Tag: water filter

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Personal Water Filtration is Big Business

It is estimated that from 1990 to 2006, global bottled water sales (that is, sales of water ranging from “PET” single-serving bottles to larger water cooler “carboys”) more than quadrupled, topping $61 billion. Since then, profits have been on the rise, totaling a 51% increase in the past 5 years. Along with this massive industry goes massive pollution. Though technically recyclable, the vast majority of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottles are disposed of improperly, and thus, will not be reused, contributing to the growing problem of landfill accumulation. As the bottled water industry grows, so does our global pollution epidemic. All is not lost, however. Recognizing this looming danger, several companies, including Seychelle Water Filtration Products, have stepped up to the plate. As a worldwide leader in the development, manufacture and sale of a proprietary filtration system for portable water bottles, Seychelle has their sights set on ending global abuse of natural resources for a single serving of water. It seems as if the idea is catching on as well. In the last five fiscal quarters, Seychelle has experienced marked growth.

“We are seeing growing demand for some of our newer products such as our stainless steel bottles, straws and pure water bags and pumps,”

said Seychelle President and CEO Carl Palmer,

“All of these have been redesigned to improve performance and enhance consumer appeal and are being widely used in problem drinking water areas in many different markets of the world.”

In fact, over the past few weeks, Seychelle has received several orders representing over $1 million in new business. With Seychelle’s products, and those from companies like it, the world can put an end to its dependency on plastic. No matter where you are, or what water source happens to be close by – a river, a lake, a pond, and yes, a tap, you can rest assured that you’ll have the clean water you need, without the pollution the earth doesn’t.

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Revolutionary Personal Water Filtration

Over 1.2 billion people around the globe don’t have access to potable water. Many of them live in the continent of Africa. So it should come as no surprise that a solution to this problem might come from an inventor who lives there. Meet Dr. Eugene Cloete. A microbiologist by training, Cloete is currently the Dean of Natural Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch, just outside Cape Town, South Africa. In addition to his teaching ability, Dr. Cloete apparently has a knack for invention. With nine patents to his name, the first of which he earned at the age of 23, Eugene has adopted a way of thinking different than that of most peoples’. “[creativity is] like reading and writing,” said Cloete, “the more you use it, the better you get.” With much of South Africa’s tap water riddled with disease-causing bacteria, heavy metals, and pesticide residue, something needed to be done. In short, Dr. Cloete has invented a disposable filter, which looks very similar to a tea bag, to filter water as it is poured from a bottle. Each filter is capable of ridding bacteria, heavy metals, and harmful chemicals from about 15 liters of water before it needs to be thrown away. Cloete, an expert on inhibiting growth of bacterial slime, says he came up with the idea while on a faculty tour of his current department. He happened to notice a tea bag sitting on the break room counter when he started to explore the idea. It wasn’t until he watched a presentation at the university during which a student demonstrated how to spin nanofibers – filaments finer than human hair – that he figured out how to do it. He combined this technology with both that of the anti-bacterial membranes he had already been working on, and the traditional water filtration component activated carbon to yield the filter. Since announcing the invention in July, Dr. Cloete and his team of two post-doctoral colleges have received hundreds of inquiries from excited philanthropists, aid organizations, and retailers. This little tea bag is sure to save lives.

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Alaska Residents Get Creative with Water Filtration

As the direct result of petroleum contamination, “North Pole,” Alaska residents have been forced to “think outside the box” when it comes to their water supply. Thanks to a combination of readily available commercial water filtration technologies, these citizens have successfully lowered the level toxic contaminants to non-detectable levels. It seems that over the past decade, sulfolane, a chemical used in the refinement of oil, had been seeping into groundwater and private water wells. While the exact cause of the contamination is yet to be determined, the most likely cause is a gasoline spill which occurred within the town limits over a decade ago. The contamination was discovered recently, and has been detected in hundreds of homes in the area, at readings between 50 ppb and 250 ppb – levels above federally recommended concentrations, but not enough to make laboratory animals sick. In response to this problem, Flint Hills Resources, the firm which in 2004 bought the refinery responsible for the spills has developed some innovating solutions. By partnering with Fairbanks-based “Ecowater Systems,” Flint Hills Resources has conceived a point-of-entry water filtration unit to address the problem. In this unit, the contaminated water is first processed by sediment filter. Secondly, it is softened using a standard ion-exchange system. Next, a hydrogen peroxide pump breaks down the sulfolane, after which point a combination mixing chamber and charcoal filter gives the drinking water a final clean. The system has so far been successfully been implemented in 5 “test homes” in the area. Flint Hills Resources, which is currently providing bottled water to affected residents hopes to implement similar water filtration systems in more than 150 homes within the next few months.

