Charcoal
Water Filters utilize charcoal derived from coconut husk
as a filter medium. This absorbs impurities as the water passes
through. This form of filter comprises possibly 95% of those
in use domestically, because they are simple to install, relatively
economical, and filter out the most deadly of contaminants,
Cryptosporidium and Giardia. An average charcoal filter will
last a family 6-9 months. Some charcoal filters are enhanced
by the use of activated silver, which provides extra antibacterial
protection. Minerals in solution can still permeate a charcoal
filter. These minerals are essential to health.
Reverse
Osmosis water filters use a fine membrane to filter through
osmotic process. They take everything out of the water, leaving
it pure. Usually installed under-sink, they require a serviceman
to come every few months to install a new membrane.
Distillers
use electricity to heat tap water to boiling point. Impurities
are left in the boiling container and the purified condensate
drains back into a clean container. They require a fair degree
of power and cannot give immediate supply, because the boiling
process must be completed before water is available. There is
now a number of reports that distilled water is not good to
drink long term because it leaches nutrients from the body,
being the most 'unnatural' of water. Please refer to other articles
we have on this important subject.
Ultraviolet
water filters use a UV light to kill bacteria in the water.
They are very seldom seen in domestic units because of the problem
of keeping the light clean. Some water ionizers have small UV
lights fitted but they have been shown to have little or no
effect.
Backflush
filters: Every now and then a 'new' system appears on the
market claiming to offer extremely long life without filter
changes. This is usually a backflush system. There are no proven
long-term backflush systems on the market - probably because
their claims of long life without filter change never live up
to the facts. They are almost always two to four times the cost
of the basic charcoal water filter unit, but justify this by
their claims of longevity. Imagine how your sink would look
if you used only hot water and no scrubbing to clean it!
None of
these groups provide ionization
OTHER FORMS OF WATER TREATMENT
There are
many forms of water filters and all have some merit.
These include:
Magnetic
Fundamentally,
this involves passing the water over or through a magnetic field.
This has the effect of rearrangement of ions. Without the fundamental
'splitting' of ions that occurs in the Water Ionizer (H2O to
OH- and HO) lasting change is not possible, although many claims
are made by the manufacturers. Free standing magnetic units
do not filter or change pH. WE have tested units that utilize
magnetism and have found a wide variation in results.
Energetic
These are
usually attached at the entry of water to the home. They 'align'
the water using various methods based to varying degree on the
works of Viktor Schauberger, Pioneering water researcher. Although
they do 'soften' the water, they do not change the pH or the
REDOX (Positive or negative charge) of the water, nor do they
filter the water. In our experience, water filters attached
to systems with previously installed Energizers work extremely
well.
Vortex
A number
of units use vortex flow of water prior to output. They also
appear to soften the water, but do not filter, ionize or change
the REDOX potential.
Chemical
Additive
The most
well known of these is MICROHYDRIN, a tablet that when added
to water, changes the REDOX dramatically. Normal dose requirement
per person is 4 per day at about $0.50 each.
A new entry
to the market is "Unique Water" which is ordinary spring water
with added magnesium carbonate. This wholesales at $0.55 per
600 ml bottle, and for minimum recommended therapeutic use,
two bottles per person per day is recommended. For a family
of four this comes to $1584 per year and slightly less than
3,000 plastic bottles per year. The water is not ionized.
Pi
Water
PiWater
is the combination of conventional filtration (sand bed, charcoal)
with magnetic, mineral addition and FIR energetics. It acts
like a standard countertop water filter but it also adds beneficial
minerals to the water, changes the molecular structure, magnetizes
and energizes using a unique form of ceramics. The Pi-Filter
will last up to 3 years with normal use before needing replacement.
OUR COMPARISONS
These comparisons on water filters are derived from our
own experience and research. This comes from factory supplied
test data plus certified laboratory tests we have had commissioned.
We do not guarantee that every result is correct because we
rely on data given us by suppliers.