Filtration

In most cases you’ll have the following filters inside.

Filter 1: Sediment filter, which reduces sand, rust and silt that are present in most municipal water sources.

Filter 2: Pre-Carbon Filter, has a high surface area and removes contaminants through adsorption, in which dissolved contaminants adhere to the surface of the carbon particles. Activated carbon removes organic impurities, VOCs, herbicides chlorine.

Filter 3: Here we can use a Ultra Filtration or Reverse Osmosis filter. An ultra filtration membrane will remove most harmful substances larger then .01 of a micron.  It retains minerals or water hardness that an RO system removes. Ultra filtration system does not remove salts, fluoride, or all TDS dissolved in water.

A Reverse Osmosis Filter, reduces any molecular compounds smaller in size than water molecules (.001 microns). Such compounds include salt, magnesium, iron, fluoride, lead, and calcium. RO removes the widest spectrum of contaminates. The RO filter will essentially create distilled water, but appropriate minerals will be re-added in the next filter. (Note an RO filter will have an added drain line running along your supply line.) RO has the absolute best taste, compared to drinking the hard water in our area.

Filter 4: pH Post Carbon Filter. This filter increases pH levels to balanced state, and sanitizes with a bacteriostatic filter which inhibits bacteria growth, lastly there is an energy and remineralization filter which adds calcium, sodium and potassium needed to give a great taste & an alkaline pH.

Filter 5: TCR (Total Contaminant Removal) to ensure adsorption of any organic contaminates that might have escaped the reverse osmosis process. Also, ensures removal of any unwanted taste or odors.

We will always ensure you enjoy the taste of our water when setting up your system.

Revers Osmosis vs. Ultrafiltration

Size comparisons

TDS Chart (Total Dissolved Solids)

Reverse osmosis is recommended with hard water. At 500+ TDS the EPA recommends you find an alternate water source. 0 isn’t really the number to aim for with drinking water, because that would be distilled water which would not have any minerals for hydration or taste. RO will bring the TDS to below 10. Then another filter will re-add minerals and electrolytes for great taste and hydration around 30 TDS.

pH level Chart

We are generally in the 9 – 10 pH range. Value brand bottled water is usually 6.5 pH. Notice all those foods they say is healthy for us is on the alkaline side?

Hard water is caused by groundwater areas with a high mineral content, which may also be the breeding ground for other run-off as well. Hard water isn’t dangerous, and while it does have excess minerals that might make the taste unpleasant, it’s generally safe to drink. However, tap water that originates from water sources near industrial plants, farms, or highly populated cities often contains a greater number of chemicals and pollutants due to what is washed away and infiltrating the ground. To remove high mineral content from your water, reverse osmosis must be used. It will provide a much better taste as well.