Water & Air – Filter Systems News

Pura Vida H2O has come out with what it hopes will become the “ATM Machine of Bottled Water”, but without the bottle. The concept is similar to that of EcoWell, a filtered water “vending machine” which we wrote about last year. Basically, anyone wanting water on the go can bring their own reusable bottle and refill it with purified tap water from one of Pura Vida’s filtered water dispensers, for 50 cents – a fraction of what it costs to buy plastic bottled water, and 5 cents less than what EcoWell charges. 450 machines are expected to be up-and-running around the country by mid-summer, and some of them will sell reusable water bottles for $10 to accommodate empty-handed, thirsty patrons.

Pros?

At first glance this sounds like the perfect innovative solution to the problem of plastic bottle waste. The average person saves about $2,100, along with over 1,400 plastic bottles a year by taking advantage of these filtered water dispensers. Simply bring your own reusable water bottle from home, and you’ve got the convenience of bottled water, without the environmental waste.

Cons?

50 cents is a fraction of the cost of your average bottle of water, but it is a LARGE fraction, considering that tap water is regularly tested and costs only half a cent per glass. And if you upgrade from the 16-oz size to the 24-oz size, you’re paying 75 cents instead of 50. While that is about half the cost of a bottle of water, with the added benefit of saving the environment, many people might question the idea of paying that much for water, period, filtered or not. Especially when you can buy a Filtrete Water Station, (a.k.a 4 bottle water filter) which will refill 4 reusable bottles at once, with filtered tap water right from your kitchen sink. These bottles can be stored in your refrigerator, and taken on-the-go, just as easily as a Klean Kanteen, and the cost for water is not nearly as much. The “ATM Machine” concept is also a little unsettling, since ATM’s are typically associated with unreasonable, annoying charges and usage fees.

What do you guys think? Is the Pura Vida concept a good idea? Is 50 cents worth the convenience of filtered water on-the-go? Or would you rather use a Filtrete Water Station and do it yourself for much less?

This weekend’s discounted product feature is the Pentek QC10-SED Water Filter Cartridge. This inline filter cartridge reduces sediment down to the 5 micron level in your drinking water and is compatible with any Pentek Q10 system that uses a quick change, 10-inch water filter system. We will be selling it this weekend only for $14.99 (regularly $17). The sale will start this afternoon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Since the specifications on that filter cartridge are pretty simple, we have also decided to highlight another product line that was recently featured in the news: the Aquaovo egg-shaped water filter.

While we don’t currently carry any filtration systems quite like this, we thought the design concept was worth talking about. Aquaovo vessels are made of chemical-free porcelain with lead-free glazing. The filter cartridge, which contains filter media made of carbon, quartz crystal and ceramic pellets, is made from hand-blown, lead-free Pyrex glass. Very little plastic is contained in the unit, itself, making Aquaovo an environmentally-friendly alternative to bottled water (which, as you know, we fully support). What’s more, the system is aesthetically pleasing, easy to clean, and effective at reducing most impurities. While I’m not sure I’d use it as an everyday home water filter, it is the perfect water dispenser for special events such as weddings or corporate parties; it requires no plumbing attachments, using gravity as a filtration mechanism, and it is able to hold up to 11 liters of water at a time.

Aquaovo is currently on sale in Canada, the United States and parts of Europe. The concept for this four-stage filtration system was inspired by the idea that when liquid is stored in an egg-shaped vessel, it encourages the water molecules to move, and when water moves, it apparently tastes different. I’m not sure I’m sold on that idea, but if it’s true, it could be an inspiration to water filter manufacturers and designers worldwide.  If you’re interested in having us test out this theory in one of our upcoming Filters Fast YouTube videos, let us know in the comments section below. In the meantime, let all your friends know about our weekend special on Facebook and Twitter!

Have you ever had a headache so bad, you’d rob a store for the cure? The Augusta Chronicle reported today that police are searching for a man who robbed a Dollar General this morning. The man entered the store with a towel over his face, and asked the clerk for a bottled water and some Goody’s headache powder. He then put a gun on the counter and asked for money.

At this point it’s unclear whether the man actually obtained anything before he left, as he told the clerk to go to the rear of the building while he fled. But it is clear that he was in desperate need of something.

