How to choose the right Water Filtration System for your needs

Choosing a water filtration system can be a daunting task. There are many different systems on the market, and a wide variety of costs.

But what makes a filtration system effective, and what system is best suited for your needs?

It doesn’t matter whether you receive your water from a mains system, or if you have water tanks that collect rain from roofs, the quality of your water can always be improved.

Water stored in rainwater tanks can contain dirt, chemicals and other contamination that can make it smell and taste bad. Some of these contaminants can threaten your health, especially if the water you are consuming has microscopic organisms and bacteria that can cause serious illness.

Filtering water can help improve your water quality, removing these impurities and making it safe for consumption, while also improving the taste.

But how do you choose the right water filtration for your needs?

There are many different types of water filters available for consumers. Determining which type depends on what functions you want a filter to provide.

The key factors you need to consider when choosing a water filtration system include:

💧 Your Water Source and the Problems you have

Different filter systems remove different elements to improve the quality of your water. Knowing what is in your water to start with can help refine what system best suits your needs.

1. 1. Sediment such as dirt and organic matter is predominant from water tanks. Mains water may still carry sediment, although less apparent.
   2. Bacteria and viruses. Mains water is chlorinated to kill any bacteria that might come through. But water tanks are the ideal breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Chlorine, whilst recommended by governing bodies, is not ideal in sanitising your water tanks. We recommend a food grade water sanitiser.
   3. Chemicals and Metals. Chlorine and fluoride are two common chemicals that are added to mains water. However, spray drift and deteriorating roofs/tanks can cause water tank supplies to change the taste and colour of your water.

💧 Maintenance and On-going Costs
Most filters and ultraviolet sterilization systems have a limited operational life. They will need replacement or servicing anywhere from 6-month to 12-month intervals. Even “washable” filters need maintenance and eventually need to be replaced. Dirty filters can harbor bacteria that can make you ill.

What type of water do you need to filter?

Different filters remove different elements to clean up your water. It’s not a case of one filter fits all. So it is very important to define what type of water you want to filter in the first place, and why.

Let’s first look at where your water is coming from.

Mains Water systems

Cities are supplied with water from a “Mains” water system. This water typically comes from a source where it is filtered and chlorinated before being pumped out to the populous. Depending on the infrastructure, your mains water may be sourced from:

• Dams
• Rivers
• Bore systems, or
• Desalination Plants

Each of the above may require more filtering or chlorination depending on the quality of the water source. The distance the water needs to travel can also impact how much chlorination is required.

Chlorine was introduced in the early 1900’s as the most effective means to ensure bacteria and viruses could not infect the mains water systems. Prior to the introduction of chlorine, people were susceptible to Cholera and other diseases transmitted through water.

While chlorine can change the taste of your water, the amount used will be within regulations for human consumption. Still, would you rather have fresh tasting water or a chemical tasting water? The taste of chlorine can be removed with the right type of filter system.

Water Tank Storage

Organic material builds up over time and this is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria

For those not living on mains water, your only option is to store your own water with water tanks.

For the most part, water tanks collect water from roof tops when it rains. But water may also be collected from Dams, rivers and bore systems. But this water is not filtered or decontaminated prior to storing.

Organic matter such as dust, dirt, leaves and twigs can build up in water tanks. This is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria and water viruses. Hence the importance of having a water filtration system.

Other than sediment, people living in agricultural areas may also experience spray drift. When crops are sprayed, the wind can carry the chemicals and settle on/in your water collection areas. This can be washed into your tank, and ultimately consumed.

Different filters can help remove different elements such as sediment, chemicals, poor tastes and bad smells. If your water has bacteria or viruses, then an Ultraviolet system is the best method to ensure your water is safe to drink. But these are only effective with filtered water. That is, water without sediment. Otherwise, the bacteria can hide behind the minute grains of sediment, rendering the UV system useless.

Choosing filters

When choosing a filter there is a big difference in quality, and price usually reflects this (we’ll discuss budgets shortly).

