Drinking water pollution comes from many sources. Surface water becomes contaminated from agricultural runoff, community landfills, polluted runoff (the nation's leading cause of water pollution), and hazardous waste produced as byproducts of manufacturing. Groundwater is contaminated by leaks of pollutants such as gasoline and MTBE from underground storage tanks and injection of hazardous waste into deep wells (which is being phased out). The drinking water treatment industry is experiencing significant growth due to consumer demand for products that could protect them from these potentially harmful contaminants which may be found in drinking water supplies as well as aesthetically improve their water. 

Highly Regarded

The effectiveness of any drinking water treatment device is measured by the performance of its filter. A close review of drinking water treatment unit certifications shows that solid carbon block filters are the most effective for reducing a wide range of contaminants, including those that may be found in groundwater. Certain drinking water treatment units (DWTU) that use solid carbon block filters have been tested and certified to reduce as many as 65 contaminants. 

In the early 1970s, the solid carbon block filter technology was developed for the purpose of treating contaminants for health reasons as well as aesthetically improving water quality. The technology combines mechanical filtration, chemical reaction and physical adsorption into a single device to reduce a broad spectrum of harmful contaminants.

Importance of Raw Materials

Activated carbon is the primary raw material used in solid carbon block filters. Multi-Pure® determines the characterization of activated carbons to use for its filters. Carbons specified are especially effective in reducing inorganics such as lead and mercury as well as organic compounds - disinfection by-products (DBPs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PCBs, MTBE, etc. 

Many carbons are selected with a high surface area and high retentivity characteristics. Years of research, development and manufacturing experience have helped Multi-Pure® develop specifications for carbon and other media that give its compacted carbon block filters distinctive performance advantages over other treatment alternatives. Quality assurance procedures are carefully developed and maintained to assure that raw materials meet our high standards. 

Technological Advantages

As evidenced by independent laboratory testing and certification of solid carbon block filters, Multi-Pure® has been successful in developing the technology to produce filters that provide greater chemical adsorption and mechanical filtration. Materials are formed into a carbon block, which is densely compacted. Compression enhances the kinetics of the filter and provides performance that cannot be achieved with extruded or granular activated carbon (GAC) filters. Compacted solid carbon block filters have a large surface area for chemical/physical adsorption to take place. With a solid carbon block, the water contact time is longer and provides for greater adsorption of many different chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and certain heavy metals. A close review of product listings confirms that Multi-Pure®'s Drinking Water Systems are among the few that have been certified to reduce PCBs -a difficult contaminant to treat. Only a handful of products have been tested and certified to reduce a wide range of contaminants that are more difficult to treat.

In addition, the densely compacted carbon block mechanically filters particles down to 0.5 micron, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium, asbestos, turbidity and particulates. Our filter design incorporates an outer prefiltration medium to remove large particles and prevent premature clogging of the filter. Multi-Pure®'s solid carbon block filters are exceptionally uniform and don't channel or allow bypass.