Tag: water purification

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Ebola Home Water Treatment

The Ebola virus cannot spread through the water supply, according to information released by the Water Research Foundation. The internationally recognized leader in water research has provided the following information in response to inquiries about Ebola that some water utilities are receiving: Ebola is not a foodborne, waterborne or airborne illness. It is transmitted to humans from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood, vomit and feces. The Ebola virus cannot survive long in water because it can only replicate within host cells — from a human or an animal. Because of Ebola’s fragility when separated from its host, bodily fluids flushed by an infected person would not contaminate the water supply.

Researchers believe Ebola survives in water for only a matter of minutes because water does not provide the same environment as bodily fluids, which have higher salt concentrations. Once in water, the virus will take in water, causing the cells to swell and burst — killing the virus.

But if you are still concerned about the Ebola virus or any other harmful bacteria or virus entering your home through the water supply you may want to consider a Whole house UV disinfection system.

 Does UV light kill Ebola?

UV Disinfection has been found to be effective against the Ebola Virus, and many other harmful bacteria and viruses.   UV Disinfection is a method that uses ultraviolet (UV) light at sufficiently short wavelength to kill microorganisms. It is also referred to as Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI).  It is used in many applications, such as water and air purification.  UV Disinfection utilises short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UV-C), which has a wavelength in the range of 100nm to 280nm.   UV-C is harmful to microorganisms and is effective in destroying the nucleic acids in these organisms so that their DNA is disrupted.  Studies have confirmed that UV-C radiation is effective in deactivating Ebola virus. One extremely inexpensive whole house UV system is the PURA® Product’s UV20 Series™ designed to provide disinfected water at a flow rate of 8 – 10 gallons per minute. This system is ideal for whole house water treatment. In addition to disinfection, the double and triple models provide filtration for the removal of sediment and chemical contaminants. This ultraviolet water treatment system makes a perfect companion to water softeners, distillers, reverse osmosis and ozone systems. The UV20 Series™ has proven to be PURA® Product’s most popular product line and has created an industry standard in whole-house disinfection.

Are you having problems with your water filtration or the quality of your water? Please do not hesitate to call us. We are trained professionals dedicated to solving all your water quality issues. Call us at 800-942-7873 or click the link below to ask a question.

The Water Research Foundation cited the following resources:

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Save the Planet, One Bottle at a Time

It takes more than 17 million barrels of oil annually to make all the plastic bottles that meet America’s demand for bottled water. That’s enough oil to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year, not including the oil used for transportation of those water bottles. Last year, the average American used 167 disposable water bottles. Altogether, Americans’ used over 50 billion plastic water bottles last year alone. The recommended eight glasses of water a day, at U.S. tap rates equals about $.49 a day. That same amount of bottled water is about $1,400 a year, but keep in mind that people prefer bottled water because it taste great! So, how does one cut out all the plastic bottles from their life but still get great tasting water straight from their tap? By purchasing a high performance drinking water system, that goes under your your kitchen sink. This system uses the same water purification process as Dasani and Nestle and it is called reverse osmosis. This process is used in water purification, manufacturing plants, and chemical laboratories.  One great unit that we recommend is the the PURA QCRO4V. This 4 stage quick change reverse osmosis system can be customized to adapt to changing water conditions. The quick change filters feature the innovative PURA twist and lock design, making filter changes and service fast and easy.

  • Choice of a 50 gpd or 75 gpd membrane
  • Standard Lead Free Air Gap Faucet
  • Color coded tubing for easier installation
  • Quick connect fittings and a self piercing feed valve
  • Interchangeable filters allows the system to be customized to your local water conditions
  • Produces high quality water for better tasting coffee, tea, juices, soups, sauces and pasta and clearer ice cubes
  • System includes a sediment pre-filter, carbon block pre-filter, RO membrane and carbon block postfilter

The first stage of filtration is the sediment filter, which reduces suspended particles such as dirt, dust, and rust. The second stage of filtration is the carbon filter. This filter reduces volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), chlorine, and other compounds that might impact the taste or odor of the tap water. Chlorine should be removed from the water before the water enters the membrane. This will help preserve the life of the membrane. The center and third stage of a reverse osmosis system is the semi-permeable (RO) membrane. It is responsible for rejecting up to 98% of the total dissolved solids in the water. So you can save the planet, save money and drink healthier water! For more information about this system call 800-942-7873 or click the link below to ask us a question. 

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Don’t Forget About the O-Ring!

