Water Filtration FAQ

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Q. Why do I need to filter my water?

A. Water is sometimes known as the universal solvent. It has a tendency to dissolve a little bit of everything it touches. Dust, smoke from industry, carbon dioxide, bacteria, spores and even smog may be absorbed by water droplets.

By the time water returns to rivers, lakes or underground aquifers, it may have accumulated amounts of these elements along the way. Even after reaching a home, it can continue to dissolve materials such as lead from solder in plumbing pipes. An effective water filter should filter more than 95% of most of these contaminants with the added bonus of cleaner tasting, odour free water.

Q. How do water filters work?

A. Most water filters work by passing the water through a filtration agent (physical, chemical or ultra-violet) removing or neutralising contaminants.

Physical barrier style filters remove suspended particles such as mud, silt, sand or rust as well as micro-organisms such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium. Physical filters are measured by microns. The smaller the micron number, the more types of particles can be removed.

Chemical processes can remove or neutralise potentially harmful contaminants. Depending on the type of contaminant, the filter elements can comprise of activated charcoal, copper or zinc.

Ultra-violet can destroy bacteria, viruses or pathogens in water. The ultra-violet light is typically encased in a tank where the water is treated either when in storage or is run through an ultra-violet canister.

Q. What types of water filters are there?

A. There are many different types of systems from a carbon block, reverse osmosis, ozonation to ultra-violet treatments. Briefly:

Carbon Block. Water is forced through the pores of the densely compacted carbon block. This combination of mechanical filtration, electrokinetic absorption, and physical/chemical absorption can reduce chlorine, taste and odour problems and a wide range of contaminants of health concern. Carbon block water filters require no electricity, and do not add salt or silver to the water.

Culligan patented cartridge system. Based on a process known as Pre-coat, this patented technology has a pleated surface of activated carbon providing five times more surface area than conventional carbon block filters eliminating 99.9% of all particles 0.5 micron (150 times smaller than the width of a human hair) and larger. Find out more.

Granular Activated Carbon. Found in many portable jug or pitcher type filters. These filters can reduce chlorine, rust and particulate matter as the water flows through a bed of charcoal granules. However, if the granules are not impregnated with silver nitrate (considered to be a poison), they could become be a breeding ground for bacterial. These types of filters are not considered completely effective in reducing contaminants like cysts, pesticides, lead or asbestos.

Reverse Osmosis (RO). Reverse Osmosis works by forcing water under pressure against an ultra fine semi-permeable membrane designed to allow single water molecules through, whilst rejecting most contaminants. The membrane also acts as a mechanical filter, filtering out virtually all particles cloudiness, micro-organisms, asbestos and even single molecules of heavier organic compounds. The RO membrane allows oxygen to pass through, so the final result doesn't have the flat taste of distilled water. Find out more.

Ultra Violet Treatment. UV systems pass water through a chamber where it is exposed to radiation. UV is very effective against many bacterial contaminants but can be hindered by particles and dirt. This method is most commonly used in waste water treatment.

Ozonation. Used by some public water facilities this process kills mainly bacteria. It takes longer to treat water this way and can create by-products such as formaldehyde and ketones which could lead to bacterial growth in the distribution pipes.

Ion Exchange (Deionisers / Deionizers). More commonly known as water softeners these do not necessarily filter or purify the water as they are mainly is used only to change the water hardness in many rural areas, or for industrial purposes. Water softeners only remove some types of contaminants, such as calcium, magnesium, lime, and iron that make water taste metallic and salty. Water softeners are generally used in conjunction with a water filter for home and drinking water use.

Q. Are there cost benefits to filtering my water?

A. Yes. Apart from the environmental impact that in its production; bottled water costs more per litre than petrol. By installing a water filter in your home or office you are not only saving the environment, you can save money as well. Filtered water will add years to your appliance and fixtures, can reduce the need for as much detergent to wash clothes and dishes, and even your coloured clothing won’t fade as quickly. Plus, the long term financial and health costs of lifting and storing bottled water, especially in the office make the benefits of a filtered water system even more positive.

Q. How do I choose which system is best for my needs?

A. The first step is to find out exactly the quality of your water and determine your personal requirements. Culligan offers professional in-house and laboratory water testing to ensure we understand exactly what is in your water. Then, combined with an in-depth discussion about your needs we can determine the best system to suit your situation. To book a Water Quality Test, please contact us, or call 1300 669 119 today.

Q. What is hard water?

A. Water that contains calcium and magnesium is known as "hard". While many natural water supplies contain a certain amount of these two elements, most supplies range from 51.3 mg/l to 855 mg/l. These substances leave a "film" or scale on surfaces that the water touches. If left untreated, hard water will form lime scaling in pipes, water heaters, boilers, air conditioning systems, etc., causing inefficiency and sometimes even permanent damage. Hard water does not clean as effectively as soft water and can also result in the formation of soap curd that adheres to linen fibres, glassware, dishes, and other products and can leave an itchy or sticky build-up behind.

Q. What are Giardia and Cryptosporidium cysts?

A. The cysts that crippled Sydney’s water supply in 1998 can still be found in some municipal water supplies. Unlike bacteria, Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocyst are more resistant to conventional water treatment, such as chlorination and ultraviolet irradiation.

Cryptosporidium parvum is a waterborne parasite encased in a leathery shell, or oocyst and causes severe flu-like symptoms when ingested. Once ingested, the walls of the oocyst are softened by the digestive fluids in the stomach and small intestine. Four tiny protozoa emerge and immediately begin to reproduce and infect the intestinal lining. This process impairs the small intestine’s ability to absorb water and nutrients, which causes the infected person to expel the oocyst through diarrhoea and vomiting. Water can become infected through contact with infected animal faeces or intestines and will pass freely through water treatment plants as it is not readily killed by chlorine.

Cryptosporidium is one of the most resistant parasites to water chemical treatments ever encountered. It responds somewhat to chlorine but only in very high doses and is resistant to many commonly used hospital and laboratory disinfectants. Cryptosporidium can be removed by boiling water at a rolling boil for at least 1 minute or more conveniently by a water filtration system that is 1 micron absolute or less in pore size and/or rated by NSF International for cyst removal.

Giardia, also called Giardia lamblia, is a type of single celled, flagellated protozoa. Giardia lives in the small intestine of its host and can infect humans and is one of the most common parasites to infect domestic cats. Water is a frequent carrier of giardia infection. The parasite may be found in swimming pools, hot tubs, streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes that have been contaminated with faeces or sewage.

Giardia infection causes a disease called giardiasis. Symptoms include abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, bloating, and flatulence and can typically last about two to six weeks. To avoid infection boil water from potentially untreated sources, or a water filtration system that is 1 micron absolute or less in pore size and/or rated by NSF International can achieve cyst removal.

Q. How does my water quality affect my business?

A. Untreated water can increase utility bills - as little as a sixteenth of scale can reduce efficiency by 11%, costing you 41.4 therms of energy. Scale and corrosion can reduce the efficiency of equipment and shorten its life span. Laundry rewash due to unclean linen and wiping off the spots from dishware costs you money in increased labour, and you may be spending more on chemicals than you would with proper softening or filtering. Chlorine and other substances can adversely affect the taste and smell of food affecting return business and even your reputation.