Have you ever noticed that our water problem seems to be getting worse from day-to-day? The list of contaminants that can be found seems to be never-ending. We have everything ranging from chlorine, heavy metals, pharmaceutical drugs, industrial pollution and many other chemicals. Many other different types of chemicals are added almost daily which is why every household needs a water filter chemical purifier.

These chemicals come from a variety of different sources, and the majority can increase your risk of cancer. Sample water tests carried out on a major US city found tracks of 73 distinct pesticides and 25 synthetic organic compounds. The EPA only tests for 90 contaminants. However, the majority of water treatment plants carry out tests for about 150. A very few plants check for a maximum of 250 pollutants.

This is a very good reason why you need to install a water filter chemical purifier in your home.

There is a very subtle difference between a filter and a purifier. The dictionary states that a filter is a "porous device for removing impurities or solid particles from a liquid passed through it". Good examples of these are the membrane filters used in reverse osmosis systems; although they're easy to clean, they clog very easily. Another type of filter is the depth filter which is made of a porous material such as carbon or ceramic. For instance, the activated carbon filters that remove organic materials and heavy metals.

On the other hand, a purifier has the dictionary definition of "to make ceremonially clean, to remove contaminants from". Therefore, something which can remove cysts like Cryptosporidium and giardia from water can be said to purify it. However, just to make life a little more difficult some manufacturers call these filters.

What is critical in these filters is the size of the filter pore. This determines the size of the smallest organism that it can remove. The very best filters have a size of.5 microns.

What would our water filter chemical purifier actually look like? A simple one that attaches to your faucet would actually contain two cartridges; strictly speaking one would be a filter and the other a purifier. The way that this works is the first cartridge will filter out chlorine and turbidity.

The second cartridge has the much harder job of removing chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. Included in this is the 5. micron filter which removes all the microorganisms. It does not matter from where we obtain our drinking water because all the sources are now contaminated. Do not bother reaching for that bottled water because many brands have been discovered to contain the same contamination is tap water.

A good quality water filter chemical purifier installed in your household is the only way to ensure your drinking water is safe and healthy for you and your family.

Minnesota is one of the states where forced insurance is legal. This means that for anyone who purchases a late model car, the lien holder can take out comprehensive coverage on the vehicle and charge the new owner for the cost. Not only is this intrusive but it tends to be very expensive too. A much better and affordable approach is to seek out your own automobile insurance policy.

When you are in the market for automobile insurance in Minnesota first consider who will be covered under your policy. If you or your spouse is over the age of fifty-five, you can save on insurance costs if you take a defensive driving course to prove that you aren’t a risk behind the wheel. If you have a teenager in the home that is itching to drive, enroll them in a driver’s training course. Classes like this, although costly, do help to reduce insurance costs substantially.

Another way to find affordable automobile insurance may be with your home insurance company or the company that underwrites your family’s health insurance. Many companies offer reduced rates to clients who purchase two or more types of insurance from them. This is a great way to actually save on all your insurance costs, so ask your agent if this is an option for you.

Parking in a safe place has rewards in terms of the money saved on insurance too. If you have a garage that is filled with odds and ends, clear it out and put your car in there at night. The insurance company you deal with may see that as a safer spot than on the street and they’ll give a small discount for it. You won’t know what automobile insurance deals you are eligible for until you ask your agent what discounts there are.

It's summer. The temperatures increase. The clothing diminishes. The checkbook comes out, itching to be used for a down payment on a new car.

Summer is one of the busiest car-buying seasons of the year, according to Consumer Advocate Craig Thor Kimmel, Managing Partner of the automobile lemon law firm of Kimmel & Silverman. Now is a terrific time to pick up some new wheels, but potential buyers should follow some important tips to avoid purchasing a faulty vehicle and having to hitchhike in the scorching heat.

"Although getting a new car can be exciting, it is something that should not be rushed," warns Kimmel. "There are certain automobile lemon law precedents consumers need to take to avoid buying the wrong car or paying more than they should."

