Drinking Water Systems

Q. Why are these products called "drinking water" systems?
A. The filters and purifiers in this section are generally used at the point-of-use, for instance, at the kitchen sink, or at one faucet, as opposed to a whole house filtration or treatment system. Often, its more practical to have one or more pure-water taps, as opposed to treating all the water in the house or business. "Drinking water" is for drinking, as opposed to "working water" or process water, that would be used for laundry, bathing etc.

Q. What is the best type of drinking water filter for my water?
A. This depends on the quality of the source water. Generally, if the water to be filtered is municipally-treated city water low in minerals, then carbon block filtration systems are the best type. If the water is very high in minerals, then a reverse osmosis system or distiller that removes minerals, salts and chemicals may be desired.

Q. How do I know what it is in my water?
A. If you are on city water, your local water utility must meet very strict Federal and State standards for purity. Almost all municipally treated water is chlorinated, and this can affect taste and create odors in the water. If you are on a private well or spring, you should have your water tested, and you also may want to contact our technical staff for help on selecting the best RO for your water chemistry.

Q. Will all drinking water filters remove hardness minerals or cut down on scale build-up, white-spotting in coffee pots, etc.?
A. No. Carbon block filters for instance will not remove minerals, but reverse osmosis, or distillation systems will reduce or remove salts and minerals, and total dissolved solids.

Q. Does the total dissolved solids ("TDS') affect the taste of water?
A. Yes. If your water has a moderate to high total dissolved solids content, then merely filtering the water of chlorine will improve taste, but many people will say the water still tastes "heavy" or "minerally" compared to purified water. Taste is very subjective, and the ability to taste varies widely from person to person. The higher the TDS level, particularly when it reaches over 500 ppm (the USEPA recommended aesthetic guideline) the more people will want to purify the water by using reverse osmosis or distillation, or by purchasing bottled water. However, in areas where the TDS is low, such as the San Francisco Peninsula or East Bay, carbon filtering the water can make it taste great, without the need for further filtration. Call AWS for more info.

Q. Do all drinking water filters remove lead?
A. All the drinking water filters in this section will remove lead. The carbon block filters and reverse osmsosis systems are NSF certified for lead removal.

Q. Will these systems remove parasites or cysts?
A. Yes, however the carbon block filters and to a lesser extent, the reverse osmosis systems are designed to be used on disinfected, municipal water.

Q. Is bacteria a problem with activated carbon systems?
A. Yes and no. We have tested many of our systems for total bacteria counts over the years and have not found higher levels after the systems unless the systems sat for several days in between uses. However, in some cases, particularly if the source water is high in bacteria and/or low in chlorine residual, bacteria can grow. It is always wise to run the water, from any tap, for a few moments to avoid getting the water that has sat in the fixture or filter. A UV sterilizer system can also be used to disinfect the water after it leaves the filter system, insuring disinfected water.