If you are on a public drinking water supply, it most likely meets national safety standards. Home treatment should not be needed for health protection. Homeowners using a private water supply are responsible for monitoring the quality of their own drinking water supply. Water treatment devices can improve the quality of water by reducing health hazards such as bacteria, chemical pollutants and other toxic substances, or help remove nuisance problems, such as odors or hardness.
Before considering any treatment devices, you should know the quality of your water supply. Odor and hardness problems can sometimes be detected by simple observation. Detection of bacteria, potentially toxic substances and other contaminants usually requires laboratory-conducted tests. If any undesirable qualities are identified in the water, the problem can often be solved by repairing or replacing the existing water system or treating the home water supply.
Locating a safe water supply is usually the best solution to combat a health risk. When persistently contaminated water poses a health threat or makes the water unusable, consider the following options: correct well construction faults, eliminate sources of contamination, install a new private well, connect to a public water supply or develop a community water system. After considering all of the options, a home water treatment system may be the most economical choice. Be sure the system you select bears the mark of the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).
Before purchasing a system, you should know how the various systems work, what problems they address and the maintenance required. If more than one problem exists, treating water can become complicated. Purchasing water for drinking and cooking may be more cost effective than owning and maintaining equipment.
Water treatment systems generally use one or a combination of these five basic categories:
Disinfection methods kill most of the harmful bacteria, viruses, cysts and worms found in water that can cause acute illness. Disinfection methods include chlorination, pasteurization, ultraviolet light and boiling
The most common, oldest and relatively inexpensive method used to disinfect water is chlorination. A chemical feed pump continuously dispenses chlorine chemicals into the water supply. Chlorine, an oxidizing agent, kills most bacteria and some viruses. In the proper concentrations and under adequate exposure time, chlorine is an excellent disinfectant.
However, care must be taken to ensure that only clean, clear water is used. Chlorine reacts with certain metals and organic matter in the water. The major problem with chlorination is the potential formation of hazardous, chlorinated, organic chemicals (trihalomethanes) when the chlorine reacts with organic molecules in the water supply. Using an activated carbon filter after chlorination will remove excess chlorine and limited amounts of chlorinated chemicals formed. Chlorination may also oxidize and remove some color and odor-causing substances including some iron and hydrogen sulfide.
The chemical feed pump requires frequent maintenance. The chemical reservoir must be kept filled and the pump checked at regular intervals for worn parts.
With pasteurization, water is heated to kill bacteria, viruses, cysts and worms. The limited efficiency of the heat exchange makes pasteurization expensive. Pasteurization does not leave behind a residual product which continues to disinfect beyond the immediate treatment period.
Low-pressure mercury arc lamps produce ultraviolet light, which has germicidal properties. The radiation kills or deactivates pathogens. Bacteria are killed with relatively low amounts of radiation, viruses are more resistant, and cysts and worms are unaffected.
The lamp's efficiency decreases with age and must be replaced annually. Color, turbidity and organic impurities in the water also interfere with transmission of ultraviolet energy and may reduce efficiency to unsafe levels. Also, radiation leaves no residual product that continues to disinfect beyond the treatment period.
Boiling water for three minutes kills bacteria, including disease-causing organisms and giardia cysts. However, boiling concentrates inorganic impurities such as nitrate and sulfates. Boiled water also tastes flat because the carbon dioxide is removed.
Filter systems are a relatively simple and effective way to control a variety of contaminants. These include mechanical filters, activated carbon filters, oxidizing filters and neutralizing filters. Filtration systems are designed for use only on potable water. This means that your water supply should be clean, uncontaminated and suitable for drinking.
Mechanical filters remove suspended material from water, including sand, silt, clay and organic matter. They do not remove dissolved or very fine particles and are often used in combination with other treatment equipment. Filters are commonly of fabric, fiber, ceramic or other screening material. Mechanical filters can be cartridge units, mounted in a single waterline or on a tap, or tank units, which treat an entire household water supply. The filters must be serviced periodically.
Activated carbon filters absorb impurities as they pass through a carbon cartridge. Generally, they are used to eliminate undesirable odors and tastes, organic compounds and to remove residual chlorine. Most inorganic chemicals, metals, microorganisms and nitrates are not removed by the filters.
