What is Water Filtering?

Water filtering is a method used to filter out undesired chemical compounds, organic and inorganic materials, and biological contaminants from water.  The purpose of water filtration is to provide clean drinking water.  Water purification takes place on small and large scales, and water filtering can provide clean and potable water for industrial applications, in addition to individual households.

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However, water filters may not remove all of the drinking water contaminants you’re most concerned about, researchers report.  Your water filter might not catch all toxic chemicals - Futurity

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Water filters may not remove all of the drinking water contaminants you’re most concerned about, researchers report. While using any water filter is better than using none—many household filters are only partially effective at removing toxic perfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, from drinking water, according to a new study.

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While using any water filter is better than using none—many household filters are only partially effective at removing toxic perfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, from drinking water, according to a new study.  And a few, if not properly maintained, can even make the situation worse.

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“We tested 76 point-of-use filters and 13 point-of-entry or whole-house systems and found their effectiveness varied widely,” says Heather Stapleton, associate professor of environmental health at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

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“All of the under-sink reverse osmosis and two-stage filters achieved near-complete removal of the PFAS chemicals we were testing for,” Stapleton says.  “In contrast, the effectiveness of activated-carbon filters used in many pitcher, countertop, refrigerator, and faucet-mounted styles was inconsistent and unpredictable. The whole-house systems were also widely variable and in some cases actually increased PFAS levels in the water.”

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“Home filters are really only a stopgap,” says Detlef Knappe, professor of civil, construction, and environmental engineering at North Carolina State University. “The real goal should be control of PFAS contaminants at their source.”

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PFAS have come under scrutiny in recent years due to their potential health impacts and widespread presence in the environment, especially drinking water.

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Exposure to the chemicals, used widely in fire-fighting foams and stain- and water-repellants, is associated with various cancers, low birth weight in babies, thyroid disease, impaired immune function, and other health disorders. Mothers and young children may be most vulnerable to the chemicals, which can affect reproductive and developmental health.

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Some scientists call PFAS “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment indefinitely and accumulate in the human body. They are now nearly ubiquitous in human blood serum samples, Stapleton notes.

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For the study, researchers analyzed filtered water samples from homes in Chatham, Orange, Durham, and Wake counties in central North Carolina and New Hanover and Brunswick counties in the southeastern part of the state.

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They tested samples for a suite of PFAS contaminants, including three perfluoroalkal sulfonic acids (PFSAs), seven perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), and six per- and poly-fluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs).  GenX, which has been found in high levels in water in the Wilmington area of southeastern North Carolina, was among the PFEAs for which researchers tested.

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Key takeaways include:

• Reverse osmosis filters and two-stage filters reduced PFAS levels, including GenX, by 94% or more in water, though the small number of two-stage filters tested necessitates further testing to determine why they performed so well.

• Activated-carbon filters removed 73% of PFAS contaminants, on average, but results varied greatly. In some cases, the filters completely removed chemicals; in other cases they didn’t reduce them at all. Researchers saw no clear trends between removal efficiency and filter brand, age, or source water chemical levels. Changing out filters regularly is probably a very good idea, nonetheless, researchers say.

• The PFAS-removal efficiency of whole-house systems using activated carbon filters varied widely. In four of the six systems tested, PFSA and PFCA levels actually increased after filtration. Because the systems remove disinfectants used in city water treatment, they can also leave home pipes susceptible to bacterial growth.

 

“The under-sink reverse osmosis filter is the most efficient system for removing both the PFAS contaminants prevalent in central [North Carolina] and the PFEAs, including GenX, found in Wilmington,” Knappe says.

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“Unfortunately, they also cost much more than other point-of-use filters. This raises concerns about environmental justice, since PFAS pollution affects more households that struggle financially than those that do not struggle.”

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The paper appears in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

Additional coauthors are from NC State and Duke. The NC Policy Collaboratory through the NC PFAS Testing Network and the Wallace Genetic Foundation funded the work.

Source: Duke University

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What are the most common types of filtration systems?

The most common types of drinking water filtration systems are reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and carbon filters. They all remove a variety of contaminants, including bacteria and salt. Reverse osmosis uses a semipermeable membrane, which is composed of nanometer-sized pores, to filter water.

