Where does our water come from? Water in the UK arrives as rain or snow and then it's down to nature and geography - with some input from humans - to determine what sort of water we have in our homes. Water in reservoirs or natural lakes Surface water - from rivers and streams – is stored in natural lakes or artificial reservoirs and makes up the majority (68%) of our water supply. This water has a low concentration of calcium and magnesium but perhaps some sodium, chloride and sulphate, depending on location, from the action of the wind over sea. Water stored underground The rest of our water comes from underground, where it has filtered down through rocks to the water table and on its way down has absorbed natural minerals such as calcium and magnesium. The exception to this is water that has come across impervious rocks, that are calcium-poor anyway, such as granite; it's too hard to percolate through, so water tends to run off and not absorb minerals. Snowdonia in Wales and the Western Highlands of Scotland are examples of this geological factor. What is hard water? Water high in those natural minerals already mentioned - calcium and magnesium - is called 'hard'. Water low in these minerals is called 'soft'. There are grades in between such as semi hard or semi-soft or even not too hard or very hard. How can I tell whether I have hard water or not? Water hardness is measured by the number of mineral deposits in your water (parts per million - ppm). A soft water area would have around 60-100ppm while a very hard water area would register more than 180ppm. You can go on your water supplier's website and check the hardness of your water by inputting your postcode. Or you can check here. Broadly, where is water hard in the UK? It's easier to note which places are soft or semi-hard: Cornwall, most of Devon and West Wales are blessed with soft water as is the north of England and most of Scotland. Middle England is mostly middling, with semi-hard. The rest of the country has hard water, around 60% of the country. What difference does hard water make? Hard water is rich in calcium, which produces limescale when it dries. Limescale typically forms an unsightly crust around the base of taps in domestic wash basins and baths, covers shower screens with a fine white residue and forms a coating around plugholes. Although there are limescale removers on the market, it is not particularly easy to control and is an ongoing task. Laundry washed in hard water needs more cleaning product and does not produce the pleasing soapy suds of soft water. Shampoo will not lather well, nor will soap. More conditioner is needed to get your hair feeling soft after washing. It is similar to using salt water, if any readers are sailors or have been on a cruise. Central heating systems don't like hard water When hard water is heated, it forms deposits when it cools – called scale - that is notorious for clogging up central heating systems - radiators, pipes and heat exchangers. Untreated, they have to be periodically flushed to remove the scaling. Domestic machines that use water such as dishwashers and washing machines will have similar problems over time. If you don't recognise the characteristics of hard and soft water, you may live in a middling area, with semi-hard water. How to remove limescale from my water supply Unless you move to a soft water area, you are stuck with hard water. But a way to alleviate the issues and to minimise limescale from your water supply is to have a mains water limescale filter, or hard water filter, fitted. This should realign the calcium molecules, so they no longer form limescale and you will have water that resembles soft water. Baths will be slippery, hair washing will be a pleasure, you'll use less laundry liquid, and you won't be trying to remove limescale from your sinks. And behind the scenes, your central heating pipes won't be clogging up. Do I need to fit a mains water limescale filter in my home? Mains water is so-called as it comes straight off the mains and is not stored in a tank first. In an independent home, it's the one you use for washing and for your central heating if you have radiators. If you live in a block of flats, you will need to have an independent mains supply for water to be treated. If you have hard water, it’s possible to have a filter fitted to your mains supply to remove the limescale. What sort of mains water filter can I have fitted? There are two main types of domestic water treatment systems. A salt-based solution (water softener) softens the water by removing the hard minerals (ions) and replacing them with salt. Our preferred system (filter) uses a cartridge system where the hard ions are physically bound together to prevent them forming scale. Both systems work well, but filters are cheaper and very low maintenance. The cartridge needs replacing every 1 to 3 years, depending on the equipment chosen. There is no electricity needed and no salt to be refilled. Are mains water filters expensive? No. Our Doby OneFlow hard water filter will remove scale for around a year before the cartridge needs replacing (depending on water usage). You will save considerably on laundry products and your water-dependent machines will last longer, including your central heating system if it runs water-filled radiators. It should pay for itself in two years or less, but there are many other benefits mentioned before that you will enjoy straight away. Is hard water safe for drinking? All water in the UK is very safe to drink, whether it’s hard or soft. Whether it tastes nice or not is another matter and one we will deal with later. Water in the UK is independently monitored by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, set