These systems are easy to install, relatively inexpensive, and cover the basic functions of filtration. Water filter charcoal medium carbon is derived from coconut husk. This absorbs impurities as the water passes through. This form of filter comprises possibly 95% of those in use domestically. They are simple to install, relatively economical, and depending on micron level, will filter out the most deadly of contaminants, Cryptosporidium and Guardia.
An average charcoal filter could last a small family 6-9 months. Some charcoal filters are enhanced by the use of activated nano-silver, which provides extra antibacterial protection, killing around 650 known types of organisms. Minerals in solution can still permeate a charcoal filter. These minerals are essential to health.
In situations where sediment is a problem it is worthwhile to add a second separate in-line sediment pre filter. Otherwise the more expensive charcoal filter will become clogged up long before its normal lifespan. . (See separate section below on sediment filters)
Charcoal water filters come in various forms:
a. Carbon Block is a solidified form of honeycombed carbon. It is the best form of filter but flow rate is significantly slower than with loose charcoal.
b. Activated Silver Impregnated Charcoal. Sometimes called Chlorgon, this adds chloramine exclusion and bacteria killing ability to the basic carbon.
c. Micron Rating.
Anything 1 micron rating or below will inhibit Cryptosporidium and Guardia as the cysts are larger than this in size. Viruses cannot be inhibited by a filter with a micron rating of more than 0.01 microns.
Carbon filters cannot change the pH balance of the water. If you have acidic water, you will still have acidic water, as the minerals causing the acidity will be dissolved and therefore will pass through the carbon filter.
Carbon filters may be susceptible to mould attack if left unused over extended periods. It is important to realize that a filter gathers the 'garbage' in your tap water and the organic component of this garbage is quite capable of rotting. Add a little summer humidity to the already damp internals of a carbon filter and you may have a mould attack. Taste will always be the deciding factor, and if the taste of the water suddenly changes after an extended period of non-use, such as your annual vacation, change the filter.
Note also that carbon filters decrease in efficiency the longer they are in use. For this reason regular filter replacement is essential
Ceramic water filters are in the form of a cartridge that fits a normal bench top filter. At the core of the ceramic filter element is Diatomaceous Earth, a fossil substance, made up of tiny silicon shells left by trillions of microscopic, one celled algae called diatoms that have inhabited the waters of the earth for the last 150 million years.
Some ceramic filters incorporate nano-silver impregnated into a porous ceramic outer shell that can trap bacteria down to as low as .22 of a micron in particle size [1/100,000 of an inch].
Laboratories consider a filtering medium with an effective pore size of .01 micron to .45 micron to be bacteriologically sterile and .45 micron to 1.0 micron to be bacteriologically safe. Re growth of bacteria that becomes trapped either on the outside of the element or in the ceramic's pores is controlled by the silver which, on contact with water, releases small quantities of positively charged metals ions.
These ions are taken into the enzyme system of the bacteria's cell and thereby neutralize it. The flow rate of the ceramic filter can be renewed by brushing its outer surface under running water. As the top layer of ceramic and contaminants are brushed off and flushed away, a new layer becomes available.
Flow rates of ceramic water filters are slow.
Distillation works slowly, taking a few hours to produce the first quart of water and uses a lot of electricity. It could cost an average of $240 per year. VOC's (Volatile Organic Chemicals) and trihalomethanes are not effectively reduced by this method. It also removes beneficial minerals which are needed to maintain health and possibly avoid hypertension and heart disease according to some leading nutritionists - supplementation with minerals is suggested.
A number of systems include the use of Far Infra Red Energy. This is a completely natural form of energy that emanates from certain minerals, the most effective being the semi-precious gem, Tourmaline. Other minerals are used, often under proprietary brand exotic names, to enhance their perceived ability. Far Infra Red energy (FIR) has the ability to soften water, to negatively charge it, and to restructure it into smaller molecular clusters which may assist in hydration of the body. Most systems use FIR by including it in the replaceable filter
Can reduce chlorine, rust and particulate matter when the water flows through a bed of charcoal granules. But, if the granules are not impregnated with silver nitrate (considered being a poison), there may be a breeding ground for bacterial growth. Because the water can channel around the carbon, they are not considered effective in reducing contaminants like VOCs, cysts, trihalomethanes, pesticides, lead or asbestos.
