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Recommendation for 0.2 micron filters
Hello to all in the group. There has been so, so much valuable information in this supportive resource, and I am so much more aware of the questions I need to be asking, so here is another one!
I believe that Sue mentioned in a post that she uses a 0.2 micron point-of-use filter. We had a whole house, 3 stage water filtration system. It was very basic- nothing high-end. One of the stages was a carbon filter, which I have learned harbors this bacteria, among others.
My poor husband had to call a plumber to come out and dismantle it. Then I investigated different bottled water delivery systems and came across and offer for Costco members. It offered a discount on delivery of 5 gallon bottles, and you could choose between filtered, spring, or distilled water. There was a small monthly charge for rental of the cooler/dispenser. You could order a maximum of 5 bottles per delivery, and since delivery was $12.99, we opted for the once a month.
They had the option of the water jug being placed right side up in the bottom and attached via tube inside to the upside-down bottle. That made me nervous because of the tubing, so we opted for the dispenser that operated via air displacement of the upside down jug on the dispenser.
Then I ran across an article about how these water cooler dispensers harbor microorganisms. They recommend sanitizing every 6 months, but from what I read elsewhere, they provide a constant supply of pseudomonas, etc…
I freaked out. I had been boiling my drinking water, but our water is so, so hard, that thick deposits of residue would form on the pots, and it would coat my nebulizing and other airway clearance equipment (hence the choice for water delivery).
So, we cancelled the water delivery. The jugs are too large and heavy to be lifted and poured from. Now I am back to looking at point of use filter for the kitchen faucet for all of our drinking water.
Sue, you mentioned using a 0.2 micron filter on your sink. Is there a particular one that you have been pleased with? I have read that they clog easily and need to be changed often, but I believe that they are safer and still more cost effective than the delivery. Choosing to buy cases of bottled spring water is out because of all the plastic waste and exposure to the BPA.
I don’t want to make any more wrong decisions! All this is costly, time consuming, and needlessly energy draining and stressful. I just want to get down to a routine and stick with it. Any experiences and advice would really be appreciated!
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Hi FormerGardener!
I have been struggling with this as well! The .02 filter is the recommendation but I found that if you buy purified water treated by reverse osmosis-this process uses that type filter and is a bit cheaper than Spring water. I also boil water in microwave for cooking and coffee. There is also a product called Life Straw ( water bottle) that you can buy from Sam’s or Amazon which has the .02 micron filter in it as well and would allow you to use tap water for drinking. I also soak my shower head and sink faucet head in bleach weekly for 30 minutes. I hope this helps!
Dee
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1 ReactionI do not like the waste from plastic water bottles (save the earth).
I use a zero filter to get the non disola able particles from tap water but it does not get the bacteria after filtering I use an Instant pot to boil the water and another large covered container to store my filtered and boiled water in. Fairly easy to get into a routine once you have the supplies. needed
Hello, Nana43. Thank you so much for your suggestions.
I had read that reverse osmosis does not eliminate mycobacteria. The water that we had ordered to be delivered monthly was reverse osmosis and other filtration. The company picks up those 5 gallon plastic bottles, a they go through a sanitizing process before being reused.
I thought about just keeping the subscription for the bottles and simply eliminating the dispenser. That means still boiling the water in my large pot. I would have purified water that is also boiled.
I have heard about the lifestraw and will check it out.
When you soak your showerhead and faucet heads, do you put the bleach in a plastic bag and rubber-band it to the faucets? Our faucets are not easy to disassemble. Also, if there are any o-rings, the chlorine may cause them to decompose.
I will definitely itely look into your suggestions. Thank you so much!
Thank you, @raney. I just read about the zero filter. I saw that they even have a very large one. It seems it uses two types of filters which each last for a different amount of time, and the filtration is 0.02, which is significantly greater than the 0.2.
I had read about using an Instapot to boil the water. That is a good idea because you just set it. As it is, I use a large pot to boil and then other containers in the fridge to store.
My problem with using a pot to boil nebulizer cups I would get busy and forget about the pot. I think s lot of Mr cups got too hot of boiled too long & were quickly destroyed.
Zero filter. I use the largest one and the largest container. It also comes with a digital meter that shows many particles a million are in the water after filtering. It is amazing ! When it gets to a certain ppm then you are ti put a new filter in .
I buy filter 6 at the time. 6 will lady me at least 6 to 9.months
Thank you so much for the Zero filter info.
Hi There!
I had read several articles that Reverse Osmosis uses the .02 micron filter or smaller-which is what is needed to remove bacteria. One such link:
https://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education3/31-water-bottled-water-purification-process-page2.htm.
This process is supposed to be more rigorous than commercially bottled Spring Water. But I know people have mentioned that this info contradicts what Dr F said. So I’m confused!
I haven’t been able to find any of his research that deals specifically with this issue.
On disinfecting, my shower head removes easily but you could certainly do a bag with rubberband as well. It is recommended to soak once a week for at least 30 minutes.
All the Best! Dee
Thank you, Dee. Yes, sometimes there is conflicting information, and you wonder how to filter through it!
I had read that vinegar, full strength, is also effective against MAC. They mentioned soaking faucets or showerheads with that. Then there is also the use of chlorine. Those are not difficult things to do.
Still so much in the air about the water treatment. I wish there was a simple 0.2 or lower filter that just attaches to the faucet, even if it needs changing monthly.
Hi formergardener, (me too!)
I guess you could try “Pall” point of use water filtration systems for kitchen and/or shower. UK company. Now available in US and Canada apparently. Filter is small enough to trap MAC although as others have said, filters known to clog up and need changing.
I’m still boiling —which encourages me drink more tea … 🤓 and using a LifeStraw pitcher.
Any one have experience with Pall?
I use the pall 0.2 micron shower filters and they work great. Pall also sells the kitchen sink filter but you have to use a standard kitchen faucet. You can reach out to Pamela at Pall and she is very helpful. Below is her contact info.
Pamela Jenkins
Pall Medical – Hospital Group
516.801.9095 direct
312.351.1505 mobile
Pamela_jenkins@pall.com
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