Water Filtration

Here is a list of the top 7 types of water filters you can purchase on the market and information about each one. Hopefully this will help you make a decision when purchasing your next filter.

1. Pitcher

2. Faucet

3. Refrigerator

4. Under Sink

5. Shower

6. Laundry

7. Whole house

Now to take this further, I will describe each a bit.

The Pitcher filter is great if you just want to drink a good glass of clean water and are really not worried about the tap water for anything else in your home. With these you have a specially made pitcher with a filter at the top and you have to pour water in slowly and it filters this through to the bottom of the container. It may take 10 minutes or so for this to complete its process.

The Faucet filter I have found to be very popular, especially with families who have children. This attachment hooks up to the faucet spout and you have the choice to turn the filter on to dispense cleaner water or turn it off if you do not want to waste the cleaner. The only issue some families did not care for was that the pressure coming from the tap is diminished because it must go through the filter and process before coming out so I would say you get half of the pressure. Also it is a bit cumbersome and takes up space around the faucet and is a little unsightly if you are wanting a kitchen that looks designer beautiful.

The Refrigerator filter is becoming more popular as families purchase refrigerators with water and ice dispensers on the door. This hooks up inside the door and helps produce better tasting ice as well as water.

Under sink filters are great to have as a full kitchen use. It keeps clutter from being on top of the counter or faucet, however, it usually required a professional installation and you will have to give up some room under your sink cabinet to make space for this larger item.

The Shower filter basically allows you have have a bath free of contaminants. These are less common and people will usually get a whole house filter if they want good water in their bathrooms.

The Laundry Filter again is like the shower model information in that the whole house choice will usually be used. However, families find that they like to use cleaner water free from hard water deposits on their clothes.

The whole house water filter is the next big upcoming appliance that families are automatically having installed in their homes when they are building a new home. It is somewhat of a no brainer that they can have great water and why not do it now while they are installing everything else.

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To some “Water, Water, Everywhere!” is a comic story but to others in other parts of the world, it’s not amusing. Despite its abundance on earth, water has been one of the scarcest commodities both in quantity and in quality. In spite of advances in technology, drought and water borne diseases are common place globally. Drinking water supplies are exposed to all sorts of contamination sources and therefore causing confusion among consumers about their water quality. On one hand we are lead to believe that drinking water is well treated and safe to drink, on the other hand we can see news reports about few inefficient water treatment plants, or operators who try to manipulate water testing results. Water advisories are common-advising consumers to flush their water before they drink when certain contamination is discovered.

One sort of relief is that EPA indicated in “Water on Tap” report that the “actual events of drinking water contamination are rare, and typically do not occur at levels likely to pose health concerns.” But the report says further that “there are growing numbers of activities that can contaminate our drinking water.” Drinking water supply (surface and groundwater) can be exposed to such contaminants from combined sewer overflows, sanitary overflows, stormwater runoffs, concentrated animal feeding operations, failed septic tank discharges, and a host of others. These contaminants range from fertilizer, pesticides, pharmaceutical drugs, toxic wastes, oil, adionuclides, and metals. (USEPA, 2003)

Contamination from the source

Drinking water supply is sometimes exposed to harmful contaminants right from the source. Disease-causing bacteria can get into municipal drinking water, well water, or contaminated ice. According to the 2002 CDC report, from 1985 to 2000, 251 outbreaks and 462,169 cases of waterborne illness related to contaminated drinking water were reported. Some of these cases were linked to surface water supply sources that have been contaminated by sewage. Some drinking water contaminations have been linked to Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) and raw sewage discharges into water distribution lines. Forty two percent of water water-borne disease outbreak was linked to Giardia.

EPA identified 59 CSO outfalls in seven states having outfalls within one mile of drinking water intake. Although the Report to Congress did not find any relationship between a CSO discharges from these outfalls and the transport of contaminants to the vicinity of drinking water intake, it says a more complex modeling is needed to do a better study. (USEPA, 2004)

Contaminants from home plumbing systems:

Water can be contaminated by lead in home plumbing systems. Lead contamination can lead to a variety of health problems. According to EPA, “in babies and children, exposure to lead in drinking water above the action level of 0.015 mg/l can result in delays in physical and mental development.” While it is rare that lead can contaminate water from the supply, lead can leach to drinking water from corroded pipes in homes that have lead pipes, joints, and solder.

