FILTERING
Different water filters have different functions. Some can make your water taste better, while others can filter out harmful chemicals or germs. No single filter can keep every type of contaminant out of your drinking water.
The water that comes to your tap actually contains small quantities of many other substances such as lead and the germ Cryptosporidium. In addition, it may contain hard water elements like Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Iron and more.
There are many different types of filters available, and it can be confusing to decide whether you need one or which kind is best for you. Here are some steps to consider when determining whether you want to use a water filter, and if so, what type and functions best fit your specific needs and preferences.
What are NSF ratings?
NSF InternationalExternal is an independent organization that develops public health standards for products. One way to figure out what a water filter does is to look for an NSF certification on the label. Some of the NSF standards applicable to water treatments are standard 41 (taste and odor), 53 (cyst reduction), 58 (reverse osmosis), and 62 (distillation).
What is the micron rating of a filter?
The micron rating is the size of the tiny holes in a filter that let water through. Think of a strainer or colander: The smaller the pores, the smaller the contaminants they keep out. If a filter has an absolute pore size of 1 micron, for example, each and every one of the filter pores is 1 micron or smaller. This means that any contaminant larger than 1 micron, like Cryptosporidium, will be caught in the filter and will not go into the filtered water. Filters with a nominal or mean pore size of 1 micron have an average pore size of 1 micron which means that some pores are smaller and some pores are larger than 1 micron, so contaminants like Cryptosporidium can travel through the larger pores and into the water you filter.
ULTRAVIOLET TREATMENT SYSTEMS (with pre-filtration)
Most deep wells do not need a UV system. However if your water source is a Lake, Stream or Shallow Well then its almost assured that you do.
REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM
Reverse Osmosis Systems use a process that reverses the flow of water in a natural process of osmosis so that water passes from a more concentrated solution to a more dilute solution through a semi-permeable membrane. Pre- and post-filters are often incorporated along with the reverse osmosis membrane itself.
A reverse osmosis filter has a pore size of approximately 0.0001 micron.