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There is not any single water purification systems that can reduce all the impurities found in todays water supplies. This is why home water purifier systems are become more popular. They are your last chance to purify your water before using it for drinking, cooking and showering.

Home water treatment systems are divided into two broad categories. Point-of use (POU) and point of entry (POE). The POU systems are cheaper and usually easier to maintain than POE units.

POU systems are usually installed in the kitchen and bathroom. Counter top and faucet mount filters attach to the sink faucet by replacing the aerator with a simple diverter valve, aerator combination. Giving you the option for filtered or unfiltered water as you need it. These systems are easy to install and filter replacement is easy as you can stand at the counter to replace them. The only draw back to counter top filters is they take up some of your counter space.

Under counter systems usually take a little more time to install. You will need to do a small amount of plumbing changes to the cold water line feeding the sink and installation of the new single faucet used to get filtered water. The new faucet can be installed in an existing hole in the sink or you can drill a new hole to install it. These systems can be beneficial if you do not want to loose counter space. The only draw back is replacing the filters. Leaving extra length on the supply lines can make this process easier.

Pour through filters work on gravity, fill the upper compartment with water and it slowly filters it’s way in to the lower compartment. These systems are the easiest to install. They do take up counter space and the filters may not last as long as the other choices.

Shower filters reduce contaminants that can vaporize while you are showering. While they may not reduce as many contaminants as the other systems. The reason for this is the water does not have enough contact time with the filter to reduce them.

There is a wide variety of home water purification methods available. These include activated carbon, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, distillation, chemical oxidation and ultraviolet radiation treatment and systems that may include more than one of these processes. These processes purify water by either removing the contaminants or transforming them into less objectionable compounds.

 
 
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Crypto refers to cryptosporidiosis which is a parasitic disease caused by cryptosporidium. That lives in the intestines of infected animals and humans. These crypto germs are released into the environment by a bowl movement from an infected animal or human. Millions of crypto germs can come from only one bowl movement. The outer shell of this parasite gives it the ability to live outside the body for long periods of time and also makes it very resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants.

How is it spread?
Crypto is spread when animals or humans comes in contact with soil, food, water or surfaces that have been contaminated with feces containing the parasite. Even if is no visible evidence of feces can be seen. You can become infected after accidentally swallowing the parasite. Crypto is not spread by contact with blood.

How common is Crypto?
Crypto has become recognized as one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in humans in the United States. The parasite is found in every region of the United States and throughout the world. Recreational water and insufficiently treated drinking water supplies could contain crypto.
Recreational water includes: 
Swimming pools
 Hot tubs
 Jacuzzis
 Fountains
 Lakes
 Rivers
 Springs
 Ponds
 Streams
 Recreational water can be contaminated with sewage or feces from humans or animals.

How can I tell if I have been exposed?

If you are accidental exposed to cryptosporidiosis. Symptoms generally begin with in 2 to 10 days after becoming infected with the parasite.

Symptoms include:
 watery diarrhea
 Stomach cramps or pain
 Dehydration
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Fever
 Weight loss
 
How long do symptoms last?
People with healthy immune systems, symptoms usually last about 1 to 2 weeks. If you think you may be infected, talk to your health care provider.

How can I remove crypo from drinking water?
Filtration is highly effectiveness in the removal of Cryptosporidium when using an absolute less than or equal to 1 micron filter. To protect you and your family always use a quality portable water filter or boil water before drinking it from natural water supplies.
 
 
Undercounter filter system that uses carbon and KDF-55
Carbon has had a wide variety of uses over the years. One of these is filtering water. Carbon is used for it’s ability to absorbed. It can easily absorb odors, liquids and gases. The porous (the small void spaces in the carbon) properties of carbon gives it a large surface area.  Even very small pieces have a larger surface area than one would think.

You hear the terms activated carbon, activated charcoal or activated coal. These are all a form of carbon derived from charcoal. The carbon used can be produced from nutshells, coal or wood. 

Activated carbon usually caries a positive charge. Any water contaminants with a negative charge are attracted and stay with the filter. This makes it effective at reducing chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and sediment. Minerals, salts or dissolved inorganic compounds are not affected.

Catalytic activated carbon is used for it’s ability to remove chloramines from city tap water. Catalytic part brakes down the chloramines so the activated carbon can absorb what it is made of.

Carbon filters are usually of two types. Formed carbon blocks and granular. Home water filters use a variety of sizes of formed carbon blocks. This increase the surface area the water will come in contact with. By increasing the surface area this helps improve it’s ability to reduce a larger amount of contaminants. This also improves the particle size that is removed. Particle size can range from 0.5 to 50 microns.

Today you see some water filters that combine carbon filtration with the addition of KDF-55 or silver. The KDF-55 or silver prevents the growth of bacteria from growing in the filter. Normal carbon filters have a lot of surface area that are ideal areas for bacteria to grow, but does not kill it. As the filter ages bacteria keeps growing until it start traveling out in to the produced water. This can produce water with a higher bacteria level than regular tap water has.