While a quality reverse osmosis system DOES provide excellent protection against waterborne contaminants, including various forms of bacteria and cysts (i.e. Giardia and Cryptosporidium), use of a UV sterilizer system on water exiting a reverse osmosis system adds an extra level of protection against organics unmatched by any other readily available water purification method.

Ultraviolet Water Sterilizer Systems meet the most demanding needs of residential and commercial microorganism control — which sometimes proves difficult for traditional disinfectant methods given that microorganisms can range from bacteria and viruses to algae and protozoa. UV treatment systems for water accomplish the goal of disinfecting water faster than chlorine and without without cumbersome retention tanks filled w/ corrosive and potentially harmful chemicals.

Manufactured with axial flow reactors in 304 stainless steel for durability, the Crystal Quest Ultraviolet Water Sterilizer Systems incorporates natural ultraviolet light energy to damage the DNA of microbiological contaminants and in doing so kills them and/or renders them incapable of reproducing.

Applications for UV sterilization systems include post undersink water filters, post whole house water filters, water coolers, pre and post osmosis systems, private wells, camp grounds, hotels, bottlers, aquaculture, hospitals, food, cottages, restaurants, breweries, laboratories, marine, pharmaceutical, dairies and many other applications.

Advantages of Crystal Quest Ultraviolet Water Sterilizer Systems include:

• No need to add chemicals to the water which could form carcinogenic disinfection byproducts (DBP’s) like trihalomethanes (THM’s).
• Eliminates the need to store and handle dangerous chemicals.
• Requires only two water connections (in and out) and a power connection.
• UV sterilization typically does not alter the taste, odor, pH or conductivity or general chemistry of the water it treats.
• Works faster and more effectively against viruses than chlorine.
• Systems can treat hundreds of gallons of water for each penny of operating cost.
• Immediate treatment process eliminates need for holding tanks, long retention times, etc.
• Units operate automatically and require almost no attention.
• Most units require only periodic cleaning, if any cleaning at all, and annual lamp replacement.

Naturally you want to know what a unit like this costs, right? FilterWater.Com carries units rated for 1, 6, 8, and 12 gallons per minute GPM. Costs begin around $150 for the smallest unit and go up to around $543 for the largest unit.

What about replacement bulbs? How much will they cost? Good question! FilterWater.Com carries replacement bulbs for Crystal Quest UV Sterilizer Systems rated for 1, 6, 8, and 12 GPM.

Need a larger, more powerful UV Sterilization System? Take a look at the selection on WaterFilters.Net, another company that carries a great selection of water filter systems and replacement filter cartridges for residential and commercial water filtration applications.

We recently received an email inquiry from Lisa containing a question about water treatment systems for people with compromised immune systems.

My son has just been diagnoses with an immune deficiency, and I should be sterilizing his drinking water -which I am doing by boiling for him. I am wondering if distilled or reverse osmosis, bottled water would effectively remove bacteria from the water, and be a safe alternative. Would one be better then the other.

Thank you for your time,

Lisa

Thank you, Lisa, for your question and it pains us to learn of your son’s condition. We hope that modern medicine can find a way to help your son live a long and healthy life.

Regarding your question about the best way to sterilize water for people with compromised immune systems, the EPA and CDC co-released a document back in 1995 that gives a lot of useful information on the topic entitled Guidance for People with Severely Weakened Immune Systems.

Below you will find excerpts from that document relating directly to the questions you asked:

• Cryptosporidium has caused several large waterborne disease outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness, with symptoms that include diarrhea, nausea, and/or stomach cramps. People with severely weakened immune systems (that is, severely immunocompromised) are likely to have more severe and more persistent symptoms than healthy individuals. Moreover, Cryptosporidium has been a contributing cause of death in some immunocompromised people.

• Although data are not sufficient for EPA/CDC to recommend that all severely immunocompromised persons take extra caution with regards to their drinking water, individuals who wish to take extra measures to avoid waterborne Cryptosporidiosis can bring their drinking water to a full boil for one minute. Boiling water is the most effective way of killing Cryptosporidium.