First, to avoid needing to consult an automobile lemon law attorney like Kimmel, do your research. Make sure the type of car you are considering has a strong customer satisfaction rating, provides the features you need and want and is priced within your range. Consumer Reports is a terrific source of information, with detailed facts on almost every available vehicle, and Kelly Blue Book is great for pre-owned cars. Additionally, consult family, friends and neighbors, as well as Internet review sets like epinions.com. There is no better source of opinions than people who have actually owned the car.

Second, know the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). Without a car is in high demand, dealers generally sell their vehicles lower than the MSRP, meaning there is almost always wiggle-room with the sticker price and the final price. Also, do not forget to shop around; call several authorized dealers to see if they can get a better offer for you. Identical cars are widely available from dealer to dealer: it's only the price that changes!

Third, it's very important to try it before you buy it. Automobile lemon laws are in place to protect buyers from cars that do not work, but make sure you put it through the works before you sign the papers and drive off. Test every feature, from the defroster to the stereo to the horn. Take the car for a quick test drive, and listen for unusual sounds and pay attention to how the car steers, accelerates, brakes and handles. If something does not seem right, make sure you ask about it, and do not accept promises to fix it after the sale. Tell the dealer you will not agree to anything until the vehicle is running at 100 percent. This is the one time you have total control over the dealer and salesperson. Keep that control and demand perfection before you sign, or you may be buying a metal head down the road.

Fourth, never purchase a car without a manufacturer's warranty, whether the vehicle is new or used. Otherwise, getting your car fixed properly by qualified mechanisms, with the maximum of expertise and the minimum of hassle, may be next to impossible. If the manufacturer of the car will issue a warranty, it must stand behind the work performed, which keeps you protected.

Finally, know your rights as a consumer. If you have purchased a new car or a car with an existing manufacturer's warranty and you have a reoccurring problem that they can not seem to fix, you do have legal rights. Automobile lemon laws exist to protect you, and best of all, legal help is completely free to consumers under State and Federal Laws, so do not be afraid to consult an attorney if needed.

Thinking of growing your own vegetable garden? Get ready because, like a pet, or even like a child (though it won’t cry at you when it’s hungry) a vegetable garden needs much care and devotion in order to grow healthily. Attempting to grow your own personal Garden of Eden is quite the task to undertake but, when done right, it can hold breathtaking results. As you’re getting started, there are a few essentials to live by:

Space

If you are like most people, your basic essentials are vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes and the like. If you are attempting to grow a multitude of plants like these all at once, the key is space. Like many humans, vegetables need space to be comfortable, spreading their roots in the soil and getting an ample amount of sunlight; two essentials for any plant. When configuring your garden plot it is better to overestimate then to underestimate, so be generous with the amount of space you use. This is especially important in planting vegetables that grow in rows such as carrots, radishes and beets. Plant the seeds and/or bulbs of an underground vegetable at a bare minimum of eight inches apart so that your vegetables are not competing for their vital resources and nutrients. This is especially important for underground vegetables as they rely heavily on the ability of their roots to drink in as many nutrients as the can get. Also this will give you better results for your vegetables in the end where they will be more nutritious and more substantial in size. Tomato, cucumber and squash plants all grow in significant size above ground whether it be tall or wide, so they need much space to spread out and attain the maximum amount of sunlight. Each of these plants should initially be given a minimum of 1 ½ feet between each plant as, like with underground plants, this will help to provide bigger and better vegetables in the end.

Soil.