Carbon filters also remove some potentially hazardous contaminants such as radon gas, many dissolved organic chemicals and trihalomethanes. If low levels of these contaminants exist, a whole-house unit can be used. However, these filters are not designed to remove persistently high levels of these contaminants. When contamination cannot be eliminated, an alternative water supply may be the safest solution.
The carbon filter loses its effectiveness as it becomes saturated with contaminants and must be replaced on a regular basis. Using the filter longer than its rated lifetime may cause contaminants to be flushed into the drinking water. Before purchasing the unit, ask the dealer if the filter can be replaced, the frequency of replacement, where replacement filters may be purchased and how much they cost.
The material in an activated carbon filter provides a growth surface for certain bacteria. If the filter has not been used for five or more days, simply run chlorinated water through the filter for at least 30 seconds before use.
Some manufacturers claim the addition of silver in their carbon filters will reduce or prevent bacteria growth. These carbon filters are registered as bacteriostatic by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to a requirement by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. The required registration indicates the filter does not release excessive amounts of silver. The EPA has not endorsed these methods for reducing bacteria in the filter or in the water. Furthermore, a bacteriostatic carbon filter is not adequate to treat water that is microbially unsafe.
Oxidizing filters remove iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg odor). A manganese zeolite-coated filter causes dissolved iron and manganese to form particles the filter then traps. These filters are useful in removing iron if a water softener is not wanted. The filter usually treats the entire household water supply. Periodically, the filter must be rinsed with a chemical solution to remove the accumulated iron and manganese.
Neutralizing filters treat acidic water. The filter treats all of the home water supply by passing it through limestone chips or other neutralizing agent. Where acidic water does occur, it can leach lead, copper or other toxic metals from household pipes into the water supply.
Two potential problems occur with the filter. First, it may increase water hardness. Secondly, acidic water may intensify any iron problems already present in the water supply. The filter requires little maintenance except the need to occasionally replace the limestone chips.
Reverse osmosis pressurizes and passes impure water through a semi-permeable membrane and removes many of the impurities (approximately 90 percent free of mineral and biological contaminants). The quality of the membrane and the pressure of the water help determine how effectively the water separates the contaminants.
Reverse osmosis (RO) units remove substantial amounts of most inorganic chemicals (such as salts, metals and minerals), most microorganisms and many organic chemicals. They do not effectively remove some organic compounds such as nitrate; they will reduce levels somewhat.
Mechanical filters and activated carbon filters are most always used with an RO unit. First, the mechanical filter removes dirt, sediment and other impurities that clog the reverse osmosis membrane. The RO unit is installed next. An activated carbon filter then removes some organic compounds which pass through the RO unit. Nitrates, however, will pass through carbon filters.
Reverse osmosis units use large amounts of water. Typically, about 75 percent or more of the water put into RO units is discarded with the contaminants. These systems may not be appropriate for households with a limited water supply. These units are expensive to purchase and require regular maintenance. Usually they are connected to a cooking and drinking line only and installed under the kitchen sink. Regular testing of the water supply is necessary to make sure the membrane is intact.
Distillation heats water until it vaporizes as steam. Minerals, bacteria and other substances are left behind when the steam recondenses into relatively pure water. Distillers remove bacteria, minerals, trace amounts of metals, many organic chemicals and nitrate. Some stills allow contaminants with boiling points lower than water (some pesticides and volatile solvents) to vaporize with the water and recondense with the distilled water. A vented distiller avoids this problem. Distillers also remove beneficial minerals and make water taste flat or bland.
The distillation process is very slow (daily capacity is usually between two and five gallons). Approximately five gallons of tap water are required to produce one gallon of distilled water. Stills are relatively expensive. They require frequent cleaning and may be difficult to keep clean. The maintenance requirements and electricity consumption should be major considerations when purchasing a distiller.
A common problem of water supplies is hardness, mainly caused by excess calcium and magnesium. Ion exchange systems soften hard water by removing the minerals causing hardness. These hardness minerals may interfere with the cleaning action of soaps and detergents and cause scale buildup in hot water pipes, water heaters and fixtures. The system also effectively removes some iron, manganese and many heavy metals.
The hard water is pumped through a tank containing an exchange resin. Sodium on the exchange resin replaces the hardness minerals. The sodium remains in soluble form in the softened water. Persons with heart problems should discuss this issue with a physician who will need to know the sodium level in the existing household supply of softened water.
