Multipure Product Reviews

Comparisons Between Multipure Water Filter Systems, Reverse Osmosis (RO), carbon block and other water filtration systems:

Many people are concerned about the quality of their drinking water. These people often turn to bottled water when they feel their own tap water is unsafe to consume. A growing number of consumers are looking into home water filtration to insure their water is safe to drink and reduce their carbon foot print. Water filters are a good option over bottled water. Just make an informed descision when choosing a water filter for your home. Not every home water filtration systems are the same.

There are literally thousands of home water fitration systems on the market today. Before making a purchase, it is important to know what filter is right for your clean water needs. The most important thing to look for in a drinking water system is how well they perform and do what the manufactures claims they will do. Let’s clear up some confusion so that you become an informed consumer and make the right purchase for your water safety.

There are industry standards that water filtering systems must adhear to. Knowing about these standards will help you make the right purchase.

Federal Standards For Drinking Water

Since the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act over thirty years ago, most Americans simply assume their water is safe. The reality is most drinking water is contaminated. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does monitor the quality of drinking water, but their standards lack on many levels. They actually allow certain contaminants into our water supply at what they refer to as “safe levels.” Many of these allowed contaminants are not safe at all, at any level.

Public water companies are required to report via a “consumer-confidence report” regarding the contaminants in their drinking water. These reports are required to be public. If there are contaminants that have no EPA standard, the water companies do not have to include those contaminants on their report. While a report may show that there are safe levels of contaminants, there may be spikes in certain ones, this does not appear on the report. The report contains an average of several annual tests and this may not accurately reflect the level of contamination. The testing of the water occurs at the facility, not at your faucet. The water that is deemed safe has to travel a long way to get to the faucet in your home. During its travels to your sink, many other contaminants like lead, asbestos and more easily get into the water.

Industry Standards

While the EPA is entrusted with the safety of our drinking water, it has no control of the water treatment industry. Consumers who want to know about water treatment devices and filters look to NSF International for ratings and regulation of water filtration devices. NSF is an independent, non-profit organization that tests consumer products, including water filtration systems to insure they remove or reduce the contaminants that they claim to remove or reduce. The NSF seal is one thing to look for on any home water filtration system. Some states have their own requirements for the health claims of drinking water systems. California, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts and Wisconsin have regulation in place for drinking water filter systems.

What is Contaminating Our Home Water Supply

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)

Disinfectants, such as chlorine and chloramines, which are used to kill microbes, form harmful byproducts (DBPs). Many of the DBPs have been found to cause potential health risks, including human cancers and birth and developmental defects.

Some 600 DBPs have been identified since 1974; however, scientists believe that represents only 50% of all DBPs that occur in chlorine-treated water and 17% of those occurring in chloraminetreated water. Of the identified DBPs, the toxicity is known for maybe 30%.

More than 90% of the population drink water that has been disinfected. The DBPs enter the water supply as it moves from the treatment plant through the distribution system to the kitchen tap.

Chemicals / Pesticides

More than 75,000 chemicals have been introduced to the environment over the past 60 years. And, the EPA has established national standards for fewer than 60 chemicals. Chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides have been linked to many diseases, including: cancers in humans; nervous system damage; liver problems; and reproductive problems.

Methyl-Tertiary-Butyl-Ether (MTBE)

MTBE, a controversial gasoline additive used for two decades, has seeped into groundwater throughout the country. MTBE does not breakdown easily and is difficult and costly to remove from groundwater. There currently is no federal standard for this possible human carcinogen.

Cryptosporidium & Giardia (Cysts)

These parasitic cysts are generally more resistant to disinfectants and are particularly harmful to persons with compromised immune systems. Cysts can be killed by boiling water or removed by filtration.

Lead

Water can pick up lead almost anywhere along the way from the treatment plant to the tap. Lead enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Lead in drinking water can cause a variety of adverse health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 15 ppb.

In babies and children, exposure to lead in drinking water can result in delays in physical and mental development; slight deficits in attention span; hearing problems, and learning disabilities. Adults who drink water contaminated with lead could develop high blood pressure.

Arsenic V

This naturally occurring toxin has been linked to several cancers and has been found to harm nerves, heart, and skin. Currently the EPA Standard for Arsenic V is 50 ppb. Water utilities have until 2006 to comply with EPA’s new standard of 10 ppb.

What Are The Industry Standards?

NSF International tests and certifies drinking water treatment devices to the standard appropriate for the technology of the product. NSF does not “rate” or “rank” water treatment systems, rather each system is tested against its own claims. For filtering devices, NSF may certify the product to improve the aesthetics of the water, the health effects of the water or both.

Aesthetic Effects (NSF Standard No. 42)

A drinking water treatment system may be certified under Standard 42 if the system aesthetically improves the water. This includes the reduction of chlorine, chloramine, and particulate reduction.

Chlorine Reduction

A device can be certified for chlorine reduction by meeting the minimum level of reduction required by the NSF standard, which is only 10%. Be sure to check the literature to determine how much chlorine is reduced by the device.

Particulate Reduction

Several classes are used to define the level of particulate reduction, ranging from Class VI for those devices removing coarse particulates of 50 micrometers and larger to Class I for drinking water treatment units that reduce the smallest (sub-micron) particles (0.5 to 1.0 micron).

