Water Filtration

What is Reverse Osmosis?

The amount of people that still purchase bottled water for home use never ceases to amaze me. Come on people, it’s time to get educated here. You are wasting time and energy, landfill space, and yes, money…Lots of it. 

Have you ever heard of reverse osmosis? Did you know that most bottled water manufacturers are using reverse osmosis as a means of purifying the bottled water you are drinking? It’s a fact that many people are completely unaware of. 

Soon, everyone will know the benefits of reverse osmosis. Reverse Osmosis equipment has only been manufactured for the household consumer for just a few years. Until recently, it was used primarily by major corporations and the U.S. Government for purifying non-potable water supplies throughout the world. It was, and still is, used on large military and commercial ships for purifying seawater, making it suitable for human consumption.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is often described as filtration, but it is much more complex than that. People sometimes explain it as a filter because it is much easier to visualize using those terms. For instance, the osmosis phenomenon is how our blood feeds each cell in our bodies. As our blood is carried into the smallest of capillaries in our bodies, nutrients actually pass through the cell’s wall to sustain its life.

For example: If you take a jar of water and place a semi-permeable membrane in it, which by its’ construction mimics a cell wall, then divide the jar into two sections and place water on both sides of the membrane to an equal level, nothing happens. But, if  you place salt, (or other such dissolved substance), into one side of the jar, you will soon notice that the water level in the salty side begins to rise higher as the unsalted side lowers. This is the natural osmotic pressure at work. The two solutions will continue to try to reach the same level of salt or equilibrium on each side of the membrane by the unsalted water passing through the membrane to dilute the salty water. This will continue until the “head” pressure of the salt water overcomes the “osmotic” pressure created by the differences in the two solutions. 

Many years ago, researchers discovered a means to reverse or exploit this natural osmotic process and use it to purify salty ocean water. They found that if they took that same semi-permeable membrane and fed salty water into it with a sufficient amount of pressure on one side of the membrane, to overcome the natural osmotic pressure of the other side, they could actually “manufacture” clean water on the side of the membrane that has no pressure applied to it! Read the rest of this entry »

I first became interested in water filtration after I read some reports about the large numbers of incidents of polluted drinking water in the US.

This really worried me and I decided to do something about it by checking out an under sink water filter. It surprised me to find just how many different types and makes there were available. One I heard about was reverse osmosis, and I thought I had heard about distillation and carbon blocks, but I had never heard about kinetic degradation fluxicon.

I quickly realized that I needed to do some research or I would be going round in circles. The one thing I realized fairly quickly was that whatever I purchased it needed to have the NSF (National Science Foundation) certification. This certification provides reassurance that any filter with the 42 and 53 standard will have high filtering capabilites.

It also means that the filter should be able to filter certain substances from the water such as heavy metals, cysts, chlorine and some disease carriers. One thing to ascertain before you buy is the ease of installation, it shouldn’t really need specialized tools or training, although most people don’t try to fit the water filters themselves but rely on the expertise of a licensed plumber.

When thinking about an under sink water filter, it is sometimes easy to forget about the space you need for the filter, as it’s under the sink. Be sure to double check the measurements. If it’s too big you’ll have no room left for any other sort of storage.

Usually as it’s under the sink the plumbing needed is usually available but it’s best to check that it fits in easily. Once you’ve bought your filter, thoroughly read all the instructions to make sure you know how to replace the filter cartridges.

If its too complicated to do this, it’s not the type of filter you need. One thing you’ll find is the wide variation in price from less than a hundred dollars to a few hundred dollars. Although it’s tempting to go for the cheapest, I wouldn’t recommend it as there are some cheap imitations on the market. Quality of construction is important. Make a short list of the ones which seem well-made and come from reputable manufacturers, and then compare each and every feature.

My old dad always said you get what you pay for and I have found that advice to be spot on just about every time I make a bad buy. So now you should have an idea on where to start when deciding on the the best under sink water filter for you.

An Ezine article

Many people are interested in a water filter for their home to ensure safe drinking water. Since our drinking water tends to contain a lot of impurities, such as chlorine and pharmaceutical drugs, water filters can be a great option. They can work to remove all of the impurities and provide you with drinking water that is both clean and safe. If you are interested in a water filter, then you may want to think about a portable water filter.

Here are a few of the main benefits that portable water purification systems have to offer that other filtration systems don’t.

If you understand the importance of drinking clean water and can afford one water filter, portable is the way to go. Portable filters offer one main advantage over many other filtration systems. They are easy to install. Since a portable purifier can be moved from one place to the next, they tend to be the easiest type of water purification system to use.

