Water Filtration

Some of us might think that filtering water is a relatively modern technology. The truth is people have been filtering water for nearly 4,000 years. It began in Egypt around 2000 B.C. and has continued to this day. Over the years, many techniques have evolved from filtering water through a common piece of cloth to using high-tech multi-media sand filters. One thing is sure: water filtering is a very good way of removing contaminants from our drinking water.

In very simple terms, water filters remove contaminants by trapping that material in some type of media. Depending on the type of filtration system being used, this might be a physical media such as paper, carbon, or sand.

As technology advances in water purification techniques, more and more homeowners are turning to water filters as a way of providing their families with the purest water possible. Just a few decades ago, the process of in-home water filtering could take hours but today’s modern point-of-use and point-of-entry water filters have solved that problem.

A point-of-use filter is one that is installed at or near the faucet (tap) or other outsourcing point (for example, the water line that feeds into an ice maker). These devices come in a variety of configurations, including models that stand alone on countertops as well as those that are installed below the counter and out of sight. A point-of-use water filter only filters the water that flows at that one specific point. They do not filter the entire water supply of the home or building.

Some of the advantages to a POU water filter include: they are inexpensive; they come in a wide array of models to fit just about any personal décor issue; they are fairly easy to install, and they are easy to recharge (all filter media has to be recharged, cleaned, or changed at some point in time).

Point-of-entry (POE) filters are installed where the main water line comes into the home or building. These are usually high-capacity filters and they filter water for the whole building, thus allowing homeowners to buy one system rather than several POU systems.

A major benefit to using water filters in the home is that they are not restricted or limited by the size or type of contaminant they can safely remove. Water filtration is also the only purification method that can reliably remove chlorine, chlorine byproducts, and VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compound) from your drinking water.

Studies suggest that chlorine and VOCs are some of the most dangerous contaminants found in public, municipally-treated drinking water. In addition, high-quality ceramic filters can remove chlorine-resistant parasite cysts such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

All in all, high-quality water filters can provide homes and offices with outstanding results and clean, safe drinking water. To learn more about which types of water filters best fit your individual needs, contact a reliable vendor and discuss your needs with an expert.

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For many years bottled water was the fad among health-conscious people. It was fashionable to carry bottles everywhere, and small bottles of water appeared in vending machines next to soft drinks. Bottled water seemed like the ultimate alternative to sugar-laden sodas, but soon another problem arose. Those trendy plastic bottles were soon accumulating in landfills by the billions and defacing the landscape in wilderness areas. Environmentalists alerted everyone to the harm that their ‘healthy’ lifestyle was doing to the planet. It lost more popularity when tests conducted on leading bottled water brands revealed that the water was far from pure. In fact, some of the water was found to be worse than tap water for levels of contaminants. It led to the conclusion that many companies were simply selling bottled tap water, so a lot of people started filtering it themselves. A purifier pitcher is very simple and an inexpensive way to filter water at home.

You’ve probably heard of Brita, maker of the leading water purifier pitcher. However, there are several other pitchers available that are comparable in quality, so it is really just a matter of personal taste. Some of the generic brands make their filter cartridges compatible with Brita and other leading pitchers, so you may be able to replace cartridges for a few dollars less. The water purifier pitcher is based on a relatively simple design; it is divided into two sections, separated by a replaceable charcoal filter. You fill the top section of the pitcher and the water trickles through the filter, down into the bottom. Pitchers are convenient to use and easy to fit into a refrigerator, thanks to streamlined designs.

The manufacturer of your purifier pitcher may recommend that you change the filter on a monthly basis to ensure maximum purity of water, but filters continue to work longer than 30 days, and if water is relatively clean to begin with, as most tap water is, you can leave it in longer without really noticing a difference. The only time filters would be need to changed more often is in households that have wells or water supplies that come from natural sources such as springs. This water sometimes contains high levels of sediment that the filter effectively removes, but it does clog the filter before long. If you have one of these sources, you may need to change your filter every 2-3 weeks instead of every month. You can tell when your filter is becoming clogged if water is flowing through it very slowly. You will notice that a new filter has much faster water flow.

For fresh fluid on the go, you can fill a reusable bottle from your water purifier pitcher, knowing that you are helping the environment and your liquid is truly fresh and not just overpriced tap water.

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An undersink water filter works much the way a countertop point-of-use unit works, except it is hidden away underneath for those who don’t wish to have the filtration system showing. These units are usually very easy to install, usually less than a half hour, and can effectively remove most harmful contaminants from your home’s water.

