Category: Water Quality Articles

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Point of Use (POU) or Point of Entry (POE)?

Do you ever get confused about all the different types of water filtration systems and which one you should use? Well don’t worry. We can help eliminate some of that confusion. Here are some things you should know to help you understand more about water filtration. There are essentially only two principle locations for installing water treatment systems. Which of the two systems you need depends upon what you hope to accomplish. One is Point-of-Entry water treatment (POE), the other is Point-of-Use water treatment (POU). What’s the difference? Picture the water supply where your local municipality or other supplier delivers water to your house, office building, factory, plant or other facility. At the point where the supply enters the building, it’s connected to a water meter. Your side of the meter is your responsibility and expense. You might be stuck with the water as delivered, but you don’t have to like it or settle for its quality (or lack of quality). There are a lot of POE and POU systems that can help you improve the quality of water before you drink it, cook with it or bathe with it. A Point-of-Entry water treatment system is installed on your side of the meter with the express purpose of treating all of the incoming water before it goes into the individual supply lines that feed your laundry, bathrooms (including toilets), dedicated outside faucets and others as well as your kitchen. POE systems often include softeners, large bed carbon filters, and some systems which are specifically designed to remove (or trap) sediment, foul tastes and odors. POE systems are sometimes considered pre-filters. A Point-of-Use water treatment system is installed in an individual source line ahead of any or all of the building’s taps, faucets or other dedicated outlets used to dispense water for drinking, cooking or bathing. Good POU systems are often expected to capture whatever escapes the POE system.

So once you figure out if you want a POU system or a POE system, the next step is getting a water test done. We can help you with this! After we test your water and once we receive the test results back we then recommend a course of action and what water filtration would best benefit you.  If you are interested in getting your water tested or have more questions about what filtration systems will work best for you, please contact us at 800-942-7873 or ask us a question below! We are here to help! Click here to ask a question!
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Perfect Crema!

Great Espresso starts with great water. The first thing an operator should do is test their water to find out the hardness. Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon, a grain is (64.8 milligrams) of calcium carbonate dissolved in 1 US gallon of water (3.785412 L). Espresso is 85-96% water and that water is extremely important to drawing out the flavor of those expensive coffee beans.

But what determines the taste of a great tasting espresso? Crema! Crema is the flavorful, aromatic, reddish-brown froth made when air bubbles combine with fine-ground coffee’s soluble oils. The strong presence of crema in an espresso shot indicates a quality, well-ground coffee and a skilled barista (professional coffee maker). Crema, compared to drip coffee, helps give espresso a fuller flavor and longer aftertaste. The key to creating that perfect crema is tailoring the hardness of the water and Pentair/Everpure working directly with Specialty Coffee Operators and Espresso Equipment Manufactures developed working solutions to take care of espresso water regardless of the number of grains of hardness at an operators location.

The ESO7, 9607-25 (ESO stands for Espresso, the 7 just means the size of the filter cartridge) is a three-in-one system providing filtration, scale prevention and buffering/softening of  the water. The water retains enough mineral to bring out the espresso flavors. The ESO7 will take care of up to 5,300 grains of hardness or at 8 grains of hardness will generate 511 gallons of espresso before it will need to be changed. Need more capacity than that and more ability to work with the hardness of the water you want for your espresso?

The Claris XXL, 4339-14, unit will give you the same great 3 in 1 filter but also give you the ability to generate 2,910 gallons of espresso, (at 10 grains of hardness) but also has an adjustable DUOBLEND™ bypass valve that allows for a more precise adjustment of carbonate hardness. Either system is quick to install, easy to handle and fast to service. Not sure how hard your water is? Confused about what system would help “perfect” your crema? We can help! Call us at 800-942-7873. We are happy to answer all your question.

Click here to ask us a question!

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The Worst Drinking Water in America

Ever wonder how bad your city’s drinking water is? Well we have a list of the top 10 cities in America with the WORST drinking water! Is your city listed?

10. Jacksonville, Fla. (JEA) 9. San Diego (San Diego Water Department) 8. North Las Vegas (City of North Las Vegas Utilities Department) 7. Omaha (Metropolitan Utilities District) 6. Houston (City of Houston Public Works) 5. Reno (Truckee Meadows Water Authority) 4. Riverside County, Calif. (Eastern Municipal Water District) 3. Las Vegas (Las Vegas Valley Water District) 2. Riverside, Calif. (City of Riverside Public Utilities) 1. Pensacola, Fla. (Emerald Coast Water Utility)  In many cases, cities meet all federal standards for drinking water quality and yet still distribute harmful contaminants to their customers. The only way you can be certain you are drinking healthy water is to be proactive. This means looking at your local water report or getting a water test done. And you know who to call for a water test, Filter Pure! We are here and ready to help. So, if you are concerned about your city’s water, just give us a call at 800-942-7873. We’ll make sure you have nothing to worry about. Let us know your questions and concerns by clicking the link below. Remember, even if your city has the worst water (residents of Pensacola) we have the knowledge and the means to help! Let us know how we can help!

