Water quality - what's your setup?

[alexo]

I have three water filters, all 10''. The first is stainless with a faucet to wash the dirt out. The second is a 10 micron carbon under the sink and the third was a 5 micron carbon over the sink.

Until this morning, the water quality was great and my kettle still looks and works as new. Yesterday, I replaced the carbon filters. Under the sink I installed the same type of filter and the old filter was quite dirty and slimy with sand deposit on the bottom. Over the sink I installed a ceramic 1 micron that can be washed and scrubbed several times for extended use.

After letting water go through for several minutes, I filled the kettle and made my morning tea. It was so bad it ruined my day and when I shaved with a straight, I cut my chin and bled quite a bit...the first time since I shaved with a straight.

Anyone has experience with ceramic filters? will the bad taste go away or do I need to replace with a 1 or 5 micron carbon filter? and of course, what's your setup to ensure water quality?

 

[Jasonian]

You want your water to be clean, but water that is too clean will throw off the taste of your tea. (or coffee, for that matter)

Your 1 micron filter just might be doing too good of a job.

 

[alexo]

I guess it does as right now, I'm drinking tea with water from the faucet, via the 5 micron carbon filter and it tastes great. I'll give it some more time and hopefully water will take the taste away.

 

[Lynchmeister]

I live on 2 acres and have a private well, so all of my water goes from the main, through a sediment filter, water softener, and then through a reverse osmosis unit (drinking water only).

I realize this may be overkill for some, so maybe try a faucet mounted or pitcher Brita type filter for your coffee and tea?

 

[dpm802]

I've never used a ceramic filter, but I'm pretty sure you do need a charcoal filter in-line to clean up taste and odor.

Try leaving that 1 micron ceramic filter in there, and run the output through a charcoal filter like a Britta pitcher. If that makes it taste proper, then you know you need activated charcoal in the line.

I wouldn't necessarily get rid of the 1 micron ceramic, just move it farther upstream and let your water pass through charcoal (even if its larger than 1 micron) prior to cooking with it or washing dishes.

 

[LaughingAtFate]

Water comes outta the tap, Goes through a Brita Jug, and just on from there, Works for me

You can over-filter the water though, water itself has no taste (ever try drinking distilled water at body temp? barely know it's there!) it's the inclusions that cause it to have taste, I'm guessing that the last change you made to your set up changed things, it's purer water now, but it tastes odd, because you've come to expect it to taste one way which it doesn't because of the new filter.

 

[alexo]

I didn't explain it well - my ceramic filter sits after the carbon filter as a final grade filtering. Maybe I'm used to the taste of dead bacteria but I suspect the filter adds a taste which resembles plastics.

I used Brita before but small sized filters are just more expensive and require frequent replacement which is a hassle.

 

[airplanedoc]

Reverse osmosis deionizing for me for drinking water and Ice

 

[alexo]

Reverse osmosis deionizing for me for drinking water and Ice

I was interested in water deionizing but read conflicting reviews. Can you expand a little about the difference it makes? what model and how often do you need to replace the cartridge/cathode or what ever? thanks.

 

[Jasonian]

Deionization http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purified_water#Deionization
Deionized water, also known as demineralized water[2] (DI water, DIW or de-ionized water; can also be spelled deionised water, see Spelling differences), is water that has had its mineral ions removed, such as cations from sodium, calcium, iron, copper and anions such as chloride and bromide. Deionization is a physical process which uses specially-manufactured ion exchange resins which bind to and filter out the mineral salts from water. Because the majority of water impurities are dissolved salts, deionization produces a high purity water that is generally similar to distilled water, and this process is quick and without scale buildup. However, deionization does not significantly remove uncharged organic molecules, viruses or bacteria, except by incidental trapping in the resin. Specially made strong base anion resins can remove Gram-negative bacteria. Deionization can be done continuously and inexpensively using electrodeionization.
Deionization does not remove the hydroxide or hydronium ions from water. These are the products of the self-ionization of water to equilibrium and therefore are impossible to remove.

 

[SiBurning]

I don't know about specific types of filters, but I had a britta which was just fine in one place, but I had to stop using it after I moved because the water was awful & bitter with the filter in the new place, and it was better without the filter. It turns out that different filters do different things to water, and with the wrong type of filter, it can make the water taste bad. You can do the research online and find out what the ceramic filters do and what things in the water it helps with.

Some suggestions... Maybe you need a different type for your water. Either that or it just takes a lot more water to clear it of manufacturing whatevers. Or maybe you stirred something up when you changed filters--if there's any chance of that, a clean and flush might be in order. Hey! It happens to the best of us. Can you bypass the ceramic filter to make sure the water going into it is good?

Personally, if I want a specially good cup of coffee, I use bottled spring water. You don't really want anything close to distilled water.

 

[alexo]

I began to suspect maybe the source of the taste were my taste buds so I sniffed the steams from the kettle and the aroma was still there - kind of like the smell at the dentist. I also poured some water to the bowl the yard cats drink from - they sniffed it and went to drink from a puddle instead...

The filter was wrapped in plastic and I only opened it before installing it. I'll try to wash it more and hopefully the taste will go away.

 

[_JP_]

I know that faucet mounted filters require a flushing period before the first use, perhaps up to five minutes of water running through it.

i don't filter my water because I'm happy with the taste. My local water supply is rated as some of the best in the country.

 

[galopede]

Water, straight out of the tap and into the kettle. No fancy filters! We have decent water around here!

Gareth

 

[alexo]

It took over an altogether over an hour of washing to get the taste away. The water is fine now and so is the tea.