Consider replacing your current bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators with low-flow...

This is the process by which water from the ground, or some other source, is treated to make it drinkable. While these processes vary from community to community, the basic steps look like this:

• Water is pulled from a surface or reservoir source through a set of screens that filter out large debris, like leaves and twigs.
• Alum and iron salts or synthetic organic polymers are added, which bond to the dirt in the water and make it heavy.
• This mixture is sent through several sedimentation chambers, inside which the heavy dirt particles sink to the bottom.
• The water is sent through activated carbon filters, which remove funny tastes and odors.
• Finally, the water is disinfected by adding chlorine or ozone.

Many homeowners know very little about their heating and cooling equipment-until something goes...