According to most undersink water filter reviews, the most effective, and cost-efficient systems are multi-stage units with a combination of filtration methods, including ion exchange, carbon and sub-micron filtration. This ensures that the unit will remove lead, chlorine, volatile organic chemicals, parasites and other toxins from the water, yielding clean, pure drinking water for your family.

There is certainly a growing demand for whole house and undersink water filter systems these days as more and more research points to the damaging effects of toxic chemicals present in our water. Even in the best areas, studies show there are over 2100 cancer-causing contaminants in our water, with new chemicals finding their way into the system each and every day.

The reason for this is that most municipal water facilities use old, rudimentary filtration methods which are unable to work nearly as effectively as some of the better undersink water filters. Also, government regulations only set maximum levels for a few dozen chemicals…there are no standards for the majority of toxins in the water.

So you can see why the water in your home is not nearly as clean and pure as it should be, and why an undersink water filter system makes sense. Not only can the better systems remove harmful chemicals and micro-organisms, but they leave in the healthful trace elements that give water its therapeutic benefits. So essentially, these filters take out only the bad stuff, while leaving essential magnesium, calcium and potassium behind.

How To Find The Best Undersink Water Filter

There are many different products on the market and many different filtration methods. Some are definitely better than others, but from our undersink water filter reviews we were able to determine which are the best overall buys for your home.

You want to find the unit that removes the most harmful chemicals and other toxins from the water. You can find this information on the Performance Data Sheet, which lists everything that is filtered out and in what quantities. This will give you a good idea of the product’s capabilities.

Many states have very strict guidelines when it comes to whole house and undersink water filter system performance. They review all of a manufacturer’s claims, product information, filtration methods and other company criteria. The strictest guidelines are issued by the California Department of Health. If you find an undersink water filter with California Certification, you can be sure that filter of the highest quality.

Other than the performance data and certification, which should give you a good sense of what you’re getting, go with a reputable manufacturer that has been in the business for a while. Also, look for some kind of guarantee of performance, so if the product doesn’t do what it says it does you can return it. Every good company has some kind of satisfaction guarantee.

If you want to be sure your family is drinking safe, pure, clean water, look into a countertop or undersink water filter for your home…you’ll be glad you did!

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It is no secret that there are many different contaminants that can be found in our drinking water. Many of these are well known and include such materials as lead and copper. But there are other types of material that often find their way into water as well, and these are nitrates.

In simple terms, nitrates are forms of nitrogen. As you may know, nitrogen is important for all organic matter, and it can be found in the air, the soil, and in water. In small amounts, nitrogen is useful for all living organisms. But if too much is ingested, especially through water, health problems can occur.

The most vulnerable populace to nitrate overload are babies. When babies are given water-based formula or drinking water that is high in nitrate content health problems can arise. The most common health problem is called methemoglobinema. Many of you will also know this as blue baby syndrome. This occurs when the blood is not able to carry enough oxygen and the baby, in essence, suffocates.

So how prevalent is this problem? The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that as many as 600,000 household have some form of nitrate level that is above the safe drinking water standard of 10 milligram per liter.

Nitrates can be especially prevalent in rural areas and in well water. The reason for this becomes clear once we understand where much of this material comes from.

Rural areas that have been fertilized improperly or excessively over the years will often have high level of nitrates. Inadequate or improper drainage systems for storm water can also lead to higher levels of nitrates in ground water and well water. Of particular importance to some homeowners is the high level of nitrates sometimes found near septic tank systems. This can lead to the material finding its way into the ground water system or well water.

The best way to treat nitrate contamination is through prevention. This might include better maintenance of well water systems, less use of fertilizers, proper storage of manure, and periodic checks for nitrate levels.

The next level of protection is through the use of water filters, often in the form of point of use devices, or in some cases, point of entry water filter systems. The usual water filter treatment devices that are used for nitrate removal include ion exchange resins, water distillation, and reverse osmosis devices.

If you feel your water may be contaminated with nitrates, have it checked by a reputable laboratory. The cost of this test is very reasonable and well worth every cent you spend on it. They can tell you if you have a problem or not and how severe the problem is. If you discover that you have a problem with nitrates in your water, contact a reliable water filter vendor and discuss your needs with a professional.

