How do other water treatment methods compare with Solid Carbon Block Filters?

End of Tap (Faucet Mount)

• Low filter capacity.
• Frequent filter changes needed, resulting in ongoing filter replacement costs.
• Reduces some contaminants of health concern.

Carafe/Pitcher (Pour-through)

• Reduces some contaminants of health concern, but not Volatile Organic Chemicals.
• Inconvenient to use: water must be poured through the filter and then refrigerated while you wait.
• Low capacity requires frequent filter changes.
• Must replace filters about every 40 gallons at $7-$10 each, or $130-$190 for 750 gallons (Multi-Pure®’s 750 gallon filter is only $56.95).

Reverse Osmosis

• No independent ability to reduce most Volatile Organic Chemicals.
• Very low output - takes up to 24 hours to process 5 gallons of water.
• Must have holding tank to store the processed water.
• Wastes water - for every gallon processed, 3 to 9 gallons are wasted.
• Removes minerals and trace elements essential to good health.

Charcoal Filters

• These come in powdered or granulated form which allows water to flow around rather than through the carbon.
• Referred to as taste and odor filters because of the limited contact time the water has with the carbon.
• Can promote the growth of bacteria.

Silver-Charcoal Filters

• Same as Charcoal Filters above; however, uses silver to inhibit the growth of bacteria while water sits in filter.
• Silver ingested in certain doses can be poisonous to the human body; therefore, it must be registered with the EPA as containing a poisonous substance.

Limited Media Filters

• As the demand for quality drinking water continues to grow, new types of media will be test-marketed, from metal shavings to coconut shells.
• Some materials can be quite ”exceptional” in reducing a particular contaminant in the water, but there is a wide range of contaminants that should be addressed - not one or two.

Distillation

• Removes dissolved minerals and trace elements essential to good health.
• No independent ability to remove all chemicals - the chemicals can vaporize and recondense into the distilled water.
• Daily chore to provide enough water for the entire family.
• Requires electricity at a cost of about $240 per year.