Fundamentally, this involves passing the water over or through a magnetic field. This has the effect of re-arrangement of atoms, or ions in the water. However without the fundamental 'splitting' of water ions that occurs in a Water Ionizer (H2O into OH- and HO) lasting change is not possible, even though many claims are made by the various manufacturers.
Magnetic De-scalers
Magnetic units do not filter or change pH. Some magnetic systems are used as de-scalers for pipes in hard water areas, for which they may work well.
Single Flow Magnetic Plus filter:
When water flows through a magnetic field (whether it is electrically induced or induced using magnetic media such as Magnetite), it experiences a polarization of minerals and a change in the ionization of these minerals. The result can be softer water, 'smaller' water molecules that may give far greater hydration, and a limited form of negative ionization of the water, imparting some antioxidant effect.
Although single flow systems certainly work to some degree, the fact that they do not split the water into magnetically opposite streams (acid and alkaline) means that they will reform within a short period and therefore water from them must be consumed immediately
NOTE: We neither sell nor recommend Magnetic water filters. The information here is provided purely for educational purposes. If you want to try a magnetic filter you can quickly find one on google or yahoo.
KDF, ATS filters reduc specific contaminants - KDF reduces chlorine, ATS patented ion exchange resin reduces lead but is not helpful against other contaminants. KDF® process media are high-purity copper-zinc formulations and are often used in combination with other filter types as well, such as GAC
Originally developed to process water in submarines, the reverse osmosis process basically draws water through an extremely fine membrane. The membrane act like an extremely fine filter to create drinkable water from salty (or otherwise contaminated) water. The contaminated water is put on one side of the membrane and pressure is applied to stop, and then reverse, the osmotic process. It generally takes a lot of pressure and is fairly slow, but it works. The result is extremely finely filtered water.
Sediment Filters remove potentially harmful debris from your water supply and are usually used as pre filters to avoid plugging up and compromising the effectiveness of other more expensive down line filters. Sediment filters range from simple replaceable pleated filters to more sophisticated units with backwash capabilities which will clean out accumulated debris and restore the filter to its originally designed effectiveness.
UV systems use high frequency light to irradiate water through a glass element. Water passing the element is exposed to the light, which kills all living organisms.
UV systems are very common in Third world hotels etc where the possibility of serious disease occurring from local water consumption is high, especially from fecal matter in the water.
Although an excellent sterilizing system, it is impossible to know whether the system is always working without a laboratory analysis of the output water. For this reason the more sophisticated systems incorporate an hour counter so a new element can be replaced at a safe interval.
The idea behind a water softener is simple. The calcium and magnesium ions in the water are replaced with sodium ions. Since sodium does not precipitate out in pipes or react badly with soap, both of the problems of hard water are eliminated. To do the ion replacement, the water coming into the house runs through a bed of small plastic beads or through a chemical matrix called zeolite. The beads or zeolite are covered with sodium ions. As the water flows past the sodium ions, they swap places with the calcium and magnesium ions. Eventually, the beads or zeolite contain nothing but calcium and magnesium and no sodium, and at this point they stop softening the water. It is then time to regenerate the beads or zeolite.
Regeneration involves soaking the beads or zeolite in a stream of sodium ions. Salt is sodium chloride, so the water softener mixes up a very strong brine solution and flushes it through the zeolite or beads (this is why you have to load up a water softener with salt). The strong brine displaces all of the calcium and magnesium that has built up in the zeolite or beads and replaces it again with sodium. The remaining brine plus all of the calcium and magnesium is flushed out through a drain pipe. Regeneration can create a lot of salty water, by the way -- something like 25 gallons (95 liters).
The term "Whole House" refers to the placement of the filter rather than the filter type. However, only certain types of filters are suitable for use as whole house filters due to the volume of water being treated and consequently the frequency with which the filtering media has to either be changed or regenerated (depending on the filter type). As you shop for filters, the manufacturers will indicate in their product description or by their catalog categories which filters are suitable or intended specifically for use as whole house filters.