How to obtain fresh tasting and healthy water - The good news is that advancement in water treatment technology has made it possible to remove these water contaminants from our drinking water. Although, technology has not caught up with the pharmaceutical water contamination, most water treatment devices can remove drugs that contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). According to the NSF International, although many of the NSF certified water treatment devices are specifically designed to remove pharmaceuticals right now “many of these products can help provide additional protection against wide array of other contaminants.” Consumers have a wide selection of water treatment devices to choose from and you don’t have to buy bottled water-which can cost you lots of money annually, to obtain healthy water. In fact, studies have shown that some bottled water contains some level of bacteria. This is because tap water and bottled water are not regulated by the same standards and the same agencies.

An NRDC study showed that one third of 103 brands of bottled water tested contained some levels of contamination which includes traces of arsenic and E. coli. (NRDC, 999). Also, home filtration systems can improve the taste or appearance of tap water at a minimal cost. According to an FDA Consumer magazine article “water purified with these products typically costs less than buying bottled water. According to Brita, its high-end faucet filter system provides water for 18 cents a gallon, a considerable saving from $1 or more typically charged for an 8- to 12-ounce bottle of water.” (FDA, 2002)

Before you buy a water treatment device Experts recommend that you should find out what types of contaminants are in your water before you decide on which water treatment device to buy. Home water testing kits cost between $9.00 for single parameter to about $99, or more, if you want to test for multiple parameters. The bottom line is the cost of testing your water is less because you don’t want to buy or be pressured to buy a certain water filter just because a salesman says it’s good.

A typical water filter device is designed to treat one or more contaminants. Most water treatment devices are certified by National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International. NSF (not to be confused with National Science Foundation) is an independent third party organization that has tested and certified thousands of water treatment devices such as home water filters, softeners, and purifiers to confirm treatment claims. Once you have confirmed what’s in your water and have researched two or three water filters, you should confirm claims of treatment by these water filter manufacturers, then, make selection for the best water filter or purifier. If the treatment device you find is not certified, call the manufacturer to find out why. Beware that a treatment device may be tested but not necessarily certified by NSF.

What choices do you have?

Again, your choice of a filter device will depend on what your test confirms. For most, using a water filter may not be an issue but for those with compromised immune systems, it may be a necessity. Different options are commercially available. You may purchase a point-of-entry (POE) water treatment device if you want to treat all the water coming to your house. A POE or a whole house water filter is installed at the water main where water enters the house which will require an experience plumber to install. A point-of-use (POU) device is installed at the points where water will be dispensed around the house. These types of devices come as undersink or under counter, countertop, carafe, showerhead, and refrigerator water filters.

A POE (whole house water filter) can be fitted with activated carbon and reverse osmosis filters in that order. Some come as multiple-stage units fitted with more than one series of activated carbon filter to protect the reverse osmosis filter.

Water softeners are ideal for homes with hard water. You may want to check with your local government is water softeners are allowed due to elevated chlorides discharge from softeners. Most wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove excess chlorides resulting in excessive violations of their permits. As a result, water softeners are being banned by some local governments. Prices vary for all types of water softeners.

For POU water treatment devices, countertop or tabletop water filters are available in various shapes and models. A tabletop water filter is ideal for home owners who do not want to tamper with plumbing, and for a tenant whose lease does not allow him/her to modify the plumbing system.

Undersink water filters require some plumbing work. This is ideal for water treatment at a single location in the house. Prices will depend on the models and type of filters in the device.

In conclusion, before choosing any of the water treatment systems available on the market today, review your CCR report or have your water tested. Consider the long term cost and health benefits and most important of all is to read the fine print.

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The fad in drinking water from bottles is killing off the planet as detailed by scientists.

The bottled water craze may be very fashionable, but it is no healthier than ordinary tap water and according to analysts is 10,000 times more expensive to produce.

This situation is having an alarming affect on the environment as to the resources required to extract the water from the ground, package it and distribute around the globe.