This is not the first bottled water robbery to take place, and it probably won’t be the last. Last year, we wrote about a man who stole bottled water from a 13-year-old kid who had set up a water stand to make a few extra bucks on a hot summer day. There is one lesson to be learned from all this: stay away from bottled water. As we’ve demonstrated before, it is highly addictive (especially if it contains nicotine), and we all know that bottled water addiction can make people do crazy things…

Ryan Hreljac began raising money for water projects in 1998, at age six. When he found out from his first grade teacher that people in other countries were dying because of the lack of access to clean water, he began doing chores around his house to raise money for well projects. After raising $70, his first well was built in Uganda, just after he turned 7. The Ryan’s Well Foundation was officially formed just two years later in 2001.

This Canadian-registered water charity supports several safe water and sanitation projects through partnership with local, non-governmental organizations and people. Ryan’s Well has helped build over 600 wells and over 700 latrines, bringing safe water and sanitation to more than 700,000 people since its inception. People of all ages are encouraged to get involved by making donations, or hosting a creative fundraiser.

We have chosen to feature Ryan’s Well Foundation for #charitytuesday, because of the uniqueness of Ryan’s story. At only six years old, he had a dream that has since changed the lives of thousands of people. Ryan is an inspiration to anyone wanting to make a difference, whether old or young.

The Ryan’s Well Foundation, along with many others, can be found on our list of water charities. If you know of one that is not on that list, please contact us at selwa@filtersfast.com and let us know.

Until now, I was struggling with a topic for today’s blog post. This one is going to be very brief; I thought it was so outrageous that it deserved a featured spot in The Filtered Files.

Last year, we wrote a post on the top 10 most disturbing things in our drinking water. “Crickets” held the number one spot for the worst contaminant ever found in bottled water. The lesson learned was – don’t drink bottled water. Contrary to what the bottled water industry would have you believe, it is no better in terms of taste, quality or safety, than tap water. In fact, most bottled water is nothing more than filtered tap. Aquafina and Dasani are both, admittedly, municipally-sourced.

Well, I just ran across an article headline that makes the bottled water industry look like a saint. “Man Sues Over Mouse in His Energy Drink Can.” The article was posted on April 1, but sadly, this is not an April Fool’s Joke. Crickets in bottled water is nothing when you consider that Stuart Little may have died inside the can of Monster you bought at the convenience store a few minutes ago. I’d think twice before “Unleashing that Monster.”

The moral of the story: drink filtered tap water.

The Pentek AS-301E 3-Stage Arsenic Reduction Water Filter system reduces arsenic III and IV, along with chlorine taste and odor, from your water. Arsenic is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and must be detected by an arsenic water test. If your water is contaminated with arsenic, it’s very important that you invest in a filter to remove it, because it is linked to bladder, lung and skin cancer, along with kidney and liver cancer. To learn more about this carcinogenic substance, check out our post, “The Dangers of Arsenic in Drinking Water.”

This weekend, we are offering the Pentek Arsenic Reduction Water Filter system at an incredibly low price. Regularly $329.99, we are pricing this system at only $175.99 for 2 days only!

**Please note: this is NOT an April Fool’s joke.

So what’s the catch? There isn’t one. This water filter system has been discontinued and we only have two left to sell. So order yours now, at this unbelievable price, before they are all gone. This sale ends Sunday at 11:59 p.m.

Even if you don’t live in Japan, on the US west coast, or in other nearby areas that have been affected by radioactive particles from the recent earthquake disaster, you may still be in danger of radioactive waste.

Perhaps you recall a post we did last year on the movie GASLAND, a documentary on the dangers of natural gas drilling. Director Josh Fox traveled to parts of Texas, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, and revealed in his film horrific truths about how the natural gas industry is poisoning our water and air, causing chronic illnesses among residents in drilling areas. Some residents featured in the film were even able to light their tap water on fire. If you’ve seen this Oscar-nominated film, you may already be aware that the wastewater produced from natural gas drilling – also called hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ for short – contains radioactive materials like radium and uranium that occur naturally in deep rock formations, at levels way higher than is safe for wastewater treatment plants to handle. Unreported, confidential studies by both the EPA and the drilling industry have concluded that the radioactivity in drilling waste cannot be fully diluted in waterways, thus increasing the possibility that it ends up in our drinking water.

Natural gas drilling companies are exempt from many of the federal environmental laws that were written to protect our air and water supplies from radioactive chemicals. What’s more, they target locals in areas that are rich in natural gas, and offer to pay them thousands in exchange for drilling rights that force these residents to keep quiet about their experience, and prevent them from bringing any lawsuits. $100,000 is a lot of money, so most of these people blindly accept the offer, not knowing that soon after they might be gulping gasoline.

