Drinking Water Industry Standards: NSF International & American National Standard (NSF/ANSI) develop joint standards that manage the existing as well as development of new standards. These joint industry standards undergo stakeholder review from the industry prior to finalizing a standard. After which, Manufacturers can then present products to various approved NSF/ANSI testing agencies/facilities to test products for these standards. All such testing is voluntary and not mandated by federal law. These standards can be confusing so please review the Waterline Fact Sheet for explanation of the standards and the testing agencies.
Filtration – Definition: A mechanical barrier that traps particulates. The measurement yardstick is a micron. (One micron = 1/25,000ths of an inch). Therefore, a one-micron filter is capable of filtering 1/25,000 of an inch if the filter is designed to prevent water from bypassing the filter. When you are analyzing filters look for the reduction percentage after the micron rating especially for health-related items such as lead and cysts.
Adsorption – Definition: Is a physical and mechanical process that traps the totally dissolved organic contaminants in channels and pores of activated carbon. Most of the inorganic minerals are not removed through adsorption. These natural minerals give water its taste and flavor.
Activated carbon comes in a large variety of designs and carbon base materials. Only a properly designed activated carbon filter can insure it is removing the health related contaminates.
Charged Membrane Filtration / Electro-adsorptive technology for water purification and filtration – Definition: The 0.8mm thick pleated media construction offers a torturous flow path and far more surface area than competitive. The positive surface charge around each alumina fiber resists dumping or shedding of captured micro-organisms, even if the media becomes compromised. These charged membrane products have unmatched micro-organism retention capacity and filter life.
Specialized Media Filtration – Definitions: There are a variety of media blends we produce to neutralize, raise pH, alkalize, softening for point of use drinking water requirements. Please call our office to discuss your need.
Reverse Osmosis R/O – Definition: Reversal of the natural osmosis process which plants use to remove nutrients from the soil with the addition of pressure. This process uses membrane technology with pressure placed on the untreated water side of the membrane. This creates a rejection (average of 90%+) of the very small dissolved contaminants (minerals & heavy metals) which are then flushed to a waste drain.
A range of water going to drain versus produced drinking water is typically in the 3:1 ratio. Production is rated in gallons per day.
Removal of these inorganic minerals lowers the pH and requires that the R/O treated water be plumbed with non-metallic piping/tubing to prevent leaching of heavy metals. We suggest post treatment to raise the pH after treatment with Reverse Osmosis! Water with low or no minerals can deplete the electrolytes from the body and cause health related issues. So please never drink distilled or very low mineral water.
The most Common Water Quality Issues & Solutions are further explained on this fact sheet. It also makes the recommendation on which of our Alwaysfresh models is the best solution.
Note:
Some systems accomplish fine filtration and adsorption with powder activated carbon or block carbon with one cartridge. Refer to the Performance Data Sheet for detailed performance of the system you are considering. This will assure that you are getting certified performance information.
Whole House Treatment:
As a general rule, water softeners, iron filters, dirt/sediment or taste/odor filters (installed to service your entire house) are not designed or capable of the performance achieved with a certified drinking water system. Basically, these systems protect the plumbing and appliances in your home, while a drinking water system protects the plumbing in your body!
PFAS: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), are a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals. PFOA and PFOS have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. Both chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time.
Select Units w/ Model HFC-1000 cartridge, including single, dual, reverse osmosis, & purification systems that use this cartridge!
Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE): Gasoline additive found to be leaking into ground water. Taste and odor primary issue. Use the HFC-1000 Drinking Water System for reduction.
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC’s): They include gasoline, solvents, industrial and household cleaners, pesticides, and other chemicals that can leach into our water supply. Use the HFC-1000.
Disinfection by Products (DBP’s): When aesthetic chlorine or aesthetic chloramines are added as a disinfectant in water other chemicals are produced as a byproduct. They include Trihalomethanes (THM’s) and VOC’s. Use the HFC-1000.
Lead: A heavy metal which causes mental retardation and birth defects. Introduced from lead based plumbing and service lines. All of our filtration products reduce this item.
Fluoride: An additive for reducing cavities in children and bone loss in adults. Many cities add this to their water supplies. Our filtration products leave in this additive.
Cysts: Such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium are parasites that develops a hard protective shell when it leaves its host and can cause intestinal illness, including, cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. Found in 97% of all surface water supplies. All of our filtration products reduce these cysts. These cysts are very resistant to chlorination.
Bacteria and Bio Film: All water supplies contain bacteria that can cause a short cartridge life due to a build up of a bio film on the surface of the filtration system. The HFC-1000 & SF-1000 have silver zeolite technology blended through the cartridge to protect the filter. Silver Zeolite Ions are slowly released during the life of the cartridge and are NSF/EPA/FDA approved for use in potable water systems.
Micron: A unit of measurement equal to one millionth of a meter, 1/25,000 of an inch.
Sub Micron Filtration: A fine filter used to reduce particles less than one micron in size.
Contaminants: Have a question on a specific contaminant? Use this link to search the National Tap Water Database for the definition and possible source. https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/
National Water Quality: National Tap Water Database of contaminants in our drinking water. https://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-healthy-living-tips/ewgs-guide-safe-drinking-water
