Water Maker

quote:
Originally posted by seahawk215

This is the reason for my previous comments on the carbon filter.

A foreign visitor has died and at least two other people have become sick. This hotel installed a carbon filter system to remove the chlorine from the city water supply. This is why that IMO it is a bad idea because they will grow bacteria and viruses in them, then when you flush the system you can fill the membrane with bacteria.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1379545.html
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-disease-miami-hotel-brf-20091212,0,3840192.story

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According to the article the bacteria did not grow in the filter. It grew in the water because chlorine had been removed.

But, even so, your point is well taken. Everything has to be monitored and serviced regularly to protect against such occurances.

Bob
 
Yes, technically the bacteria grew in the water either in the plumbing or the filter. One pound of activated carbon contains a surface area of approximately 100 acres. That is a lot of places for water borne pathogens to grow. It is also the reason you will not see a carbon filter on my watermaker.
The flow only goes thru the membrane in one direction. The membrane would probably not pass any water borne pathogens but I am not sure I want to take that chance. On my system when you flush the system you are introducing the flush water before the pre filters. The same when you pickle the system, so you are also pickling the pre filter.
 
randy: what about placing the charcoal filter at the faucet??
 
It depends on what your purpose for using the filter is for. If you want to remove the chlorine, taste, some odors from the water they do. I personally see no need for one as the water produced from a watermaker is of very high quality. I would be more concerned about the need of disinfection whether by U V light or oxidation like chlorine or bleach. I would also be concerned if it sat for a couple of weeks and then was used again as to what was coming out in that first gallon or so of use.
Activated charcoal is good at trapping other carbon-based impurities ("organic" chemicals), as well as things like chlorine. Many other chemicals are not attracted to carbon at all -- sodium, nitrates, etc. -- so they pass right through. This means that an activated charcoal filter will remove certain impurities while ignoring others. It also means that, once all of the bonding sites are filled, an activated charcoal filter stops working. At that point you must replace the filter.
 
A filter at the faucet will normally be used for both street supplied tank water as well as RO water. The only problem I have with that is my habit is to drain and flush the system after each storage period but I cant flush the system without filtering the old water unless I remove it, a PITA.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

A filter at the faucet will normally be used for both street supplied tank water as well as RO water. The only problem I have with that is my habit is to drain and flush the system after each storage period but I cant flush the system without filtering the old water unless I remove it, a PITA.

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Bruce, I have a separate small faucet beside the galley sink that I use for nothing but drinking water that goes through a carbon filter. All other faucets are normal and do not go through the carbon filter.

Bob
 
I installed an under sink filter with a carbon filter for all the water used at the galley sink like this:

21GWNEho3zL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
 
What or why do you guys see a need for a filter? What are your concerns? Why do you need one? I am curious as to why you are buying these systems and what you are trying to filter out of your water.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

I installed an under sink filter with a carbon filter for all the water used at the galley sink like this:

21GWNEho3zL._SL500_AA280_.jpg


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Yep, I have exactly the same thing but I use it only for drinking water.

Bob
 
quote:
Originally posted by seahawk215

What or why do you guys see a need for a filter? What are your concerns? Why do you need one? I am curious as to why you are buying these systems and what you are trying to filter out of your water.

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Randy, I sometimes fill my water tank in some "remote" places and I'm just not all that confident about how pure or clean the water source is. (i.e. old tanks, old pipes, etc.)

All I can tell you is that each time I change the filter element it is covered with stuff that I am very glad I didn't ingest when I drank the water. :)

Maybe it does nothing more than give me a false sense of security. Well OK, so be it. All I know is what I see on the filter element when I take it out to change it as I do about every 6 months. :)

Bob
 
"All I can tell you is that each time I change the filter element it is covered with stuff that I am very glad I didn't ingest when I drank the water."

It's not in a clear housing by any chance is it?
 
Randy, I sometimes fill my water tank in some "remote" places and I'm just not all that confident about how pure or clean the water source is. (i.e. old tanks, old pipes, etc.)
Bob, I can relate to that and the filters are good for removing sediment, rust, bad taste, odors, etc. The color and sediment although not very appeasing is very unlikely to be harmful.
All I can tell you is that each time I change the filter element it is covered with stuff that I am very glad I didn't ingest when I drank the water.
The stuff you don't see that could be what makes you sick. The best thing to do is to disinfect the water you drink. A capful of bleach in your water tank will be your best defense. Filters are a personal choice, just keep in mind they don’t have any disinfection properties just the opposite.
 
I also have the same filter shown. I installed it just in case there was anything in the city water/ marina water lines.

And I guess because I fill my tank with a garden hose and then store it sometimes for a week or so. (I don't drain a half full tank of water, just top it off).

So when I get ice from the ice maker, or from the filtered tap, I think it is somehow better & cleaner than no filter at all. And it's my excuse for no longer buying bottled water.

Having said that. . . .for years I have reached into the store bought bag of ice with my bare hand, or after IT runs out and I REALLY think I need one more cocktail, scoop some ice from around the swarming coke, beer cans . . . .
 
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