First, what is an O-ring? An O-ring is a doughnut, or torus shaped seal typically used to prevent the passing of air or fluid. O-rings are used to keep fluid or air IN or OUT of a defined space. This device helps to keep the water tight or air tight integrity of a filter housing or filter application. O-rings come in a wide variety of sizes and different types of materials; Types of Material

  • Buna-N®
  • Ethylene, Propylene
  • Silicon Encapsulated with FEP, an FDA-approved material
  • Silicone (Solid)
  • Teflon® (Solid)
  • Teflon® Encapsulated with FEP
  • Viton® (Solid)

    To extend the o-ring’s effectiveness there are some things you can do: Remove and inspect the o-ring at every filter change or every time the housing is opened, as well as applying the manufacturer’s approved lubricant. The protectant/gel, usually made of silicon is inexpensive and is easy to apply. If there are signs of any wear or improper form of the o-ring, the o-ring must be replaced immediately prior to restarting the filter system.    The life of an o-ring varies based on how you take care of it and what it is made of. It is very important to your operation to make sure you have the proper o-ring for your filtration application. If you have any questions on changing out your o-rings or whether you are using the proper o-ring for your system, I invite you to submit a question below or call our team at 1-800-942-7873. Click here to ask us a question!

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How Often Do I Change My Water Filter?

One of the most common questions we hear from our customers is in regards to how frequently a water filter cartridge should be changed. Whether it’s a standard sediment or carbon filter, every customer has one key priority in mind: How Long Will I Have Dependably Clean, Great Tasting Water? In other words, how can I be sure that my filter is still reducing the impurities that can impact the flavor of my water? Our standard answer: It depends. The frequency of filter changes depends upon your water quality and your water usage. For example, if there are a lot of sediment particulates in your water, then you will have to change your filters more frequently than someone with little to no sediment. If you are a large restaurant consuming large amounts of water a minute or a hospital with large ice machines, then your usage will demand more frequent filter changes. Having said that, we suggest replacement schedules that are generally as follows: Everpure High Flow CRS Quad MC2 System The most common Everpure Filtration System, mainly seen in the back of the house of restaurants should be changed every 6 months, or every 36,000 gallons. The EC210 prefilter, to the left of the MC2 filters, should be changed more frequently to extend the life of the MC2 filters. We recommend every 3-4 months.       Insurice Triple PF i4000(2) System w/ 20″ Prefilter For water filtration on ice machines, sometimes it can be difficult knowing when to change the filters, especially if you see no difference in the ice. But even if the ice is fine, deep inside the machine inches of scale can be forming and ruining your machine. That’s why it is important to keep a filter change out schedule. We recommend every 6 months or however many gallons are specified on the water filters. For the system pictured to the left, the Insurice Triple PF i4000(2), change those filters every 36,000 gallons of use. Again, changing the prefilter will give your primary cartridges longer life. You should also replace your water filters whenever you notice a decline in performance, whether it is a drop in flow rate and/or pressure, or an unusual taste in the water. You should also, per the CDC, replace your water filter after any boil water advisory alert is lifted in your area. Remember: taste and odor may tip you off to the presence of chlorine in your water, but most contaminants are tasteless and odorless. For the benefit of our customers, we have set-up automatic electronic reminders that are sent when we see that their filters are due to be replaced, based on order history.  We can even set-up Auto-Ship for customers that know they will need water filters by a certain date, but may not remember to place an order. If you have a water filter or filter model not included in the list above, and have a question regarding how often you should replace your filter, I invite you to submit a question below or call our team at 1-800-942-7873. Click here to ask us a question!

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Coke Freestyle and Everpure!

Ever since Coca-Cola came out with their new Freestyle Coke Machine, we’ve been getting call after call on Everpure’s CLM filtration systems! WHY? Because Everpure CLM has recently been validated by a third party lab to meet the tccc specifications for point of use filtration systems for the Freestyle machines! Hooray!! Being an Everpure master distributor, we are proud to carry this line of CLM water filter systems. But why the CLM line? What is CLM? I’m glad you asked! CLM is short for chloramine. As you might know, chloramine is a chemical compound made by reacting ammonia with the active ingredient in chlorine bleach. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, chloramines provide better protection against bacterial regrowth in water system. But chloramines can still effect the taste and odor of your water and can cause, through time, damage to your water applications. The specifications for the Coke Freestyle machine requires all taste and odor to be removed, the chlorine/chloramine levels to be less then 0.5 ppm, and sediment removal. Everpure’s CLM line meets all the filtration requirements for the Freestyle machine. It reduces chloramines, chlorine and other offensive contaminants that can adversely effect the taste and odor of the beverage. It’s sub-micron technology reduces dirt and particles 1/2 micron in size.  It improves the taste of fountain beverages and helps retain the drink’s carbonation. Have you ever received a complaint that your soda taste flat? Well, here’s your solution! The CLM line also protects your drink system’s seals, pump, tubing and small orifices from clogging, corrosion and abrasive wear. It is also NSF certified under NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53. The CLM line comes in single, twin, triple and quad systems. We also have systems with a pre-filtration option. So if you are apart of a restaurant using a Coca-cola Freestyle machine or you currently service a Freestyle machine, contact us today for more information on Everpure’s CLM line and how we can help you. You can also check out our CLM line on our website! Click here: EVERPURE’S CLM LINE!