If you’ve been a victim of this scheme, you may want to invest in a water filtration system that removes radioactive particles. Katadyn emergency water filters are used by militaries and disaster relief organizations during environmental disasters where access to safe drinking water is scarce. While it may not fully protect you from the threat of radioactivity, as we’ve mentioned before, you can never be too careful.

If you’ve recently discovered that you can light your tap water on fire, purchase a Katadyn emergency water filter, run your home’s water through it, and see what happens. If it filters out the flammable substances, then send us a video, and we will feature you in our Filters Fast “Will it Filter” video series.

Water Missions International was founded by George and Molly Greene, formerly owners of an environmental engineering company when Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras in 1998. Heartbroken by the devastation, they felt the need to assist in some way. After receiving a request for six water treatment systems, and frustrated in their search to find existing systems that would work, they decided to build their own. Upon arrival in the first village receiving assistance, they were greeted by the “River of Death” – a filthy, disease-laden river, the color of chocolate milk. George and Molly treated the river water, using their newly-engineered system, and placed their lips to it to drink, in order to show the villagers that it was safe. Out of this moment came Water Missions International. George and Molly responded to an inner calling, sold their engineering company, and have never looked back. To date, WMI has distributed mini-water treatment systems, which use a combination of chemical disinfection and filtration, to communities in nine different countries. Every mission involves both the spread of clean water, and the spread of the “living water” message of Christianity.

We are drawing attention to WMI this #charitytuesday, because they were recently in the news for attempting to bring relief, in the form of clean water, to Japan earthquake victims. Unfortunately, the country’s permitting process has forced them to put their efforts on standby at this time – which is both heartbreaking and ironic, considering all of the bottled water that’s been distributed since the devastation – but we are hoping that it won’t be for long. Their efforts elsewhere are still going, full force, and in the meantime, you can donate to Water Missions International directly, through their website.

Want to quit smoking, but can’t? NicLite is here to help. This specially formulated, organic, non-addictive nicotine bottled water offers you an alternative to smoking. Whether you’re a heavy smoker, moderate smoker, or social smoker, you can drink NicLite to curb your craving for cigarettes.

The makers of this product claim that it is much safer than cigarettes, because it is carcinogen-free. Consumers testify that NicLite has helped them reduce or quit their smoking habit after only a few weeks of drinking the water. The convenient plastic bottle packaging lets you sip whenever you feel the urge to smoke, whether you’re in your car, on an airplane, at work, or in a restaurant where smoking indoors has been banned – nonsmokers around you will no longer have to suffer the fate of secondhand smoke because of your bad habit.

At first glance, NicLite seems like a great solution to anyone’s nicotine addiction. However, upon closer examination, it seems that in the long run, you’re simply replacing one bad habit with another. Before you know it, your smoking addiction becomes a bottled water addiction that can be just as dangerous to you and your peers as secondhand smoke. I can’t help but wonder how many of those who have used NicLite have actually been able to kick the bottled water habit once they quit smoking. Do you have to continue to drink NicLite water to avoid your cigarette cravings?

As a nonsmoker, it’s difficult for me to take an authoritative stance on this issue, so I’d like to hear the point of view of others who have struggled with quitting. Do you think nicotine bottled water is a viable solution to the problem of nicotine addiction? If not, what alternatives could you suggest?

In light of recent news regarding the aftermath of the Japan earthquake, we have talked a lot about emergency water purification. Katadyn manufactures a variety of emergency water filters, and this weekend we are offering the Katadyn MyBottle Water Purifiers, in blue or green, for only 34.95 ($15 off!)

The Katadyn MyBottle is the only personal water bottle purifier on the water filter market that is registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Katadyn water filters are often used by the U.S. military, international militaries, NATO and relief organizations during environmental disasters when access to clean water is scarce. The MyBottle can be dipped directly into lakes, rivers, streams and other freshwater sources, and removes all viruses, bacteria, cysts and other impurities. The carbon cartridge also reduces the bad taste and odor of chemicals, making treated water taste even better. This bottle can protect you from waterborne illness while on your next camping trip, or even during a visit to a foreign country where the tap water is unsafe. It filters up to 26 gallons of water and uses combination Virustat filter and cyst filter technology.

Replacement Katadyn filter cartridges can be purchased at FiltersFast, but go ahead and order your Katadyn water filter bottle today, as this special offer ends Sunday at midnight.