Water Filters

If you have concerns about water quality, read this.

Activated carbon filters won't remedy hard water. Water softening devices are needed for this. Filters will remove rust particles. They have little effect on dissolved metals and hydrogen sulfide. They won't remove chlorides, fluorides or nitrates. For this, a reverse osmosis unit or ion exchange device is needed .

Americans are becoming increasingly concerned about the quality of their water. Many people have turned to activated, carbon water filters and purifiers to upgrade their drinking water, rather than buying bottled water.

Activated, carbon filters can effectively remove many objectionable tastes and odors. They can also help clear sediments from tap water and remove organic chemicals such as pesticides and chloroform, a common contaminant, which is a suspected carcinogen .

The under-sink filters are the larger and generally more effective, yet more expensive type. They do a good job of removing chlorine, a major source of bad taste in water.

Granular carbon units, as opposed to powder-in-pad, do a better job of permanently removing chloroform. The powdered carbon types have been known to re-deposit previously absorbed chloroform, back into the water, after a certain point of use.

Units with hard plastic sides force water to travel the length of the filter, insuring longer contact with the filter. The longer the contact with the filter, the more effective the filtration.

Some units also slow down the water flow rate to improve filtration and extend the life of the filter cartridge. These come with a separate faucet and tubing to connect to your cold water supply line.

Faucet or sink, mounted filters are generally smaller, easier to install, and cheaper than the under-sink variety. But they generally have a lower useful flow rate than most of the under-sink units and their filter lifetime is shorter.

You can use pour-through portable filters when you're traveling, as long as the water you start with is suitable for drinking. Both the electric models and those which work like a drip coffee maker can be as effective as faucet mounted filters.

If you're only concerned with suspended sediment in your water, you need a fiber filter, rather than a carbon filter. Carbon filters clog quickly.

Most manufacturers of home-use filters claim only that their products improve the taste and odor of water. A few claim that their products will remove toxic chemicals. One thing a water filter will not remove is bacteria. That's a job for a water purifier. In fact, there is some concern that wet carbon in filters can make a good breeding ground for bacteria, particularly when the filter is not used for a while and after it has treated a large quantity of water.

Whatever choice you make; how you use and maintain your filter is essential to its good performance and safety.

Flush filter first…

You should flush out the filter before the first use of the day. Open the faucet wide and let the water run at least thirty seconds for an under, sink model and at least ten seconds for a sink, mounted filter. When you install a new cartridge, flush for several minutes to remove fine carbon particles.

Change filters regularly…

You should change filters regularly. A heavily used filter is more likely to contain high bacterial levels and to discharge organic chemicals previously trapped. An exhausted filter is useless.

Don't filter hot water. A filter on the faucet that passes hot water will not remove contaminants very well and hot water may liberate chemicals previously trapped.

Use the slowest flow rate you can tolerate. The longer the water is in contact with the filter, the more impurities the carbon can attract and the cleaner the water will be. After you install a new cartridge, remember to circle the date on your calendar so that you will know when to replace it.

For more information on water filters contact your local County Extension Office.