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The use of an activated charcoal water filtration purifier as part of your filter system is an effective way to clear unwanted material from your water prior to using it to drink, cook, or bathe. Highly absorbent activated charcoal is a commonly used material for removing impurities from water. Because of its effectiveness and relative simplicity of function, any system you purchase should include charcoal/carbon filtration as one of its processes of water purification.

Activated carbon can be found in everything from aquarium filtration systems to pitcher-style drinking water filters to larger home systems. However, the best quality systems will employ a multi-stage filtration process, with an activated charcoal water filtration purifier as the first step of the treatment.

The process works by absorbing certain contaminants in water. Activated charcoal is simply carbon that has been chemically infused with oxygen to create pores that absorb contaminants, and it has been found to be highly effective in removing foreign chemicals and microorganisms from water. A water filter that uses the process of reverse osmosis will not be as effective in removing synthetic chemicals, like the ones that originate in herbicides and pesticides, as activated carbon water filtration systems are.

These systems are especially good at filtering other organic impurities including carbon-based chemicals and chlorine, which is often added to water to kill biological contaminants. In fact, the technology is so good, that the U.S. EPA has recognized activated carbon as the best way to remove contaminants from water. Of course, technology will continue to bring us updated means for purifying our water, but the systems that employ this method are considered highly effective in removing a wide range of unwanted substances from water.

Water filters using activated carbon or any other technology should be installed on all faucets that are used in your home for drinking or bathing in water. Some people’s homes offer filtered water in the kitchen only, but occupants of the home often use bathroom sinks for drinking water, so this water should be filtered as well.

Although few of us drink our shower water, we are exposed to contaminants through the absorption of the water into our skin and through our breathing of water vapor that can contain chemicals harmful for us to inhale. For this reason, you should plan to install an activated charcoal water filtration purifier on every shower head in your home.

Activated carbon water filtration systems are effective, but their filters do not last forever. Once the pores of activated charcoal are full of the contaminants they’ve absorbed, the filters should be replaced. Prices on new filters and frequency of needed replacements vary. Information on the packaging of your water filter or on the manufacturer’s website will tell you how often you should plan to replace the filter in your system.

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Lots of people are fond of the wistful saying, “things ain’t what they used to be.” When it comes to the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink, this could not be more accurate. The truth is, the more we industrialize as a society, the more contaminants we put into our ecological systems, which eventually makes its way into our water and air supplies. Different kinds of industrial production have different effects, all of which are undesirable for the average user.

Common Contaminants - Drugs, prescription drugs, and other forms of illegal narcotics are all found in trace amounts in almost every large-scale water supply in the world. When people flush medication or drugs down the toilet, these things get into the sewage lines, most of which are the same water that is treated and then re-used again. So if the idea of drinking water that was once used in someone’s toilet is a little distasteful, remember, that’s just the beginning.

Industrial Runoff- Large factories of every kind tend to give some kind of contamination to the surrounding air and water. Even factory farms dump fertilizer and used soil into the water. Together, all these pollutants add a number of undesirable elements to your water. Chemicals and elements unsafe for consumption like sulfur, mercury, and other industrial solvents wind up in the water we use to make baby formula and soup for our ailing children, and that’s not something kids need a daily dose of.

Power Plants - Power plants have their own pollution that they give off through smoke stacks, or in the case of nuclear plants, water that is dispersed directly into the nearest supply. The smoke that traditional power plants produce easily makes its way into the plant and animal life surrounding the area, and of course the water is affected just as readily as any other habitat.

This means that the water sources we use to drink from and fish and swim in feature at least one, and likely more of these contamination sources. These things are not only dangerous to consume, but dangerous to simply have as an environmental factor. Parents need to take special care to ensure the water that comes into their home goes through another filtration and purification process before being consumed. Things aren’t what they used to be, but with the right planning and the utilization of an efficient water filtration system, your water can be of much higher quality.

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Our water supply comes from the ground and rivers, lakes, and streams. Unfortunately, many harmful contaminants are found in these water sources. Dangerous living contaminants that cause diseases (viruses and bacteria) such as Cholera, Giardia and cryptosporidium thrive in our water sources.

Erosion of the ground also introduces many harmful deposits into our water supply, of both natural and man-made chemicals. Commonly used chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, road salt run off into our water supplies. Industrial processes further introduce other harmful chemicals. Simply said, our water supply is often tainted by chemicals and contaminants.