It is estimated that some 22 million tons of bottled water a year is distributed each year around countries. Transporting this water involves burning massive quantities of fossil fuels, transporting this bottled water long distances, with approximately a quarter crossing national borders to reach consumers via trucks, trains and boats.

Once the water has been consumed, the problem of disposing of the plastic bottles is a major issue as they take 1,000 years to biodegrade. These bottles are commonly produced form polyethylene terephthalate, which is derived from crude oil. In America, to meet their demand it requires more than 1.5 million barrels of oil a year, enough to fuel 100,000 cars for a year. Throughout the world 2.7 million tons of plastic are used to create plastic water bottles.

In industry and commerce, there has been a major swing away from bottled water dispensers to the plumbed in Water Coolers ( bottleless water coolers ) options. The option to use the water we are already paying for is one of many reasons for the switch over, besides health and safety issues, storing of the empty and full bottles, the lifting of 5 gallons of water onto the dispense stand and monthly accounts checking on full and empty bottles. Plumbed in water coolers do not experience these problems and offer pure filtered water at all times, without running out. No more waiting for the delivery truck with all its gas emissions to replace the empty bottles. In recent times the alarm bells have been ringing as to the toxins found in the plastic bottles plus the scare of bacteria build up insides the full bottles that are left standing around offices and on their stands, in full sunlight.

There is a myth that bottled water is better for you than tap water and tap water. Unlike bottled water, it is monitored daily and comes out fresh from the tap. Bottled water could be months old and is not treated to kill bacteria. The danger is that drinking from a bottle and then leaving it open or in the sun could encourage bacterial growth.

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A faucet water filter is a good way to get pure drinking water from your taps at low cost. There are only a few things you need to know — but knowing them makes a big difference.

If you’re considering the most basic, faucet-mounted filter, be wary. This is the kind that looks sort of like a fat bottle. You unscrew the faucet aerator and screw in the filter instead.

This kind of faucet water filter is better than nothing, at least for someone living alone. They are among the least effective water filters. In quality, they’re about equal to the carafe filters — the kind that amounts to a jug you store in the refrigerator.

Besides the questionable dependability of the filter, these two types filter the least water, last the shortest length of time, and tend to cost a lot in replacement filters. You can also buy a throwaway faucet-mounted filter, among the poorest choices.

A major improvement is the counter top water filter. This type of faucet water filter also works by removing the aerator from the faucet and attaching the filter there. The big difference is, the counter top filter sits where its name implies, on top of your kitchen counter. High quality counter top filters are available, doing an excellent job of filtering contaminants from your drinking water. They couldn’t be easier to install — just as easy as the faucet-mounted filters just mentioned.

The big differences besides the quality of the filtration:

A quality counter top filter will last a long time. With replacement filter cartridges readily available, it can last a lifetime. If you live in an apartment, it’s easy to take with you when you move. The cost of clean, pure drinking water from these filters is a few pennies per gallon.

If it’s important to you to keep your counter top uncluttered, and you’d like a more permanent faucet water filter, an undersink water filter can be a great choice.

This type requires some installation. Changes in the plumbing, the sink or the counter top are needed. If you’re fairly handy, the undersink installation is an outstanding kind of faucet water filter. The filter is under the sink, out of sight. Your counter top remains clear and uncluttered. Many undersink water filters come with their own faucet for drinking and cooking water, leaving your other faucets free for washing.

If you’re not a handy person, though — if changing a light bulb is about as complicating an operation as you want to deal with — then you either decide an undersink filter is not for you, or you ask a friend to install it, or you hire a handyman.

Both counter top and undersink water filters can do a great job, last a long time and deliver pure drinking water at very low cost per gallon.

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The homeowner with a clean and pure countertop water filter expects that filter to provide him or her with consistent and dependable removal of all water contaminants. A time-pressed homeowner might seek even more. He or she might choose to have a clean and pure filter that is also a maintenance free countertop water filter.

The maintenance free filter has a carbon granule filter. The owner of a maintenance free filter never needs to worry about changing a cartridge. That can seem like a real advantage. Yet like every benefit, it also comes with one seldom-mentioned downside.

