1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Whole house water filtration system to prevent MAC & NTM

Posted by yorkieyoli @yorkieyoli, Apr 21 3:58pm

I've seen a lot of posts and comments about people replacing /cleaning shower heads, boiling water, or drinking only spring water. All this in effort to reduce NTM infections and exposure.
What are your thought on implementing a whole house water filtration system? Would this be effective for reducing exposure to MAC & NTM in shower heads and water?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

cd33 | @cd33 | Apr 26 9:41am
In reply to @sueinmn "This would be helpful if the exact filtration used was cited. To the best of my..." + (show)
@sueinmn

This would be helpful if the exact filtration used was cited. To the best of my knowledge after years of research, no municipal system filters below 1 micron, at least in the US. The cost to do so at that volume would be astronomical.
Our local plant doesn't even routinely test for NTM.
Dr Joe Falkinaham, the US expert in NTM in water has documented extensively the use of .2 micron filters.
https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201301-013FR

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Yes I have just read his findings. Interesting! So much conflicting information out there.

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annsnj | @annsnj | Apr 26 10:13am
In reply to @cd33 "Hi Barbara I’m interested in what Dr Faulkner says? Is there a link to something I..." + (show)
@cd33

Hi Barbara
I’m interested in what Dr Faulkner says? Is there a link to something I can read.
Yes to all your questions.
Lots of infections
Coughed up blood several times since 2019. Only started the Big 3 January this year!
Like you, this week have only drank bottled water not boiled as are on the road for 10 days.
Showered with shower heads in parks, very quickly. Life goes on, you can’t stop living.
Connie

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Connie,

NTMir has a patient discussion group similar to this one. Dr. Joe Falkinham answers questions directly there.

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tevadog | @tevadog | 5 days ago

Is it important to have my duct work clean after moving into my condo 20 years ago. I have Mac and Psuedomonisis.

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paxmundi | @paxmundi | 4 days ago
In reply to @cd33 "I wrote to a company here in Australia “PUREAU” who claim to have the purest bottled..." + (show)
@cd33

I wrote to a company here in Australia “PUREAU” who claim to have the purest bottled water. They write back and said the systems they used and the way they were steam sterilised before each morning if filtration could not allow mycobacteria in. That is their claim. They told me to give them a batch number and they would send me an analysis of it. I did that but have not heard back from them as yet. However that is all that I am drinking atm and that is all I have been drinking for many years. I use it in my kettle too. Must say the kettle looks brand new inside.
As for pipes caked with biofilm?????? Would have to look into that. If your hot water is high enough it may destroy mycobacteria. I was told by the company that said run if someone tells you they can filter it out that the only thing that can destroy it is heat hot water set at 55 60 heat scalding temp.
I do believe that reverse osmosis under sink can filter NTM out as it’s installed at point of tap and can filter at 0.001 micron depending on filters used. Hope this helps in your decision.

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I have heard from several sources that reverse osmosis, like granulated carbon filters harbor NTM. Here’s an article from the EPA.
https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?Lab=NERL&dirEntryID=18293

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2 replies
yorkieyoli | @yorkieyoli | 4 days ago
In reply to @paxmundi "I have heard from several sources that reverse osmosis, like granulated carbon filters harbor NTM. Here’s..." + (show)
@paxmundi

I have heard from several sources that reverse osmosis, like granulated carbon filters harbor NTM. Here’s an article from the EPA.
https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?Lab=NERL&dirEntryID=18293

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I heard that too, but also heard that if the reverse osmosis system has UV filtering after the carbon layer, it should take care of NTM and other bacteria. Without being able to test it oneself, its really hard to know. I wish they sold personal NTM testers 🙂

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1 reply
cd33 | @cd33 | 4 days ago
In reply to @paxmundi "I have heard from several sources that reverse osmosis, like granulated carbon filters harbor NTM. Here’s..." + (show)
@paxmundi

I have heard from several sources that reverse osmosis, like granulated carbon filters harbor NTM. Here’s an article from the EPA.
https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?Lab=NERL&dirEntryID=18293

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You are correct! I think with the reverse osmosis the first filter is GAC the other 2 are different. However a posted read in here from Dr Falkingham who I suppose is highly regarded in USA and states that 0.2 will filter NTM out but also states that GAC filters should be changed every 2 weeks for that very reason. That would be an expensive outcome with any water filtration system. Filtration companies say filters last 6 to 12 months. Yes I agree they do breed and promote NTM.
I won’t be investing in filtering water for these reasons.

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cd33 | @cd33 | 4 days ago
In reply to @yorkieyoli "I heard that too, but also heard that if the reverse osmosis system has UV filtering..." + (show)
@yorkieyoli

I heard that too, but also heard that if the reverse osmosis system has UV filtering after the carbon layer, it should take care of NTM and other bacteria. Without being able to test it oneself, its really hard to know. I wish they sold personal NTM testers 🙂

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It is so hard to know what the right way to go is. Boiling water seems the safest option to me. Heat destroys NTM.

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1 reply
yorkieyoli | @yorkieyoli | 4 days ago
In reply to @cd33 "It is so hard to know what the right way to go is. Boiling water seems..." + (show)
@cd33

It is so hard to know what the right way to go is. Boiling water seems the safest option to me. Heat destroys NTM.

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But if heat destroys NTM, how is it that they are in the showerhead and steam even if the boiler is set over 134 degrees? I don't get it.

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2 replies
Beejenigma | @beejenigma | 4 days ago
In reply to @yorkieyoli "But if heat destroys NTM, how is it that they are in the showerhead and steam..." + (show)
@yorkieyoli

But if heat destroys NTM, how is it that they are in the showerhead and steam even if the boiler is set over 134 degrees? I don't get it.

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Because the hot water pipe is not the only one that goes to the shower. There is the cold water pipe also. And, if you did raise the temp of the water heater, you would have to replace all of the piping to the showerhead also to get rid of the pre-existing biofilm contamination of those pipes. That's the logic of it that I see.

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kathyjjb | @kathyjjb | 4 days ago
In reply to @yorkieyoli "In that case, am I better off with bottled water? Does anyone know if bottled water..." + (show)
@yorkieyoli

In that case, am I better off with bottled water? Does anyone know if bottled water is considered safe?

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I installed an Ultrafiltration system under my kitchen sink. The UF system filters down to 0.01 or 0.02 microns. I believe it was $189 plus $150 plumber cost to install. I purchased from Water cooler wholesale company and it's the Raintree UF Filter. I use it for cooking, washing fruits and vegetables, and drinking. There are 4 cartridges and should last 9-12 months for households of 1 or 2. I don't recall price for replacement cartridges but very reasonable and through a little tedious, I feel comfortable swapping out filters when needed. Videos online.
UF removes mycobacterium and the water tastes a lot better than RO.

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