The current rise in demand for home water purification products has drawn the interests of both ethical and unethical companies. Some are attempting to capitalize on this explosive industry with inferior and exaggerated products.

Here are a few things to watch out for:

• Undocumented Performance Claims.
  Broad statements such as "Removes contaminants" or "Provides pure water" without certified test data to support their performance claims should be a warning sign. The law in many states prohibits such un-documented or broad claims relating to water purifiers.
• Over priced systems.
  Many of the most effective brands are also the best value, while many of the most expensive brands offer the least. In most cases, price doesn't determine value, performance does.
• The intentional avoidance of states that require product certification, CA, WI and IA. These states require certification of performance claims made in promotional literature for water purification devices. Companies that intentionally avoid these states typically do so to get around accountability. The California Department of Health Certificate of claims is a good way to determine the credibility and true performance of a product. To get it companies must provide extensive laboratory test data for each contaminant removal claim. It also means the company's literature, web site and packaging have been reviewed and found not to contain false, misleading or exaggerated claims... just the facts.

Leading brand comparison chart

Once you have the facts, making the right decision is easy.