The average adult consumes approximately ½ a gallon per day of water. As such, water filters don’t need to be large, and will usually come in the form of a pitcher which can be placed on the counter.
How Do These Filters Work?
High quality filters are designed to remove a variety of contaminants, including mercury, lead, fluoride and chloramine. It accomplishes this through its filtration materials, which consist of pores which are two microns in size that will trap pollutants whenever they attempt to pass through. They contain a maximum of eight cups of water, and it is simple to refill them, since many modern filters use a lid that has the pressure valve near the top.
Always purchase a filter that is free of BPA and which has received approval from the DPA. Superior filters are completely recyclable and most five stage models can process a maximum of one hundred and fifty gallons during their service life. Filters will last a maximum of six months, and although they are effective at handling tap water, they should not be used with well water, since it has microorganisms, heavy metals and algae that require superior filters.
Gravity Fed Filtration
Gravity fed filtration is widely regarded as the best money can buy, and can be used with well water. Unlike standard pitchers, which merely filter water, gravity fed models use filtration made with arsenic or fluoride to purify it, and is lab certified and approved. These units are far more expensive, since they are made with stainless steel, have long shelf lives, and can handle both chemicals and microorganisms. In fact, studies show that up to 99.99 percent of pathogens such as E. coli are completely eradicated.
This eradication process takes longer than standard pitchers. The time needed to purify water can range from two hours (for 2 gallons) to three minutes for a single cup. Many owners refill their unit right before they go to bed, so it does its work while they’re asleep and in the morning they get to enjoy purified drinking water.
Switching the filters is also a bit more complex. For basic pitchers, all you need to do is put in a fresh cartridge and lock it in. In gravity fed systems, every filtration unit has a distinct life span, so you have to make note of which component was replaced and when. The good news is that the filters are readily available both online and in big box stores. Additionally, the highest quality filters can process up to one thousand gallons of water before requiring replacement.
The large 2 gallon filters are ideal for households which contain a maximum of six people. With regular use it only has to be refilled once a day, so the filters should last from six months to a year.
Another form of filtration that is easier to upkeep and has become popular is reverse osmosis, since it removes chemicals, hormones, heavy metals and even pesticides. In the past, reverse osmosis was very expensive, but advances in technology have lowered the price significantly. It uses seven to ten stages of purification and comes complete with pre filters, post filters and an RO membrane. Most RO systems can be tucked away under your sink, and produce seventy five gallons of water which is purified in one day, enough to nourish a large family or small community.