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Our units use a unique
three-stage multi-media system that incorporates the latest advances in water
treatment technology. This system removes the widest spectrum of contaminants,
rivaling the effectiveness of reverse osmosis and distillation systems costing
two to four times more, while preserving the beneficial minerals like calcium
and magnesium. STAGE
1 - MECHANICAL FILTRATION
Mechanical filtration is
achieved when the dimension of the particle is larger than the hole in the
filter. This form of filtration removes suspended particles, such as silt,
sediment, sand, rust, dirt, and other un-dissolved matter. Our cartridge system
employs a staged mechanical system that is measured in microns. As a point of
reference, 1 micron equals 1/25,000 of an inch and a human hair is about 100
microns in diameter. As water enters the cartridge, it passed through a 1 micron
pre-filter (5 micron on CT-E and IL). The double under counter filter (UCD) and
whole house filter (WH) use a 1 micron replaceable pre-filter for sediment and
cyst (Giardia, Cryptosporidium) removal. The optional ceramic pre-filter
cartridge (UCD-C) filters down to 0.5 microns to remove not only
sediment and cysts, but bacteria as well. The Ster-O-Tap membrane used as the
final stage of the UCT-S model goes down to an amazing 0.15 micron.
STAGE 2 -
ELECTROCHEMICAL/OXIDATION-REDUCTION PROCESS: KDF-55D ®
In the next stage, the water
passes through a bed of a media made of a special high-purity alloy blend of two
dissimilar metals - copper and zinc
KDF-55D ®. This media, patented in 1987 by
KDF Fluid Treatment, Inc., is a
major advancement in water treatment technology that works on the
electro-chemical and spontaneous-oxidation-reduction (redox) principles.
Chlorine is instantaneously and almost inexhaustibly oxidized. Tests on our
cartridge have shown 99+% chlorine removal past 20,000 gallons of water while a
carbon cartridge of comparable volume drops below 90% effectiveness after only
4,000 gallons. Iron and hydrogen sulfide are oxidized into insolvable matter and
attach to the surface of the media. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and
aluminum are removed from the water by the electrochemical process. They are
attracted to the surface of the media, much like a magnet. The media inhibits
bacteria growth throughout the entire unit (in fact, has been shown to reduce
it up to 90%!), eliminating the need for silver, commonly used in carbon-only
filters (silver is considered a pesticide by the EPA and, as such, must be
registered with them). Is copper or zinc added to the water in any significant
amount? On 2.3 ppm chlorinated water <0.05 mg/l copper and only 0.46 mg/l zinc
was measured. The EPA aesthetic levels are 1.0 mg/l for copper and 5.0 mg/l for
zinc. Click here to visit the KDF Fluid Treatment company's web site.
STAGE 3 - ADSORPTION: GRANULATED
ACTIVATED CARBON
Granulated activated carbon (GAC)
is universally recognized and widely used as an effective adsorbent for a wide
variety of organic contaminants, such as herbicides, pesticides, industrial
chemicals, and trihalomethanes (THMs). Carbon is extremely porous and provides
a large surface area for contaminants to collect (the surface area of the carbon
in our filter would equal the surface of 50 football fields). Carbon-only
filters must also use their capacity for chlorine removal, resulting in a
shortened life. They also may use a bituminous coal carbon, which is good at
removing chlorine, but not as effective at removing chemicals. We use a
high-grade coconut shell carbon that is most effective at removing chemicals.
Coconut shell carbon provides a significantly higher volume of micro pores than
either coal, wood, or lignite-based carbon. As a result, it is more effective
than other carbon types in removing trihalomethanes (THMs) and other chemicals
from municipally supplied water. Since our redox media removes the chlorine
before it reaches the carbon, the carbon capacity is not wasted for chlorine and
is free to concentrate more effectively on organic contaminants.
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