Tag: Water Quality

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The Worst Drinking Water in America

Ever wonder how bad your city’s drinking water is? Well we have a list of the top 10 cities in America with the WORST drinking water! Is your city listed?

10. Jacksonville, Fla. (JEA) 9. San Diego (San Diego Water Department) 8. North Las Vegas (City of North Las Vegas Utilities Department) 7. Omaha (Metropolitan Utilities District) 6. Houston (City of Houston Public Works) 5. Reno (Truckee Meadows Water Authority) 4. Riverside County, Calif. (Eastern Municipal Water District) 3. Las Vegas (Las Vegas Valley Water District) 2. Riverside, Calif. (City of Riverside Public Utilities) 1. Pensacola, Fla. (Emerald Coast Water Utility)  In many cases, cities meet all federal standards for drinking water quality and yet still distribute harmful contaminants to their customers. The only way you can be certain you are drinking healthy water is to be proactive. This means looking at your local water report or getting a water test done. And you know who to call for a water test, Filter Pure! We are here and ready to help. So, if you are concerned about your city’s water, just give us a call at 800-942-7873. We’ll make sure you have nothing to worry about. Let us know your questions and concerns by clicking the link below. Remember, even if your city has the worst water (residents of Pensacola) we have the knowledge and the means to help! Let us know how we can help!

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Water Testing in Schools

Many schools in the state of Florida have contacted Filter Pure in regards to testing their water. A common problem seen in schools is equipment damage due to hard and unfiltered water. Some of the most expensive equipment in schools can be found right in the cafeteria; ice machines, steamers and combi ovens. The problem with hard and unfiltered water is the limescale build-up that can cause excessive machine downtime and increased maintenance costs. It is estimated that 3mm of limescale build up can cause 25% energy loss in addition to unwanted and costly service calls. So how does Filter Pure help with these issues? We first test the water, checking all levels of chlorine, alkalinity and hardness. Once the test results are received back, we then recommend a course of action and filtering system to put in place to remedy these problems. One system recommended is the MRS-100 Reverse Osmosis System (9970-07). Ideal for flash steamers, conventional steamers, combi-ovens, and more, this system improves equipment life and performance by removing at least 90%+ of all dissolved solids that cause scale build-up. It guards against taste and odor causing contaminants, while removing dirt particulates and dissolved minerals that can adversely affect taste of water and beverages. Sanitary cartridge replacement is simple, quick and clean. Internal filter parts are never exposed to handling or contamination.  For over thirty year, Filter Pure has been providing great solutions to water problems in universities and schools. If you are interested in getting your water tested or have any questions or concerns about your water please contact us at 800-942-7873 or submit your question to the link below. If you are a school or university please contact Amy Easter at Amy@filterpure.com. She has helped hundreds of schools with their water issues and she is more than happy to help you as well.  Submit your question here!

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What Does the NSF Label on My Pentair/Everpure Water Filter Mean?

 Millions of people take the safety of their food, water and consumer products for granted on a daily basis. Why? Because of three letters: NSF. Founded in 1944 as the National Sanitation Foundation, the foundation changed it’s name to NSF International in 1990 as they expanded services beyond sanitation and into global markets. NSF certification is your key to making sure that the products you use meet strict standards for public health protection. Choosing a product certified by NSF lets you know the company complies with strict standards and procedures imposed by NSF.

There are important reasons to look for NSF certification when purchasing a water filter;

  • Performance claims may be based on internal testing only.
  • Sometimes stated capacities are misleading.
  • In capacity claims it’s not always clear what percentage of chemical contaminants are actually reduced.

NSF Certification ensures that:

  • The contaminant reduction claims certified are true and accurate.
  • The materials of construction do not add anything unwanted to the water such as lead.
  • The system is structurally sound.
  • Advertising claims are true and accurate.

