Water & Air – Filter Systems News

IMAGE CREDIT: www.katu.com

Out of all the environmental dangers that affect us, one of the most alarming are oil spills. Environmental tragedies such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill that occurred in 1989 and the more recent BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, exposed just how serious the consequences of these disasters can be. Oil spills often result in immediate and long-term environmental damage. Some of the damage caused can last for decades after the initial spill occurs. The long-term damage from such a disaster can affect beaches, Marshlands, eco systems and wildlife habitats. Once the oil stops floating on the surface of the water and begins to sink, it can kill or contaminate fish and smaller organisms that are critical links in the global food chain.

During the on-going oil spill cleanup, one major development has come to light as a potentially useful source. The introduction of a “smart filter” could be beneficial in cleaning up environmental oil spills. It is designed with a shape-shifting surface that has the ability to separate oil from water through the use of gravity alone.

The coating on the filter not only repels oil, but attracts water. Most natural substances absorb oil, and the few that repels it also repels water because of the higher surface tension of water. The coating on the filter is a blend of rubbery, commercially available polymer and a nano-particle. This material ensures that water spreads on its surface, while the oil beads up allowing it easier to separate the oil from the water. This new development also shows potential for other applications such as wastewater treatment, oil purification for fuel applications and technology relevant to the cosmetics industry.

As we continue to learn more about this filter in the coming months, let’s make a commitment to create a more positive impact on our environment through recycling and reducing energy consumption. Do you think the Smart Filter is a viable solution to cleaning up oil spills and other applications? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Over 14 billion pounds of cardboard boxes, tires, bottles, cans, plastic cups and other trash are dumped into the world’s oceans every year. Some of this eventually sinks, and some is eaten by marine life. However, most of this trash floats and is carried by ocean waves and currents to our beaches. This not only distorts the beautiful view we have come to expect at beaches, but also pollutes the environment, causing problems for people and marine life. As this problem worsens, recycling has become more important. We often hear the three R’s of recycling: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, but how much do we really know about it?

Reduce. Reducing waste not only means reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfills but also means changes in our daily lifestyles. Reducing consumption, buying less and consuming less electricity are all ways we can reduce in our own lives.

Reuse. This involves extending the usage of most items in our house by either reusing or donating these items. It is important to use reusable products to cut down on the amount of waste we create in the environment. Reusable water bottles, such as Kor and Vapur water bottles, provide a safer and more economic alternative than bottled water, which accounts for 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year.

Recycle. Throwing your can or bottle into the recycling bin instead of the garbage bin goes a long way. Many filters, such as Brita and ZeroWater, offer recycling programs for their filters, which is a great way to cut waste. Read this article from FiltersFast.com for more information on recycling water filters.

This is National Beach Clean Up Month, so do not let this month pass without making a conscientious effort to step up and do our part in cleaning up the world’s beaches and our environment.

Camping, hiking, fishing, grand vistas and horseback riding are just some of the possibilities in our country’s national parks. Every year, millions experience these great activities while taking in the beautiful sights of nature that our parks have to offer. National park sites are chosen and preserved because they are unique natural resources. These parks are home to the most wonderful sights and spectacular land life. The first national park was Yellowstone National Park, which was established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant. Today, over 50 national parks are located in the United States, each with their own unique experience.

National Parks are more than just beautiful sights. They provide a safe habitat for native plants and animals. They also play an important role in creating a healthier environment by keeping air and water clean. How? The leaves of plants make fresh air, while their roots hold the soil together. This stops erosion while helping to keep our waterways clean.

They provide a place for you to learn about native plants and animals and the way they rely on each other to survive. National parks help you learn how important protecting nature is while giving you a sense of amazement that will last forever.

While you can visit many parks in one day, planning an overnight trip will give you and your family more time to enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds that nature has to offer. With August being National Parks Month, now is a great time to find a local national park near you and go for a visit. The memory will last a lifetime.