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Water Testing in Schools

Many schools in the state of Florida have contacted Filter Pure in regards to testing their water. A common problem seen in schools is equipment damage due to hard and unfiltered water. Some of the most expensive equipment in schools can be found right in the cafeteria; ice machines, steamers and combi ovens. The problem with hard and unfiltered water is the limescale build-up that can cause excessive machine downtime and increased maintenance costs. It is estimated that 3mm of limescale build up can cause 25% energy loss in addition to unwanted and costly service calls. So how does Filter Pure help with these issues? We first test the water, checking all levels of chlorine, alkalinity and hardness. Once the test results are received back, we then recommend a course of action and filtering system to put in place to remedy these problems. One system recommended is the MRS-100 Reverse Osmosis System (9970-07). Ideal for flash steamers, conventional steamers, combi-ovens, and more, this system improves equipment life and performance by removing at least 90%+ of all dissolved solids that cause scale build-up. It guards against taste and odor causing contaminants, while removing dirt particulates and dissolved minerals that can adversely affect taste of water and beverages. Sanitary cartridge replacement is simple, quick and clean. Internal filter parts are never exposed to handling or contamination.  For over thirty year, Filter Pure has been providing great solutions to water problems in universities and schools. If you are interested in getting your water tested or have any questions or concerns about your water please contact us at 800-942-7873 or submit your question to the link below. If you are a school or university please contact Amy Easter at Amy@filterpure.com. She has helped hundreds of schools with their water issues and she is more than happy to help you as well.  Submit your question here!

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Commercial Ice Machine Filtration for Healthcare Facilities

Ice serves a variety of purposes in the Healthcare industry including dietary needs, operative procedures, and treatment of inflammation.  The availability of clean ice for all of these uses is dependent on the level of filtration in use.  Healthcare facilities use a variety of ice machines but the most common is the nugget based ice machine for its ability to provide all the needs in a hospital. Nugget ice machines are small counter top dispensers located throughout the buildings to provide quick access for staff. But due to the unit’s small size, facilities are having to install the water filtration systems under the counters. This could be a problem in the sense that a traditional ice machine water filter can exceed over 20 inches leaving little room to install and maintain the unit. Well, Everpure has a solution for that. Everpure’s BH2 (EV9612-51) is the filter of choice to fit below the counter and provide enough capacity to keep up with the demand of the counter top ice machines. The full height of the BH2 filter and manifold would be 16 inches leaving plenty of room for the installation and filter change. The filter is rated NSF 53, providing mechanical filtration to .5 micron and protection from bacterial contaminants.  Scale inhibitor provides protection to your ice machines to keep them running efficiently for years to come. As much as we would like a single application filter to work for everybody, the needs and demands of customers change requiring different types of filtration.  The BH2 is a great filter that has proven to work in a rigorous environment with high demand.  Should you need to discuss other applications or your current filtration, please feel free to contact our Health Care & Lodging Specialist, Todd Leach.

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The Benefits of Prefiltration

There are many benefits in using prefiltration. Most foodservice applications actually require it and there’s a good reason why. Everpure’s EC110 (9534-40) and EC210 (9534-20) saves you money by extending the life of primary filter cartridges by filtering out large dirt and rust particles. Their tightly spun polypropylene design delivers a 10 micron nominal filtration. Durable slim bowl design makes cartridge change outs easy to handle and the clear housing lets you visibly inspect trapped particles and makes determining when to change the cartridge easy. Whether you are filtering water for your soda, ice, coffee or tea, prefiltration is a great option that will not only prove beneficial for your primary filters but also for you financially. Already have a water filter system with no prefiltration? Don’t worry. You can easily add our E-10 (9795-80) and the E-20 (9795-90) to any system. If you are interested in learning more about prefiltration and how it can benefit you, call us at 1-800-942-7873 or email us your questions. Click here to ask us a question!

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What Does the NSF Label on My Pentair/Everpure Water Filter Mean?

 Millions of people take the safety of their food, water and consumer products for granted on a daily basis. Why? Because of three letters: NSF. Founded in 1944 as the National Sanitation Foundation, the foundation changed it’s name to NSF International in 1990 as they expanded services beyond sanitation and into global markets. NSF certification is your key to making sure that the products you use meet strict standards for public health protection. Choosing a product certified by NSF lets you know the company complies with strict standards and procedures imposed by NSF.

