Target has ads this week for Pur Water filters, which claim to be effective against giardia and cryptosporidium (sp?). And they are not at all expensive.

Y2k or not, I've been thinking about getting a water filter, but it would be nice to have one to protect against the real "nasties" as well (for the times our water department has been a few hours late advising us of leaks that require us to boil our water).

Now these are inexpensive filters--less than 30 dollars.

Anyone know about them?

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), April 25, 1999

Answers

I've used Pur. I highly recommend them.

They've got several levels of filter. I've got the most expensive, I can't speak to the others.

-- Nospam (nospam@nospam.com), April 25, 1999.

I've used Pur for about a year or so. Makes the water taste much better (I have county water which tastes of chlorine). The filter has to be replaced every 3 months or so. It stops working when it needs replacing. The replacements cost about $20.

I also now have the British Berkefeld. I got it so that I could filter my well water (pumped manually) in case the county water runs into problems. I've been using the BB to get the hang of it and I like it real well. It also improves the taste of the water and is supposed to last up to 60,000 gals per set of filters.

I've read so much about the state of municipal water that I think a filter for drinking and cooking water is a real good idea.

-- mb (mdbutler@coastalnet.com), April 25, 1999.

If you're getting chlorine( causes heart-attacks), you're are probably getting flouride. This wonderful bi-product of aluminum production is rat poison that has been foisted on us by Alcoa and our non-health agencies( try and find a congressman that drinks tap water). It lowers I.Q.. is toxic to the liver, causes attention deficit disorder, which is then treated with Ritalin.It's no wonder some people think a meltdown might be a good thing. One last disgusting thing, go to a national drug store chain and look for "baby water". "They" like to start em young. You may ask WHY? Why would this be allowed? IMHO, We should be asking this question about a whole lot more, but I think intuitively you already know the reason.

-- KoFE (Rant@o.ver), April 25, 1999.

I've read about chlorine being a carcinagen (sp?) but that's the first I've heard about the heart attack connection.

I've also read pros and cons of floride. Most opinions seem to think the benefits outweigh the risks. But as you say I may need to follow the money trail on it.

-- mb (mdbutler@coastalnet.com), April 25, 1999.

You might consider a Berkefeld / Doulton Water filter. The U.N. distributes them in places where water is, well, toxic. NOTHING gets through. Period.

Here's a URL to follow. http://www.safe-water.com/ap/a265sw/index.html

I got mine last week, and it's AMAZING.

-- DJO (djolson@pressenter.com), April 25, 1999.

The Pur at the grocery store is really not much good - alone - for Y2K. I have a couple (and some extra filters) for the final water purification stage, but its use is pretty limited. It's just a carbon filter, really, although it can also filter out the largest bacteria.

I will rely on a Katadyn for the early water purification stage, and boiling if possible. The Pur carbon filter would just be to make the water taste good, and get rid of a *few* chemicals.

Pur is one of the best filter/purifier companies for camping, so that is why I didn't go for rubber-maid, or something else at the grocery store.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), April 25, 1999.

Can regular tap water be used in the British Berkefeld (for drinking and cooking)? or is just untreated water suppose to be used in it? Thanks

-- quietly lurking (quietly@preparing.com), April 25, 1999.

Thanks y'all. One more question: 'Ever heard of a filter that one may attach to refrigerator tubing (cold water and ice cubes)? (Obviously for use with municipal water)

Thanks!

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), April 25, 1999.

FM; Sure there are many types but Home depot does have a filter that fits behind the refer and attaches to the 1/4" line for clear ice and water. But do one thing first......... Attach the filter to your hot water line and you'll have real clean water and faster ice. Oh, the filter at HD lasts for 5 years and takes out alot of stuff,i remember it being silver in color and it has all the attachments to make it easy.... Furie...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), April 26, 1999.

Hope this helps,

Go to www.jamesfilter.com (I have no connection to them, just a happy camper). I bought a British Berkefeld for $159.00 and free shipping. Came two days after order! It was the polypropylene model, not the stainless steel. It uses two filters instead of four, just right for my small family.

ps- re: using tap water in them, yes by all means.

-- sigmund (justa@cigar.com), April 26, 1999.

I don't know if this is any different that what's already being discussed but it looks like a useful alternative...

http://www.pwgazette.com/gravity.htm

-- j (sandpine@juno.com), April 26, 1999.

I have heard some rather "remarkable" claims for the Berkfeld filter.

The Berkfeld is just a ceramic filter (like the Katadyn) which filters out particulate and large bacteria. It does not filter out viri, chemicals and possibly even some small bacteria. These ceramic filters last longer if the water going in is fairly "clean". Having to filter-out lots of dirt & muck clogs them quickly (although they can be scrapped-off quite a few times before they are exhausted.

In general, the Berkfeld & Katadyn are good in *remote* 3rd-world countries where water is not chemically polluted, and has only dirt & bacteria which need to be removed.

For truly polluted water, you need very sophisticated analysis and chemicals (if the water is not too bad), reverse-osmosis (if salt is the big problem, as in sea-water) or best of all, double distillation. The simple "still" type distiller (tank & copper tubing) does not eliminate many chemicals (since they evaporate & condense with the water).

Search the 'net for "water" and "purification". I'm only scratchin' the surface.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), April 26, 1999.

will those filters that take out bactieria and viruses do anything about chemicals?like field runoff,or river water that's been polluted by an upstream uncompliant chemical plant or paper factory?can chemicals be filtered??

-- zoobie (zoob@aol.com), April 26, 1999.

Causes Attention Deficit Disorder? Your an idiot. Drink some more tap water.

-- Water PIG (snarf@eatmyass.com), February 07, 2003.