Question:
:> 2. organic pollutants (pesticides, herbicides, drugs, etc.): varies with :> the pollutant. Carbon filters remove some; others removed via ozonation, :> distillation or RO. :> : I’m curious, how can distillation remove the above in a closed system? Most organic pollutants are non-volatile; so most stay behind in the pot. Some may be carried over via aerosolization, the extent of which is a function of still design. BTW, most water stills are not closed; the receiver is vented, and in most cases, the pot has an overflow into a drain too. Because of this, very low boiling point organic pollutants (chloroform, acetone, gasoline, etc.) may be partially removed from water by distillation; some of their vapors go out the vent. Totally closed distillation where nothing gets in or out once the process begins is a very tricky process and prone to explosion. There is a pseudo-closed distillation technique used in chemistry labs and in industry, known as vacuum distillation, which is much safer. Mike
Response:
Greg, Sorry to hear about the tragedy in your community. First, let me tell you, don’t tell this allow you to fall victim to some quick talking salemen. Make sure you research the filter you are interested in to find out what substances it adquately filters out. An excellent site for this is go to: brenjacobson.com a site I put up for my friend. I hope you’ll find the information there useful. Good Luck > I would like to install some type of water filter for my house to filter > water to a kitchen tap. What is the best way, and who is the best > manufacturer? Should I go RO, distilled, etc? We had a community around > here recently where there was and outbreak of e-coli in the water supply. > 11 people died. > Thanks > Greg
Before you buy.
Response:
>I’m actually not worried about e-coli in the city I live but would like some >type of water purification system just for the health of it. I have plans >to move to an acreage eventually and would bring the system with me >(depending how built in it was). The community where the people died (11 >died, 6 confirmed caused by e-coli) from e-coli contamination used a series >of wells for their water supply. See here for more info. >http://www.thestar.com/editorial/updates/special2/ >Greg
If your worried about e-coli, then you must choose a "disinfection" method of treatment such as chlorination, UV, or Distillation. R.O. is used for chemical contaminates, and dissolved salts such as sodium. http://worldwidewater.bigstep.com http://www.dreamwater.net/biz/watertalk1/
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Our water tastes good, are you telling me there is no need to "clean " > water? What about high mineral concentrations or pollutants? > Greg > : I’m actually not worried about e-coli in the city I live but would like > some > : type of water purification system just for the health of it. I have > plans > : to move to an acreage eventually and would bring the system with me > : (depending how built in it was). > If you’re not worried about microbial contamination, there’s probably > little > health benefit in filtering water. If your water has a high sodium > content > and you’re supposed to be on a low sodium diet, then a sodium removal > system > might be warranted. The main reason for filtering is to improve sensory > perception (look, smell, taste) of the water. RO units work pretty well > for > this. They’re reasonably priced and most are relatively portable. > Mike
Concerning the filtering comments above. This is true when using general purpose carbon/charcoal filters but not true when using carbon block or specific parameter type filters. I.E. disposable cartridge filters used for nitrates and chemicals. In addition to an RO, distillation is good too. Gary Quality Water Associates
Response:
> : Our water tastes good, are you telling me there is no need to "clean " > : water? What about high mineral concentrations or pollutants? > 2. organic pollutants (pesticides, herbicides, drugs, etc.): varies with > the pollutant. Carbon filters remove some; others removed via ozonation, > distillation or RO.
