Recommended water purifier?

rahul_intlad · 20th May 2007, 13:17

Very very informative guys thanks a lot,had not even thought about the two different types of water purifiers before.

tsk1979 · 20th May 2007, 14:10

read about reverse osmosis. Its called ion exchange.
For Bangalore you need three stage filteration(Carbon filter) to take care of any bacteria or particulate suspended matter, and for taking care of harmful salts Reverse Osmosis is needed.
Vid, my flat is on sarjapur road. We have Cauvery water coming within 2 years for the past 3 years.

caliper · 12th June 2007, 19:54

As far as I know, you can get spare filters (the actual filter that fits within the water filtering machine) from Eureka Forbes. So you are not stuck to being serviced by them.

Ask the store where you would buy the filter machine for the phone number of the local Eureka Forbes office. Then call that number and ask them what price they charge for spares.

I think it was 300 for the filter and Rs 700 for filter + installation a while back.

Thad E Ginathom · 13th June 2007, 12:01

I have a Zero-B (Ion Exchange) Unit.

It was very expensive. The water still has a sort of machine taste, which I hope will go with use, but it is certainly good to drink.

vikram_d · 13th June 2007, 13:07

A lot of you guys have RO systems installed. I have one question in RO systems there is a huge wastage of water. Out of 10 litres purified only 3 is used the other 7 litres goes down the drain. Right? So how many of you actually re-use the wasted water for other purposes?

I use Kinley water 25 liter jars with the cooler at home.

wolfinstein · 13th June 2007, 16:14

There is a new one from Phillips, just saw an Ad..!

We have Reviva Aquaguard RO installed last 4 years, No issues and maintainence apart from Routine replacements of the Filters and cleaning of the dispenser covered under AMC.

Replacement of Filters is done twice or thrice a year.

I would'nt say huge wastage, but yes there is water loss,What we have done is that the Waste pipe collects water in the Bucket and that is used to water the plants.

caliper · 13th June 2007, 19:14

Also, what is the power consumption of RO units in watts?

Finally, since one is using RO to avoid any last trace of chemicals, it's ironic that the holding containers of most of the RO units are plastic. Is there an RO unit that allows you to output water to a container of your choice?

n_aditya · 13th June 2007, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfinstein

There is a new one from Phillips, just saw an Ad..!

Yes the ad was very interesting. Saw it in this months readers digest.

Also has a battery backup so you can get safe drinking water even when there is no power.

rahul_intlad · 13th June 2007, 19:25

Quote:

I have one question in RO systems there is a huge wastage of water. Out of 10 litres purified only 3 is used the other 7 litres goes down the drain.

If true,It's criminal to waste so much water in these times of water shortages.

rkg · 13th June 2007, 20:03

Hi Guys
there are two types of RO membranes
TFC Thin film composites ( Filmtech,USA, a subsidiary of DOW chemicals) is the largest makers of this. kent sources their RO membrane from them
Cellulose acetate membranes
the basic difference is TFC membranes wont work on water with chlorine( most of the munciple supply) chlorine kills the membranes. that is why they keep pre filters like , mechanical filters like cotton thread-charcoal- activated or silver impregnated carbon or carbon block to remove chlorine and any other impurities
cellulose acetate membranes work on water with chlorine.
between these two TFC is a slightly better technology
Eureka Forbes does not have proper RO system two years back hence they are discouraging customers. but what it actually sells is pure mechanical filter ( cotton rope/polyester bloc - charcoal - UV lamp. the efficacy of UV lamp is highly doubtful. there are no concrete studies about the time duration and UV frequency required to kill bacteria. In all the commercial filters available today water passes through the UV lamp . actually it does not stay even for few seconds under UV light. different bacteria have different time and temperature susceptibilities. so thinking UV will kill bacteria is not correct.
whereas RO membrane will effectively filter away all the bacteria and virus, pesticide etc. actually there is no need for UV lamp in RO filters. just because people feel it is better the companies like kent are adding it and increasing the cost.
one has to check what RO membrane the company is using. RO membranes are rated in LPD( Ltrs per day) if it says 75 LPD the membrane can effectively give you 50 Lts per day. . further RO membrane has a life of 2-3 years.
regarding filter AMC is big hog wash. you can safely change the cartridges once in a year and more frequently depending upon the input quality of water

tsk1979 · 13th June 2007, 22:33

What Eureka forbs is saying put water in a glass, put glass in sunlight for 10 seconds and its disinfected.
In other words, "Consumers are fools"

horsepower · 14th June 2007, 00:22

offlate, Philips is advertising a lot about its water filter's. Guess, can also check with them.

