CARBON FILTRATION
- Used for centuries – discovered by sailors when water stored in charred barrels stayed fresh longer
- A good carbon filter will remove
- Some pesticides
- Industrial chemicals
- Chlorine
- Some but not all heavy metals
- Carbon filters do not remove
- Pathogens
- Asbestos
- Fluoride
- Nitrates and other salts
- Most inorganic chemicals
- Most common types of carbon filters
- Granular activated carbon allows for better water pressure into the home, but can cause channeling wherein water no longer comes into contact with the carbon, resulting in unfiltered water.
- Carbon block – carbon compressed into a block. Generally the most effective type of carbon filter. Known to filter all particles down to .4 microns, thus filtering cryptosporidium and Giardia, biological pathogens.
- Recommendation – carbon is best used as a filtering agent in combination with other technologies that can compensate for its weaknesses. Carbon should not be used alone, as carbon is a breeding ground for bacteria.
RSS Feed
