several hours, such as overnight or while you’re at work or school.” One way to save water and money, Bristol said, is to request a sprinkler evaluation, available to Medford Water Commission customers for free. “Due to landscape irrigation, the typical single-family household’s monthly use soars from 5,000 gallons in winter to 25,000 gallons in summer,” she said. “In most cases, people use much more water than their landscape actually needs. “ Lavelle, if you are still in the market for a filter, the NSF publishes a list — at www.nsf.org — of filters certified for reducing lead in drinking water. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected] . To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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