Chemicals In Our Water Supply

Of course, municipalities treat all water supplies to remove and reduce all of the harmful contaminants. However, the introduction of some disinfecting or filtering chemicals create new toxic chemicals. For example, Chlorine is used as a disinfectant in the treatment process by municipalities. However, Chlorinated water produces by products such as trihalomethanes (THMs), which can cause cancer, birth defects and other health problems. There are other potentially dangerous by products that form during water treatment process.

Well owners and municipalities must treat their water sources properly. Our household water is safe to use, but if we want the purest water we should filter it even further. That’s where residential filters come into play. Residential water filters remove hundreds of contaminants, to provide pure and safe drinking water.

What Is Reverse Osmosis Water Filtering?

There are several technologies applied in water filters including activated carbon, Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF), Ultraviolet filtration, and Reverse Osmosis (RO) Each of these technologies are effective in removing certain contaminants, but not all. Therefore, the purifying technologies are usually combined.

Reverse osmosis water filters are considered to be the most effective on the market. Compared to other technologies, these systems remove the most contaminants from water. For example, they effectively filter out contaminants such as Arsenic, bacteria & viruses, unpleasant smells & tastes, Chlorine, heavy metals, nitrates, sediment, and iron. Other technologies remove some of these contaminants, but not nearly as many as reverse osmosis water filters.

When it comes to the removal of Hydrogen Sulfide (causes bad odors) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which can cause cancer, reverse osmosis water treatment also works well. Other technologies work just as well, and some even better for removing these specific chemicals. But a reverse osmosis water filter can remove the tiniest harmful particles that are less than.0001 microns. To put that in perspective, common bacteria and viruses are between 0.1 to 1 micron in size.

Residential reverse osmosis water filters use two types of filtering media known as Thin Film Composite (TFC) and Cellulose Triacetate (CTA). Additionally, when combined with other technologies such as activated carbon water filters they offer the most complete purification. This combination of technologies in RO systems creates an effective product.

Whole House Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

When it comes to maintenance, reverse osmosis water filters require replacement of filters, specifically the membrane, just like any other technologies. Typically, the filtering membranes last for several years (1-4), while the pre-filters such as carbon activated filters and sediment filters need to be replaced more frequently.

When it comes to pricing, RO filters vary greatly. Whole house RO systems are very expensive and can cost several thousands dollars. These are sophisticated systems which may be excessive for the average home owner. They are also quite large in size as they feature multiple tanks and extensive plumbing parts. Whole house reverse osmosis water filters can provide several thousand gallons of purified water a day. That’s a bit too much for an average household, and something to be used for commercial applications. Generally these whole house systems are recommended for large households that use their own well water.

A viable alternative to whole house reverse osmosis water filters is to use an under the sink RO filter. They are small, compact, and provide sufficient output of filtered water for many households. The filter is easily installed under the sink and closed behind the cabinet doors. Some good brands to consider are GE, Crystal Quest, Aquasana, and EcoWater.

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Cryptosporidium (aka Crypto) is a disease-causing parasite that is often found in water. This parasite is similar to Giardia (another parasite found in water) but they are not the same. Like Giardia, Crypto can live and reproduce within the intestines of humans and animals. Also like Giardia, Cryptosporidium resides inside a protective shell called an oocyst. It is discharged through fecal matter and once outside the host, it can survive in the environment (land or water) for several weeks.

For those unfamiliar with waterborne diseases, a reminder may be in order. In 1993, Cryptosporidium became a national news item when an outbreak took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that made over 400,000 people sick and killed more than 100 people who had weakened immune systems.

This parasite becomes a problem for humans when it is ingested. Generally, the illness includes symptoms such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headaches, vomiting, nausea, and fever. Symptoms often show up two to twelve days after ingestion and they can last for ten to fourteen days.

There is some good news and that is that Cryptosporidium does not normally pose a serious health risk to most otherwise healthy Americans. Individuals with weakened immune systems, however, can be at risk. This would include individuals who have AIDS, those who are HIV-positive, those with various types of cancer, and malnourished children.

For those wondering if Cryptosporidium is commonly found in water, the answer is yes. In fact, it is common in soil as well as in untreated water such as rivers, ponds, lakes, and streams. Many of these water sources can become contaminated by runoff from heavy rain or snow melts, which contain contaminated waste from infected animals.

The most common way of ridding Crypto from water is by filtering it at the water treatment plant. It should be noted studies have shown that the treatment filtering process normally removes more than 97 percent of Cryptosporidium oocysts. It should also be noted that because the oocysts are so tiny, some will pass through the filter media.

