Introduction to water filters
Water filters are designed for specific types of contaminant.
This page gives a short introduction to all of the commonly used filters and also to some less common ones.
Dist illers
Distillation, according to John Archer's informative book on water, "The Water You Drink", is an ancient method where you heat water until it vaporizes. As the water vaporizes, bacteria, minerals and most other substances are left behind. The steam cools and condenses into relatively pure water.
Distilled water tastes flat because it has lost its dissolved oxygen.
The process is not effective against chemicals which have a boiling point below that of water. Volatile substances such as ammonia are carried over into the condensation chamber. This may include nasties such as Trihalomethanes, chloroform, trichloroethylene, and phenol. He recommends the addition of silver activated charcoal water filters.
Most distillers are slow, producing about 3 liters per hour. Stills have to be cleaned regularly and as boiling releases a lot of chlorine byproducts, it needs to be in an adequately ventilated area.
There have been a number of reviews of the distillation process including an infamous one by Dr. Zoltan P Rona.
There are four basic water filters :
- Activated Carbon Water Filters
 REVERSE OSMOSIS
A technology that was originally designed to desalinate seawater, Reverse Osmosis Filters or RO are used widely to provide industry with purified water. It's a natural process adapted by technology which operates when two liquids of different concentrations are separated by a semi-permeable membrane. Water passes through the membrane towards the more concentrated solution. In home systems, this water is forced under pressure against an ultrafine semi-permeable membrane so fine as to allow only single molecules through, rejecting most contaminants. Unlike distillers, it allows oxygen to pass through, so RO water isn't dead tasting.
Typical units produce water drop by drop, so they need a pressurized tank to store the result for fast access. It's also rather inefficient in that it may take up to 5 liters of water to produce one clean liter. membranes must be replaced by a qualified tradesperson.
ACTIVATED CARBON FILTERS
(also called carbon filters) treat general taste and odor problems, including chlorine residue. When water flows through carbon filters, contaminants adsorb or stick to the surfaces of the carbon particles. Activated carbon filters are reported to be the best method available for remov ing specific organic chemicals, including some pesticide residues. Studies have also shown that GAC (granular activated carbon) adsorption is an effective method for radon removal. Mechanical filters trap, through a straining process, sand, dirt, and other suspended particles to reduce turbidity in water.
Carbon water filter devices are available in several sizes and designs. Small units fit on kitchen taps. Large under-sink units, often called in-line filters, are designed to treat up to 1500 gallons. On such a unit the canister is connected to the cold water line. Other styles are available that treat all household water.
Activated Carbon water filters are used in all of our Ionizing Water Filters because they allow beneficial soluble minerals to pass through the filter, into the ionizing chamber and out into the alkaline ionized microclustered water. they are relatively inexpensive to replace and ensure a continued high standard of filtration.
Results of test on JUPITER MASTERPIECE WATER FILTER carried out by Seoul Department of Environment and Public Health
In a government certified test of the Masterpiece unit, the following contaminants were removed; (ND = Not detectable)
CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS ~ Copy
Item Standard Result
KMnO4 10 2.7
Lead 0.05 ND
Fluoride 1.5 ND
Arsenic 0.05 ND
Cyanide 0.01 ND
Mercury 0.001 ND
Selenium 0.01 ND
Chromium (6+) 0.05 ND
Cadmium 0.01 ND
Phenol 0.005 ND
Trihalomethanes 0.10 .009
Diazinon 0.02 ND
Malathion 0.25 ND
Parathion 0.06 ND
Fenitrothion 0.04 ND
Carbaryl 0.07 ND
1.1.1 Trichloroethane 0.1 ND
Tetrachloroethylene 0.03 ND
Dichloromethane 0.02 ND
Benzene 0.01 ND
Toluene 0.7 ND
Ethyl Benzene 0.3 ND
Xylene 0.5 ND
1,1 Dichloroethylene 0.03 ND
Carbon Tetrachloride 0.002 ND
Result: Water Filters Passed for standard of Drinking Water Quality
Jae-Young Shin, Director General
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The statements enclosed herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned on this site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your family doctor.
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