• Only point-of-use filters that remove particles one micrometer or less in diameter should be considered. Filters in this category that provide the greatest assurance of Cryptosporidium removal include those that use reverse osmosis, those labeled as “Absolute” one micrometer filters, or those labeled as certified by NSF International under standard 53 for “Cyst Removal.” …. Water treated with a point-of-use filter that meets the above criteria may not necessarily be free of organisms smaller than Cryptosporidium that could pose a health hazard for severely immunocompromised individuals.

• Many, but not all, brands of bottled water may provide a reasonable alternative to boiling tap water. …. Any bottled water treated by distillation or reverse osmosis before bottling assures Cryptosporidium removal.

• Neither EPA nor CDC maintains a list of point-of-use filters or bottled water brands that meet the above criteria. NSF International can provide a list of filters that meet the NSF criteria.

We suggest you take a look at the NSF Web Site to see what systems meet their requirements. In a situation like yours, you will want to make certain the product you purchase will accomplish all your objectives — and then some.

One system we came across recently, the Pentek RO-3500 Monitored Reverse Osmosis System,

NSF Tested & Certified Standard 58 for reduction of TDS, Fluoride, Turbidity, Lead, Nitrates, Selenium, Arsenic, Copper, Cadmium, Barium, Cyst, and Radium.

The Pentek R0-3500 features the 3 stage system, one ROM-230TN membrane, a D15 sediment filter, a D20 carbon filter, and one long-reach lead-free faucet. Unit comes with a standard installation kit and instructions.

Another feature of the the Pentek RO3500 which makes it quite nice… an electronic monitoring system that keeps track of the water filters cartridges’ lifespans and informs the owner when they need replacing.

What elements does the RO-3500 Reverse Osmosis System reduce and/or eliminate? The unit has the ability to filter out the following elements as well as many other chemical compounds:

• 90.2% TDS ( test for TDS )
• 98.9% Arsenic ( test for arsenic )
• 90.5% Fluoride
• 98% Phosphates ( test for arsenic )
• 99.99% Cysts
• 99.7% Turbidity
• 98.7% Lead ( test for lead )
• 87.4% Nitrate ( test for nitrates )
• 80.7% Nitrite ( test for nitrites )
• 97.5% Selenium
• 99.9% Copper ( test for copper )
• 97.3% Cadmium
• 86.6% Hexavalent Chromium ( test for chromium )
• 92.8% Trivalent Chromium
• 80% Radium 226/228
• 90.7% Barium
• Chlorine ( test for chlorine )
• Sediment & Particulates

For more information on the Pentek Reverse Osmosis System mentioned above, please read its detailed specifications on FiltersFast.Com.

One final word

Use of a reverse osmosis systems does NOT guarantee the elimination of ALL possible biological contaminants since some biological contaminants have sizes smaller than the membranes in RO units can filter out.

For that reason you may want to consider adding a UV Sterilizer to your filtration setup. These devices render biological contaminants incapable of reproducing by altering their genetic structure with specific wavelengths of light.

Yesterday we talked about a device called the FM-2 Water Filter Monitor which uses 5 timers and a ‘volumizer’ to keep track of how long water filters have stayed in use.

Today we want to show you a quick and easy way to check the efficiency of your reverse osmosis water filtration system: The AP-1 AquaPro TDS/Temperature Meter makes checking to see if your reverse osmosis filter works properly a quick and painless process.

Simply test the TDS level of water before the filter and after the filter. If you do NOT see the TDS level drop dramatically after the filter, you have a problem with the filter system… and most likely need to change the RO filter.

Benefits and features of the AP-1 AquaPro TDS/Temperature Meter include:

• AP1 Measures TDS (total dissolved solids) and temperature
• Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC).
• Water resistant housing.
• Measuring range: 0-5000 ppm (parts per million)
• Digital calibration via push button.
• Auto-off and data holding functions. Low battery indicator
• Large and easy to read LCD display includes simultaneous TDS and temperature reading
• Comes factory calibrated with 342 ppm NaCl solution.

