| Are you considering a whole house water filtration | | | | With all these 'bells and whistles', the RO systems |
| system for your home? They are, without a | | | | are notorious for maintenance problems and high |
| doubt, the best way to provide good, clean water | | | | operating costs. |
| everywhere in your house, with ease and | | | | Leaving the 'Rube Goldberg' world of filtration, let's |
| convenience. In this article, we will take a look at | | | | enter the world of selective, or multi-stage, |
| some newer technology in comparison with the | | | | filtration. |
| old, discuss some pluses and minuses of the two | | | | These systems also use activated carbon but, |
| systems, see what to look for when shopping, | | | | here the carbon is first blended with a chemically |
| and where to find the best buys. | | | | charged filter resin and then extruded, or |
| Before we begin, here are two points about | | | | compressed, into a solid block containing tiny, |
| whole house systems, one plus and one minus. | | | | submicron pores. |
| The plus...either of these systems will remove | | | | Solid carbon has a tremendous filtering capacity. |
| harmful chemicals from your water supply and | | | | Scientists say a solid block of activated carbon, |
| are a good investment in your family's health. | | | | one foot square, has a surface adsorption area of |
| Scientists have proven 50 to 70 percent of the | | | | five square miles! |
| toxic chemicals entering our bodies get there by | | | | This leaves plenty of area for the activated |
| inhalation and absorption. Those of us on municipal | | | | carbon, even in smaller sized blocks, to filter out |
| water systems, treated with chlorine, have | | | | chemical contaminants, while the submicron pores |
| homes with elevated levels of chloroform gas, | | | | clean up any remaining sediment and |
| from showering, washing dishes or clothes, and | | | | chlorine-resistant cysts, like Cryptosporidium and |
| flushing toilets, according to the EPA. Removing all | | | | Guardia. |
| sources of such gases is a very good thing to do | | | | What about the filter resin that covers the |
| for your family's health. | | | | surface of the adsorption area? |
| The minus...lead is very toxic, and the EPA has | | | | As water passes over the resin, positively |
| declared any level of lead in drinking water | | | | charged heavy metal ions in the water, like lead |
| unacceptable. Whole house units filter the water | | | | and mercury, are forced to break their bonds |
| when it enters our home and, as the water | | | | with water, and attach to the chemically charged |
| travels from the filter to your tap, it will likely | | | | resin like little magnets. Lighter minerals, such as |
| encounter lead from the pipe's soldering, or the | | | | calcium and potassium, are not affected. |
| pipe itself (copper pipe is 15% lead). Realize that | | | | There you have it, the water is cleaned, and it still |
| only a filter on the tap (point-of-use) will insure all | | | | contains its nutritious minerals. Selective filtration |
| lead is removed. | | | | systems are quick, so there is no need for holding |
| Okay, first, the older technology, reverse | | | | tanks. Nor is there any need for booster pumps, |
| osmosis. | | | | back washing, or electricity, and they operate |
| The reverse osmosis process forces water to | | | | virtually maintenance free, without wasting water. |
| pass through a screen with very tiny pores, | | | | What should you look for when shopping for |
| removing anything larger than a molecule of | | | | these systems? |
| water. The process also removes all minerals, but | | | | When you are shopping, beware of companies |
| has problems removing chemicals, because their | | | | that claim "certified components" versus "certified |
| molecular size is smaller than water's. In order to | | | | product." You want the product certified, not just |
| clean up chemicals in the water, RO must be used | | | | individual components! Also, make sure the |
| in combination with a carbon filter. | | | | product is UL, or Underwriters Laboratories, |
| If the water pressure in the home is too low, a | | | | certified, or has a comparable industry rating. |
| booster pump may be needed to maintain | | | | Which is the better buy? |
| adequate pressure in the system. Even with | | | | You'll find reverse osmosis units are consistently |
| adequate pressure, several gallons of water, or | | | | higher priced than selective filtration units, and |
| more, per filtered gallon, will not penetrate the | | | | their operating and maintenance costs are grossly |
| filter. This water is back flushed with the trapped | | | | higher. |
| contaminants, and wasted. | | | | All together, this makes selective filtration |
| As you might expect, this process is very slow, | | | | systems a blessing for consumers... not only are |
| consequently, in order to have an adequate supply | | | | they the best filter system, they are also the |
| of water, under pressure, a storage tank with a | | | | cheapest! |
| diaphragm is needed. | | | | |