up in 1990. Water companies test their water supplies daily and supply their findings to the DWI. The public body also carries out extensive research. Drinking water in the UK is among the best in the world, with drinking quality of 99.96%, acknowledged by Statistica that also has other interesting facts about UK water. Is hard water bad for my skin? There is much anecdotal evidence from our customers to suggest soft water minimises conditions such as psoriasis and eczema and hard water exacerbates these conditions. However, various health studies, including one by the World Health Organisation in 2008 and the Softened Water Eczema Trial published in 2011 found no symptom relief in soft water for skin conditions. Critics would argue that the sample size in the latter was small (336) but not everyone needs scientific proof that soft water helps their skin condition. It could be chlorine that causes skin irritation, perceived or otherwise, which we touch on later. I don't like the taste of my tap water. Is it because it's hard? The UK has among the best tap water in the world as already mentioned. To make our water safe, the final process in the long purification process is the addition of chlorine. This acts as a disinfectant. If you don't like your tap water, it's probably the chlorine, rather than the natural mineral salts you don't like. Some people feel that chlorine could be responsible for exacerbating their skin condition, especially psoriasis but only this anecdotal evidence supports the claim. Chlorine encourages skin to dry, which causes the skin to flake more. Psoriasis sufferers typically avoid public swimming pools for this reason. Don't buy bottled water The worst thing you can do, environmentally and financially is to buy water in plastic bottles. Even the very large ones work out much more expensive than a water filter. They also take many, many years to degrade and have become a serious blot on our landscape, both here and abroad. 'Smart water'; is just a fancy name, dressed up to be something that is good for us, but it still involves single use plastic. Read our in-depth blog about it. Tap water costs around 0.3p per two litres, a supermarket own brand 45p and a brand 90p. You are pouring money down the drain and damaging the environment at the same time. Fitting a water filter to get better tasting water Not liking the taste is a common problem and ironically maybe, more likely to happen with soft water as hard water containing minerals may help to mask the taste of the chlorine. While some ions (minerals) are removed by boiling, the chlorine taste tends to remain. Many people don't mind it and if that is you, then you don't need to do anything. But if you would like nicer tasting water - the mountain stream taste you may have enjoyed on a hike in Scotland or Wales maybe - then, a water filter may be for you. It's normally fitted under your kitchen sink, takes up very little space and needs minimum attention. If I have a mains water filter, what about drinking water? If you have a salt-based water softener, you usually leave a tap for drinking water where the water is untreated. Normally this is in the kitchen. Another option is to have a three-way tap fitted, with water all from the same tap. It means your kitchen sink will look less cluttered. It’s a question of personal preference really. You can read more about our tri-tap choices. Remember, all drinking water in the UK is safe. Your kettle will still ‘fur’ up but water everywhere else will have the calcium filtered out. If you take a glass of water to bed with you, use the mains water tap in the kitchen. What if I want a mains limescale filter AND a water filter for my drinking water? We can do that too! You might find our Doby Taste and OneFlow hard water filter is perfect. It will mean no limescale and better tasting water (assuming you don't like the taste of your water) as it removes chlorine and sediment as well as hard minerals. It should fit under your sink, but you can fit it anywhere where the mains water enters the house - a garage or utility room for example. Space could be a bit tight, and you may need to find another home for your cleaning materials if you choose the kitchen, but we think it's a small price to pay. And the best thing is the cartridge should last for up to two years before being replaced. You also don't need a separate cold water tap. Does a water filter take up much space? No. A water filter is usually smaller than a salt-based water softener as there is no need for bulky salt bricks. The dimensions of all our machines are clearly listed. What if I just want nice tasting water: should I have a water filter fitted? As mentioned earlier, it's soft water that usually has what some people regard as an unpleasant taste and smell, probably from the chlorine. Check that boiling the water doesn't take away the unpleasant taste - it often does. Boiling water and letting it cool, then refrigerating it in a jug could be an answer, so it's worth trying. Are water filters easy to fit? Yes. A water filter is inexpensive, takes up very little room and you'll have great tasting water year round. You just need to replace a cartridge once or twice a year (depending on water use). See one of ours here. We can supply a basic filter that filters out the chorine, or more advanced options that can filter out heavy metals, fluoride and bacteria. We can help you to decide which you need, which depends on your water supply and to a certain extent your taste preference If you normally buy bottled water, the product should have paid for itself in a year to a year and a half, depending on your water consumption and your usual