To function properly, the resin tank must be periodically flushed (or recharged) with a solution of sodium chloride (salt). Some softeners automatically recharge the tank either on a regular schedule or when an electronic sensor detects that the resin needs to be recharged. With automatic recharge you only need to keep the sodium storage container filled. Other softeners must be recharged manually and are usually serviced by water treatment companies.
Before buying a water treatment system, know the quality of your water supply and if treatment is needed. Consider the simplest and most economical solution to the problem. Removing the source of contamination, obtaining a new source of drinking water, or treating the water with a water treatment system may be appropriate solutions.
Some of the more common treatment methods used to handle certain contaminants are mentioned in Table 1. This is a general guide and does not contain all of the potential treatment techniques or contaminants. The concentration of the contaminant and combination of various contaminants can have a major impact on the effectiveness of the treatment method.
Table 1
Solutions to water quality problems
First choice or best treatment option
Second choice
Third choices
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First choice or best treatment option
Second choices
First choice or best treatment options
First choice or best treatment options
Second choice
First choice or best treatment option
Second choice
Third choices
First choice or best treatment option
Second choices
First choice or best treatment options
First choice or best treatment option
Second choice
First choice or best treatment option
Second choice
First choice or best treatment options
First choice or best treatment option
Second choice
Third choices
Fourth choice
First choice or best treatment option
Second choice
Third choice
Have you ever thought about how water makes it from its original source and to your faucet? Water goes through a filtering process long before it reaches the tap and is ready for use. This is necessary because surface water sources like lakes, rivers, and reservoirs contain impurities, bacteria, and other contaminants that can cause disease and leave an unpleasant taste and odor.
Groundwater is found in underground aquifers, which is obtained by wells pumping the water to the surface. Both surface water and groundwater are made available for public use, but groundwater is not always treated. Chemicals and pollutants lurk in the water from a number of sources. These may include fertilizers, pesticides, sewer overflows, and elements like lead, arsenic, and uranium.
Exactly how does a water filtration system work to extract these toxins and make safe drinking water? Public water systems follow five stages:
Aeration – Adds air to the water while allowing gases to escape
Coagulation – Suspends solid particles for easier removal from the water
Sedimentation – Allows particles to settle to the bottom and the clear water on top is drained
Filtration – Removes impurities that remain after the first filters are applied
Disinfection – Frees the water of harmful organisms and bacteria
The water is strained from its original source to become potable. However, it’s not considered “filtered water” since a number of pollutants still remain. The recorded level is not the same for every municipality. Depending on the original water quality, certain regions may use other products to sanitize or further filter the water. These by-products also pollute the water even after it’s gone through the filtration process.
Drinking contaminated water can result in a multitude of health issues, including neurological disorders, problems with the stomach and intestines, as well as reproductive issues. Without the availability of filtered, purified water, it’s not as likely people will meet their daily intake.
Why Water Filtration is Necessary
There are no federal regulations to determine a standard of water quality across the board. However, the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) has set minimum requirements for water intended for human consumption. Achieving minimum standards means less of these contaminants are found in the water but doesn’t indicate they’ve all been fully removed. It’s natural to assume the water that has gone through a typical water treatment still contains chemicals, bacteria, and other microorganisms.
The pipes the water runs through also make a difference in the purity of water that comes from the tap. Depending on the age of the pipe and the materials it’s made of, they can also leak toxins into the water. Old, lead pipes have been the central cause of many recent water emergencies across the U.S. where the city’s water supply is deemed undrinkable, which makes the importance of water filtration evident.
Due to the uncertainty of tap water quality, in addition to its poor taste and/or appearance, a majority of people choose to drink purified water only. It’s become the norm in many households. People either buy bottled water or rely on a water filtration unit. The availability of purified drinking water has also become more common in public areas like airports, gyms, and hotels. This is a convenient alternative to tap water and promotes a healthy lifestyle for people who want to stay hydrated without worrying about plastic waste.
FloWater’s advanced technology, specifically, transforms tap water by passing it through seven unique filters before it’s ready to drink. Each filter helps to purify the water, while also adding essential minerals and electrolytes. One of the filters is five times more effective than anything else available today. As a result of this high standard of water purification, people can enjoy cool, crisp water on demand.