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Water Filtration System in a Straw

LifeStraw makes previously contaminated water drinkable by removing bacteria and viruses. Sometimes, it’s the simplest technologies that have the greatest potential impact on people’s lives. Take the Vestergaard Frandsen Group’s mobile personal filtration system, otherwise known as LifeStraw. It is a powder-blue plastic tube—much thicker than an ordinary straw—containing filters that make water teeming with typhoid-,cholera- and diarrhea-causing microorganisms drinkable. Now, to be clear, we do not sell this item…yet. We just love to report what’s going on out there in the water purification world. The filters, made up of a halogenated resin, kill nearly 100 percent of bacteria and nearly 99 percent of the viruses that pass through LifeStraw. A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill evaluation tested the device’s performance in water containing Escherichia coli B and Enterococcus faecalisbacteria and the MS2 coliphage virus as well as iodine and silver. The results indicated that LifeStraw filtered out all contaminants to levels where they don’t pose a health risk to someone drinking the water.
But the device does not filter heavy metals such as iron or fluoride nor does it remove parasites like cryptosporidium or giardia, although the Switzerland-based company’s CEO, Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, says there is a version of LifeStraw available to relief groups in Bangladesh and India that can filter arsenic. At less than 10 inches (25 centimeters) long, the device can filter up to 185 gallons (700 liters) of water, estimated to be about a year’s supply for one person. The device is no longer usable when its filters become too clogged to pass water through, typically after a year of hard use.
The success of the personal filtration system led Vestergaard Frandsen to introduce earlier this month its LifeStraw Family device, an instant microbiological purifier that provides about 2.6 gallons (10 liters) of safe drinking water in an hour and about 4,000 gallons (15,000 liters) over its life span for a family of six. LifeStraw Family is designed to sieve dirt, parasites, bacteria and viruses, and will be available starting in May. Larry Greenemeier www.scientificamerican.com

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What Your Unfiltered Water Contains…

Think about where your water comes from….and we don’t just mean the sink! Expand your mind and remember that water comes from unclean, natural resources like rivers and lakes, which contain pollution and contaminants that are unfit for consumption. To be clean, the water should undergo a number of treatments necessary to make it drinkable.

Specifically in tap water is:

  • Toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, copper, cadmium and aluminum
  • Volatile organic chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Chemicals from irresponsible manufacturers
  • Personal care chemicals
  • Household cleaning products
  • Water treatment additives such as chlorine, fluoride, and other toxic chemicals
  • Bacteria and viruses such as giardia, cryptosporidium, coliform and E-coli
  • Toxic Heavy Metals

Water purifiers are specifically designed to eliminate or reduce these certain pollutants that are in our drinking water. They also improve the quality and taste of the water by eliminating its chlorine content. It is virtually impossible to know what is in tap water at any given time because municipal water quality as well as private well water varies from place to place, season to season, and house to house. Even if all of the toxic metals could be completely filtered at the local water treatment facility, they could still end up in your drinking water because rust and sediment build up in the water pipes within our homes. Even this minimal exposure can cause symptoms similar to the flu, such as headaches, diarrhea, cramps, nausea or vomiting. The only way we can have any control over the quality of water we drink is by having a personal water filter system. Filtered drinking water is the most reliable and least expensive way to get healthy water!

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Water Filters Vs. Water Softeners – Which Do You Need?

