How to choose a water filter

How often do we think about the question, what kind of water is used at home To drink or cooking?Alas, we must acknowledge that not all yet come to a full understanding of the need for its cleaning and filtering.But this - is not an idle question: the quality of water from independent sources or from urban networks are very often lies outside the permissible sanitary norms.Simply boiling or advocacy can help only partially, and unable to cope with the overwhelming number of pollution factors, or even infection.

It is encouraging that the number of supporters of a reasonable relationship to health, property and immediate surroundings, yet is constantly growing.Direct evidence of that - expanding popularity and demand for household appliances for water purification.filter manufacturers are constantly working to improve its products, the expansion of the product range.But the diversity represented in the sale can be easily put in a "stupor" customer buying such products for the first time, and not too knowledgeable on the issue of how to choose a water filter.

How to start a choice?

this publication is not detailed story about water polluting factors of cleaning its technologies by those or other substances, the operating principles of different filter devices.

How the filters work and how coarse and fine cleaning?

Knowing this is very important, but it is not necessary to repeat.Question structure and functioning of various fine and coarse water filters the subject of a long article of our portal.

Therefore, today the focus will be mainly on consumer problems - what to choose the person to bring clean water to their homes.Print "bracketing" a powerful and sophisticated water treatment plant, collected from several column-type filters - their selection, grouping, and installation should be dealt with professionals only.Consider the problem in the context of the acquisition in specialized stores filter or filtration of the complex, designed for the needs of one of the average family.

perform any task, always start with a clear clarification of what it takes to get a result.By purchasing any, in fact, things or products, people usually have is, what function or he hopes to get for your money spent.It is not an exception in this matter and water filter.It takes confidence to represent what properties it should possess.

simplified approach like "a clean water" - is, of course, sheer amateurishness.Along with obvious signs of contamination (which also need to fight skillfully), water may be contained entirely imperceptible visually, the smell or the taste of a substance or micro-organisms that pose a threat to human health.

should not trust either his superficial sensations, nor, especially, the advice of neighbors.Subjective opinion may lie within a wide range - from "us a lifetime drinking such water" to some far-fetched, "horror", belonging rather to the category of "urban legends."And, in addition, the water quality of adjacent closely spaced sources, or even to neighboring houses urban areas can significantly vary.

As a result, you can fall into one of two extremes:

• acquisition filter that does not have the required cleanup functions will be simply wasted money.
• Using sheer ignorance of consumers, sellers in the store will try to impose an expensive filter system, in which there is absolutely no need.As a result - is also lost money.

optimal solution - to pass a water sample from the source or running water for laboratory analysis.It is definitely worth the money, too, but these expenses are justified.

Analysis solves a lot of questions:

• can immediately assess the suitability of a principled independent source for use in food needs.
• results of the analysis will help to choose the right filter system.Re-analysis of the same, after the filter settings will give a clear picture of the effectiveness of its work.
• Regular testing will allow to trace the dynamics of changes in the biochemical composition of water - an extremely important event for the autonomous, particularly the recently-appointed sources.
• presence at the hands of the protocol of laboratory research can be a document, based on which will be able to lay claim to the municipal utilities.

way, many thoughtful people, buying a new home, be sure to immediately require the production of the document on the quality of drinking water.

To carry out the analysis, it is necessary to determine the laboratory.It is not necessary to resort at the service of laboratories working with the water-supply organizations (there can easily go for understatement pollution indexes), and companies engaged in the installation of filters and treatment systems (where, of course, be the other extreme).It is best to choose an independent organization with the appropriate state certification.

Laboratory tests are divided into two types - chemical and microbiological.For stand-alone, the more - the surface sources are both required.For tap water, which, in theory, should have to go disinfection stage, often confined to the chemical breakdown, although research on microbiology, too, will never be superfluous.

sensible thing to agree in advance with the employees of the laboratory of the delivery time taken water samples, as there are certain restrictions on their life-cycle (2 ÷ 3 hours).

water intake also requires compliance with certain rules:

for chemical analysis necessary to deliver 1.5 liters.

• optimal solution - clean plastic bottle, but only by drinking non-carbonated water.Use containers out of sugary drinks or beer - is prohibited.
• valve opens and the water is given at least 15 minutes for free exit.(If the source have not been used, it will take even 2 hours).
• bottle and lid thoroughly washed with the same water, which will be analyzed.No detergent is used.
• then pressure is minimal, so that when the bottle is not set was created aeration - - the emergence of bubbles.Excess oxygen can strongly distort the overall picture.
• containers completely filled, with overflow, so as to tightly twisted under cork is free of air.

requirements are completely different for biological analysis.

• required amount - about 0.5 liters.Containers must be absolutely sterile - if you use, for example, a glass jar, then it and cover it thoroughly steamed.Many laboratory practice receiving samples for microbiology exclusively in its sterile disposable containers, which is issued to the customer.
• To collect water you need to put your hands in sterile medical gloves.

• Even before the opening of the crane cut the spout or is burned with fire, or carefully processed medical alcohol - is required to completely eliminate from entering the microbial sample from the.
• valve opens and the water is run at a maximum pressure of not less than 10 minutes.
• After that, up to the top filled sterilized containers (cold), and immediately closed tightly.