Walking Through The Seven Stages of FloWater Filtration
FloWater’s purification process uses tap water as its source to run through a series of filters that remove up to 99% of all impurities. This leaves behind great tasting water that is free of chemicals, bacteria, and any other elements that are likely to still linger in tap water. With an advanced system like FloWater’s, you can be sure that you’re getting the best type of filtered water out there.
The first filter strains out rust, dust, dirt, and other suspended solids. When water flows from the treatment plant to the tap, there is still a chance for it to pick up sediment along the way. This filter captures any of these remaining substances and filters them out.
The second filter eliminates smaller particles, many of which create an unpleasant odor or taste. This includes chlorine, radon, and other heavy metals that affect the water’s purity level. Even when water goes through a city’s treatment process, many times there’s still a sour or chemical smell that makes the water undesirable to drink.
The final filter of purification is the advanced osmosis filter. At this stage, any remaining pollutants are removed by pushing the water through a semipermeable membrane. This includes contaminants such as bacteria, lead, pesticides, and other harmful agents that manage to make its way into water sources. This filter ensures nothing but pure water is left behind. After the water has made its way through the first stage, it’s time to improve the water’s quality and taste by sanitizing it and adding back valuable minerals.
During the sanitizing phase, activated oxygen is added to the water in small amounts. This naturally sanitizes the system and tanks versus using any chemical agents. Plus, it increases the level of oxygen in the water, which helps to improve the taste and benefits the body. Following the use of activated oxygen, the water goes through an alkaline filter. A proprietary blend of ten trace minerals is added to the water. This raises the pH level of the water to help neutralize the body’s acidity.
To round out the seven-step approach, there are two final filters. The electrolyte enhancement adds potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium, which aids the body by contributing to cell repair, bone strength, and the immune system. Such electrolytes are found in sports drinks and other healthy beverages. Unfortunately, those drinks are also laden with sugars and other additives that counteract the benefits of electrolytes.
Drinking filtered water for hydration is the healthiest way to go. However, not all methods are the same. Reverse osmosis, for example, filters tap water fully but also strips it of its natural electrolytes. Other solutions like water filtration pitchers or faucet attachments require constant filter replacement and may not capture as much sediment or impurities. FloWater achieves the highest level of purification and makes sure the water still maintains its natural benefits and tastes great.
Benefits of FloWater’s Water Treatment Technology
Through the power of FloWater’s Refill Station technology, it provides a solution for several challenges people face when looking for a reliable filtered water resource. In addition to the seven stages of filtration for premium purification, it also is designed to serve a high capacity of people. The tank holds seven gallons of chilled, purified water at all times and replenishes itself automatically every time water is dispensed.
Standing in line at the water fountain simply won’t cut it when you’re in a hurry. The Refill Station fills a 24-oz. bottle in a quick 9 seconds, which is 45 seconds faster than the average fountain or water cooler. This reduced time makes a difference at outdoor events, the gym, or the airport where crowds of people want to replenish their bottles at the same time. It cuts down on line time dramatically and allows everyone to fill up with ease and stay hydrated.
Unlike bottled water, the Refill Station leaves a smaller carbon footprint and doesn’t add any plastic to the environment. The station can fit in nearly any space and is designed with energy-efficient LED lights and sleep mode when it’s not in use. It’s a welcome sight for thirsty people and it helps brands and organizations promote a clean, eco-friendly way to get pure, freshwater without the need for maintenance or monitoring.
Know Where Your Water Comes From
How does a water filtration system work? The answer is: basically the same with a few exceptions. The foundation is similar regardless of the type of setup. Each is designed to trap and remove contaminants to provide drinkable water. The difference is in the technology and type of filters used. Some are more effective than others and provide a purer product.
There are several resources to find where your tap water is sourced from and the way it’s filtered. Water reports are public record and your local Consumer Confidence Report as issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can be found online. With a little research, you may be surprised to find out what is found in your public water system. It can change over time as pipes and water treatment systems age and processes become outdated.
Purified water has become the norm due to the decreased reliability of city tap water and the many benefits of water purification. There is a range of water filtration options, all varying in levels of purification, cost, and convenience. Choose an option that provides the best-tasting purified water on-demand to fulfill your filtered water needs. With FloWater, you know exactly how the crisp, pure water is achieved and will appreciate the high-quality that makes it stand out from the rest.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_treatment.html
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-03/documents/activity_grades_4-8_waterfiltration.pdf
https://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/safewater/f?p=136:102