Home Water Purification

[wallacern]

Would like to buy a filter system so I can have drinking water.

Any ideas on what is really required to get rid of the dangerous bacteria etc?

I looked at some systems for about 6,000Baht that have three filters. carbon, ceramic, resin.

A 16,000 Baht syatem had the same filters but added UV light.

I think there was an in depth discussion on one of the forums a year or so ago but I can't find it.

Thanks,

Mike

[Phano]

Any filter system with a combination of carbon, ceramic and propylene (sp) filters will do. Have had one for four months and so far so good. UV filtration is an overkill. and more than 3000 THB is an overspend. Me thinks

[Artisan]

The three filters that you mentioned (carbon, ceramic and resin) remove odour, solids and dissolved inorganics respectively, they do not remove bacteria. If you want one that destroys bacteria then a UV chamber is a must. It isn't an "overkill" if you want drinking water.

Those three filters do not have an infinite life, as I'm sure that you know, but replacement cartridges are available everywhere.

[wallacern]

Thanks for the inputs.

I think I read somewhere that UV was not required because the bacteria is larger than the .3 micron ceramic filter and cannot pass through. Maybe a virus is smaller than .3 microns?

Of course I can't locate that particular discusion right now.

Anyone else with info on water purification requirements?

Thanks,

Mike

[Gary A]

When I was living in Jomtien I bought a three element filter at Tesco Lotus. I think it cost about 3,900 baht. The first filter is a combination charcoal and fiber, the second is a charcoal and the final is the ceramic element. After nearly two years all I did to it was when the water flow slowed way down, I soaked the ceramic filter in household bleach and then cleaned it as well as I could. I never got sick so I guess it worked OK.

Now I live up country and bought a stainless steel much larger filter. It too is a three stage but the final stage is resin. I think the resin stage is a total waste because all it does is soften the water. It needs to be flushed with salt to be effective. we have given up on flushing the resin stage we are just using the charcoal filter and the ceramic filter. I haven't gotten sick so it must be OK too.