Whenever a clean and pure countertop water filter is also a maintenance free countertop water filter, then the owner of that filter can not enjoy all the benefits that come from advancements in technology. Such a homeowner can not plan to replace his or her cartridge with one that has more F.D.A. approved materials or one with a better-graded pore structure.

The cartridge in a maintenance free filter does have a long life. That is why a number of homeowners have purchased the maintenance free, clean and pure water filter. Those homeowners who plan to make a similar purchase should know what to look for in a clean and pure countertop water filter.

Such a filter should have three important features. First, it should have the ability to carry-out mechanical filtration. Mechanical filtration takes advantage of Fickian diffusion. That diffusion process causes absorption of contaminants, whenever contaminated water passes over and moistens fibers.

A clean and pure filter should also have the ability to perform electrokinetic absorption. The unwanted particles in the water produce an electric field. A filter that can perform electrokinetic absorption makes use of that field. By using that field, the filter aids completion of the absorption process.

A good clean and pure filter should, of course, be equipped to function as the site of physical absorption. When water passes over solid absorbent, particles in the water should adhere to the surface of the absorbent. That is what should take place in a working clean and pure filter.

When the three features described above come together in a clean and pure countertop water filter, then that filter can rival the characteristics of other countertop filters. Those filters allow the homeowner to get clean, great-tasting water. Unlike clean and pure filters, those other filters have activated carbon filters with ion exchange and micron filtration.

When a homeowner does not feel compelled to get a maintenance free countertop water filter, then he or she can hope to bring into his or her home an example of our advancing technology. Then that homeowner can anticipate the chance to introduce into the filter system a cartridge with updated materials.

A homeowner can never know when some unseen particle in the tap water might be causing residents of the home to have unusually dry skin or unexplained GI problems. Introduction into the filter system of a new cartridge might bring an end to those complaints. That fact should stay in the mind of a homeowner who is about to get a clean and pure countertop water filter.

All countertop water filters made today allows the homeowner to enjoy safe and good-tasting water. Still, the homeowner’s safety is not at risk, when an old cartridge must be replaced by a newer and better cartridge.

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What is an Under Sink Water Filter?

As the name suggests, an under sink water filter connects to the plumbing arrangement of the sink below it. It is connected directly to the faucet below the sink that controls the water that flows into the main sink tap. Because of its location, it can filter the water before reaching the tap. This makes it more convenient to some people, especially those who do not want to undergo the hassle of having a faucet water filter. To a large extent, an undersink water filter is considered to be a permanent solution for household water filtration.

Installation of an Under Sink Water Filter

Despite what they can do, under sink water filters are very easy to install. They simply need to be plumbed into the main water line that supplies water to the main sink tap. This is quite an easy procedure and DIY enthusiasts can do it quite easily. No professional help is usually required.

Types of Under Sink Water Filters

There is diversity in the action of the under sink water filters. Most of them are devised to just filter out the sediments that are present in the water so that it is clear for drinking. These are the crudest and the cheapest forms of water filters. In some more sophisticated designs, there are biological filters added, which can trap microorganisms that are present in the water. Some of them also have chlorine filters attached to them so that they can remove the chlorine odor that is a common complaint with ordinary tap water. In this manner, there are different types of under sink water filters. They can be as simple or as sophisticated as the user wants.

Usage of the Under Sink Water Filters

The main filtration activity of the undersink water filter is localized in the cartridge, or cartridges if the filtration is a multilevel process. The cartridge traps the sediments, chemicals and micro-organisms according to its design. However, the cartridge needs to be replaced periodically. Different kinds of cartridges have different lives and they need to be replaced periodically.

There are options when it comes to discharging the water that is purified in under sink filters. People can either make the filtered water flow out of the same tap that they use for the sink, or they can install a separate tap. When a separate tap is installed, this tap will become the drinking water tap. Some people prefer this kind of installation because it saves cartridge life. They can use the filtered water only for drinking and the other tap would give the non-filtered water for non-drinking purposes such as washing. However, in smaller sinks, the installation of two different taps can pose a physical difficulty.

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News headlines send people searching for drinking water filters. But, what do you expect your drinking water filter to do? Do you want to remove chlorine and its by-products, lead, disease causing microscopic organisms, pesticides, herbicides, VOCs, TCE, MTBE or all of the above?

