Water Filtration 101

Common Water Problems & Potential Solutions Symptom Cause Solution Cloudy, Discolored or Tinted Water Clogged or Leaking Faucets Dirt / Rust Whole House Filter System Musty, Swampy Taste Chlorine Taste in Water & Ice Cubes Taste / Odor Refrigerator Filters Build-up in Water Heater Tank Banging Water Heater Scale Hot Water System Protector Soap Deposits on Dishes & Clothing Soap Curd in Bathtub Hard Water Water Softeners Red/brown Stains on Fixtures & Clothes Metallic Taste Iron Iron Removal System Brackish Taste Cloudy Ice Cubes Deposits on Pots & Pans When Boiling Water Dissolved Salts Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Terms & Definitions Term Definition Chlorine A poisonous odorous gas widely used to kill harmful bacteria in a drinking water supply. Ingestion of chlorine can cause bladder, rectal, and breast cancer. Cryptospordium An intestinal protozoan parasite resistant to chlorine. It infects the intestines and causes diarrhea, nausea, and cramps. Cysts A group of chlorine-resistant micro-organisms that when ingested can cause gastrointestinal illness. Fluoridation In many areas fluoride is added to water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. This process is referred to as water fluoridation. Fluoride is usually added after the disinfection process. In the United States, fluoridation is usually accomplished by the addition of hexafluorosilicic acid, which decomposes water, yielding fluoride ions. Giardiasis A disease that results from an infection by the by the protozoan parasite Giardia, caused by drinking water that is either not filtered or not chlorinated. Micron (Rating) Is short for micrometre which is equal to one millionth of a metre. A Micron rating is the average size of the openings between pieces of filter media. For example, a 40-micron filter has larger openings than a 5-micron filter. Consequently, the 40-micron filter element will let larger particles pass through the filter vs the 5-micron element. As a general rule, the smaller micron rating for a filter is better, but as with most everything, there is a trade-off. Flow capability usually drops off as the micron rating gets smaller. To overcome this, low micron-rating filters must have larger elements to keep from sacrificing precious flow. pH A measure of the general acidity or alkalinity of a substance. A Neutral pH is 7.0 with acidic substances ranging from 0 to 6.9 and basic substances ranging from 7.1 to 14. Potable A synonym for drinkable water and is a measure of water quality VOCs Volatile Organic Chemicals. Synthetic chemicals dissolved in water, like insecticides and herbicides, which vaporize at low temperatures.