rkg · 14th June 2007, 11:11

all the filters are same. especially branded ones
ic case of Ro filter choose the one with maximum number of prefilters before Ro membrane.this will prolong the life of membrane. charcoal followed by carbon block is good. charcoal offers lots of surface area for many chemicals esp chlorine to get adhered to. RO removed dissolved substances from water. no other process does it ( except distillation)
i have checked the TDS level of cauvery water in wilson garden area where i resided for 4 years. it is around 250-300 ppm. bore water in that area is around 350 ppm. in fact the companies say if TDS is above 500 go for RO.
there is another method called membrane filters. these are better that ordinary charcoal-carbon block-UV lamp stuff. these are good is water TDS is less than 500 ppm. one company makes it. it is permionics. but the products are slighlty expensive but they are in the same range as EF
the link is here Permionics manufacturer of reverse osmosis membranes, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration membrane for color removal domestic water purifier and recycle waste water.
try to see beyond EF. EF is actually taking customers for a ride.

tsk1979 · 14th June 2007, 11:15

rkg, in Bellandur area the major problem was metals in the water(Copper, mercury etc.,) Even water in indranangar faces such contamination. Thats why germs are not the only problem. For filtering out metals etc., you need RO.

rkg · 14th June 2007, 11:31

Hi TSK
that is what i said "it removes all dissolved materials from water" Ro removes most of the known bacteria along with minerals, pesticide residues. it is better choice in urban areas where bore water is the source of drinking water. if one can afford RO it is the best. forget the EF sales pitch that we loose minerals etc etc. water was supposed to be water only not source of minerals. further many minerals are stored in the body and are required in such micro quantities one can not take them daily in water. most of the bottled water sold as mineral water. actually they ozonize after Ro purification to get that taste nothing else. people tend to think they are getting minerals from water.

20th May 2007, 13:17	#16
rahul_intlad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 1,579 Thanked: 4 Times	Very very informative guys thanks a lot,had not even thought about the two different types of water purifiers before.
	() Thanks

20th May 2007, 14:10	#17
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,817 Times View My Garage	read about reverse osmosis. Its called ion exchange. For Bangalore you need three stage filteration(Carbon filter) to take care of any bacteria or particulate suspended matter, and for taking care of harmful salts Reverse Osmosis is needed. Vid, my flat is on sarjapur road. We have Cauvery water coming within 2 years for the past 3 years.
	() Thanks

12th June 2007, 19:54	#18
caliper BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: India Posts: 160 Thanked: 3 Times	As far as I know, you can get spare filters (the actual filter that fits within the water filtering machine) from Eureka Forbes. So you are not stuck to being serviced by them. Ask the store where you would buy the filter machine for the phone number of the local Eureka Forbes office. Then call that number and ask them what price they charge for spares. I think it was 300 for the filter and Rs 700 for filter + installation a while back.
	() Thanks

13th June 2007, 12:01	#19
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 10,988 Thanked: 26,371 Times	I have a Zero-B (Ion Exchange) Unit. It was very expensive. The water still has a sort of machine taste, which I hope will go with use, but it is certainly good to drink.
	() Thanks

13th June 2007, 13:07	#20
vikram_d Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,427 Thanked: 1,185 Times	A lot of you guys have RO systems installed. I have one question in RO systems there is a huge wastage of water. Out of 10 litres purified only 3 is used the other 7 litres goes down the drain. Right? So how many of you actually re-use the wasted water for other purposes? I use Kinley water 25 liter jars with the cooler at home.
	() Thanks

13th June 2007, 16:14	#21
wolfinstein BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 994 Thanked: 20 Times	There is a new one from Phillips, just saw an Ad..! We have Reviva Aquaguard RO installed last 4 years, No issues and maintainence apart from Routine replacements of the Filters and cleaning of the dispenser covered under AMC. Replacement of Filters is done twice or thrice a year. I would'nt say huge wastage, but yes there is water loss,What we have done is that the Waste pipe collects water in the Bucket and that is used to water the plants. Last edited by wolfinstein : 13th June 2007 at 16:19.
	() Thanks