If you are like me, then you have chosen all of the above. There are high quality drinking water filters that remove all of these contaminants, but the price is not that high. Of course, the cheaper systems can not handle all of them, so you have to decide what fits your pocketbook, while protecting you family to the best of your ability.

Some people only drink bottled, because they think that is the safest choice, but benzene has been found in Perrier. BPA has been found in anything stored in polycarbonate. Phthalates are found in anything stored in any type of polymer. Both of those chemicals act like estrogen within the body and can cause some serious health problems, including cancer.

A pitcher drinking water filter is often chosen because it is the least expensive option, but the cost per gallon is actually higher. The filtration cartridges have a very short life span and that affects the cost of use. For a Brita pitcher, for example, the cost per gallon is 25 cents, as opposed to less than 10 for one of the best countertop drinking water filters on the market.

Pitchers are also slow. You fill up the top compartment from your tap and it trickles down through the system. In order to get a full pitcher, you have to repeat this process several times.

Then, there is a problem with what a pitcher-type drinking water filter can do. We’ll use Brita again as an example. Not to pick on them, but they are one of the most popular choices. They only remove about 75% of the chlorine and about 93% of the lead. Nothing else is removed.

Countertop drinking water filters can provide a lot more water in a lot less time. You just turn on the tap and get a drink right away. There is an option for switching it off, in case you want to prolong the drinking water filter life, but you should be aware that chlorine and its by-products can pollute the air quality within your home. So, if you are using hot water, you want the “on-position”.

An under the counter drinking water filter system costs more, but doesn’t do a lot more. It’s really just the aesthetics that come with having a unit stored underneath and out of sight.

Whole house drinking water filters cost the most, but will protect your laundry from damaging chlorine and you won’t have to worry about your dishwasher emitting toxic gas. The choice is yours of course. I just wanted to provide little helpful information to accompany you while you shop. Just don’t let the many choices keep you from taking action to provide pure and safe water for you and your family.

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There are two common types of water filtration used in top rated home water filters. Carbon filters and reverse osmosis filters use different techniques to remove such contaminants as bacteria, sediments, chemicals, metals and odor.

Simply stated, carbon filters work by passing water through one or more filtering compounds, whereas, reverse osmosis passes water through layers of filtering screens to remove contamination and impurities, then uses water to wash the screens.

Here is how a carbon filter works:

Water is passed through either granular activated carbon (GAC) or a carbon block which removes sediments, micro-organisms and organic compounds.

Some filters will use a micron membrane to remove sand and silt as an initial filtration stage.

Depending on the size and quality of the unit, water may pass through up to 7 or even 8 levels of filtration with each level removing more and more contamination.

Some filtration companies are now using KDF which is a patented medium for fluid filtration to enhance the capabilities of a carbon filtration system.

Studies have determined that GAC and KDF used in combination within a filter unit have a greater capacity to remove contamination than carbon filtration alone.

Carbon filters need to be replaced regularly based on the manufacturers instructions.

Reverse Osmosis water filtration works like this:

Water is first passed through a pre-filter screen to remove sediments and larger particles from the water.

Next water is passed through an even smaller screen to remove very small particles (bacteria, heavy metals, etc).

The third step is passing the water through a carbon filter to complete the filtration process.

As contaminants build up on the filtration screens, the reverse osmosis system uses water to wash the screens - called backwashing. This process can create a lot of waste water; as much as double the amount of water that was purified.

So which type of water filter should you choose?

That depends on your budget and you water usage. Generally, for home use a carbon filtration system provides adequate water purification at a lower cost that reverse osmosis water filtration systems. Reverse osmosis water filters require more water flow for the backwash process - potentially increasing your water bill. You will also need abundant water pressure for a reverse osmosis water purification to work properly.

Generally, it’s our thinking that the higher level of water purification provided by a reverse osmosis water filter may be worth the cost if you have a family member with a very severely compromised immune system and you have the water flow to sustain the system. Otherwise, the less expensive and less complicated carbon water filtration systems will provide the average household with plenty of safe, clean water.