Depending on the specific filter, it’s likely that all you will need to do is attach the filter to the faucet in order to experience clean purified water.

Another one of the main advantages of portable water filters is that they purify the water without using any chemicals. If you are worried about replacing the impurities that you get out of the drinking water with other chemicals, then a portable water filter may be a great choice for you. Those who want to ensure that their water remains healthy even after it has been purified will benefit greatly from the fact that these water filters are chemical free.

A portable water purifier is also a great choice for those who like to travel a lot. Due to the fact that they can be moved around, they can be taken just about anywhere that you want them to go. Anyone who owns a summer house or goes on vacation frequently would benefit from being able to take their filter with them. Portable water purifiers also offer the advantage of being able to move your purification system from one room to another.

Portable filters provide many advantages that other filtration systems are unable to offer. Obviously, much like their name states, they are a great option for anyone who wants a water filter that does not need to stay in the same place at all times.

Keep in mind that there a number of different brands available, offering a variety of different features, and tend to vary widely in price. It’s important to do some comparison shopping before making the decision to purchase a portable water filter for your home drinking water!

An Ezine article

What is Reverse Osmosis?

The amount of people that still purchase bottled water for home use never ceases to amaze me. Come on people, it’s time to get educated here. You are wasting time and energy, landfill space, and yes, money…Lots of it. 

Have you ever heard of reverse osmosis? Did you know that most bottled water manufacturers are using reverse osmosis as a means of purifying the bottled water you are drinking? It’s a fact that many people are completely unaware of. 

Soon, everyone will know the benefits of reverse osmosis. Reverse Osmosis equipment has only been manufactured for the household consumer for just a few years. Until recently, it was used primarily by major corporations and the U.S. Government for purifying non-potable water supplies throughout the world. It was, and still is, used on large military and commercial ships for purifying seawater, making it suitable for human consumption.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is often described as filtration, but it is much more complex than that. People sometimes explain it as a filter because it is much easier to visualize using those terms. For instance, the osmosis phenomenon is how our blood feeds each cell in our bodies. As our blood is carried into the smallest of capillaries in our bodies, nutrients actually pass through the cells’ wall to sustain its’ life.

For example: If you take a jar of water and place a semi-permeable membrane in it, which by its’ construction mimics a cell wall, then divide the jar into two sections and place water on both sides of the membrane to an equal level, nothing happens. But, if  you place salt, (or other such dissolved substance), into one side of the jar, you will soon notice that the water level in the salty side begins to rise higher as the unsalted side lowers. This is the natural osmotic pressure at work. The two solutions will continue to try to reach the same level of salt or equilibrium on each side of the membrane by the unsalted water passing through the membrane to dilute the salty water. This will continue until the “head” pressure of the salt water overcomes the “osmotic” pressure created by the differences in the two solutions. 

Many years ago, researchers discovered a means to reverse or exploit this natural osmotic process and use it to purify salty ocean water. They found that if they took that same semi-permeable membrane and fed salty water into it with a sufficient amount of pressure on one side of the membrane, to overcome the natural osmotic pressure of the other side, they could actually “manufacture” clean water on the side of the membrane that has no pressure applied to it!

Depending on a membranes’ design, and the material it is made from, the amount of TDS, (salt or total dissolved solids), reduction will range from 80 to over 99 per cent. Different minerals have different rejection rates, for instance, the removal rate for a typical TFC (Thin Film Composite) membrane is 99.5% for Barium and Radium 226/228; but only 85.9% for Fluoride and 94.0% for Mercury. Contamination removal rates are also dependent on proper feed-water pressures.

Is it Reverse Osmosis Water Safe To Drink?  

Reverse osmosis water is perfectly safe to drink.  There is also a scientific explanation as to why this type of purified water is actually better for you than water that contains high mineral (TDS) content.  Read the rest of this entry »

Water is a crucial resource which many of us living in the cities have come to take for granted. Our survival and health depend on the water we drink, but yet we hardly give a thought to the water we use each day.

Here are nine reasons why we should not take our water at face value, and why a water filter could be the best investment we can make for our health:

1. The Water Myth

Pure natural water is a myth. In nature, water picks up minerals as well as contaminants like arsenic, viruses and bacteria as it flows through streams, sits in lakes, and sips through soil and rock in the ground. It is the amount of these substances that determines whether the water is safe or unsafe for consumption.

2. Great Polluted Lakes

The five Great Lakes — Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior — make up more than 80 percent of the U.S.’s freshwater supply and more than 20 percent of the world’s. But they have been increasingly polluted by agricultural, industrial and recreational activities that take place around and within the lakes. Pollutants, such as discharged waste water from factories, untreated sewage and toxic contaminants, enter and get trapped in the lakes, increasing in concentration over time.