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Nylon Filter Housings Offer Economical Alternative

Traditionally, water filter housings to be used in high-temperature applications needed to be constructed of stainless or carbon steel. They were difficult and costly to produce, they were subject to oxidization (the result of years of exposure to chemicals and reaction-catalyzing temperatures), and they would retain heat even hours after the water supply had been shut off, making maintenance time consuming. In recent years however, an alternative to these costly housings has arrived: the nylon filter. Actually composed of a glass-reinforced nylon, these filter housings are more than capable of performing the same tasks of their now-outdated steel counterparts, housing standard high-temperature sediment and carbon filter cartridges with ease. Not only are nylon filter housings cheaper to purchase and maintain, but many models can withstand the same high temperatures as traditional steel housings – in most cases, Nylon filters are also ideally suited to industrial applications. Though they should not be used with ketones, an excellent chemical compatibility allows glass-reinforced nylon filter housings to handle organic solvents, sea water, alcohol, petroleum, and vegetable oils. New developments continue to be made in filtration systems each year, making purchase, maintenance, and repair easier and more cost effective than ever.

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Hydroblend Cuts Long-Run Costs

For applications in which water is heated past its boiling point, it is advisable to employ measures designed to reduce the level of lime and other minerals in the water service to safeguard against scale buildup in water boilers. Such buildup can lead to machinery damage, and if left unaddressed, failure. While the most common example of applications in which this is a concern is the brewing of coffee and other fine coffee beverages, the filtration of, and control of scale in, water used in steam equipment is extremely important. Because each piece of steam machinery, such as those used in the food service industry, by definition contains a boiler in which water is heated past its boiling point, harmful scale buildup will result if water used is not appropriately treated. There are two popular methods of addressing the presence of scale in a water supply, depending on whether scale has already formed or not. They are: Polyphosphate Granules

Generally used to clean boilers which have already suffered an amount of scale buildup, polyphosphate granules, such as Everpure’s proprietary formula “ScaleKleen,” remove limescale quickly, easily, and safely in an environmentally friendly manner from OCS brewers, steam, warewashing, and other equipment. Because activated citric acid is the typically the primary ingredient in these non-toxic blends, they are safer to skin and won’t burn clothing like conventional deliming acids. In addition, they are sewer system disposable, so you can pour it down the drain.

Hydroblend Scale Sticks

“Hydroblend” scale sticks are the second component of a two-stage water filter designed by Everpure. Scale inhibitor feeders (scale sticks) reduce scale inline by dispensing a controlled amount of Hydroblend, a sophisticated blend of polyphosphate compound which inhibits scale. As such, scale sticks present in dual-filter systems designed for OCS brewers, steam, warewashing, and other applications significantly reduce scale inline, effectively preventing scale from ever forming.

While both methods are used in modern commercial settings, each approach has its advantages. Polyphosphates have been used in the prevention of mineral scale and corrosion control for years as a cost-effective method of controlling scale within a water supply. Hydroblend products on the other hand, are comparatively new, and marginally more expensive. There are however, several advantages. Hydroblend products are:

  • 100% active, so there is no residual product left over.
  • specifically designed to provide mineral scale prevention and corrosion control in high temperature and high hardness applications, while phosphate granules are not.
  • designed to ensure that the product feed rate is consistent over predictable time periods.
  • available in various configurations allowing it application to many different processes.

Regardless of which approach is used, it is important to monitor and control scale levels within a water supply. Doing so will prevent costly repairs and possible replacements.

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Which Water Filter is Right for You?