Many people love the warmth of the sun. The sun’s rays  on our skin make us feel good and can make us look good in the short term. However, there is a hidden danger. By now, many of us are aware of the SPF controversy. Some SPFs will protect you from UVB rays which cause skin cancer and burning and some will protect you against UVA which cause skin cancer and wrinkling. The danger is that many sunscreen ingredients break down in the sun in a matter of hours or even minutes. After this breakdown occurs, UV radiation passes through the skin which can cause a host of problems. Many times, you will see claims such as “all day protection” and “blocks all harmful rays” on bottles, but quite often this is not true. Fortunately, the FDA has taken action to ensure that consumers are clearer about the protection we are actually getting from a sunscreen product. Beginning this summer, there are new guidelines for SPF ratings that more accurately reflect the protection level guaranteed. With all this talk about SPF sunscreens and protecting our skin, we can often overlook one basic way of protecting our skin: water. While there may be no clear substantiation of the effects of water on skin health, the importance of water still can’t be overlooked in any area of your life. Your skin is an organ and just like every other part of your body, your skin is made of cells. Skin cells, like every cell found in the body are made of water. Without water, the organs won’t function at their best. Your skin will be much better equipped to handle harmful UV rays if properly hydrated and taken care of.

Filtered water that does not contain harmful contaminants is essential for your skin health and overall health. The PUR CR-6000C Filtered Water Pitcher holds up to 7 eight ounce glasses of water and removes 99.9% of microbiological cysts and 98% of lead. It reduces the bad taste and odor of chlorine, sediment, dirt while maintaining beneficial fluoride. It also comes with a built-in electronic LED indicator filter change light and includes the PUR CRF-950Z water filter cartridge that should be changed every 40 gallons.

Having a good filter cartridge in place can go a long way in ensuring you have pure, clean water in your home. The Pentek CFB-10 Water Filter Cartridge Replacement is a 10 inch carbon block water filter replacement for use in many water filter systems, especially undersink systems. This Pentek filter replacement cartridge uses advanced Fibredyne carbon block technology for up to two times the chlorine taste and odor reduction, and dirt holding capacity of standard carbon block filters. It also removes or reduces sediment, dirt, rust, and other impurities.

The ability to filter and bottle your own water is especially useful. The Filtrete Four-Bottle Water Station is great to use. Just fill the Filtrete Water Station with water from your sink, and the Fast Flow Filter reduces sediment, taste and odor of chlorine from your water. In just seconds, this four bottle water filter system will fill your reusable water bottles with clean, filtered water.

Remember to always read labels carefully before choosing the sunscreen that may work best for you. In addition, to the sunscreen be mindful that water, that often overlooked resource, can go a long way for the health of your skin.

IMAGE CREDIT: http://www.aubrey-organics.com

(L-R) Ed Elley, Filters Fast Local Service Key Account Rep; Kym Moore, Filters Fast Brand Marketing Lead and Devin Hatley, Environmental Educator for the Office of Waste Reduction & Recycling (Photo Credit: Steven Miller, Filters Fast Media Marketing Specialist)

Each year, the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, sponsors an Earth Day Environmental Festival on campus. This is an educational-packed day with representation from various sectors of the college and commercial communities, falling within the categories of sustainability, waste management, environmental awareness and global water issues.

Subsidiaries from Filters Fast LLC, FiltersFast.com and Filters Fast Local Service, exhibited and shared information about water testing, the cost effectiveness of using water hydration stations, eliminating the waste of plastic water bottles that pollute highways and landfills, along with increasing awareness of the global water crisis through our W3 Project with TrekDesk and Wine to Water.

Photo Credit: Steven Miller

We were deeply touched and literally brought to tears during a conversation by a young lady who is a student attending UNCC. Her name is Anna and she is from Africa. As we discussed our commitment to increase awareness about the global water crisis with our W3 Project, she painted a very real picture of personally experiencing such challenges. This was a very emotional dialogue, but nevertheless, one that touched our hearts and injected us with greater momentum to do everything we can to eradicate our global water crisis and save millions of lives from drinking contaminated water. So often it takes a heart-wrenching story like hers to make us really appreciate how fortunate we are.