Typically, the period of performance of the order on the study of water quality laboratory is about 5 ÷ 7 days.By the way, if you promise to do just one day ÷ two, it should be alerted.Sometimes that is not very conscientious office carried out a superficial rapid test, which is then issued for the in-depth study.

As a result, the customer must get your hands on a certified protocol established order that has the force of a legal instrument.

Typically, this table, which for clarity are listed maximum permissible standards for water set SanPiN, and the actual results performance.

Possessing such a document and selecting items requiring correction, it will be possible to choose the appropriate filters directional action.

Is it possible to limit the initiation of self-rapid test kits for which you can buy in stores?

Specialists in this regard consensus - such an analysis is not a full-fledged alternative to the laboratory.Of course, it will show the presence of problems, but to determine the exact quantity and component indicators of pollution can not, that is, data is not enough for high-quality selection of the filter system.

Another option, which should be determined in advance - the required filter performance.Kohl article deals with devices for purification of drinking water and for cooking, it can be based on the average rate of 3 liters per day per person.Of course, the filter must not operate at maximum capacity, that is, it is desirable to increase the rate of, say, twice.

Thus, if the house (apartment) resides, for example, five people, it is easy to determine that it will take about 30 liters of purified water per day.Accordingly, the device must be purchased to cope with the load.

now proceed to consider the various models of household filters for water.

simplest option: Filter - a pitcher

device filter jug ​​

For those who do not want to spend a considerable amount on purchase of the filter does not need large quantities of purified water, or does not want to communicate with kakoy-or installing or connecting the system to the water supply, it may be advisable to get a "light-version" - a pitcher.Of course, such a solution is possible only when the quality of the incoming water will allow.

Although outwardly in form and color design filter jugs are seriously different.The basic design of always united, and is very complex.

In fact, the two containers separated by the partition and communicating only through the filter cartridge.

jug housing (Pos. 1) serves to collect purified water.It is always made of a transparent food-grade polymer, on its walls are often located volume scale - for convenience.Jar capacity may vary - normally available models presented a number of filtered water volume in the range 1,3 ÷ 4 liters.The choice in this parameter depends on the family's needs in drinking water.

upper container (Pos. 2) is with a liner into the body.Made of impact-resistant and food grade plastic, but usually has a darker tone (color may vary - depending on the design idea).This compartment is designed to receive water to be filtered, but its capacity is usually about half the effective volume of the jar.

At the bottom of the liner, where it forms a kind of funnel, has a slot into which is inserted tightly and fixed filter cartridge (Pos. 3).Appointment, ie the functionality of the cartridge can be different - it is selected on the basis of the available "clinical picture" of water status.

important to know that the lock or a threaded connection of the cartridge to the upper capacity may significantly differ from one manufacturer.By all appearances, it is a method of stimulating the acquisition only branded components.

In the upper part of the body has a nose - for the convenience of the directional discharge of filtered water (4 pos.).The design is such that even with a strong inclination at the water jug ​​from the upper and lower compartments is not possible to accidentally mix.

set water filtration is carried out at tilted back cover (Pos. 5), which can be equipped with convenient retainer (pos. 6), or through the intake flap, which is also necessarily has a cover to prevent accidental entry of dust or debris inside.

filter pitcher always has a convenient handle (pos. 7).On top of the lid or on the handle can be placed "reminder" - a mechanical calendar, which will prompt the owner to change the timing of the filter cartridge.There are more expensive models that have provided an electronic display.Moreover, the sale of some models of brand registration practices of customers who will subsequently receive the Internet or SMS messages on the need to carry out the replacement.

scheme of work is evident - poured into the top container the water on their own, without any effect, only by gravity, passes through the filling of the cartridge, the desired cleaning and accumulates in the jar.As the consumption of water for drinking or cooking purposes, new portions to pour into the receptacle.

Applied cartridges

This cartridge is the most important element of such a filter, so it should be the choice of concentrated attention.

cartridge form and its lock part may be different, and the interchangeability of speech hardly goes, of course, if this is not specified by the manufacturer.

But cartridges for one model of the filter may have a different purpose:

• sale replacement elements for water standard quality - they helpdeal with possible odor, taste normalize, remove heavy metal ions, chlorine impurities, organic compounds, etc.Common to these sorption material - the granular activated carbon.
• There are cartridges with a pronounced softening effect - they additionally introduced a certain amount of ion-exchange resins.
• You can pick up the cartridge and source with a high content of iron - they use free iron removal and filtration technology.
• to sources, the water of which does not pass the disinfection stage, there are special items with bactericidal effect.
• Available cassettes, which involves filling a fluorinating revitalizing effect on the water.

Most companies use fillers in the cartridge silver in one form or another - it prevents the development of bacterial colonies within them.And in addition, each manufacturer tries to surprise the consumer's own original developments.

Normally the inlet and outlet of the cartridge has a mesh or membrane that performs the function of mechanical filtration.Moreover, usually it has a special removable components throttling device, which aligns the rate of passage of water through the vehicle, regardless of the level of filling the upper section of the jug.

advantages and disadvantages.