Health Effects (NSF Standard No. 53)

NSF tests and certifies under this standard if a filter system reduces a significant amount of a specific harmful contaminant from drinking water. Such hazardous contaminants may be microbiological (including filterable cysts), chemical (including DBPs, pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides), or particulate in nature. NSF may certify that a drinking water treatment unit may be effective in controlling one or more of the health effects contaminants. By carefully reviewing the performance data sheet for a product, you will be able to determine whether the device is effective in reducing many pollutants or just a few.

Reverse Osmosis (NSF Standard No. 58)

The Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology is tested and certified under Standard 58. RO devices effectively reduce certain heavy metals, salts, and inorganics, including healthful, naturally-occurring minerals. Contaminants extracted through the Reverse Osmosis process are returned to the water supply. The process is slow and wastes about 3 to 4 gallons for every one gallon of water produced.

Distillation (NSF Standard No. 62)

NSF Standard 62 was developed for the Distillation technology which works very slowly and uses a lot of electricity. Water is heated to boiling and turns to vapor, leaving inorganic contaminants, including healthful minerals, behind. Chemicals evaporate along with the water and then recondense into a liquid state in the distilled water.

How do the Different Technologies Compare?

Carbon Block Filters

Multipure’s carbon block filters are considered to be the most effective method for reducing a wide range of contaminants of health concern as well as solving aesthetic problems. Multipure’s densely compacted carbon block filter mechanically intercepts particles as small as 0.5 micron (sub micron) as well as electrokinetically adsorbs particles. In addition, the carbon block filter has a large surface area for chemical adsorption to take place. The carbon block filter is a replaceable cartridge designed so that it can be easily changed. Some additional advantages of the carbon block filter are: it does not waste water; no electricity required; it does not remove beneficial minerals; and it does not add salt or silver to the water.

Granular Activated Carbon Filters (GAC)

GAC is only effective in trapping dirt, rust, sand and silt and removing objectionable tastes and odors. Water passes through a bed of loose carbon granules. Water can channel around the carbon instead of filtering through it.

Silver-Charcoal Filters (Bacteriostatic Filters)

Silver Nitrate, a known toxin, is added to a GAC filter to inhibit growth of heterotrophic bacteria; however, its effectiveness is questionable.

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

RO devices effectively reduce suspended and dissolved matter from water, including minerals which are essential to good health. RO systems do not remove all bacteria or chemicals. This process is very slow and may not filter as much water as you need at a time. The device may take up most of the space under your sink. RO can be expensive to maintain, requiring several separate replacement filters per year. An activated carbon filter usually accompanies an RO system.

Ceramic Filters

These devices are designed for mechanical filtration only. Ceramic filters do not reduce or remove any chemicals, pesticides, or herbicides, disinfection byproducts, or dissolved heavy metals.

Distillation

Much like Reverse Osmosis, Distillation removes all minerals. Distillers boil water and recondense the water vapor. This process is ineffective at reducing chemicals because they also vaporize along with the water. Distillation can only produce a few gallons of treated water a day. Distillation also uses a lot of electricity, making it an expensive process.

Water Softeners

Softeners are neither filters nor purifiers and are used only to change the water hardness.

Why Multipure?
Commitment – Quality – Integrity

Multipure Drinking Water Systems have been listed, certified and/or registered by the following, including all of the states that have certification programs:

• NSF International
• California Department of Public Health
• Iowa Department of Public Health
• State of Wisconsin, Bureau of Building Water Systems, Research and Product Review Unit
• State of Massachusetts, Board of Plumbing
• State of Colorado, Department of Health, Drinking Water Program

Consumers have been bombarded with deceptive manufacturer and sales claims making it more important than ever to refer to industry standards and state regulations which assure the effectiveness of the drinking water systems, that have been certified or registered, in reducing aesthetic substances and/or health effect contaminants. Multipure’s Drinking Water Systems have been tested since 1974, and NSF International’s testing and certification further confirm the superior effectiveness of Multi-Pure’s Systems, listed on the preceding page, in reducing a wide range of contaminants of health concern.

Furthermore, Multipure continues to be a leader in developing new technology for the drinking water treatment industry. Among other accomplishments, Multipure’s carbon block filter was the first to be NSF certified to reduce Lead, the first system certified to remove Asbestos, the first system certified to remove Cysts; and most recently, the first system, under Standard No. 53, certified to reduce Arsenic V!

Today, Multipure is the world’s largest manufacturer of compressed solid carbon block filters. Multipure specializes in Drinking Water Systems and subsequently can assure that our customers will receive a product that meets their quality requirements.

Commitment

Recognizing that drinking water plays an important role in a healthy lifestyle, Multi-Pure remains committed to the drinking water treatment industry. We continuously invest in research and development and improve our products to solve current drinking water problems as well as emerging problems.

Quality

The quality of Multipure Drinking Water Systems is unsurpassed. Our unprecedented twenty-five year warranty on stainless steel units confirms our confidence in the quality of our products.

Integrity

Multipure is strongly committed to truth, honesty, and excellence. Testing and certification against NSF/ANSI standards confirms our confidence in the performance of Multipure’s carbon block filters. Most importantly, the effectiveness of Multipure Drinking Water Systems is also confirmed by the millions of satisfied customers throughout the world who use Multipure’s carbon block filter technology to solve their drinking water problems.

When making a decision to purchase a drinking water treatment device, one should select a system that not only can solve the known problems of today, but also be a device that most likely will be effective in taking care of problems that may not be known today. When informed consumers compare Multipure Drinking Water Systems with other units available on the market, they will confirm that Multipure Systems are indeed the systems that can best meet their needs.