From extensive product testing and material analyses to unannounced plant inspections, every aspect of a product’s development is thoroughly evaluated before it can earn our certification. Most importantly, NSF certification is not a one-time event, but involves regular on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities and regular re-testing of products to ensure that they continue to meet the same high standards required to maintain certification over time. If for any reason a product fails to meet one or more certification criteria, NSF will take enforcement actions to protect you, including product recall, public notification or de-certification. If you have any questions about the quality of the filter that you are currently using and whether or not that filter has an NSF certification please ask us about your filter  below or call our team at 800-942-7873.

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Don’t Forget About the O-Ring!

First, what is an O-ring? An O-ring is a doughnut, or torus shaped seal typically used to prevent the passing of air or fluid. O-rings are used to keep fluid or air IN or OUT of a defined space. This device helps to keep the water tight or air tight integrity of a filter housing or filter application. O-rings come in a wide variety of sizes and different types of materials; Types of Material

  • Buna-N®
  • Ethylene, Propylene
  • Silicon Encapsulated with FEP, an FDA-approved material
  • Silicone (Solid)
  • Teflon® (Solid)
  • Teflon® Encapsulated with FEP
  • Viton® (Solid)

    To extend the o-ring’s effectiveness there are some things you can do: Remove and inspect the o-ring at every filter change or every time the housing is opened, as well as applying the manufacturer’s approved lubricant. The protectant/gel, usually made of silicon is inexpensive and is easy to apply. If there are signs of any wear or improper form of the o-ring, the o-ring must be replaced immediately prior to restarting the filter system.    The life of an o-ring varies based on how you take care of it and what it is made of. It is very important to your operation to make sure you have the proper o-ring for your filtration application. If you have any questions on changing out your o-rings or whether you are using the proper o-ring for your system, I invite you to submit a question below or call our team at 1-800-942-7873. Click here to ask us a question!

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How Often Do I Change My Water Filter?

One of the most common questions we hear from our customers is in regards to how frequently a water filter cartridge should be changed. Whether it’s a standard sediment or carbon filter, every customer has one key priority in mind: How Long Will I Have Dependably Clean, Great Tasting Water? In other words, how can I be sure that my filter is still reducing the impurities that can impact the flavor of my water? Our standard answer: It depends. The frequency of filter changes depends upon your water quality and your water usage. For example, if there are a lot of sediment particulates in your water, then you will have to change your filters more frequently than someone with little to no sediment. If you are a large restaurant consuming large amounts of water a minute or a hospital with large ice machines, then your usage will demand more frequent filter changes. Having said that, we suggest replacement schedules that are generally as follows: Everpure High Flow CRS Quad MC2 System The most common Everpure Filtration System, mainly seen in the back of the house of restaurants should be changed every 6 months, or every 36,000 gallons. The EC210 prefilter, to the left of the MC2 filters, should be changed more frequently to extend the life of the MC2 filters. We recommend every 3-4 months.       Insurice Triple PF i4000(2) System w/ 20″ Prefilter For water filtration on ice machines, sometimes it can be difficult knowing when to change the filters, especially if you see no difference in the ice. But even if the ice is fine, deep inside the machine inches of scale can be forming and ruining your machine. That’s why it is important to keep a filter change out schedule. We recommend every 6 months or however many gallons are specified on the water filters. For the system pictured to the left, the Insurice Triple PF i4000(2), change those filters every 36,000 gallons of use. Again, changing the prefilter will give your primary cartridges longer life. You should also replace your water filters whenever you notice a decline in performance, whether it is a drop in flow rate and/or pressure, or an unusual taste in the water. You should also, per the CDC, replace your water filter after any boil water advisory alert is lifted in your area. Remember: taste and odor may tip you off to the presence of chlorine in your water, but most contaminants are tasteless and odorless. For the benefit of our customers, we have set-up automatic electronic reminders that are sent when we see that their filters are due to be replaced, based on order history.  We can even set-up Auto-Ship for customers that know they will need water filters by a certain date, but may not remember to place an order. If you have a water filter or filter model not included in the list above, and have a question regarding how often you should replace your filter, I invite you to submit a question below or call our team at 1-800-942-7873. Click here to ask us a question!