Students, administrators and staff from the university strongly represented the turnout for this 20th Annual Earth Day event. We want to thank Devin Hatley, Environmental Educator for the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, for inviting Filters Fast to participate in this important community event. The Earth Day Environmental Festival is a free event that is also open to the public. UNCC students volunteered to assist with this event which was held at the CHHS Plaza across from the Student Union.

With an event like the annual UNCC Earth Day event, we are inspired to continue protecting our environment by taking action to learn, teach and share our knowledge with others. Our hats off to the UNCC Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling for a successful event. Keep up the good work by helping to increase our social consciousness to save our environment!

Image Credit: tinleypark.org

St. Patrick’s Day is not the only reason why we’re celebrating “Going Green.” With Spring announcing its arrival next week and World Water Day falling on March 22, the call to action for being good stewards of our environment is more urgent than ever. If we don’t take care of our environment, our environment will definitely turn on us. We are paying homage to the value of going green as it relates to water. It comes as no surprise that the birthstone for March is an Aquamarine. This pale blue gemstone whose name originates from the Roman word “Aqua” meaning water and “Mare” meaning sea resembles the color of seawater.

For decades, we have grown familiar with the term “Going Green.” It is a ubiquitous statement that defines our worldwide ecosystem and the lives of humans and animal life everywhere. Around the world people, businesses and charities are making great strides by building communities to raise awareness about caring for and nurturing our neighbors and our planet.

As we prepare to celebrate World Water Day on March 22, Filters Fast would like to recognize some of our water filter vendors who have implemented impressive recycling programs for their products and going green initiatives.

Mavea offers a comprehensive recycling program where every part is broken down, cleaned and re-used. Nothing goes to the landfill. Return a minimum of 6 “Mavea” filters (only). They will pay the shipping costs. Simply request a pre-paid shipping label. https://www.mavea.com/mavea/mavea-recycling.html?L=0

Rainshow’r is now proud to partner with Active Recycling, an environmentally aware recycler, who understands our desire to limit our impact. For more information about their recycling program visit http://www.rainshowermfg.com/page6/page6.html.

Brita has a recycling campaign that recycles its carbon filters for the pitchers and faucet attachment models. For more information on recycling your Brita, filter visit http://www.brita.com/.

ZeroWater recycles their filters by separating each filter, then sending the plastic along with the materials inside to be sent to various facilities for reuse. Visit http://ww2.zerowater.com/recycling/ for more information.

Everpure water filtration products are recyclable and details on recycling locations can be found at www.everpure.com/ or  you can contact Everpure at (800) 323-7873.

Make sure you are only sending filters made by these companies to avoid being charged for additional shipping. Through recycling, we can significantly reduce the amount of waste that litters our landfills and save energy compared to creating new waste with new products. Everything we do or don’t do plays a vital role in the health and dynamics of planet Earth.

Fracking. This controversial topic has made it to the headlines of many news centers across the country. Whether you are for or against it, the debate surrounding this hot topic issue is sure to be important now, and for generations to come. For those of you who are new to the issue, fracking is the process of pumping water and sand underground in hopes of freeing natural gas from underneath the rocks where it is trapped.   Small fractures occur naturally underground, allowing some of this natural gas to be extracted; however, fracking accelerates this process. Opponents of fracking argue that it will contaminate groundwater as well public drinking water systems.

Most recently, the fracking debate has heated up in New York.  Surprisingly, executive chefs, bakers, and restaurant owners are jumping into the frontlines of the debate. Many are making it their mission to raise awareness about the negative effects fracking can have on New York’s cuisine (Farley, thirteen.org). The organization, called Chefs for the Marcellus, has drawn the attention of some big name chefs, including the Food Network’s, Mario Battali. Battali’s four star restaurant, Del Posto gets much of its produce and meats from the farms in upstate New York, where the Marcellus Shale lies, and where Governor Cuomo would like to introduce hydrofracking.