water brand. Imagine delicious water on tap - you might even start to drink more. It's much healthier for all of us, especially for children instead of sugary drinks. From our customers: case studies for limescale filter and water filter Mains limescale filter ''We sold our house and went into rented for a year. During that time, our home had no mains water limescale filter and I'd forgotten how horrible it is. I missed our shiny sinks and soapy baths. As soon as we moved, my priority was a limescale water filter. At the same time, I had a water filter fitted, feeling I was doing my bit for the environment. No more expensive bottled water for our family.'' Mrs J, Richmond. Water filter ''We had a Pearl Drinking water filter fitted after I'd been shocked with the results of my annual water spending using Fountain Filters calculator. Our plumber fitted it in a couple of hours. I'm sure salad leaves and boiled vegetables taste better. I drink my tea black, and I've noticed the taste is nicer. Thumbs up all round.'' Ms T, Salisbury What if I'm happy with my water? If you are happy with your water - don't suffer from hard water and limescale and like the taste - we don't suggest you do anything. Obviously, we sell water filters and mains water limescale filters but wouldn't try to sell to anyone who is satisfied with their water. If you have friends or relatives who have hard water though, or don't like the taste of their tap water, we'd be grateful if you'd mention us or send them a link to this article. FAQs What is a hard water filter? A hard water filter isn't actually a filter at all. Because the minerals that make water hard are dissolved they would just flow straight through an ordinary filter. Instead, the filter cartridge treats the water by altering some of the properties of the minerals so they don't form limescale. Can I install a hard water filter for a shower? Yes you can. You can install a hard water filter to the cold water supply to an electric shower, or the water that feeds the boiler that heats the shower water. Alternatively, fit a filter to your mains water supply and treat the whole house. No, and they work in completely different ways. A water softener uses sodium chloride - salt - to replace the hard water minerals. Unfortunately, that leaves a small amount of sodium in the water so it may not be good to drink due to the effects on blood pressure and heart health. Good modern softeners only amount to about 5 percent of your recommended daily allowance, however, it's probably best to minimise all salt intake. No, and they work in completely different ways. A water softener uses sodium chloride - salt - to replace the hard water minerals. Unfortunately, that leaves a small amount of sodium in the water so it may not be good to drink due to the effects on blood pressure and heart health. Good modern softeners only amount to about 5 percent of your recommended daily allowance, however, it's probably best to minimise all salt intake.
0 What is the best mains water filter I can get in the UK?
There is a wide variety of mains water filter systems available in the UK. A whole house water filter or mains water filter is plumbed in to the rising main where water enters your house. They provide you with filtered water in your kitchen and at other taps throughout your house should you want it; for example your bathroom or utility room.Our whole house water filters are suitable for mains water supplies only. If you have a private water supply, your requirements will be different so please take a look at our Private Water filters.The BEST one is always determined by what you want to filter out of your mains water. Despite UK tap water being safe for drinking, cooking and bathing in; not all contaminants are able to be removed. For example, sediment, chlorine, fluoridation and water hardness could be a concern for you. Some questions you might want to ask yourself before investing in a mains water filter are:What is it that you don't like about your water at the moment? And, Is there anything specific that you want to filter out of your water?You don't necessarily need to pay to have your water professionally tested, but can if you want to. It could be as simple as just not liking the taste or smell of your water, which is pushing you to keep on filling your supermarket trolley with plastic bottles full of filtered water. And then you start feeling guilty about adding to the worlds plastic pollution crisis. It's a no win situation for you.If it is just the taste and smell we'd recommend you install our Moby or Doby mains water filter. One of these would remove the chlorine for you which would improve the taste and smell of your water. Or, you may be sick and tired of the limescale in your water and be looking for one of our mains water filters for hard water. We will have a solution for any issues you have with your mains water. Installing a mains water filter will save you a heck of a lot of money in the long term. Remember that when you do install your mains water filter you'll need to maintain that filter by replacing cartridges, cleaning the filter if you're able to, and generally being aware of the quality of the water. If you notice any sudden changes in the taste and smell of your filtered tap water that may be an indication that you have to replace the filter cartridges. We make this easy for you as we email you every 6 months just to prompt you to think about your water and whether or not you need to change the water filter cartridge. We're always on hand to help. You can contact us on 01352 838 281. Simon & Lou
0 Ten Ways to Find the Water Filter that's just Right for You
10 ways to find the best filter for you.
