Short Q&A Session on Water Filtration
What does Water Filtration mean?
A. Walter filtration is the process wherein water goes through a system that involves one or more filters to remove the taste, odor, color, iron, turbidity and some chemicals like chlorine. It can be designed as cartridge devices or loose media tank-type systems. Generally, this process can consist of absorptive, catalyst/oxidizing, mechanical and neutralizing filters.
How can I know the contents of my water?
If a municipal water supplier provides your water, you can go over your “Consumer Confidence Report” (CRC) to know what is in your water. It is mandatory for public water suppliers to provide an annual CRC. If you have a private well, you can ask a certified laboratory to analyze your water.
Which among the water treatment products should I buy?
The moment you verify what is found in your water, it is easier to determine the elements you want to remove. This can be done by means of a water analysis. Then, find out which among the types of systems available can best suit your particular needs.
There are some resources that can help you in making your best decision. Do not buy a product that people sell using scare/alarm strategies, and before purchasing, verify with many resources to ensure you will get a top-quality system/replacement part.
When water treatment equipment is installed, will it need some service/parts?
Home water treatment equipment requires special attention, and most of them need the replacement of filters and membranes. It is best to consider the service and maintenance instructions recommended by the manufacturer.
Why does my water have a peculiar taste? Can this be remedied?
If you want the water at your sink – used for drinking and cooking – to be treated by means of a POU (point of use) system, you can opt for a reverse osmosis system. This can take away fluoride, iron, lead, nitrates and several other contaminants.
What’s more, a Reverse Osmosis system can considerably improve your water’s taste and quality by removing chlorine and other unpleasant tastes. When you decide on treating the whole house with a POE (point of entry) system, which is installed where the water enters the house, you should first be able to identify the cause of the problem (via a water analysis).
The moment you have determined what causes the taste problem, you can search on the type of water treatment equipment designed to meet your specific needs.
When my well water was analyzed, it tested positive for coliform bacteria. What are coliform bacteria and how can you address this problem?
A. When water has coliform bacteria, this means that the well is prone to bacteria contamination. You have many options to address this problem. One solution is to have the well disinfected and retest your water for coliform.
If the next test still shows that water tested positive for coliform, you should consider a whole house water treatment system. Ultraviolet (UV) water disinfection is the most common way of treating waterborne bacteria.