There are important reasons to look for NSF certification when purchasing a water filter;

  • Performance claims may be based on internal testing only.
  • Sometimes stated capacities are misleading.
  • In capacity claims it’s not always clear what percentage of chemical contaminants are actually reduced.

NSF Certification ensures that:

  • The contaminant reduction claims certified are true and accurate.
  • The materials of construction do not add anything unwanted to the water such as lead.
  • The system is structurally sound.
  • Advertising claims are true and accurate.

From extensive product testing and material analyses to unannounced plant inspections, every aspect of a product’s development is thoroughly evaluated before it can earn our certification. Most importantly, NSF certification is not a one-time event, but involves regular on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities and regular re-testing of products to ensure that they continue to meet the same high standards required to maintain certification over time. If for any reason a product fails to meet one or more certification criteria, NSF will take enforcement actions to protect you, including product recall, public notification or de-certification. If you have any questions about the quality of the filter that you are currently using and whether or not that filter has an NSF certification please ask us about your filter  below or call our team at 800-942-7873.

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Water Hazards in Building Systems

NSF pushes forward with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) training to reduce risk of microbial, chemical and physicals hazards in building water systems.   

Every year, tens of thousands of preventable injuries and deaths are caused by exposure to microbial, chemical, and physical hazards from building water systems. Utilizing HACCP guidelines to building water systems builds a framework for identifying potential hazards and specifies measures for control to ensure building’s water supply safety. HACCP is a program that provides the necessary training to understand best practices procedure for maintaining a facility water supply.  Filter Pure Systems supports the continued focus by NSF to provide guidelines to promote safe and healthy water.

When working with our Healthcare facilities, we verify with them the level of NSF certification needed by water systems to remove designated contaminants.  NSF 42 certification for water filtration covers systems designed to reduce Aesthetic or non-health related contaminants.  These contaminants include chlorine, taste and odor, and particulates that may be present in public and private drinking water. In the water supply for a hospital, this is not enough protection for the immunocompromised patients.  We recommend utilizing NSF 53 standards at point of use sources for patients that may be susceptible to microbiological exposure. NSF 53 systems are certified to reduce specific health-related contaminants. These contaminants may be microbiological (including cyst and legionella), chemical (including disinfection byproducts, pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides), and particulates.  The first step, we take in securing the quality of our Healthcare facility is to ensure we have a solid foundation of filtration to protect the staff and patients. Using the industry-leading brand Everpure allows us the flexibility to meet the needs of our clients without sacrificing quality or reliability. Let us help you establish a guideline of how to secure the quality of your water from Point of Use to Point of Entry systems.  To view more information on the HACCP training program, please visit nsf.org. For more information or to discuss your current water filtration system, please contact our Health Care & Lodging Specialist, Todd Leach. Click here to ask us a question!

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Keeping our Soldiers Safe

For over 30 years, Filter Pure Systems has been keeping our soldiers safe by keeping their drinking water SAFE, especially our boys on the seas. Did you know that a survey was done to determine the risk of contaminated drinking water aboard eleven different US Naval ships? The findings showed that every ship had a moderate risk of chemical contamination in production, storage and distribution systems. This was due to volatile organic compounds, total petroleum hydrocarbons, disinfection by-products and lead.

The U.S. Navy has recognized Everpure Bromination as the safest, most reliable and easy to use method of water disinfection aboard their ships and Filter Pure Systems is proud to provide them with those systems. Bromination was first registered for use in 1976, treating potable water by using polybrominated ion exchange resin. Bromine is a natural occurring element that is found as bromide in living organisms and is a common component in seawater. A large portion of onboard and offshore illness can be caused by this. 

The revolutionary bromine-based systems provide an excellent alternative to chlorine, while de-chlorination systems can be retrofitted to bring cleaner taste to pre-chlorinated water. Ideal for ships of any size, or even off-shore platforms, our Everpure Marine bromination systems won’t corrode filtration equipment like chlorine can. 

Chlorine also carries a fire hazard safety warning and bromine does not. The bromine cartridges hold the polybromide resin, which is non-toxic, and more importantly, non-flammable. Everpure’s de-chlorination systems can also be retrofitted to work with existing chlorination systems, removing the unpleasant taste and smell of chlorine.

Remember, water is the fuel for the United State’s most important military weapon, our Soldiers! So it is a priority to make sure their water is fresh, clean, and most importantly, SAFE!  To learn more about Everpure Marine water filters, contact Filter Pure Systems, Inc. today. We work closely with distributors and customers to ensure that they get the best water filter systems for their needs. Whether you need quick-change cartridges — or a completely new bromination system — Filter Pure Systems, Inc. is here to help! Contact us online or reach Customer Service at 1-800-942-7873.

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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!