0 Single Use Plastic isn't Cheap; it Costs the Earth
Mars is the closest it's been to the earth for some time so it's highly visible in the night sky. People are talking with great excitement about the possibility of visiting Mars and terraforming it. But that's going to be really difficult and realistically how many people can travel to Mars? It's only in the hundreds or thousands. However, the world's population is busy turning the earth into the same sort of environment as Mars has now. So, where are the remaining 7 billion people going to live? We need to act now so our current world doesn't turn into Mars. David Attenborough pointed out in his recently released documentary 'A Life on our Planet' that's it's our responsibility to look after our planet, before we destroy it. My husband and I were in Costco the other day and we saw people loading their trolleys up with bottled water. Have we learnt nothing? Those single use plastic bottles require fossil fuels to make them - so it's not just the end product that's bad - it's the manufacturing process that goes before it. Single use plastic isn't cheap; it costs the earth.
Sanitisation Steps: Tum off the cold water supply line to the RO system. If your system is connected to your refrigerator or icemaker, turn off the line going to the icemaker. Open the RO water system tap/faucet and drain all water from the system and storage tank. Once the system is empty be sure to place RO tap/faucet handle in the closed position. Open the pre-filter housing, which is typically the filter closest to the feed water line. Remove the pre-filter and discard if replacing with a new filter after sanitisation process. Leave the filter housing off. Remove all remaining filters and the reverse osmosis element (membrane). If you have an inline post filter on your system, leave the old filter in place. Discard old filters if installing new filters. Reconnect all empty housings to the system, except the pre-filter housing. There should be no filters in any housings at this point. Add two or three tablespoons of bleach to the pre-filter housing (5.5% unscented bleach). Re-connect the pre-filter housing back onto the system. Tum on the cold water supply line for the system to fill with the sanitising solution. Check for any leaks. Allow system to fill with water. Time will vary depending on water pressure. However, the system should be full within 5-10 minutes without the filters or membrane installed. Turn on the RO tap/faucet until water begins to flow out, then turn off the faucet. Let the system sit for at least 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, flush system by turning on the RO tap/faucet and let water run through the system for 5 minutes,or until bleach odour is gone. Turn off the cold water supply line. Turn on the RO faucet. Drain the system completely. Repeat this step twice After draining the system completely the second time, replace or re-install all filters and membrane. Turn on the cold water supply line and check for leaks. Allow the system several hours for the RO membrane to refill the storage tank.
Watch our short video below to discover what Simon and I do and why we love what we do. You're probably visiting us because you've got an issue with your water, or your 3 way tap is leaking...and you need spare parts. Or you fancy treating yourself to a new drinking water or mains water filter. Perhaps something is troubling you about the taste, the smell, or the colour of the water coming out of the taps in your home or office. Or maybe you've got a query about a drinking water filter or mains water filter that's already installed in your house and you want some information and don't know where to start looking. The internet is a minefield of information and can be somewhat confusing. Whatever your reason for visiting Fountain Filters today... HELLO! We have your interests at heart and will do everything in our power to help you with the query that you have. That's why we get such good customer feedback; you really are at the centre of everything we do at Fountain Filters. CUSTOMER REVIEWS We're always working on our website and are always listing new products; normally because one of our lovely customers has a very unusual problem and so we create a product especially for them that will solve their particular issue. Give us a call on 01352 838 281 or request a call back. See you soon. Simon & Lou
0 How To Increase Hot Water Pressure
