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Water Filtration Method Comparisons
Water Softeners
The beneficial calcium and magnesium ions in the water are replaced with sodium ions. Since sodium does not precipitate out in pipes or react badly with soap, both of the problems of hard water are eliminated. To do the ion replacement, the water in the house runs through a bed of carcinogenic benzene and styrene plastic beads or a chemical matrix called zeolite. Softener media made of benzene and styrene have a short life in chlorinated water and only 7 or 8 years without chlorine before these plastic beads break down and dissolve into the water. The beads or zeolite are covered with sodium ions. As the water flows past the sodium ions, they swap places with the calcium and magnesium ions. Eventually, the beads or zeolite contain nothing but calcium and magnesium and no sodium, and at this point they stop softening the water. It is then time to regenerate the beads or zeolite. This regeneration process wastes water and sends large amounts of salt into the environment. Water softeners are being banned in certain areas because of the damage being caused to the environment.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is usually sold with the salt softener to remove the salt from the water. Reverse osmosis wastes 3 to 5 gallons of water for each gallon you use. Both the softener and the reverse osmosis strip the water of its beneficial minerals that your body needs, making it acidic dead water. There is some false information being used to sell this dead water that states that these minerals are bad for you because they are inorganic. The truth is that all minerals are inorganic. They are the same minerals that are in the water that the plants and animals drink that give the food nutritious minerals. Have you ever heard of a farm softening the water they feed to the crops and animals? Of course not.
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
Granular activated carbon is made from raw materials (such as coconut shells or coal) that are high in carbon. Coconut Shell Carbon has a superior adsorption capability than coal based (bituminous carbon). The activated carbon removes certain chemicals that are dissolved in water passing through a filter containing GAC by trapping the chemical in the GAC. As water passes through the bed of GAC it creates channels. Channeling is caused from water finding the path of least resistance. Backwashing the GAC filter is necessary to help prevent channeling and clean the exterior surface, but wastes a great deal of water. Once GAC reaches its capacity of contaminates, it must be changed with new GAC. Some filters try to extend the life of GAC for many years by back washing and relying on the exterior surface only as a collection site. This is not a good practice as over 99.9% of the capacity is inside the GAC media. This method makes the filter very large. Surges in your water flow can act like backwash and send contaminates into your home.
The latest in GAC filtration is the carbon block. Carbon blocks are made from pressing and molding fine GAC into a solid brick. Water is forced through the block which eliminates channeling. Carbon blocks use much smaller granules of carbon which increases surface area which increases capacity. Most GAC manufactures recommend changing carbon once a year.