Hoping to appeal to peoples stomachs, Battali and his chef comrades are insisting that fracking will impact the quality of their food. Executive Chef Brooks Headly of Del Posto is also extremely concerned about the effect fracking can have on New York’s eateries,insisting, “NYC is the greatest city of pizza, and a lot of people say that’s because of the water. If we destroy the water supply, we destroy New York pizza” (Farley,thirteen.org).

So, what do you think of the fracking debate? Do you oppose it because you believe it will contaminant groundwater and isn’t environmentally friendly? Are you for it because you believe it will decrease the price of gas and create jobs? Or, like Mario Battali, do you oppose it because you believe it will negatively affect the world-class cuisine found in New York City? Here at Filters Fast, we want to know what you think, so post your thoughts to our comment section or Facebook Page!

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, located in the towns of Okuma and Futaba in Japan, gained international attention on March 11 of this year when the country was ravaged by earthquake and subsequent tsunami. After months of effort to prevent a nuclear meltdown at the site, the power plant has, according to NPR, “leaked about 45 tons of highly radioactive water from a purification device over the weekend, its operator said, and some may have drained into the ocean.”

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (also known as TEPCO) has pledged to shut down the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant by the end of the year amidst much criticism about its construction and handling of the meltdown.

NPR reports that TEPCO released a statement on its website indicating that “a pool of radioactive water was discovered midday Sunday around a decontamination device” and that “after the equipment was turned off, the leak appeared to stop. Later, workers found a crack in a concrete barrier leaking the contaminated water into a gutter that leads to the ocean.”

The power company has estimated that approximately 300 litres leaked out from the power plant before a crew was able to plug a hole and stop the leak. The concern is that radioactive water containing the harmful Celsium-137 may be released into the ocean and impact the seafood in the water that many fisherman and citizens rely on.

TEPCO is utilizing purification devices “to decontaminate water that has been cooling the reactors. Three of the plant’s reactor cores mostly melted down when the March 11 tsunami knocked out the plant’s cooling system.”

We all use filters. Whether it’s a water,  furnace, refrigerator, oven, automotive or microwave filter, they are the key component to keeping our air and water clean and fresh.  More and more, state governments are increasing regulations on water and air quality in an attempt to keep citizens safe. This increased awareness has led manufacturers to create new and improved ways to produce filters. In particular, Bayer MaterialScience has partnered with BayOne Urethane Systems LLC to introduce innovative ways to produce the best in filtration materials.  As website azom.com reports, “Bayer has strengthened its technical leadership role in the filtration market by expanding its reach and leveraging a global materials supply chain to benefit customers.”

The polyurethane that Bayer manufactures can be used in either rigid or flexible functions, which is ideal for various filtration needs. For example, the Filbur FC-2370 Rainbow Dynamic pool filter uses thermally bonded polyurethane to ensure durability and consistent water flow. Many additional pool and spa filters use polyurethane technology to ensure a high quality, durable product.  Unlike other materials, polyurethane is lightweight, faster to manufacture, and uses much less environment harming resources  than other materials .  So, kudos to Bayer MaterialScience for working to create earth friendly materials for use in filter media.

We worry about many different types of contaminants in our water supply: chlorine, arsenic, lead, and iron to name just a few, but, according to Fox News,  researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Onatario have discovered a new possible addition to the list: estrogen.

Dr. David Margel, a study researcher, states that “several studies now have found an association between estrogen exposure and prostate cancer. We think this is environmental. [Estrogen] goes into the water [and] into our food chain.” Margel notes that this is still a theory and that more research needs to be done. He also advises women not to stop taking birth control medication until results are conclusive.

According to Margel’s study:

“Birth control pills often contain a type of estrogen called ethinyloestradiol, which women taking the pills excrete in their urine. The hormone ends up in the water supply, or is taken up by plants or animals that use the water, and then passed up the food chain. Although the amount [of estrogen] one woman would secrete is minimal, when millions of women take it for a long period of time, it may have an environmental effect.”

Margel concedes that his findings are only the preliminary stages and that much more research must be conducted in order to discern the full impact of birth control medication on the water supply. In addition, research must also be conducted in different countries in order to truly gage how ubiquitous these cases are.