Point of use water filters

[flatbutt]

I just found out that one of our town wells has a chemical contaminant. There's no evidence that it has migrated to my part of town but it is one big water table and the cost to test my private well is >$500. So, I'm thinking a top o' the line water filter under my kitchen sink is a way to go.

Any users here? Reco's?

[nota]

local county guys do not do tests FREE ?

OR CHEAP ON LINE MAIL AWAY TESTS ?

WE HAD A FILTER PITCHER FOR DRINKING WATER

WHY TREAT THE SHOWER OR FLUSHING WATER

[masraum]

Years ago we had an "Everpure PBS-400". It was designed for "sinks and wet bars." I put it on our kitchen sink (cold side only). It did reduce the flow rate a little, but still plenty to be useable. We had city water, but didn't like it.

They don't appear to make the PBS-400 any more, but they still make filters for it.

I suspect this is the new version of the same thing (under sink filter). The filter is rated for 3000 gallons or 1 year. This is designed for 2.2gal/min flow rate.
https://www.pentair.com/en-us/water-softening-filtration/products/undersink-countertop-filtration-systems/freshpoint-easy-flow-undercounter-filtration-system.4005450.html

They have a commercial thing that looks more like what we had and is designed for "fountains". It's designed for a 1.67gpm flow rate, so quite a bit less than the one above. I assume it may filter a bit more, but be more irritating when you're trying to fill a huge pot with water or wash dishes. It's rated for 9,000 gallons.
https://www.pentair.com/en-us/products/business-industry/filters/filtration-systems/qc7i_single-mc2_filtration_system.html

[BK911]

Most housings are similar.
It really comes down to the filter media.
Get a housing that has plenty of media options.

[hbueno]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I just found out that one of our town wells has a chemical contaminant. There's no evidence that it has migrated to my part of town but it is one big water table and the cost to test my private well is >$500. So, I'm thinking a top o' the line water filter under my kitchen sink is a way to go.

Any users here? Reco's?

Is it PFAS (forever chemicals)? We were recently notified about it being found in one of our town wells. It's only within the last few years that the technology to detect it at the parts per trillion level has become available.

For a countertop dispenser, check out Lifestraw. Or go big with an undersink reverse osmosis unit.

[Arizona_928]

What type of contaminant?

I would look at nitrates level too. Gov level is very generous.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by hbueno

Is it PFAS (forever chemicals)? We were recently notified about it being found in one of our town wells. It's only within the last few years that the technology to detect it at the parts per trillion level has become available.

For a countertop dispenser, check out Lifestraw. Or go big with an undersink reverse osmosis unit.

Yup, exactly. So, a carbon block may be the way to go. Research states that RO is relatively wasteful.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

What type of contaminant?

I would look at nitrates level too. Gov level is very generous.

Sadly nitrates are so thin they make it through even the finest filters. I had an under sink filter, with the fine filter. It got rid of the chemical tastes in the tap water, but when I went to change the filter I found it was full of green algae/slime

[E Sully]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I just found out that one of our town wells has a chemical contaminant. There's no evidence that it has migrated to my part of town but it is one big water table and the cost to test my private well is >$500. So, I'm thinking a top o' the line water filter under my kitchen sink is a way to go.

Any users here? Reco's?

I don't agree, as I would rather know what is in my water than just think an expensive filtration is keeping it safe.
I found a fee of about 500 for a complete top of the line test of my well to be worth the peace of mind. I was very relieved to see the results showed I had a great water supply. The only issue I have is hard water, which I deal with by using a particle filter, then a water softener. Even though it is unnecessary, I use a Brita filter pitcher, but mainly due to the fact I like to have cold water in the fridge.
I did go to the water company at one time to inquire about hooking up to the public water supply, and the representative told me I was probably better off with my well than using their water.

[dad911]

You need to know the contaminate to properly filter.

NJ well testing act has driven up the cost of testing(for a real estate transfer), which used to be free from the local county, to about $1000. However, you don't need certified testing at this point, and a re-test for a single item is much cheaper.

I would test for your concern contaminate, you may not have a problem. In any event, I wouldn't use the company in Flanders, with the fancy web site...... Your town or county may have resources for local homeowners.

We happened to grow up in this neighborhood, moved out in the late 70's, found out later that our well was probably contaminated with carbon tetrachloride by a neighbor. https://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/community/sites/pi/g000011456.htm

In the case above, the contamination travelled about a half mile.

