Technology Distillation Reverse Osmosis Pressed Carbon Block Chlorine T&O eSpring Cartridge (Pressed Carbon

reduction Block / UV Light)

(examples) - Carbon Cartridge

Description Heating of water until it Pressurized water is forced Water pressure forces water through Typically simple Water is forced under pressure through
turns to steam thereby through a semi-permeable a solid block of activated carbon. chambers with threaded pressed activated carbon filter material.
killing bacteria, viruses membrane that allows only Contaminants are reduced through inlet/outlet. Media could Water is then exposed to ultraviolet
and separating sediment extremely small molecules physical screening absorption, or be Granular Activated light, which destroys waterborne
and inorganic to pass through. Water is hydrogen bonding as water passes Carbon or Kinetic microorganisms
contaminants. Vapor is typically collected in a through the block. 3 main forms of Degradation Fluxion
cooled and condenses storage tank and dispensed carbon are used in carbon cartridges; (KDF – Copper-Zinc
back to liquid water with a separate faucet Granular Activated Carbon (GAC – alloy) or ascorbic acid
Pelltized Carbon), Fine, and Coarse (Vitamin C) or citric acid.
Carbon. Can be either pressed or (NOTE: carbon block is
loose packed. in the cartridge category).
Pros: - Reduces Chlorine - Reduces inorganic - Reduces chlorine, disinfection - Improves taste and odor - Effectively removes more than 140
- Reduces Inorganic compounds by-products and most organic of water contaminants, including pesticides,
Contaminants - May reduce some high compounds. - Low cost using Granular industrial chemicals, organic and
- Reduces bacteria and Molecular Weights organic - Leaves minerals Activated Carbon inorganic compounds, and particulates
viruses compounds - Efficient filtration where all - High flow rates (up to 3 in sizes down to 0.2 microns
- Reduces high Molecular -Reduces protozoan water passes through filter. gpm) - Ultraviolet (UV) light deactivates
Weight Organics parasites - Offers depth filtration of Does not remove more than 99.99% of bacteria and
particulates as small as 0.2 microns beneficial minerals viruses
- Carbon/UV filter lasts up to 1 year or
5,000 litres (1,320 gallons) whichever
comes first
- Supplies treated water on demand
directly from your tap
Cons: - Reduces beneficial - Requires high water - Not effective for reduction of - Granular Activated - Higher initial cost than many
minerals pressure (> 40 psi) most inorganic compounds, Carbon type may channel alternatives. However, long life and
- Requires a lot of energy - Removes beneficial bacteria, or viruses. decreasing reduction low maintenance costs reduce overall
- May give water a flat minerals - May not effectively cost of treated water
taste - May not effectively remove organics
- May be slow, remove bacteria and viruses - Does not reduce bacteria
inconvenient, and Slow process or viruses
expensive - Waste water (typically
Does not remove low 80%)
boiling point organics - May not remove some low
Molecular Weights organic
compounds
 Technology Disinfection - Chlrorine Disinfection - Ozone Disinfection – UV Light Ion Exchange Sediment Filtration
(examples) Tablets, gas or liquid can
be used

Description Used to kill bacteria and Ozone gas (O3) is generated by UV-C (Germicidal light) is directed Typically cation (+) exchange is used Reduces suspended
viruses in drinking water. corona discharge or Ultraviolet to a water path (reactor) and disrupts to reduce hardness (Ca / Mg). solids via size
Usually the last step in (UV) and bubbled through water the DNA / RNA of microorganisms. exclusion with media.
Municipal treatment. to kill bacteria and viruses. UV dose > 40mJ/cm2 is needed to Typically non-wovens
Generally leaves residual Good mixing is required. reduce viruses by > 99.99%. that are pleated.
chlorine at the tap. Must Degree of filtration
get past the breakpoint to determines the cost.
have residual free
chlorine.
Pros: - Simple and effective - Effectively kills bacteria and - Highly effective on bacteria, - Highly effective in reducing - Improves clarity
against bacteria and viruses viruses, and protozoan cysts hardness (turbidity) of the water
viruses - Oxidizes and precipitates iron, - Does not add anything to the - High capacity in Point-of-Entry - Simple cartridges are
- Low Cost sulfur, and manganese water (POE) systems with a tank used
- Will destroy many organic - Does not affect minerals - Effectively reduces nitrates, sulfates - Generally low cost
compounds and arsenic for 5 micron increases
- Easily regenerated on-site. for smaller micron
levels
Cons: - Not effective on - Can create undesirable by- - Requires removal of turbidity to - Requires a large resin bed for large - Media will plug
protozoan cysts products (e.g. bromate and be effective volumes of water reducing flow rate
- Requires contact time formaldehyde) - Requires electricity - Competing ions reduce capacity - Frequent change out
(minutes) - Requires electricity - More costly due to electronics - Requires a discharge stream is necessary in highly
- Forms disinfection by- - Does not reduce inorganic - Not effective against organics / (salinity) turbid waters
products and other by- compounds inorganics - Requires salt for regeneration - Non-exact filtration
products - Tends to make water corrosive
- Hazardous to transport
Technology Coagulation / Anion Exchange pH adjustment Selective Medias Ceramic Filters
Flocculation
(examples) Alkaline ionizers Specialty Adsorbents