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If you are asking yourself this question, you are not alone. Many people are not well informed about the advantages of owning a water filter, nor do they understand what can arise as a result of not owning a water filter. A water filter can greatly improve the quality and taste of the water that you consume, along with your overall health and that of your family. Upon initial exposure, a water filter may seem like an expensive investment, but the benefits it provides pays for the actual cost many times over.

Everyone can benefit from owning a water filter. The optimal set up is owning a filter that purifies water that is consumed, along with water that is used for showering and laundry. This can be accomplished through the use of separate water filters, or a single whole house water filter. If you plan on purchasing separate water filters, the first decision to make is what kind of filter you will use to purify the water that you drink.

The most popular filters for this task are refrigerator water filters, undersink filters and countertop water filters. A refrigerator water filter attaches to the inside of a refrigerator door, and dispenses clean and cold drinking water. An undersink water filter purifies water before it is dispensed from a faucet. Although more expensive, a countertop water filter is an attractive and practical water filter choice. Any of these filters eliminate VOCs, chlorine and other impurities from drinking water. It is also useful to invest in a shower water filter. A shower water filter eliminates chlorine and other impurities that can cause hair thinning or skin irritation after repeated exposure during showers.

If you are looking for one filter to provide filtered water throughout your home, office or apartment, a whole house water filter may be the answer. A whole house water filter attaches to the main water source, and provides purified water from the sink, shower and washing machine. A whole house water filter removes the same impurities as other water filters, including chlorine, lime, lead and VOCs. All types of water filters use carbon as their main filtering component. Because of its porous nature, carbon has the ability to filter out large and small particles and impurities.

Carbon also does not interfere with minerals found in tap water that are actually beneficial to a healthy body. A whole house water filter requires more installation time and a higher initial investment, but actually evens out over the course of time. A whole house water filter normally lasts between thirty and sixty thousand gallons. When it comes to making a decision about water filters, it really all depends on what you need and desire from your home water filter system.

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In this day and age it seems that most of the new refrigerators in the stores now come complete with refrigerator water filter units already installed and ready to go. These filtering systems that are in the new refrigerators are a great boom to the health of your family, as they provide clean and clear drinking right from the front of the appliance.

Most of these refrigerator water filter systems do the job of removing possibly harmful substances in the liquid and provide an additional level of protection for your family. For many families, it is important to have good, clean fluid that is easily accessible so that it can be used for drinking and cooking, rather than tap liquid.

Many times, if the liquid filtering solution that is in your home is not easy and convenient to use, it will simply not be used.

This is one of the primary benefits for having a refrigerator water filter system in your home; they are easy and very convenient for all members of the family to use. This is not the case with some of the other common types of filters found in many homes.

For instance, if you have one of the fluid pitchers that has a filter in it, such as the popular Brita water filter, the pitcher must be refilled constantly. Often this is a task that is readily dismissed or forgotten by the members of the family, especially the children.

The Brita-type water pitchers also must be filled and allowed time for the liquid to pass through the filter. Some families have more that one such filter to address these problems, but even that does not help if people forget to keep the pitchers filled.

However, with a refrigerator water filter in your home, you can be assured that your children will always be drinking purified and clean fluid. This is because the only thing they need to remember to do is to get their water from the dispenser in the door of the refrigerator instead of from the tap.

With more and more concerns about the dangerous elements found in drinking water, this provides a lot of peace of mind to parents worried about the health of their whole family.

A refrigerator filter system is able to provide good quality drinking water and ice by using simple built-in filters. These filters are normally small activated carbon or charcoal filters that are able to remove the majority of the solids and chemicals that are found in average tap water. This filtering is done and the water is purified before it is sent on to the in-door dispenser or to the ice-maker.

By having the refrigerator water filter built-in and part of the refrigerator itself, as opposed to having a filter on the supply line, it is generally more convenient. Most refrigerators with liquid filters have been designed for quick and easy access to the filters.

This is so that the filter can be changed regularly to be sure that the quality of the fluid is being maintained. Depending on how much your family drinks, the filter in your refrigerator will need to be changed regularly.

You should also check on the quality of the water that is flowing into your refrigerator water filter because this will also have an impact on the ultimate quality of the water that ends up coming out of the refrigerator door. You can have the quality of the source liquid tested, either by having a professional come to test it or with any number of do-it-yourself water test kits that are widely available.

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