[flatbutt]

In case anyone is interested...It is in fact PFAS in my aquifer so I had a carbon/RO unit installed under the kitchen sink. This stuff is everywhere.

[cstreit]

REverse Osmosis (note I do not know if it will remove your contaminant specifically) plus carbon.

We have an undersink model that we use for all drinking water and the fridge. Amazon - called a "Waterdrop" iirc. Much easier to maintain and install than tank based systems.

[LWJ]

As I have not studied Chemistry is decades, please don't consider me an expert. But isn't PFAS relatively inert? If so, a carbon filter won't bond with it. My understanding is that Carbon isn't a filter but rather a chemical "magnet" that connects with impurities and keeps them out of down stream.

Anybody?

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by cstreit

REverse Osmosis (note I do not know if it will remove your contaminant specifically) plus carbon.

We have an undersink model that we use for all drinking water and the fridge. Amazon - called a "Waterdrop" iirc. Much easier to maintain and install than tank based systems.

Our "undersink" RO system, maybe claimed 75 gpd, is in the basement. I don't recall where we got it, but it was aquarium-oriented. Gives good water to the sink, clear cubes from the icemaker and it saves our hot-water appliances from the horrible silicates that we live with on the side of our little volcano. Without it we get deposits and water spots here that laugh off vinegar and CLR...

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by mjohnson

Our "undersink" RO system, maybe claimed 75 gpd, is in the basement. I don't recall where we got it, but it was aquarium-oriented. Gives good water to the sink, clear cubes from the icemaker and it saves our hot-water appliances from the horrible silicates that we live with on the side of our little volcano. Without it we get deposits and water spots here that laugh off vinegar and CLR...

Thats why I like the electric pump driven systems. They seem to deliver better and don't peter out when you need more like a tank system does.

Mine is also in the basement so more head pressure means less flow - but I prefer it there. Ive had this system for 6 months and am happy with it. We're on a well that comes out of a limestone aquifer. Water is great.

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by LWJ

As I have not studied Chemistry is decades, please don't consider me an expert. But isn't PFAS relatively inert? If so, a carbon filter won't bond with it. My understanding is that Carbon isn't a filter but rather a chemical "magnet" that connects with impurities and keeps them out of down stream.

Anybody?

From the EPA website -
https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/reducing-pfas-drinking-water-treatment-technologies

Activated Carbon Treatment

Activated carbon treatment is the most studied treatment for PFAS removal. Activated carbon is commonly used to adsorb natural organic compounds, taste and odor compounds, and synthetic organic chemicals in drinking water treatment systems. Adsorption is both the physical and chemical process of accumulating a substance, such as PFAS, at the interface between liquid and solids phases. Activated carbon is an effective adsorbent because it is a highly porous material and provides a large surface area to which contaminants may adsorb. Activated carbon (GAC) is made from organic materials with high carbon contents such as wood, lignite, and coal; and is often used in granular form called granular activated carbon (GAC).

GAC has been shown to effectively remove PFAS from drinking water when it is used in a flow through filter mode after particulates have already been removed. EPA researcher Thomas Speth says, “GAC can be 100 percent effective for a period of time, depending on the type of carbon used, the depth of the bed of carbon, flow rate of the water, the specific PFAS you need to remove, temperature, and the degree and type of organic matter as well as other contaminants, or constituents, in the water.”

For example, GAC works well on longer-chain PFAS like PFOA and PFOS, but shorter chain PFAS like Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and Perfluorobutyrate (PFBA) do not adsorb as well.

Another type of activated carbon treatment is powdered activated carbon (PAC) which is the same material as GAC, but it is smaller in size, powder like. Because of the small particle size, PAC cannot be used in a flow through bed, but can be added directly to the water and then removed with the other natural particulates in the clarification stage (conventional water treatment or low-pressure membranes - microfiltration or ultrafiltration). Used in this way, PAC is not as efficient or economical as GAC at removing PFAS. Speth says, “Even at very high PAC doses with the very best carbon, it is unlikely to remove a high percentage PFAS; however, it can be used for modest percent removals. If used, however, there is an additional problem with what to do with the sludge that contains adsorbed PFAS.”

I live just outside La Crosse, near the airport, where they've been using foam for firefighting practice and actual crashes for years. I don't have it near as bad as some other areas, but our town is looking at installing a town water system. We're on wells right now.

[LWJ]

Nice clarification Rockfan! Not a bonding but rather absorbing. Thanks!