Zerowater filters....
 

My tap water at home tastes horrible. I hate seeing all those little bottles get "recycled". I refill them from my 5 gallon spring water dispenser. And I am getting tired of hauling several 5 gallon (read 35lbs) bottles of water around. I can refill for .20 a gallon nearby, but cost is not everything. So I bought a Zerowater device today. It comes with a Total Dissolved Solids meter. My tap water reads 185 PPM, my spring water reads 18 PPM, and this filter does give a reading of 000 on the water it produces. Takes care of the taste issue also. One complaint people have is that at a suggested filter change reading of 006 they get expensive. But if my spring water tastes great at 18 I am thinking the filters can actually be used longer. One of the benefits of the one I chose is that it is self contained. It is basically a pitcher with a built in filter. I am happy so far and thought I'd share.

I found that cold water mask the bad taste a little. When we put in a small under sink drinking water system, I push for Everpure products with their H300 filter. They did come out with a slightly better product over the last year, but I forget the filter model number at the present. Hospitals and restaurants use them as well. Normally, they last for about one year. 100 bucks for a filter replacement.

Update. I like the Zerowater system,but the filters end up being expensive and they filter out everything. So I looked into the Berkey system. The set of two filters handle 6000 gallons of water before needing replacement for around $100. I found a site that showed how to use food grade 5 gallon buckets to make a 5 gallon system for around $120 instead of buying Berkey's 2.5 gallon system for $250. I am not one of those people who need shiny stainless steel to please me if a better material is found. More capacity that will be a stronger system for a lot less money. The Berkey gets rid of chlorine and fluoride (with a second filter) and bad contaminants but leaves essential minerals in the water. And a big plus is that the Berkey system is actually approved for processing pool water and even river water into drinkable water. The Zerowater is not. Just passing this along.

I'm guessing you looked into a charcoal filter & found it wouldn't eliminate what you wanted to the degree you wanted. That's what I would consider inline (if possible) with particulate filter(s) before that if need be. I have a regular, wholehouse softening system with a particulate filter preceding it. I'm on a well, and the filter (4 in. by 20 in.) is 5 micron. I change it about twice a year.

I have no need to filter the water I use to flush toilets, take a shower, fill the pool, wash the cars and water the lawn, so I am not considering a full house inline filter. Also - I know a few of them that have failed and surprised the homeowners with a basement full of water. I drink a lot of water and the taste is what really was the motivation. Now I am learning about how much "stuff" is allowed in our drinking water! Aye!

Thanks for your input.

respects,

Dennis in SE PA

We have limestone rich hard water in San Antonio and I hate the salt systems. I recently installed an Aquasana system and our water is now fantastic.