Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Under the Sink vs. Whole Home Water Filtration Systems

Understand the difference between the two most common types of household water filtration: POU (Point-Of-Use: Under the sink) and POE (Point-Of-Entry: whole home).

Point-of-Entry:

Often referred to as whole-home filtration, this type of system is installed where the water line enters the house. The POE systems are most commonly placed before the water heater to deliver purified hot and cold water to every tap and appliance in the home.

There are many different types of POE systems. The option you choose will depend on the type of problem you’re having with your water. The most common water issues are;

• Hard water, cause by calcium and magnesium (common in groundwater), which causes scale build up on plumbing fixtures and in hot water tanks,
• And chlorine (common in city water), which can affect taste and odour.

Any other water contaminants like high levels of iron, arsenic, hydrogen sulfide and sediment can be treated with a different form of POE water treatment.

Learn more about hard water issues here: Hard water vs. Soft water

Point-of-Use: Purifies water where you need it.

A Point-of-Use system will treat a portion of water in your house that wouldn’t be used for bathing, cleaning and other daily chores. Most POU systems are used for drinking water and cooking use through a separate tap rather than the faucet. Although a POU filtration system doesn’t only need to be installed “under-sink”, but could also be installed at the beginning of your fridge water line.

The most common form of POU treatment is a carbon filtration system which improves the water taste and smell.

Another option is a Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Treatment, which can provide additional levels of filtration. A typical RO will have 4 stages to it:

1. 2 pre-filters;

1 Carbon pre-filter
1 Sediment pre-filter

2. A membrane to reject impurities in the water
3. A tank to store the processed water
4. A post-filter to remove taste and odour from the stored water
5. A faucet to get the water from the tank to your glass or pot.

If you are unsure what is in your drinking water, we suggest you bring a water sample for testing to your local water testing center. Afterwards, bring your drinking water results to one of our two Van Isle Water locations and we will help prepare a water treatment system that will provide you and your family with safe, better tasting water.