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Keep in mind that the objective should be to remove any and all contaminants in your drinking water.  But based on all data provided it is impossible to remove 100% of the chemical contaminants, especially BPA and PFAs from our drinking water.

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Does that mean that you shouldn’t purchase a filtration system that can remove most, if not all of the contaminants from your drinking water?  No!  The challenge for consumers is knowing which unit will provide the desired results that they’re looking for – healthier drinking water.

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Keep in mind that the cost of filtration units whether they’re a whole house unit, under the counter, countertop, or pitcher can be pricey.  Do your research and choose wisely when purchasing any filtration device.

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All the data provided on water filtration and the various methods used to filter water are varied.  Yet, none of the data talks about “neutralizing” the primary purification agent that is used in the municipal purification process namely chlorine. 

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Why Should Chemical Neutralization be Considered?

First, let’s look at the definition of the word “neutralize”.  To neutralize something means to render (something) ineffective or harmless by applying an opposite force or effect, make/ineffective, nullify, or cancel out.

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Water filtration systems are not designed to “neutralize” chemical contaminants but to remove as much of the harmful chemical substances in the water.  Remember, every home and business are structurally connected to the local municipal water system that operates in their city or county.  This simply means that everyone is receiving municipal water into their home or office building.  Thus, any organisms in the water have been killed off with the use of the primary cleaning agent “Chlorine”.  And yes, there are other chemicals added into the water being “cleansed”.    

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Understanding the municipal water “cleansing process” enables consumers to consider the impact of that the “chemicals” in their drinking water can have regarding the water/disease connection.

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While the chemicals kill off harmful living organisms, the purpose of the filtration units are to remove residual chemicals in your drinking water.  Yet, as mentioned in the article not all chemicals are removed and there is no mention of any filtration device being able to “neutralize” any of the chemicals used in the municipal water cleansing process.

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For centuries man drank water directly from springs, streams, and man-made wells.  During our agricultural phase farmers made wells and drank fresh clean water that came from underground springs.  This type of water has been referred to by scientist as “living water”.  What makes fresh water “alive” is due to the high concentration of natural minerals found within these waters. 

All freshwater systems, lakes, streams, rivers, small tributaries, are all connected to underground pools of water known as earth’ aqua sphere system.  It is this natural freshwater system that provides pristine, clean, mineral rich water throughout the world. 

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Is it possible to duplicate earth’s natural purification process?  

Did you know that Okinawa, Japan, has the highest concentration of centurions on the planet?  Their lifestyle contributes to this.   They have continued to grow their own food, limited technology, building infrastructure and modernization, and their drinking water has a high concentration of natural minerals.  Research into these minerals indicated that these marine compounds contributed significantly to their quality of health and longevity.

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For more than twenty years, marine minerals have been harvested from the depths of the Okinawan oceans and sold throughout the world as an aide to “transforming” unhealthy drinking water into rich, mineralized, clean drinking water. 

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The name of the product composed of these marine minerals is called Xtreme, X2O.  X2O is the proprietary product of XOOMA WorldWide.  Composed of over 80+ minerals, this natural product can also “neutralize” chlorine in any type of drinking water while transforming unhealthy alkaline levels or the pH level in water to 8+ without the use of bicarbonates.

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Since chlorine is still present in filtered water and the alkalinity level is insufficient what would be the benefit of adding X2O to your filtered water?   A few of the benefits would be:

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1. Neutralizing the chlorine.

2. Increasing the waters pH level to 8+.

3. Adding 80+ minerals to your drinking water.

4. Increasing cellular hydration.

5. Aiding in the cellular detoxification process.

6. Improving blood metabolism.

7. Helping to reduce high blood pressure.

 

These are just a few of the benefits you can experience by adding X2O to your daily wellness routine.  Keep in mind that humans are 70-80% water.  Which means that this volume needs to be maintained to avoid dehydration.  Dehydration occurs when the body does not have a sufficient volume of healthy, chemical free-living water. 

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Healthy cells can only function properly when they are absorbing water that is alive, loaded with more than 80+ minerals, and chemical free.

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To learn more about how to improve your health with living water and other plant-based supplements and products go to www.xooma.com/ohw.

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Cellular function and longevity is what we should all be striving for.