1307: Water Filters | Skeptical Sunday

Is your water filter giving you something even more contaminated than what's flowing from the tap? Jessica Wynn pours us some facts on Skeptical Sunday.

Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by writer and researcher Jessica Wynn!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1307

On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:

• Most US tap water meets or exceeds federal safety standards, but those regulations were written decades ago — meaning your water may be "safe" by outdated benchmarks that don't account for emerging threats like PFAS forever chemicals, agricultural runoff, and lead from aging infrastructure.
• A neglected water filter can become a breeding ground for bacteria, making your water dirtier than what comes straight from the tap — if you're not replacing your Brita, Pur, or other cartridge on schedule, you're essentially cultivating a miniature ecosystem in your fridge.
• The bottled water industry is largely repackaged tap water sold at a massive markup — brands like Dasani and Aquafina source from municipal supplies, and the FDA regulates bottled water less strictly than the EPA regulates what flows from your faucet.
• Scammers and pseudoscience have infiltrated the water filter market — from dishonest salespeople using chemical reagents to fake contamination in your home, to "alkaline" and "structured water" claims that have zero scientific backing, fear is the industry's most profitable product.
• You can take control of your water quality with a few simple, empowering steps — request your free Consumer Confidence Report from your local utility, test your water independently, match any filter you buy to the specific contaminants found, and look for NSF or WQA certification to ensure it actually does what it claims.
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!
• Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram and Threads, and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!

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