I’m curious, how can distillation remove the above in a closed system? Greg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Mike
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> : Our water tastes good, are you telling me there is no need to "clean " > : water? What about high mineral concentrations or pollutants? > 2. organic pollutants (pesticides, herbicides, drugs, etc.): varies with > the pollutant. Carbon filters remove some; others removed via ozonation, > distillation or RO. > I’m curious, how can distillation remove the above in a closed system? > Greg
With the use of a usually optional carbon block cartridge filter. Gary Quality Water Associates – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Mike
Response:
: Our water tastes good, are you telling me there is no need to "clean " : water? What about high mineral concentrations or pollutants? If you’re on a municipal water supply, ask to see their latest analysis for microbes and pollutants. A physical filter doesn’t remove organic pollutants or soluble minerals; it only removes particulates (i.e. microbes and suspended solids above a certain size). To remove organic pollutants, a carbon filter may work, but not all organic pollutants adsorb to carbon. There are two ways to address minerals: substitution and removal. If the problem is calcium and magnesium (i.e. hard water), then a softener can substitute sodium or potassium for them to make the water softer. If total mineral content is a problem, then RO or distillation or deionization can be used (the last two are rather expensive). RO and distillation will remove many (not all) organic pollutants as well; deionization will remove some organic pollutants. The best ways to attack potential health problems of water are: For all of the below, try to eliminate the source plus: 1. microbes: chlorinate. 2. organic pollutants (pesticides, herbicides, drugs, etc.): varies with the pollutant. Carbon filters remove some; others removed via ozonation, distillation or RO. 3. minerals: If sodium is a problem, use RO. For heavy metals (lead, mercury, etc), specialized ion-exchange cartridges can be used or distillation. Of course, you can buy bottled water, but unless the water company provides an analysis, you don’t really know what you’re getting. In the grocery store, you see bottles of "drinking water," and these can legally be nothing but ordinary tap water. Even "purified water" can legally be nothing more than tap water run through a very coarse filter. Getting water that is labeled as having been purified by a specific method, like RO, deionization or distillation, at least provides a little more insurance that something meaningful was done to the water. Still these processes can be done pretty sloppily. Mike
Response:
Our water tastes good, are you telling me there is no need to "clean " water? What about high mineral concentrations or pollutants? Greg
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : I’m actually not worried about e-coli in the city I live but would like some > : type of water purification system just for the health of it. I have plans > : to move to an acreage eventually and would bring the system with me > : (depending how built in it was). > If you’re not worried about microbial contamination, there’s probably little > health benefit in filtering water. If your water has a high sodium content > and you’re supposed to be on a low sodium diet, then a sodium removal system > might be warranted. The main reason for filtering is to improve sensory > perception (look, smell, taste) of the water. RO units work pretty well for > this. They’re reasonably priced and most are relatively portable. > Mike
Response:
: I’m actually not worried about e-coli in the city I live but would like some : type of water purification system just for the health of it. I have plans : to move to an acreage eventually and would bring the system with me : (depending how built in it was). If you’re not worried about microbial contamination, there’s probably little health benefit in filtering water. If your water has a high sodium content and you’re supposed to be on a low sodium diet, then a sodium removal system might be warranted. The main reason for filtering is to improve sensory perception (look, smell, taste) of the water. RO units work pretty well for this. They’re reasonably priced and most are relatively portable. Mike
Response:
I’m actually not worried about e-coli in the city I live but would like some type of water purification system just for the health of it. I have plans to move to an acreage eventually and would bring the system with me (depending how built in it was). The community where the people died (11 died, 6 confirmed caused by e-coli) from e-coli contamination used a series of wells for their water supply. See here for more info. http://www.thestar.com/editorial/updates/special2/ Greg
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : I would like to install some type of water filter for my house to filter > : water to a kitchen tap. What is the best way, and who is the best > : manufacturer? Should I go RO, distilled, etc? We had a community around > : here recently where there was and outbreak of e-coli in the water supply. > : 11 people died. > Actually, the best way to deal with bacteria is avoiding contamination and > using chlorination. With a filter, one little defect (even a pinhole) and a > bunch get through. Most municipal water systems in the US are monitored > pretty well, and when contamination is discovered, chlorination is > instituted. Have you asked your water company if the water is chlorinated? > Bottled drinking water is another way to go. > A filter on the kitchen sink, won’t protect you when you’re drinking or > brushing your teeth in the bathroom or taking a drink from a hose outside. > Mike
Response:
> I would like to install some type of water filter for my house to filter > water to a kitchen tap. What is the best way, and who is the best > manufacturer? Should I go RO, distilled, etc? We had a community around > here recently where there was and outbreak of e-coli in the water supply. > 11 people died. > Thanks > Greg
If e-coli is your concern you should know that only 1-2 ‘filters’ will help, the rest won’t. To filter bacteria you have to limit the flow of the water to a trickle (ceramic cartridges) so that’s not going to work on a POE installation. RO doesn’t work either but a distiller will but only at the point of use (POU). UV works in both installations, POE and POU. Gary Quality Water Associates
Response:
: I would like to install some type of water filter for my house to filter : water to a kitchen tap. What is the best way, and who is the best : manufacturer? Should I go RO, distilled, etc? We had a community around : here recently where there was and outbreak of e-coli in the water supply. : 11 people died. Actually, the best way to deal with bacteria is avoiding contamination and using chlorination. With a filter, one little defect (even a pinhole) and a bunch get through. Most municipal water systems in the US are monitored pretty well, and when contamination is discovered, chlorination is instituted. Have you asked your water company if the water is chlorinated? Bottled drinking water is another way to go. A filter on the kitchen sink, won’t protect you when you’re drinking or brushing your teeth in the bathroom or taking a drink from a hose outside. Mike
Response:
I would like to install some type of water filter for my house to filter water to a kitchen tap. What is the best way, and who is the best manufacturer? Should I go RO, distilled, etc? We had a community around here recently where there was and outbreak of e-coli in the water supply. 11 people died. Thanks Greg
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