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Congratulations Generation Food Truck!

Congratulations to Generation Food Truck for making it into the Guinness Book of World Records! On March 29th, the largest parade of food trucks, numbered at 121, all arrived at the Florida State Fair Grounds to achieve the record of the World’s Largest Food Truck Festival right here in Tampa!! We are so proud of all our clients who attended the event with our Everpure products on board!  Trucks are now taking advantage of the new Everpure 4FC systems; a small under counter system offering high quality 0.5 micron filtration with a 15,000 gallons capacity per cartridge. For more information check out our website at www.FilterPure.com or call us at 800-942-7873.

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The Best Espresso in Town!

Every single morning before arriving to work, Amy stops by her local Starbucks and orders her usual venti latte. They know her there by name and are happy to send her on her way with her triple espresso shot drink. Amy said that her morning espresso kick starts her day and without it, well, you would probably find her half asleep at her desk, struggling to focus on her work.

Espresso can be a vital part of someone’s day, like Amy. Did you know that over 55% of the US drink espresso? That percentage is equivalent to 150 million people! That’s A LOT of espresso! 

Did you also know that Espresso is 90% water! It is a key essential ingredient in espresso preparation. So having a water filtration system becomes a must, especially in areas with hard water. Not having filtered water will affect the taste of your espresso as well as the lifespan of your equipment.  So what is the best water filtration system for your espresso machine?   Well, here’s a couple options to consider: The Claris System 5-Stage Filtration Process

  • Pre-filtration
  • Carbonate hardness adjustment
  • Fine filtration
  • Highly efficient carbon block removes harmful contaminant and unpleasant odors and tastes
  • Solid membrane filter removes particles down to 5 micron for highest equipment protection
  • Operates in vertical or horizontal position

 

3 -Stage Blending: Softens, Buffers, and Filters Water
  • Utilizes ion exchange resin with buffering capabilities and high capacity coconut carbon filtration. 
  • A small amount of carbon filtered water bypasses softening resin to allow proper initial hardness. 
  • Buffering prevents water from becoming too acidic. 
  • It also reduces hardness in water that can cause minerals to build-up in espresso equipment. 
  • It also reduces chlorine, off tastes and odors. Cartridge replacement is simple, quick and clean. 
*The QC7I-Twin ESO7 System is pictured to the right.
Depending on your espresso machine and water quality needs, your commercial water filtration system may differ. Give us a call and we’ll be glad to help you in sizing the right system.
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Coke Freestyle and Everpure!

Ever since Coca-Cola came out with their new Freestyle Coke Machine, we’ve been getting call after call on Everpure’s CLM filtration systems! WHY? Because Everpure CLM has recently been validated by a third party lab to meet the tccc specifications for point of use filtration systems for the Freestyle machines! Hooray!! Being an Everpure master distributor, we are proud to carry this line of CLM water filter systems. But why the CLM line? What is CLM? I’m glad you asked! CLM is short for chloramine. As you might know, chloramine is a chemical compound made by reacting ammonia with the active ingredient in chlorine bleach. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, chloramines provide better protection against bacterial regrowth in water system. But chloramines can still effect the taste and odor of your water and can cause, through time, damage to your water applications. The specifications for the Coke Freestyle machine requires all taste and odor to be removed, the chlorine/chloramine levels to be less then 0.5 ppm, and sediment removal. Everpure’s CLM line meets all the filtration requirements for the Freestyle machine. It reduces chloramines, chlorine and other offensive contaminants that can adversely effect the taste and odor of the beverage. It’s sub-micron technology reduces dirt and particles 1/2 micron in size.  It improves the taste of fountain beverages and helps retain the drink’s carbonation. Have you ever received a complaint that your soda taste flat? Well, here’s your solution! The CLM line also protects your drink system’s seals, pump, tubing and small orifices from clogging, corrosion and abrasive wear. It is also NSF certified under NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53. The CLM line comes in single, twin, triple and quad systems. We also have systems with a pre-filtration option. So if you are apart of a restaurant using a Coca-cola Freestyle machine or you currently service a Freestyle machine, contact us today for more information on Everpure’s CLM line and how we can help you. You can also check out our CLM line on our website! Click here: EVERPURE’S CLM LINE!