Throw in the fact that the meter costs less than $30 at FilterWater.Com, a leading online distributor of water quality filters and drinking water test kits, and you have found yourself an easy and inexpensive way to test the working status of your reverse osmosis water filter system.

In the past we have talked about reverse osmosis water filtration units and now we want to talk about them again… because apparently Crystal Quest, a leading manufacturer of drinking water filtration products has decided to take things to the next level by coupling some of their RO units with Ultra Filtration and UV Sterilization devices.

These Reverse Osmosis/Ultrafiltration systems produce up to 100 gallons of highly filtered water per day and remove up to 99.9% of undesirable contaminants and filter particles as small as 1/1000 of a micron.

Then, as if not pure enough, the water can, depending upon the system selected, pass through a UV Sterilizer where any remaining biologicals get wiped out.

To put all that in layman’s terms, these RO/UF drinking water filtration systems remove pretty much everything you would want taken out of your drinking water. The manufacturer even claims they remove phramaceuticals and pharmaceutical residuals from the water they treat!

• What is Reverse Osmosis?
• How Does Reverse Osmosis Work?
• Why Install a Reverse Osmosis Filter?

While reverse osmosis does do an excellent job of removing bacteria and other biological matter, one should not rely upon it as their sole bacteria removal system — especially when treating raw water from the environment — because particularly small biological matter can occasionally slip through the pores of the RO filter.

If bacteria or other biological material exists in the source water, many drinking water professionals suggest using an ultraviolet water sterilizer system in conjunction with a reverse osmosis water filter. The UV water system effectively kills and/or sterilizes biological contaminants.

Looking for a less expensive alternative to ultraviolet water sterilizer systems?

Ultrafiltration Membrane Capsule is an inline UF membrane that is used to prevent bacteria contamination in Reverse Osmosis tanks and other places where a small inline filter is needed to prevent bacteria from entering water lines or containers.

Ultrafiltration (UF) is an important purification technology used for the production of high-purity water. UF is effective for the removal of colloids, proteins, bacteria, viruses, parasites protozoa and pyrogens, (e.g., gram-negative bacterial endotoxins), and other organic molecules larger than 0.01 Micron size and most other water contaminations known today.

Also removes pesticides and herbicides, as well as the hardness in water and salts. ( source )

Inline Ultrafiltration Membrane Capsule

SusanB wrote us recently to ask a question that many people people have probably asked after reading some of the postings here on the Water Testing Blog, but never bothered to ask anyone at the Water Testing Blog…

Your site and many others talk about ‘reverse osmosis‘ water treatment systems all the time but never really explain how they work. Are they just some sort of fancy carbon filter or something? I really want to know because I need to do something about my bad water and if they’re no different, except in price, than a simple carbon filter then I won’t waste my money on one. Can you explain the difference? IS there a difference? Thanks!

Actually, SusanB, we have posted information on Reverse Osmosis Water Filters in the past that addresses most of the questions you asked…

• What is Reverse Osmosis
• How Do Reverse Osmosis Systems Work
• Why Install a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter?
• Where Can I Buy Replacement RO Membranes?

And now, after re-reading our own posts we have decided that we really ought to locate and re-post a more user-friendly definition and explanation of reverse osmosis water filtration.

There are a range of water filtration systems available to today’s consumer to meet the different challenges of raising water quality. Often, a simple activated carbon filter does the trick, but many people have more complicated water problems, and find that they need more complex water filtration systems because of this. A reverse osmosis water filtration system will, in many cases, solve these more advanced problems.

Reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration is a multi-step water filtering process which works slowly but is extremely effective. Reverse osmosis systems are generally used to treat cooking and drinking water supplies. It’s often used in industry but works very well in the home. Reverse osmosis uses the principles of osmosis (in which material passes slowly through a membrane and is concentrated and purified in the process) to produce very clean water.

