Drinking Water Filters

Who supplies your household water?

You'll either get your water supplied to your home or business by a water company through a series of pipes. This is known as mains water, or you will have a private water supply.

If you are not sure who supplies your drinking water please click here.

If you have any concerns about your drinking water supply, you should contact the water company in the first instance. They should be able to give you some advice and test the water if necessary.

Your water company should be able to give you some advice and test the water if necessary. They will also provide you with a summary of the water quality in your area free of charge on request. There may be a small charge if you request a water test. 

If you’ve already contacted them and are dissatisfied with their response, contact the Drinking Water Inspectorate [DWI] on 0300 068 6400. An inspector will investigate the matter with the water company on your behalf and inform you of the outcome. Please be patient with them!

The DWI inspectors request a full report on your complaint from the water company and will decide whether the company need to take any further action. This takes a minimum of 10 working days but for more complicated issues, may take longer.

 

What's in drinking water?

Your water contains a number of substances, most of which are perfectly harmless and, to be honest, water would taste pretty foul if they weren’t there. Others are safe in the minute concentrations found in drinking water. 

Here’s a table with some brief information about some of the substances that may be present in water.

Calcium	Occurs naturally especially where the water flows through limestone or chalk.
Sulphate, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium	Naturally occurring as a result of the passage of water through minerals.
Manganese	Occurs naturally and is an essential part of our diet; may also come from the corrosion of cast iron water mains.
Iron	Occurs naturally and is removed during the water treatment process; may also come from the corrosion of cast iron water mains causing a rusty brown colouration to the water.
Aluminium	Found naturally in all water sources; chemical aluminium may be used in the water treatment process to remove naturally occurring aluminium.
Nitrates	Occur naturally from both mineral and soil processes and from agricultural activity; where present they are removed by sophisticated treatment or reduced to safe levels by mixing with low nitrate water.
Phosphorus	Occurs naturally and in fertilisers and detergents; phosphate is added to treated water in some areas to protect the uptake of lead from domestic plumbing systems processes.
Copper and Zinc	Presence is largely due to contact with domestic plumbing systems.
Lead	Treated water is virtually lead free; lead was used as a plumbing material and is still common in many older properties. Water may be treated to make it less likely to absorb lead from plumbing but the safest way to deal with lead pipes is to replace them, or filter the lead out.
Chlorine	Small amounts are added to the water as it leaves the treatment works to kill any harmful bacteria present and to keep the water safe on its way to your tap.
Fluoride	Occurs naturally in some sources; may be added to some supplies at the request of local health authorities.
Pesticides	May be found in water from land that has been intensively farmed; where present they are removed by sophisticated treatment processes.
PAH [Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons]	May result from the corrosion of the linings of old cast iron mains.
Bacteria	If found they indicate that the water has been contaminated on its way to your home or as it passes through a dirty tap.

 

What dangers can lurk in your drinking water?

There are several ways water quality can be impaired. Here are some of them:

• • Coliforms - a group of microorganisms that can be found in the aquatic environment, soil, vegetation and in the faeces of warm blooded animals. Examples of coliforms are Escherichia coli [E coli], Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Hafnia, Klebsiella, and Faecal coliform.  When coliform bacteria are found in drinking water this suggests contamination from a subsurface source such as farmyard run-off. The presence of these bacteria indicates that disease causing microorganisms, known as pathogens may enter the drinking water supply. Drinking water should not contain coliforms and preventative action would need to be taken to remove them. It is highly unlikely that mains water would contain coliforms; private water supplies on the other hand need to be tested for such contaminants. 
• • Yeasts and viruses - microbial contaminants that are usually found in surface water, for example Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Giardia lives inside the intestines of infected humans or other animals and individuals become infected when they ingest or come into contact with contaminated food, soil, or water. The Giardia parasite originates from contaminated items and surfaces that have been tainted by the faeces of an infected animal. The symptoms of Giardia may appear two days after infection and include violent diarrhoea, excess flatulence, stomach or abdominal cramps, upset stomach, and nausea; with symptoms lasting between 2-6 weeks, although sometimes longer and/or more severe. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that is considered to be one of the most significant causes of diarrhoeal disease in humans. In individuals with a normal immune system the disease lasts for several days causing diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps and fever. People with weakened immune systems can suffer from far worse symptoms, caused by cryptosporidium, such as cholera-like illnesses. 
• • Nitrate – in drinking water can cause Cyanosis. Cyanosis is defined as a bluish discolouration of the skin due to poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood. 
• • Lead – can enter the water supply as it leaches from lead pipelines. As the water streams through the pipes, small amounts of lead will dissolve in the water, so that it becomes contaminated. Lead is toxic and can be quickly absorbed into the human system, particularly small children. It causes lead poisoning. 
• • Legionella – a bacterium that grows rapidly when water is maintained at a temperature between 30 and 40 degrees for a long period of time. This bacterium can be inhaled when water evaporates as it enters the human body. The legionella bacteria can cause a sort of mild flu-like illness known as Pontaic fever, but it can also cause the potentially fatal illness known as Legionellosis. 

It is highly unlikely that your drinking water will contain any of the above, unless you live in a house with lead pipes! However, if you have a private water supply it is possible that your water may be impaired, which is why it’s so important to have your water tested and take preventative action to remove any risk of infection. 

 

What's added to your water and why?

There are two main substances added to drinking water during the treatment process.

Chlorine
Chlorine is a disinfectant used by the water industry to maintain hygienic conditions within the public water supply pipe network. The very low levels used in drinking water in the UK are perfectly safe, but much higher concentrations are routinely used safely for other purposes such as baby bottle steriliser bottles and by the leisure and health care industry in spas, hydrotherapy pools and swimming pools. The reason why chlorine can be a concern in drinking water relates to the fact that some people can by very sensitive to its taste and smell. 

The level of chlorine in tap water is very low in England and Wales, which contrasts very favourably with practices in other countries where much higher levels are common. Typically water companies keep the level of residual disinfectant in the form of free or combined chlorine to 0.5mg/l or less. However, sometimes during maintenance of the pipe network higher levels are needed. If you occasionally notice a slight taste or smell of chlorine it is probably due to maintenance work in your area, it will not be a long lasting problem and there is no cause to worry. BUT, if you notice a particularly bad or strong smell or TCP like taste which makes your tap water unpalatable, or you notice a smell or taste for the first time which does not go away in a short time, then you should contact your water company immediately. 

Water is safe when it leaves the treatment works and the trace of chlorine is there only to preserve the high quality of the water as it passes through the miles of pipes used to convey water to homes and workplaces. Chlorine has a long history of about 100 years of safe use for hygiene purposes worldwide.

There can be minor variations in the amount and the form of the chlorine present in each water supply. Water companies set the levels as part of the safe management of the whole network. For this reason if your property is located near to the water treatment works the level of chlorine may be a little higher in your tap water than it is at properties several miles further away. Water companies are required to have in place a residual disinfectant management policy designed to ensure a minimum level at the remotest part of the network whilst also ensuring the maximum level is still acceptable to all consumers. The operation of a water distribution network is a complex task and occasionally levels of chlorine are not optimal. If you do not like the smell or taste then you can get rid of it by installing a water filter. 

The WHO has set a health based guideline maximum value of 5mg/l for chlorine as a residual disinfectant in drinking water. The levels in tap water in England and Wales are well below this guideline and most water companies aim to keep the level below 1mg/l. Your water company will provide you with a free water quality report showing the maximum and minimum level of residual chlorine in your local water supply on request. 

Chlorinated water may have a drying effect on the skin and this can make it itchy and uncomfortable. Some people seem more susceptible than others, particularly if a person suffers from eczema. A minority of people are allergic to chlorine 

Fluoride

Fluoridation is the term used to describe the dosing of water supplies to bring the fluoride level up to 1mg/l as a public health measure intended to prevent tooth decay. The maximum permitted value of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5mg/l [milligrammes per litre].

