Mon. - Fri.
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m
It could be so simple: I want to improve my drinking water – bring on the filter! ... But it's not: The various processes are very different and all have their advantages and disadvantages...
... have experienced fluctuating public perceptions. After major scandals and reports of poor tap water quality, demand increased; in quieter times, advertising from the water lobby and poor filter performance prevailed.
However, technological developments have now made it possible to produce high-performance, safe, and reliable water filters for a wide range of needs. When it comes to "better drinking water," the question today is no longer "if," but "how much better—and at what price?"
The following explanations serve to clarify:
The so-called pitcher filters consist of a cartridge with loose activated carbon granules and a separate layer of ion exchange resin. As the water flows through the granules, organic compounds such as odorous and flavoring substances, as well as chlorine compounds, bind to the surface of the activated carbon. The resin, in turn, releases sodium and other negatively charged ions with which it has been saturated into the hard water upon contact, absorbing the hardness-forming elements calcium and magnesium. This continues until all ions have been exchanged.
The water is not filtered, but chemically softened. If the absorption capacity of the activated carbon is exceeded, the charged layer of pollutants can dissolve uncontrollably and lead to very high levels of water contamination (bleeding). We therefore cannot recommend such "filters": metals, drug residues, asbestos fibers, and most other pollutants are not filtered out or are only inadequately filtered out. Softening enriches the water with salts. Furthermore, the loose granules and resin filling pose a high risk of microbial contamination. To counteract this risk, these granules are usually vapor-coated with silver ions, which results in an additional influx of silver ions into the water. Over time, these ions act like a type of antibiotic.
A relatively new process is the so-called activated carbon block filter. The CARBONIT® Monoblock performs best in this category: The densely carbonized filter media creates a very fine physical filter. This traps particles, such as undissolved, coarse limescale, and most germs. Its hygienic safety has been confirmed by independent studies. The raw material used is a specific type of activated carbon made from nutshells. After activation with steam, its enormous internal surface area reliably removes organic compounds such as drug residues, as well as dissolved copper and lead, through adsorption.
The disturbing effects of hard water are partly due to this limescale content, but if you want to eliminate this sufficiently, you must additionally treat your water with hardness buffering or hardness reducing measures (e.g. Bellima water fans).
Thanks to its dense structure with a filter fineness of approximately 0.45µm, the monoblock filter cannot "bleed" but clogs when used to capacity, thus posing no danger. One NFP Premium cartridge allows approximately 2 liters of clean water to pass through per minute.
The simplest household filter with an activated carbon block currently costs €138.00. (CARBONIT® SANUNO)
The reverse osmosis filtration process was invented in the 1950s. At its core is a semipermeable membrane, a common type of membrane found in nature. When fluids with different concentrations of dissolved salts are present on either side of the membrane, the so-called osmotic pressure ensures that the salt concentrations are equalized by pure water flowing from the purer side to the impurer side – all by itself.
In reverse osmosis, impure water (e.g., tap water) is forced against such a membrane. The extremely small pores of approximately 1/10,000 µm allow virtually only H2O molecules to pass through to the other side.
This process requires that the water being "pressed out" can drain away continuously, otherwise the membrane would clog. This so-called concentrate is discharged into the wastewater in a ratio of approximately three parts to one part pure water (permeate).
Older systems without a permeate pump produce significantly more wastewater and are therefore less cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The reverse osmosis process is a slow filtration process: normal household systems produce approximately 1-2 liters of pure water per hour. In luxury systems, this flows into a pure water pressure tank (with a storage capacity of 4-25 liters), from where it can be drawn off at a comfortable pressure through a separate small tap.
Reverse osmosis filters 99-100% of all organic matter and 85-99% of all dissolved matter. You receive low-mineral, contaminant-free drinking water. We currently offer direct-flow units (without tank, starting at €545) and comfort units with a storage tank (starting at €765). Both can be installed by yourself, but we recommend installation by a trained installer; contact details are available from us.
Steam distillation essentially mimics natural purification (evaporation). Water is heated to approximately 80°C in a boiler. During evaporation, all of the constituents remain in the boiler except for volatile organic compounds, which are then removed with a simple activated carbon filter.
You receive fully decalcified, pure water similar to condensate, rain or dew water, guaranteed free of toxins and slag substances.
The rumor that distilled water is dangerous is a scientific misconception. Drinking such pure water generally doesn't flush out minerals. However, everyone should try out the effects of "diuretic" (diuretic, detoxifying) water on their well-being. For some, it's a miracle cure; for others, it's too "empty."
Steam distillers for producing the purest drinking water are also available for domestic use, but they are currently not available in Germany for tax reasons.
Ion exchange resins are found in can filter cartridges and all conventional water softeners. Sodium ions (Na+) are deposited on small synthetic resin beads, for example, through saturation with table salt. The water to be softened flows through a container filled with these beads.
The resin's chemical composition favors the hardness-forming, doubly positively charged calcium and magnesium ions (Ca++ or Mg++), which are responsible for hardness, while the sodium ions are released into the water. Thus, hardness-forming ions are exchanged for non-hard ions.
The reverse process is also possible, for example if negatively charged nitrate ions are to be removed...
1. The water becomes slightly salty (when replacing the hardness with sodium)
2. The resins are exhausted and must be renewed (regenerated)
3. The large internal surfaces were susceptible to germs in the past
4. Ion exchangers are - strictly speaking - not filters, since they always release the same amount of other substances into the water in exchange for the substances they "capture".
(Travel filters) are well suited to ensuring that water is drinkable in hygienically questionable conditions (e.g. tap water in countries with low standards).
The ceramic pores are very fine and trap even bacteria. The embedded silver layer provides reliable disinfection. These devices are not suitable as household filters because their performance spectrum (metal ions, chemical and organic pollutants) and throughput are too narrow.
Innovative tubular membranes made of a very special plastic achieve active virus protection with a filter fineness of approximately 0.15µm while still maintaining a relatively high flow rate. However, they require a good activated carbon prefilter to achieve a service life of approximately six months. Carbonit, for example, offers a combined activated carbon membrane filter with the IFP Puro and IFP Ultra combo filter inserts.