Homeowners have three options if they wish to make sure no Crypto cysts are in their drinking water.

You can boil your water

You can buy your own water filters and pass your tap water through a filter with pores smaller than Cryptosporidium.

You can put the water through a process known as reverse osmosis.

The only point-of-use water filters that remove Cryptosporidium are those that use reverse osmosis, or are labeled “Absolute” one micron filters, or are certified by NSF International under Standard 53 for “Cyst Removal”.

If you are not sure which type of water filter to use, contact a reputable water filter vendor and discuss your concerns with an expert. This is the best way to get the device and filter media that you need.

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If you are reading this, you’ve probably already come to the realization that many others have: Using a home water filtration system will save you time and money! One of the cheapest, easiest ways to filter your drinking water at home is to use water filter pitchers in your refrigerator. With so many different models and makers available to you, you have your work cut out for you when choosing one to buy. But before you buy one, here are 3 things you need to know about them to make a smart, economical pick.

1. Chlorine Level: This is number one for a reason! Chlorine is what gives tap water its bad taste and odor, which is probably the reason you are looking at water filtration in the first place. Water filter pitchers remove most of the chlorine in your water, giving it its clean, pure taste. Most filter pitchers remove between 92-99% of the chlorine in the water. You can find out the exact amount that a filter removes by looking at the specifications on it’s box or webpage. Remember, the more chlorine it filters, the cleaner the water will taste!

2. Fluoride Retention: Although you want to filter out most of the chemicals from the tap water, there is actually one that you want to keep -fluoride. Fluoride is vital to the health of your teeth, and water utility companies add it into the tap water so that you and I don’t have to take fluoride supplements. Many water filter pitchers will filter out the harmful chemicals from tap water but keep the useful fluoride in the water for you to drink. Check it out on the specs where you found the chlorine level count.

3. Replacement Filter Value: While the cheapest filter may initially seem to be the best deal, don’t be fooled! Not all replacement filters have the same lifespan. The lifespan of the replacement filters is usually in the 40-50 gallon range. To find the actual value of the filter, divide the price of the filter/number of gallons it can filter before replacement. This will give you an actual cost per gallon of water to effectively compare filter value when deciding on a water filter pitcher.

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Shower filters are known to soften skin and hair and reduce ones exposure to chemicals commonly found in tap water. What is not as well known is the mechanism by which the shower filter media reduces these chemicals.

When possible, a high quality whole home water filter with carbon and KDF media is the ideal way to improve the quality of bath and shower water. By using this method all the taps in the house offer filtered water. The disadvantage to this approach however is that water that does not need to be filtered is filtered. For example, toilet flushing water, lawn irrigation, dishwashing water etc. Also, installation costs can be prohibitive where construction is necessary to make space for the equipment. In those situations where the costs of a whole home water filter system outweigh the benefits a high quality shower filter in the bathroom and a high quality point of use drinking water filter (countertop type or under sink type) can be an economical solution.

In the 1980’s several companies introduced shower filtration devices that utilized KDF media. The KDF media uses the chemical processes of reduction and oxidation to clean the water. To have a comfortable shower, a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute is desirable. To get this kind of a flow rate with a carbon based filter would require a filter cartridge the size of a small microwave oven! The adsorption process, the process by which carbon reduces chemicals in water, requires adequate contact time with the carbon media. To make this contact time adequate you can either increase the amount of carbon media (thereby increasing the carbon surface area) or decrease the flow rate of the water - which is of course undesirable. The KDF media on the other hand requires very little contact time for the chemical processes of reduction and oxidation to take place. This makes KDF ideal for a shower situation and is the biggest reason that all modern shower filters contain KDF. Shower filter manufacturers will often also include other ion exchange medias (often proprietary) or even some carbon.

Since KDF is found in almost all shower filters, the differences are found in the amount of KDF media, the style and shape of the filter housing and the type of shower head. Shower filters are available in a wide variety of styles and types.
Disposable - The entire housing is discarded at the end of the media’s life span. These are available with and without a shower head.

Refillable - A replaceable cartridge allows the housing to be used again and again. These are available with and without a shower head.

Handheld - with a hose and removable wand.

Extension - with a shower head that can be articulated in any number of positions.

With so many options, it is easy to find a shower filter that fits your needs and preferences.

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