In England, the decision to fluoridate your water supply is made by your local authority. When deciding whether to fluoridate a local authority must carry out a public consultation exercise. The law only permits a water company to fluoridate under a contract with Public Health England. The water company has to be consulted about the technical feasibility of any proposed scheme. In Wales, health decisions about fluoridation are taken by the Welsh Government. 

Water companies are only permitted to use specified fluoridation chemicals in accordance with European standards. These standards specify purity levels and producers are not permitted to sell chemicals unless these purity criteria are met. 

Fluoride is naturally present at low levels in most drinking water in England and Wales.

 

Choosing a drinking water filter system

• Probably the most important job for you to do if you're thinking of buying water filter systems for your home is to find out what's currently in your water so you can figure out what you want to remove/improve. You can then decide what the best drinking water filter is going to be.
• If you live in the UK, you may want to contact your local water company in the first instance where they'll be able to give you some advice and test your drinking water if necessary. They'll also be able to provide you with a summary of the overall water quality in your area and you shouldn't have to pay for any of this information.
• If for some reason your local water company doesn't play ball and you don't get the information that you're looking for, your next port of call should be the Drinking Water Inspectorate [DWI]. They can look into your query/complaint, but please be patient with them!
• Browse our site to find the best water filtration system for you. We've successfully solved many problems for our customers and they've left us some lovely feedback. If in doubt give us a call or send a message. Select the drinking water filter that suits your financial situation, lifestyle and filtering needs.

How do drinking water filters work?

Very briefly, they work in two ways:

Mechanical Filtration Like a very fine sieve to remove particulate matter and sediment. The finest of these is the 0.2 micon Ceramic/Carbon Block cartridge which we use to make the Pearl-B and Oyster-TBC.

Electrokinetic adsorbtion. The contaminants 'stick' to the acvtivated carbon.

Activated carbon is made by grinding bituminous coal, peat, or peanut or coconut shells and baking in controlled conditions to 540C in the absence of oxygen which bakes off the impurities.Then superheated steam at 870C activates the carbon and creates a massive network of pores that greatly increases the surface area of the carbon. This surface area is why carbon can absorb such large quantities of various compounds. This is called Granular Activate Carbon or GAC

Coconut shell carbon is, by far, the superior carbon and adsorbs the widest spectrum of chemicals the most efficiently.

Health note: This is not a problem if you or yours have a nut allergy. This carbon has been sterilised and acid washed. It is just carbon but activated to remove harmful chemicals from your drinking water.

The newest and best activated carbon technology is Coconut Shell Activated Carbon Block. This is coconut shell GAC which has been further pulverised into smaller particles, then fused and then extruded. The result is all the top chemical adsorption qualities of coconut shell activated carbon but with finer particles giving a much larger surface area and much more activated carbon in the same volume as GAC; and with smaller micron ratings and a longer service life.

An additional benefit of carbon block is that the water is distributed radially & evenly through out the media without 'Water Channeling'.

GAC is a loose media (like sand) and can suffer from 'Water Channeling" where the water keeps to the same waterways through the media. This results in some of the media not being used and leads to early depletion.

At Fountain Filters we use coconut shell activated carbon block cartidges in all the water filter systems except the Pearl-M Heavy Metals filter which uses a special mixed media GAC/KDF-55 cartridge and the Pearl-B which as a special, washable, 0.2 micron cartridge

What are the benefits of a drinking water filter?