Deciding on a water filtration system for your home or business can be daunting. There are numerous types of filters, each of which is manufactured by each different brand, totaling thousands of options for anyone looking to choose between them. We at Filter Pure Systems, Inc. have recognized this, and prepared a short preparatory question and answer guide to help you make your decision. The first and most important question to ask yourself when determining which filter to purchase is: “What do I need my water filter to do?” While the answer to this question may seem obvious enough, it’s likely not. Granted yes, at the end of the day, you want your filter to “filter” your water, but there’s much more to consider. Am I purchasing a water filtration system for my home or business? Water purifiers “run the gamut” of design. Generally speaking, units designed for commercial applications are larger than residential designs and are more expensive to maintain. In addition, they generally have specific applications not required in a residential setting. As a result, they are capable of handling more frequent use, satisfying the highest level of commercial demands. It’s advisable for these, among other, reasons to consider going commercial when purchasing a water filtration system. Such systems include the drinking water QL2-OW200L system, ice machine Insurice Single-i2000(2) system or fountain QC7I Single- MC2 system. Do I have a specific application for my water filtration system in mind?   It is important to determine exactly what your water filter it will be responsible for doing, before buying it, for two main reasons. First, if you have a specific application in mind, it may be necessary to purchase a unit designed to address this concern. Some water filtration units have built-in water softeners or de-mineralizers designed to yield a specific quality of water. This is desirable for many commercial settings, especially where the water is being used to make beverages such as coffee and soda espresso. Second, it may be that narrowing down the use of your unit will greatly reduce both upfront and ongoing costs. Generally speaking, the smaller demand put on your filtration system, the lower the cost of maintenance. If you decide that your system need only be used for part of your water supply, you are very likely to save money. How much water do I need, and how fast?   While this is typically only a concern in commercial applications, it may also be a useful question in residential applications where the filter is responsible for purifying the entire home’s water supply. Filters have their limits. Only a predetermined amount of water can successfully be processed by a unit in a given amount of time. This measurement is called “flow” or “flux.” While units with lower flow may be less expensive, they may require a little patience on the part of their user. Units with greater capacity for flow can provide more water in a shorter period of time, but are generally more expensive. There are many questions to ask yourself when considering a water filtration unit. If you would like help making your decision, or have already decided, give Filter Pure Systems, Inc. a call at 1-800-942-7873.

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What’s Really In Your Drinking Water?

Many of us take the quality and purity of our water for granted. While the public water supply is generally safe for most people, it is not always as harmless as we’d like to believe. In addition to additives like chorine and fluoride, tap water may contain various minerals, microorganisms, and chemicals. Regulating Water Quality The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) closely monitors the quality of public drinking water. Monitoring must adhere to the Safe Drinking Water Act, which specifies the method for choosing which contaminants are monitored and determining what contaminant levels are acceptable. Sometimes, the acceptable level is set at zero, but water treatment plants cannot always achieve this level of purity. This disparity is especially common for contaminants that pose a particular hazard for children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Currently the EPA monitors approximately 90 different substances. However, over 260 different substances have been found in U.S. tap water. Some of these may simply be a nuisance, while others can pose a health risk. Meanwhile certain contaminants, such as lead, may be introduced through plumbing in individual households. Common Tap Water Contaminants Continue reading What’s Really In Your Drinking Water?

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Get Green with Home Water Filtration

Once considered costly and cumbersome, residential water filtrations systems are now affordable and environmentally friendly options. Over time, they help homeowners save money and protect the environment, giving people a greater ability to “go green.” Invest in Long-Term Water Quality Everyone wants the safest and purest drinking water for their families. As a result, many households consistently spend large quantities of money on bottled water. They want the assurance that they are putting clean, healthy water into their bodies. Yet buying bottled water isn’t enough. Families still cook, clean, and bathe with tap water. Why spend so much money on bottled water, when it doesn’t even completely protect from contamination? Instead, a residential water filtration system removes contaminants from the entire water supply, rather than just from drinking water. A home water filter system offers consumers an excellent opportunity to reduce bottled water expenses and ensure the highest-quality water: Continue reading Get Green with Home Water Filtration