The materials the filter is made of has a direct bearing on what it can (or cannot) filter. Many quality systems you come across have multiple stage filters, and this is because there is no “1 does all” filter. That’s why it is so important to understand what you want to filter before you choose a system and the filters.

It’s what you can’t see that can be dangerous!

There is a measurement used to help define how much is ‘filtered’ out of your water. A Micron is a unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter. The next, smallest, measurement is a nanometer. So a micron is pretty small.

Some of the most common water bacteria that makes us sick, such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium, are as small as 10-20 microns or 4.2 to 5 microns respectively. Some bacteria can actually be as small as 0.5 micron.

Red blood cells are approximately 7 microns. And to compare this, fine sand can be around 125 microns.

So it is important to choose a filter that will remove particles down to 1 or even 0.5 microns to ensure you remove not just sediment, but bacteria as well.

It’s a huge topic discussing the various types of filters on the market.

Finally, we’ve found that there is a huge difference in quality between countries of manufacture. Cheaper filters produced in Asia won’t last as long and have less ability to actually filter out what you need them to achieve. This means you will need to replace filters far more regularly.

US, UK, Canada, Australian and Italian produced filters have proven to be very effective and efficient, lasting up to 12-months before requiring replacement (this can depend on the quality of water source).

Your Budget

Considering how a water filter fits your home, lifestyle, and budget is very important. You can choose a budget-friendly undersink filter system if your main goal is only to remove sediment and improve quality of taste of your water, but if you want the entire house to have pristine water, then you need to consider a Whole of House filtration system. The cost will depend on the type of the filter system you choose.

There are different types of filtration systems at every budget level, providing different levels of efficiency.

The simplest of filter systems can start as low as $50. But these are not likely to have quality filters in them. The typical Whole of House (WoH) filtration and ultraviolet system that is commonly used for rainwater tanks, can start from $1,900.

Other considerations for your budget include:

• Do you need a licenced plumber to install? Or are you able to install the unit yourself?
• Most systems do not include shut off valves to isolate the filtration system for when you need to replace cartridges
• Are the filters actually included? You would be surprised how often we have been told of customers purchasing filtration systems only to find there weren’t any filters included.

What taps and volume do you need to filter?

Some people only need a single tap, while others may need the entire house filtered. People use water filter systems for different reasons, not just for drinking water.

Different filters can provide different volumes of clean and purified water. Each with different functions, but all serving the same objective: to provide healthy, safe consumable water for you and your family.

Filtration systems come in varying sizes:

• 10 inch x 2.5 inch – suitable for single tap undersink system
• 10 inch x 4.5 inch – suitable for whole of house limited use (low flow)
• 20 inch x 4.5 inch – suitable for whole of house multiple taps

The key elements are flow rate and contact time.

The faster the flow rate (high usage of water), the less contact time it is going to have on the filter. Therefore, reducing the potential for removing the elements you have installed the filter for. Water needs adequate contact time with the filters to remove impurities while it passes through the chambers.

This is especially important when using Ultraviolet (disinfection) systems. If impurities such as sediment (dirt and organic material) is not removed before the UV light, then it won’t effectively kill any bacteria or viruses.

How much does it cost to maintain a Filter system?

Most filtration systems have 2 to 3 filters and the only maintenance involved is replacing the filter cartridges. The larger sized filtration cartridges cost more than smaller cartridges but will also operate more effectively and longer.

If you are operating a Reverse Osmosis system, or Ultraviolet sterilisation system, both will cost more due to more components such as membranes, lamps, and o-rings.

Maintenance is a must for your water filtration systems, however. The primary objective is to sanitise or purify your water, so it has a limited life cycle based on time, water amount, contaminant level, and some other parameters.

Filter Replacement typically required anywhere between 6-12 months, depending on quality of water. If the water is high in sediment or chlorine, or if you regularly use large amounts of water, then the filters will need replacement more often and the expenses will be a little higher.

You could typically expect the costs to replace single cartridges (of reasonable quality) to start at $30, with a full system service for a Twin Filter with Ultraviolet to cost anywhere up to $380.