• Have it 'on tap'. When you've committed to drink more water, you may as well have it 'on tap' so that you and your family can reap the benefits and enjoy filtered water 24/7, without the hassle of having to run to the shops to buy expensive bottled water. Trust us when we say that installing a drinking water filter is the most convenient and cost effective way.
• Your food will taste better. Why wash your fruit, vegetables, meat and fish in water that could be contaminated. Prepare food with filtered water that you have 'on tap' and you'll notice the difference in taste. Think about it for a second or two; if you can smell chlorine in your water, it's going to have an impact on that wonderful dish you're creating.
• Scum; be gone! What goes through your head when you make that much deserved cup of tea and it's got a layer of scum floating on the top of it? If you live in a hard water area this is a pretty standard occurence. Good news is that you can filter the limescale out of your water. And your kettle won't fur up either when you install our hardness drinking water filter.
• Water is vital for healthy skin and weightloss. If you don't drink enough water your body will hold onto water weight causing fluid retention. Often when we feel hungry it can be a sign of thirst also - so instead of reaching for food, drink first and then if you're still hungry then have some food. I know plain water can sometimes be a bit drab so why not liven it up with some of the following ideas:
  Filtered water with fresh mint, squeezed lime and ice (tastes like a mojito!)
  Filtered water with strawberries and basil
  Filtered water with ground ginger powder, apple cyder vinegar and a touch of stevia (this is one of my faves...great for digestion also as apple cyder vinegar stimulates stomach acid production as well as having so many other health benefits)
  Crushed berries with filtered water and ice

And then there's the financial benefits...

• YOU'LL SAVE MONEY! Depending on the number of people in your household, a water filter cartridge can last up to 12 months and with the cheapest drinking water filter cartridge priced from £17.99 [Pearl T], this is significantly cheaper than buying bottled water from your local supermarket. Please factor in the initial cost of purchasing the drinking water filter kit. For a Pearl T this is from £74.99.
• We've had a quick look at some of the cheapest bottled water available and worked out how much it will cost you per day, week, month and year to drink this. Our figures are based on an individual drinking the recommended 2 litres of water per day. Remember, that there's often more than one person in a household so multiply the annual figure to get your true household cost!

 

Product	Per Day	Per Week	Per Month	Per Year	2 person household
Tesco Everyday Value	£0.17	£1.19	£5.15	£61.80	£123.60
Asda Smart Price	£0.17	£1.19	£5.15	£61.80	£123.60
Morrisons Yorkshire Vale Still Spring	£0.44	£3.08	£13.35	£160.00	£320.00
Sainsbury's Table Water	£0.20	£1.40	£6.07	£72.84	£145.68

 

• LESS RECYCLING - You won't have to put all those plastic bottles out for recycling, so less hassle for you; and if you don't recycle then less goes to landfill!

If you move house can you take the drinking water filter system with you?

Yes, but you'll have to leave the saddle valve behind in the closed position. The tap is your decision. All the rest you can take with you. We stock self-piercing saddle valves and drinking water filter taps at competitive prices. We stock all the components you will need for both your new home as well as your old one including tube end stops (to prevent possible disasters!).

Can I upgrade my drinking water filter once it's fitted?

This is simple. Of course you can. We get asked this a lot. For example, if you decide to install one of our basic drinking water filters, such as our Pearl T and then some time later you decide you want to filter out something else or add to your existing set up, you can. That's one of the fantastic benefits of installing your very own drinking water filter. You can pretty much do what ever you want to suit your requirements and budget. The best thing to do should you decide you want a change is to contact us and have a chat.

Do you have endocrine disruptors and hormones in your water?

For most of you, probably not. However, all of our Pearl and Oyster drinking water filters will remove them as well as chemical residues from pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs).

Are drinking water filters easy to install?

Yes. Our drinking water filters are very easy to install and no plumber is required. The pipe connectors are all push-fit and the connection to the cold water pipe is a saddle valve (if you choose that option). This uses a thumb screw that pierces and seals the cold water pipe with no special tools or experience required. The only tool needed is a drill to make a hole to mount the water filter tap on your sink or kitchen work top. Easy to follow fitting instructions are included with every kit. 

Watch our 'how to' installation video below.