13th June 2007, 19:14	#22
caliper BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: India Posts: 160 Thanked: 3 Times	Also, what is the power consumption of RO units in watts? Finally, since one is using RO to avoid any last trace of chemicals, it's ironic that the holding containers of most of the RO units are plastic. Is there an RO unit that allows you to output water to a container of your choice?
	() Thanks

13th June 2007, 20:03	#25
rkg Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: bangalore Posts: 1,044 Thanked: 594 Times	Hi Guys there are two types of RO membranes TFC Thin film composites ( Filmtech,USA, a subsidiary of DOW chemicals) is the largest makers of this. kent sources their RO membrane from them Cellulose acetate membranes the basic difference is TFC membranes wont work on water with chlorine( most of the munciple supply) chlorine kills the membranes. that is why they keep pre filters like , mechanical filters like cotton thread-charcoal- activated or silver impregnated carbon or carbon block to remove chlorine and any other impurities cellulose acetate membranes work on water with chlorine. between these two TFC is a slightly better technology Eureka Forbes does not have proper RO system two years back hence they are discouraging customers. but what it actually sells is pure mechanical filter ( cotton rope/polyester bloc - charcoal - UV lamp. the efficacy of UV lamp is highly doubtful. there are no concrete studies about the time duration and UV frequency required to kill bacteria. In all the commercial filters available today water passes through the UV lamp . actually it does not stay even for few seconds under UV light. different bacteria have different time and temperature susceptibilities. so thinking UV will kill bacteria is not correct. whereas RO membrane will effectively filter away all the bacteria and virus, pesticide etc. actually there is no need for UV lamp in RO filters. just because people feel it is better the companies like kent are adding it and increasing the cost. one has to check what RO membrane the company is using. RO membranes are rated in LPD( Ltrs per day) if it says 75 LPD the membrane can effectively give you 50 Lts per day. . further RO membrane has a life of 2-3 years. regarding filter AMC is big hog wash. you can safely change the cartridges once in a year and more frequently depending upon the input quality of water Last edited by rkg : 13th June 2007 at 20:05.
	() Thanks

13th June 2007, 22:33	#26
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,817 Times View My Garage	What Eureka forbs is saying put water in a glass, put glass in sunlight for 10 seconds and its disinfected. In other words, "Consumers are fools"
	() Thanks

14th June 2007, 00:22	#27
horsepower BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 281 Thanked: Once View My Garage	offlate, Philips is advertising a lot about its water filter's. Guess, can also check with them.
	() Thanks

14th June 2007, 11:11	#28
rkg Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: bangalore Posts: 1,044 Thanked: 594 Times	all the filters are same. especially branded ones ic case of Ro filter choose the one with maximum number of prefilters before Ro membrane.this will prolong the life of membrane. charcoal followed by carbon block is good. charcoal offers lots of surface area for many chemicals esp chlorine to get adhered to. RO removed dissolved substances from water. no other process does it ( except distillation) i have checked the TDS level of cauvery water in wilson garden area where i resided for 4 years. it is around 250-300 ppm. bore water in that area is around 350 ppm. in fact the companies say if TDS is above 500 go for RO. there is another method called membrane filters. these are better that ordinary charcoal-carbon block-UV lamp stuff. these are good is water TDS is less than 500 ppm. one company makes it. it is permionics. but the products are slighlty expensive but they are in the same range as EF the link is here Permionics manufacturer of reverse osmosis membranes, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration membrane for color removal domestic water purifier and recycle waste water. try to see beyond EF. EF is actually taking customers for a ride.
	() Thanks

14th June 2007, 11:15	#29
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,817 Times View My Garage	rkg, in Bellandur area the major problem was metals in the water(Copper, mercury etc.,) Even water in indranangar faces such contamination. Thats why germs are not the only problem. For filtering out metals etc., you need RO.
	() Thanks

14th June 2007, 11:31	#30
rkg Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: bangalore Posts: 1,044 Thanked: 594 Times	Hi TSK that is what i said "it removes all dissolved materials from water" Ro removes most of the known bacteria along with minerals, pesticide residues. it is better choice in urban areas where bore water is the source of drinking water. if one can afford RO it is the best. forget the EF sales pitch that we loose minerals etc etc. water was supposed to be water only not source of minerals. further many minerals are stored in the body and are required in such micro quantities one can not take them daily in water. most of the bottled water sold as mineral water. actually they ozonize after Ro purification to get that taste nothing else. people tend to think they are getting minerals from water.
	() Thanks