The first step is that a simple sediment filter is installed and all water to be used passes through it; the filter catches large particles of materials such as rust or calcium carbonate (a compound which is not at all harmful but which isn’t desirable in your drinking and cooking water – it’s commonly used as an antacid). Sometimes a second filter of a similar design, but more fine, is used after the initial filtering. An activated carbon filter traps organic chemicals, and then the RO filter, which is a very fine membrane, is used. It may be helpful to think of all these filters as being similar to sieves with differently-sized holes. Basically, the process of reverse osmosis water filtration would be akin to draining cooked food through a series of increasingly-fine sieves, rather than just emptying the pot into a basic perforated colander. Reverse osmosis water filtration systems, being more complex and increasingly sensitive, can trap far more contaminants than just one simple carbon filter. Some RO systems will, even after the water has passed through the RO membrane, use yet another carbon filter or, alternatively, an ultra-violet lamp, to purify the water even further. The result of all of this filtering is extremely high quality water.

Reverse osmosis is not the most efficient of all water filtration systems, and some have expressed concern about the fact that it takes approximately four gallons of processed water to result in one gallon of clear water. However, its effectiveness makes it a preferred water filtration method for many. Some describe it as “ultrafiltration,” which gives a sense of how powerful RO is. RO results in very pure water. The Water Quality Association says that RO filter systems produce water purity levels as high as 95 percent, which is extraordinary.

The fact remains that reverse osmosis water purification systems remove an astounding range of contaminants from your water. Arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium (hexavalent), chromium (trivalent), copper, lead, nitrate, nitrite, radium 226/228, selenium, iron and TDS are all removed from your water with an RO system.

A reverse osmosis water filtering system is obviously more complicated than a simple carbon-filter water pitcher, but the benefits of its complex design are also obvious. For those who are concerned not merely with the aesthetics of their water – taste – but have more concrete problems with water quality, an RO water filter may be the best solution to your problem. ( source )

Well, SusanB, and everyone else reading this, we hope the information above helped you to understand a little bit more about the ways in which reverse osmosis water filters operate and the benefits they offer. Below you will find links to three popular reverse osmosis water filters units available from WaterFilters.Net.

Even though the USEPA lowered the maximum contaminant level for arsenic in drinking water to 10ppb (parts per billion) several years ago, many people still find themselves plagued by water containing much higher than acceptable levels of arsenic — because they get their water from a private well.

If only one person used and owned the well tainted with arsenic, the responsibility for periodic testing for arsenic in drinking water and remediation of the well water (if needed) would fall on the shoulders of the well owner. Open and shut case.

What happens, though, when a small collection of users share the well and a third party owns the well?

Situations just like that happen all the time and recently some State lawmakers in California have decided to see what they can do to get safe drinking water into the homes of people currently in those situations.

Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit and state Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez toured mobile home parks across the eastern Coachella Valley Saturday, to better grasp the widespread problem of arsenic-contaminated groundwater there.

“We’re here to work together to try to solve these problems,” Pérez told about 40 residents at the 80-unit Sunbird park in Thermal. Thousands of east valley residents live in areas that potentially contain hazardous levels of arsenic in their groundwater, a recent Desert Sun report found.

“It’s just a matter of the political will” to provide those residents with safe drinking water, Pérez said.

The strategy likely will involve a mix of short- and long-term water fixes, officials said.

At the 96-unit St. Anthony’s mobile home park in Mecca, officials showed Benoit and Pérez a “reverse-osmosis” filter — resembling a more advanced kind of tap-water purifier — that could be installed at each trailer to remove the arsenic.

The filters, priced around $135 to $300 apiece, could serve as short-term solutions in large parks like St. Anthony’s while valley officials consider a proposed pipeline that will serve many east valley parks roughly from Vista Santa Rosa to Mecca, estimated to cost $22 million.

Such a pipeline is years away, though, given the economic recession and budget deficits, officials said.