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Meet the OW Family!

This lovely family of water filter cartridges delivers premium quality drinking water for bottleless coolers and drinking fountains. Their unique filter blend uses activated carbon to reduce chlorine taste and odor and other offensive contaminants. Like most of Everpure’s carbon water filters, the OW family contains a precoat submicron technology which reduces dirt and particles as small as 1/2 micron in size. Check out my blog about Microns to see how small a 1/2 micron really is! But beware of the GIARDIA cyst!! The OW family inhibits scale from building up in your home water cooler, your water dispenser, or your drinking fountains. Keep an eye out for my up-coming blog about Scale!! Let’s break down this family and see what’s unique about each filter! The OW200L (P/N EV9619-06) has a rated capacity of 480 gallons. Its overall dimensions are 17″H x 3.25″ diameter. Its service flow rate is at maximum 0.5 gpm. This cartridge is commonLY used in office drinking water systems and home drinking water systems. In fact, that’s what I have installed under my sink at home. The OW2-PLUS (P/N EV9634-01) and the OW4-PLUS (P/N EV9635-01) are essentially the same. The only difference is their capacity rating and size. The OW2-PLUS is rated at 1,000 gallons and 10.25″H x 3.25″ Diameter. The OW4-PLUS is rated at 2,000 gallons and 14.5″H x 3.25″ diameter. But unlike the OW200L, they both contain a KDF media that can remove lead to below the Federal Action Level of 10 ppb. All the OW replacement water filter cartridges are NSF Certified under NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53, which means these cartridges get the job done! We gladly stock the OW family and for more information about the OW family, contact us at 1-800-942-7873 or click on the “Live Help ONLINE” link on the left of your screen.

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Water Filtration System in a Straw

LifeStraw makes previously contaminated water drinkable by removing bacteria and viruses. Sometimes, it’s the simplest technologies that have the greatest potential impact on people’s lives. Take the Vestergaard Frandsen Group’s mobile personal filtration system, otherwise known as LifeStraw. It is a powder-blue plastic tube—much thicker than an ordinary straw—containing filters that make water teeming with typhoid-,cholera- and diarrhea-causing microorganisms drinkable. Now, to be clear, we do not sell this item…yet. We just love to report what’s going on out there in the water purification world. The filters, made up of a halogenated resin, kill nearly 100 percent of bacteria and nearly 99 percent of the viruses that pass through LifeStraw. A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill evaluation tested the device’s performance in water containing Escherichia coli B and Enterococcus faecalisbacteria and the MS2 coliphage virus as well as iodine and silver. The results indicated that LifeStraw filtered out all contaminants to levels where they don’t pose a health risk to someone drinking the water.
But the device does not filter heavy metals such as iron or fluoride nor does it remove parasites like cryptosporidium or giardia, although the Switzerland-based company’s CEO, Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, says there is a version of LifeStraw available to relief groups in Bangladesh and India that can filter arsenic. At less than 10 inches (25 centimeters) long, the device can filter up to 185 gallons (700 liters) of water, estimated to be about a year’s supply for one person. The device is no longer usable when its filters become too clogged to pass water through, typically after a year of hard use.
The success of the personal filtration system led Vestergaard Frandsen to introduce earlier this month its LifeStraw Family device, an instant microbiological purifier that provides about 2.6 gallons (10 liters) of safe drinking water in an hour and about 4,000 gallons (15,000 liters) over its life span for a family of six. LifeStraw Family is designed to sieve dirt, parasites, bacteria and viruses, and will be available starting in May. Larry Greenemeier www.scientificamerican.com