Depending on where you live, your drinking water may need some type of filtration, but which is right for you? Do you need a water filter or a water softener? What if you need both? How do you know which one is right for you? Well, to answer these questions, let’s take a look at what water filters and water softeners do, then you can decide on the best solution for you and your family’s water filtration needs:

Water Softeners

So, what exactly does a water softener do and why do you need it? Well, simply, they soften hard water. Hard water is full of minerals and deposits such as calcium and magnesium. Although no harm will come to you from hard water, it’s nightmare for cleaning showers, tubs and causes problems for pipes and plumbing fixtures. By using a water softener, you will break down the hardness or materials in the water. Different softeners use different methods including: ion, electrical and magnetics. It’s best to get your water tested to find out for sure, if you have hard water. Then decide on what method works best for you.

Water Filters

Without purifying our drinking water, you could consume things that contribute to disease and illness. To prevent this, most water treatment facilities employ chemicals such as chlorine to treat the water. This, however, introduces new problems for us. I mean, you would you want to drink something that resembles the water in a swimming pool? I didn’t think so. So counter this, there’s water filters. Basically, water filters take out all the bad things in your water like the chlorine and other chemicals – leaving you with clean tasting and smelling drinking water. The most common filter is a carbon-based filter – it can remove the majority of chemicals in your water.

What’s Best For Your Water?

For many a water filter is all they will ever need. For others, a water softener plus water filter is a requirement. Remember how we said to test your water? Well, if you find out you have hard water, it’s best to get yourself a combination filter and softener to clean out the impurities in your drinking water. Otherwise, stick with a single water filter for your water purification needs.

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Revolutionary Personal Water Filtration

Over 1.2 billion people around the globe don’t have access to potable water. Many of them live in the continent of Africa. So it should come as no surprise that a solution to this problem might come from an inventor who lives there. Meet Dr. Eugene Cloete. A microbiologist by training, Cloete is currently the Dean of Natural Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch, just outside Cape Town, South Africa. In addition to his teaching ability, Dr. Cloete apparently has a knack for invention. With nine patents to his name, the first of which he earned at the age of 23, Eugene has adopted a way of thinking different than that of most peoples’. “[creativity is] like reading and writing,” said Cloete, “the more you use it, the better you get.” With much of South Africa’s tap water riddled with disease-causing bacteria, heavy metals, and pesticide residue, something needed to be done. In short, Dr. Cloete has invented a disposable filter, which looks very similar to a tea bag, to filter water as it is poured from a bottle. Each filter is capable of ridding bacteria, heavy metals, and harmful chemicals from about 15 liters of water before it needs to be thrown away. Cloete, an expert on inhibiting growth of bacterial slime, says he came up with the idea while on a faculty tour of his current department. He happened to notice a tea bag sitting on the break room counter when he started to explore the idea. It wasn’t until he watched a presentation at the university during which a student demonstrated how to spin nanofibers – filaments finer than human hair – that he figured out how to do it. He combined this technology with both that of the anti-bacterial membranes he had already been working on, and the traditional water filtration component activated carbon to yield the filter. Since announcing the invention in July, Dr. Cloete and his team of two post-doctoral colleges have received hundreds of inquiries from excited philanthropists, aid organizations, and retailers. This little tea bag is sure to save lives.

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Seawater/Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis

Reverse Osmosis, also known as hyper filtration, is the preferred method of seawater and brackish water purification. As the equipment needed to perform reverse osmosis is cost-effective, and the process requires little input energy compared to other methods of purification, reverse osmosis has become the worldwide leader among desalinization methods. Developed at UCLA, and used commercially since the 1970’s, seawater reverse osmosis has served marine professionals for nearly 40 years. Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) is used in a wide range of commercial applications. Marine professionals such as commercial fisherman and offshore rig workers rely on SWRO to provide freshwater for routine daily tasks such as bathing, cleaning and of course, drinking. In larger applications, such as cruise ships, SWRO is sometimes also used. In such applications, it is necessary not only to desalinize water, but to provide quality freshwater. Cruise liner restaurant professionals count on SWRO for water used for cooking, as well as making coffee, soda and other beverages. Here, consistency is key. By way of its simple yet effective design, reverse osmosis is able to consistently satisfy the needs of those who count on it. The process itself is relatively simple and straightforward. In order to purify a liquid, the “solvent” (in this case, water) is put under pressure in excess of 250 psi for brackish water and 1000 psi for seawater, forcing it through a semi-permeable membrane. This application-specific membrane allows water molecules to pass through, but catches “solutes,” yielding purified water. When employed, reverse osmosis is capable of not only of de-salting water, but also removing other impurities such as bacteria, ions and particulates. If you’re considering using reverse osmosis to address your water purification needs, browse our inventory of Everpure reverse osmosis filters.