The reverse osmosis filters could be a permanent fix for the arsenic woes at smaller, remote parks to the southeast, where it’s not feasible to connect to the Coachella Valley Water District’s water supply, said Sergio Carranza, a longtime advocate for east valley water issues.

…

The local lawmakers also toured Desert Mobile Home Park, known as “Duroville,” where several thousand residents still drink water from wells testing at 26 parts per billion arsenic levels, officials there said. State and federal officials say water testing above 10 parts per billion is unsafe if ingested regularly over decades.

…

After the tour, Benoit and Pérez agreed that to solve the east valley’s arsenic problem, valley officials and water agencies first must unite under a regional water quality board.

That would give the area access to more grants and funding, to help ensure thousands of east valley residents have clean, arsenic-free drinking water, they said.

St. Anthony’s resident Francisco Mendez said he’s lived at the park for about 25 years, and he worries how the park’s arsenic-contaminated water might affect his four children, ages 5 months to 12 years.

Mendez said he was encouraged by the lawmakers’ visit and that safe conditions at the park are long overdue.

“We’re people who work in the fields, in construction,” Mendez said. “We pay taxes. We have rights.” ( source )

It may take a while for programs to get set up for those people and others like them but at least someone with a little political power has taken an interest in their situation. Hopefully the necessary changes in policy (and enforcement) won’t take too long and become a reality.

Testing Your Well Water for Arsenic

we cannot emphasize enough that the responsibility for the quality of the water coming from a private well rests solely with the well’s owner and that public policy set forth by the USEPA in no way, shape or form applies to private wells. In other words, if your well water has arsenic concentrations greater than 10ppb, no one from the government will send you a warning letter telling you about the problem.

The USEPA, health officials, and well water organizations all suggest that well owners have their water tested annually for contaminants — including arsenic.

Options for Arsenic in Well Water Testing

As usual we will tell you that no form of drinking water testing can, or should ever, take the place of drinking water testing performed by a certified water testing laboratory if you have good reason to suspect that dangerous levels of contaminants may have gotten into your water supply.

For all other times though, a simple at-home drinking water test kit from the Arsenic Quick line of field-ready arsenic test kits may work just fine.

Arsenic Quick test kits claim to have the shortest testing time on the market, an independently verified testing procedure, the simplest test instructions, and the safest reagents.

You can find more information about Arsenic Quick test kits on the following web sites:

• www.ArsenicQuick.com
• www.Arsenic-Test-Kit.com

We recently received an email from Martin in Miami and he asked,

I grew up in a household that had absolutely awesome drinking water and like so many young people I never really thought about WHY the water tasted… great.

Well now that I have left the nest (as my Mom puts it) and struck out on my own, I can honestly say that the water in my apartment SUCKS. Most days it smells like a diseased pool filter! And the taste? Let’s not even go there! I stopped drinking it the very first day I moved in!

So anyways, I called the apartment complex manager and she told me “nothing’s wrong with the water. It’s city water and the city tests it. There’s nothing we can or need to do.” More like nothing they WILL do, but anyways…

Oh, and in my lease it blatantly says I cannot install any sort of ‘plumbing fixtures’ or in any other way ‘install appliances or devices which require modification of existing fixtures’…. whatever the Hell THAT means.

My Dad told me they have a reverse osmosis water filter at the house and now my question (finally) is this: Since I can’t tamper with any of the plumbing at my place, do they make any reverse osmosis filters that I can hook up to my faucet so I won’t have to risk violating my lease? I’ve seen tons of other types of counter top filters… but so far no reverse osmosis filters.

Hope you can help!

Martin (Miami, FL)

Wow. That sounds like some pretty rank water, Martin. Definitely get that water tested and find out exactly what’s causing it to taste and smell like that. The majority of us here at Water Testing Blog have worked on pool filters and know very well the stench that can breed in those things. Yuck!

Once you know what problems you need to fix, THEN go about selecting a water treatment system. You may not need to invest in something as serious as a reverse osmosis system and get the results you desire. A simpler, less expensive drinking water filter might do everything you need!