Description Typically alum Used to trap ions based on Tap water passes through chambers Metsorb media (lead scavenger), Water is forces through
(coagulant) is added to charge. Cation resin will address with electrodes to split water activated alumina (fluoride ceramic media; the
make smaller particles hardness (Ca, Mg), Fluoride, molecules into ions. End users are reduction) small pores in the
attracted to each other. radium, ammonia. Anion resin able to select the pH desired. media prevent large
Usually done at the will address Nitrates, particles from passing
municipal level to reduce Perchlorate, and Arsenic. through
sediment (turbidity). It
can also reduce bacteria /
viruses and heavy metals.
Pros: - Reduces sediment with - Is contaminant specific to - Allow users to adjust the pH or - Can be added to filter blocks and - Reduces large
a treatment chemical address homeowner issues dispensed water other structures particulates
(typically alum) - Use industry standard cartridge - Makes water “feel” different to - Adds contaminant specific claims to - Ceramic filter is
- Can reduce inorganics sizes and housings users blocks or other medias reusable after cleaning
(As, Pb) - Eliminate need for larger or - Usually requires less than 10% by - Reduces bacteria over
- Can reduce bacteria, more costly systems weight for effectiveness short term
viruses, and cysts (1 – 2 - NSFI approved - Allows minerals to
LRV) pass through
Cons: - Can be slow (1 – 6 - Flow rate limited (some are less - No scientific data to support - Expensive - Requires periodic
hours or more) than 0.5gpm) claims of pH water better for skin - Reduces the carbon content of cleaning and
- Creates a waste stream - Capacity limited for some ions or digestive health blocks, other structures disinfection
(floc needs to be - Selectively can be a problem - Has a waste stream - Does not reduce
discarded) (Competition) and dumping - Cannot effectively reduce organic and / or
- Need treatment chlorine, organic, or inorganic inorganic contaminants
chemical to operate contaminants from drinking water or viruses
(Alum) or others - Complex with electronics
 Technology Hollow Fiber Mineral Pots Silver Treatment Bottled Water Boiling
(examples)

Description Porous membrane screens Pour through units that use Silver is mixed with carbon to Water is purchased in 16oz. or 5 Water is boiled for 20
out small particulates and gravity to trickle water over maintain the advantages of carbon gallon bottles. Can be produced from minutes to kill
bacteria. coral, sand, or similar stone to filtration and to control bacteria. spring water, mineral water, tap potentially hazardous
add minerals to the water. water, distilled water. waterborne
microorganisms
Pros: - Reduces particulates - No installation needed. Adds - Marginally effective against - Perceived to be higher quality in - Reduces bacteria,
well calcium and magnesium to the certain pathogenic bacteria terms of taste, odor, clarity, viruses and cysts – if
- Reduces bacteria over water microbiological and chemical water is boiled for 20
short term contamination minutes

Cons: - Not effective at - Does not effectively reduce - Reduces minerals - Uncertain quality - Does not reduce
reduction of organic, bacteria and viruses, organic or - Slow - Most bottled waters are treated to particulates, or many
inorganic, or viruses inorganic contaminants - Can be wasteful of water improve taste and appearance only – inorganic or organic
- Must have chlorine - Adding other technologies is - Does not remove bacteria or and may still contain bacteria, compounds
present to be effective; not very effective due to low viruses (disinfection) organic and inorganic compounds - Will not improve
therefore low efficiency efficiency of the pour through - Over time, membrane can - Expensive and inconvenient water taste color or
when used with carbon. design become fouled and performance odor
Over time, carbon pre- decline - Is very inconvenient
filter may interfere with and time - consuming
fiber performance
 Technology Magnetic De Scaling Far Infra Red Systems Energetic Water Treatment
Systems
(examples)

Description Electrically induced or Tourmaline mineral is semi- Patented Vortex System

induced using magnetic precious gem used for process
media such as Magnetite
Pros: - Claims water - Claims to have the ability to - Claims to encage naturally
experiences a polarization soften water, negatively charge occurring nano-particles with
of minerals and change in it, and to restructure it into multiple layers of “Bucky Ball”
ionization of the minerals smaller molecular clusters water structures
- Claims to create softer
water, forming smaller
water clusters

Cons: - No scientific proof that - Smaller clusters haven’t been - No scientific data to support
it provides greater shown to provide better claim at this point
hydration properties hydration properties or health
benefits