3. Massive Contamination Power of Oil

Used oil is a major source of oil contamination of waterways and result in pollution of drinking water sources. Spilled or inappropriately disposed used oil from one oil change can contaminate up to 1 million gallons of fresh water, or a year’s supply for 50 people.

4. Chlorine: The Double-Edged Sword

Chlorine is a commonly used disinfectant to remove viruses and bacteria from water. But chlorine is also toxic to humans and it reacts with organic compounds in the water to form by-products like trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids that can lead to cancer and reproductive disorders.

5. Killing with Ozone

Ozone is another popular disinfectant that is used standalone or in addition to chlorine to kill germs in the water. However, ozone can react with natural occurring bromide in the water to form bromate, which is a known carcinogen.

6. Chloramine: Deadlier than Chlorine?

Chloramine is an increasingly common disinfectant used as an alternative to chlorine as it is more stable and does not dissipate from the water before it reaches consumers. It also does not have the distinct smell and taste which is characteristic to chlorine-treated water. However, chloramine has been found to create more disinfection by-products than chlorination and increases the leaching of lead from pipes.

7. Mouth Wash or Drinking Water?

Fluoride is often added to drinking water by water suppliers to prevent tooth decay. But this controversial additive has also been linked to bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones, in some studies.

8. The Convoluted Journey of Water

Treated water from public water suppliers can be further contaminated as it makes its way to our homes — by dissolving unwanted chemicals and substances such as asbestos, bacteria, viruses, lead and PVC from corroded pipes.

9. Drink to Even Weaker Immune Health

Seniors and young children, as well as people with immune systems compromised by chemotherapy, AIDS and other chronic diseases are more vulnerable to microbial and toxic contaminants in drinking water, even at levels determined safe by the authority.

So, you see, water filters can be the best investment we can make for our health.

An Ezine article

According to the ads, Wellness shower filters create an atmosphere where you slowly get well. Wellness is a brand of chemical and chlorine removing shower filters. They do a good job, but the price is a little high, to say the least.

Like other chlorine removing shower filters, Wellness shower filters let you use hot water with no ill effects. If you used the same amount of hot water without a shower filter, it would open up your pores and allow you to absorb 600% more chlorine than if you drank the same amount.

Chlorine causes a number of diseases, most of which can be serious. The wellness shower filters gets rid of the chlorine and reduces the risks to your health. Chlorine removing shower filters, built by wellness, block about 99% of the chlorine present in shower water. After only a few days, you will notice that your skin and hair are softer.

Cosmetic benefits to the skin and hair were the first reasons for chlorine removing shower filters. But, the bigger problem is that your skin absorbs everything it is exposed to. So, bathing in water contaminated with chemicals and chlorine is bad for your overall health, both for now and in the future.

The diseases linked to chlorine are many and they include one of the big killers; cancer. According to researchers at the medical college of Wisconsin, showering, drinking and living with chlorinated water has increased our risk of cancer by 93%. Wellness shower filters and other chlorine removing shower filters can help improve our odds.

The wellness shower filters remove more than chlorine from the water in the shower. Things like pesticides, VOCs, THMs, lead and copper are also blocked. The only problem is that chlorine removing shower filters by Wellness cost a whole lot more than other brands that do the same job. There is no doubt that you need chlorine removing shower filters, you just might want to do some comparative shopping before you buy the Wellness brand.

Why do you need chlorine removing shower filters? The EPA says that when it comes to chlorine, 4 parts per million is an acceptable level, but when pool water is tested, anything over 3 parts per million is considered unsafe for swimming. If it’s not safe to swim in, how could it be safe to shower in? Wellness shower filters and other chlorine removing shower filters can make your water safe again.

Now, not all chlorine removing shower filters are the same. Only two other companies can do the same job as Wellness shower filters and both cost less. The initial prices for the systems are lower and the cost of use is lower. Here’s what we mean.

Wellness shower filters cost $249 retail and the cost of use is $16 per month. As mentioned above, two other companies do the same job as Wellness shower filters. For the first, the retail price is $95 and the cost of use is $9.25 per month.

The other is our personal favorite. It is one of the best chemical and chlorine removing shower filters on the market and at a price of $67.99 and only $7 per month, anyone can afford it.

Some chlorine removing shower filters cost a lot more and are much less effective. Two popular brands only block 50% of the chlorine and nothing else. When you are shopping, remember that price is no indication of quality. You have to look at product performance data. If you do, you will see that Wellness shower filters do a good job, but they are not the best buy.

An Ezine article