But, since you DID ask us a direct question, we suppose we ought to address the matter of, “Do they make countertop reverse osmosis systems?”

Yes, Martin, they certainly do. A well-known web site ( WaterFilters.Net ) carries a counter top reverse osmosis system that apparently requires no tools to install, has a holding tank, and works just as well as reverse osmosis systems installed under the sink.

Although we have never used this product, we found two reviews of the RC540T50-T Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System and both used the terms “Clean Taste, Durable, Easy To Install, Long Lasting Filter” and both said they would recommend the system to a friend.

• “I have had one of these systems for ten years. It is outstanding! It delivers clean great tasting water.” — Mary from Tampa, FL

• “I got this system for my mother who lives in a senior housing facility. She wanted filtered water and didn’t want to mess things up under the sink. So we ordered this unit. It’s a bit bulky, but it has to be because it houses four standard filters and has storage for 5 liters of water. Access to the filters is by removing four screws on the sides. The filters are easy to change because they have quick connect fittings. Very easy to install too. We had it up and running in 10 min. This system is equivalent to my own home system which is an undersink four stage RO system. Very pleased.” — Surfer Joe from Nipomo, CA

Just remember, though, that having your water tested by a certified water testing laboratory before purchasing a water filter system of ANY kind might save you money and could save your life.

Now that you’ve tested your drinking water with a water test kit from SenSafe or WaterSafe to get a preliminary idea about the condition of your drinking water, and followed up with a thorough water test performed by a certified water testing laboratory, you may need (or simply want) to get a drinking water filtration system for your home.

In the old days people had to make due with unattractive, bulky water filtration systems sitting on their counters and standard, non-fashionable faucet styles if they wanted a POU (point-of-use) water filtraton system. Not anymore.

Companies like Crystal Quest now manufacture POU water filtration systems that mount neatly out of site under the sink AND good-looking faucets designed specifically to work with them.

Below you will find a selection of Crystal Quest water filtration systems that hook up under the sink. Each filter operates a little differently so make sure you read the descriptions carefully to make sure you choode the perfect Crystal Quest water filter for your water’s needs.

What is Hard Water?

Simply put, the term hard water means water contains a high concentration of dissolved calcium and/or dissolved magnesium. These ions can come out of solution for many reasons and when they do, problems can occur.

For a limited time the Morton Salt Company will provide you with a free hardness test strip so you can test the hardness of your water right in the comfort of your own home.

It’s Dissolved… So What Harm Can It Cause?

That which can go into solution (aka: dissolve) can also come out of solution. This means that uder the correct condition, such as when hard water gets boiled in water heaters, tea kettles and so forth it can can cause “scale” to form on surfaces it touches. In other words, the calcium and magnesium come out of solution (aka: precipitate) and stick to things immediately around them.

While the scale, or mineral build-up typically does not pose a health risk, it can cause serious financial problems since too much scale can creat clogs in pipes and it does not conduct heat very well. This means water heaters, heat radiators and all passageways carrying hard water for too long a time may need to get replaced prematurely.

A second problem caused by hard water deals with the way it interacts with soap molecules. The calcium and magnesium ions ‘bond’ with the soap molecules and form a sticky scum which does not lather up as one would expect when adding some form of soap or detergent to water. Fewer bubbles means using more soap and more water to get the same degree of cleaning accomplished.

Hard Water Sounds Bad… How Do I Get Rid of It?

If after having your water tested by a certified water professional your ONLY concers involve hard water, you may want condiser installing a water softening system.

If, on the other hand, your water troubles include other matters besides dissolved calcium and dissolved magnesium, you may want to consider installing a reverse osmosis water filtration system which involves a pre-filter to remove larger particles and post-filter which makes use of an activated carbon bed.

FilterWater.Com carries a wide range of reverse osmosis filter systems which can fit under the sink, on the counter and also serve as whole house filtration systems.