Probably the most crucial element to the health of your so-called vegetative soul is the physical and chemical composition of your soil. Choose the location of your garden carefully as having good soil to work with right from the beginning will make your life so much easier. I would recommend starting by testing the pH of your soil. If a specific plot of soil is too base or too acidic your plants will simply not survive. A good pH for almost all vegetable plants is 6.0; not too base and not too acidic. Adjusting the pH balance of your soil is quite easy and there are many different methods through which you can do this. Ideally your location will have a consistent type of soil considerably deep into the ground. With this the roots will be able to grow deeper and reach an even amount of nutrients. Avoid areas that are either too sandy or ridden with a lot of clay. Soil that is extremely sandy cannot hold moisture for very long and clay soil, although somewhat rich in nutrients, is very compact and holds too much water, which can be just as detrimental to your plants as very dry soil. Find a happy medium where there is enough space between the particles of the soil so that water can filter easily throughout the soil, but at the same time is not so loose that the moisture will quickly evaporate.

When tending to the soil get rid of all rocks in the plot and weed your garden (I kid you not) daily. Weeds are a gigantic deterrent for the healthy growth of those succulent vegetables, which you are presumably striving for. If you plan on adding fertilizer (highly recommended) never, never, neverover fertilize. This is a common mistake that first-time gardeners can easily make so when applying your fertilizer be extremely conscious of the amount that you are using. Also, when applying said fertilizer of your choice, whether it be manure, composted organic material or any other form, you must know that all fertilizers are different and therefore must be applied to your garden in a specific manner. For instance, some must be applied before planting anything and some can be applied after you have planted everything. Make sure you read the package in which your fertilizer came, or ask the provider of the fertilizer about the fertilization process, as the wrong method of application can completely jeopardize your entire garden.

Maintenance

I cannot place enough emphasis on giving a lot of attention to your plants once they have grown. The more you tend to them the more they will show you some love back. Regularly prune off dead/dying leaves as taking those leaves off acts as haircut would for a human; it promotes faster leaf growth and that will eventually result in better reception of sunlight for the plant. Also, regularly take any vegetables that seem rotted or abnormal off of your above ground plants as this will help the health of up-and-coming vegetables. For underground vegetables such as carrots or beets check the leaves of the plant that are seen above ground. Chances are that if the leaves are abnormally colored or that the actual vegetable will be abnormal as well. This applies to lettuce as well where if the leaves are yellowed or brown then the head is not good. Uproot any abnormal vegetables, as this will allow for more space and nutrients for the others. Do not be discouraged by the duds that you find in your garden; vegetable gardening is one big process of trial and error. When your vegetables are ready to be pulled off of the vine or out of the ground you will most definitely know.

When harvesting tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, etc. the first sign to look for is color. If the color of the vegetable is starting to look vibrant, gently pull on the vegetable itself and slightly twist. If it does not easily pop off then it is not ready. Give it a day or so and then try it again. If you are pulling up vegetables from the ground, first dig down a few inches to reach the head of the vegetable and check for size and color. Once again, if it holds the standard vibrancy of color and is of regular size feel free to pull it up.

The roots of each vegetable will be firmly grown into the soil, so slowly pull the vegetable up by the base of the leaves as this will assure that you do not detach the leaves from the actual vegetable itself. If this happens it will be more difficult to unearth the vegetables and in doing so you could potentially endanger other vegetables that are still growing. If any of your vegetables are misshapen they are not necessarily bad. It is fairly common for a brand new garden to have numerous funny looking vegetables, so once again do not be discouraged if your vegetables look like big blobs or just straight aliens.

One of the most important things that any beginner garden can learn is to not be a hero. That is, do not try and take on an enormous garden with 20 tomato plants, 20 cucumber plants, 100 carrots and beets and 30 heads of lettuce. Do not underestimate these plants as like I continuously say, each individual plant requires a large amount of care. A large garden can become overwhelming quickly, especially when there is a diverse configuration of vegetables in the garden, and especially when an inexperienced grower is tending to all of them. It is a much better experience to start small and have fun with it then to be stressed out by your garden. It is not meant to be a grueling process, but rather should be enjoyable. Once you get into the rhythm of growing and become intimately acquainted with each individual plant then it is a good idea to expand. This way you will get the results you are looking for and you may even have a little fun along the way. Spending time on/in a vegetable garden can be rewarding and surprisingly therapeutic, if you start off the right way.