Increase your hot water pressure up to 2.0 bar with our hot water booster pump. https://www.fountain-filters.co.uk/Hot-Water-Booster-Pump/0-CAAA010/PRAA125.htm You can install our positive head hot water booster pump under your kitchen sink and it connects directly, via two 22mm push-fit flexible hoses, to your hot water supply. When the lever on the tap is opened the hot water booster pump automatically energises and increases your hot water pressure, giving improved water flow and allowing customers with a gravity/low pressure system to use a high pressure tap. This hot water booster pump is quiet and compact, and has been specifically designed to increase water pressure to a household's hot water supply. The quiet AC induction motor is smooth and reliable, and the regenerative design of impeller is ideal for overcoming air pockets that can be generated in a shower system. This type of hot water booster pump is ideal where the plumbing route includes multiple bends and elbows. Our hot water booster pump has been manufactured in Denmark and will boost your hot water up to 2.0 bar. The outlet pipe has a built-in flow switch which activates the pump when it detects water flow, and deactivates the pump when the flow stops. The flow switch requires a minimum of 0.5 litres flow per minute to operate. Two 22mm push-fit flexible hoses are included. It has a compact design, low running noise and includes anti-vibration feet. The pump can either be wired directly into a fused spur or you can plug in the 1.4m lead like a dishwasher. ** Hot water should be NO hotter than 65°C when using this pump. If your water is hotter than 65°C and the pump fails, we would not be able to offer a refund. ** ***Must not be connected directly to mains water supply.*** Features Product code - 98950218 Continuously rated pump Regenerative impeller design IPX2 water ingress protection Auto-resetting thermal cut out Anti-vibration feet Mains connection lead - 1.5m long Braided connection hoses with 22mm push-fit connections WRAS compliant Technical Data Supply voltage 230 V, 50 Hz Power consumption 280 W Rated current 1.2 A Rating Continuous operation (recommended minimum flow rate: 5 l/min Enclosure class IPX2 (when mounted on a horizontal surface) Motor AC induction Inlet head (min - max) 1 to 10 m Max developed pump head 20 m Max operating pressure 3 bar Minimum starting flow 0.5 l/min Length 185mm Width 150mm Height 165mm Weight 3.8kg Noise level 55 to 65 dB (A) @ 1m Warranty 1 year Is the Hot Water Booster Pump compatible with 15mm pipes? Yes it is. Just use 22mm to 15mm reducers. These are available at most good DIY stores.
0 How to install a drinking water filter
Our Pearl and Oyster drinking water filters are easy to install and we supply a set of fitting instructions when you purchase one of our water filters. There is no need for you to use a plumber. Our 'how to' video below shows you just how easy it is. But we're also in the process of making other 'how to' installation videos that help demonstrate the steps involved when you install a water filter in your home.
0 10 Refreshing Ways to Liven up your Water
This is a brilliant article for anyone who wants to liven up their water and move away from processed drinks which contain way too much refined sugar and other artificial nasties that are better out of your body and not in it. It's packed full of refreshing fun recipes using fruit and herbs. Such a good alternative to plain water. Read the article HERE Intro: "Fruit-infused waters are a wonderful and refreshing drink option for summer when the sun is out, the kids are bored, and the bugs are biting.TV commercials will try to convince you that only soda and processed drinks are thirst-quenching enough for summer. Of course, you probably already know better, but sometimes it is nice to have an alternative to plain water.The market for sweetened, processed junk to add to water is a multi-billion dollar industry. This is unfortunate for all of the people drinking this junk. The body doesn’t need refined sugar, and it certainly doesn’t need artificial sweeteners or food dyes.If you want to add some delicious taste and health benefits to water, try these fruit-water recipes instead! These recipes use micronutrient-rich herbs, fruits, and vegetables for thirst-quenching flavor with added benefits!"
0 OneFlow Anti-Scale System FAQ
What is OneFlow? OneFlow is an anti-scaling water treatment technology designed to protect plumbing components, pipes, fixtures, valves, fittings, hot tanks, etc. from the negative effects typically caused by water hardness. OneFlow is an environmentally friendly alternative to water softening or any other treatment device designed to address scale. OneFlow prevents scale by transforming dissolved hardness minerals into harmless, inactive microscopic crystal particles. These crystals stay suspended in the water and have a greatly reduced ability to react negatively and form scale compared to untreated hard water. How does OneFlow differ from a water softener? OneFlow uses a specially designed media to convert the dissolved primary hardness mineral (calcium carbonate) into a relatively insoluble microscopic crystal so that it cannot cause harm downstream. A water softener, on the other hand, uses the principles of 'ion exchange' to remove calcium and magnesium ions from water while replacing them with sodium ions. A water softener requires a control valve, backwashing, drain line, regeneration and a brine tank to store salt while OneFlow requires nothing but an inlet and outlet connection. Does OneFlow remove the important minerals in water? No. OneFlow preserves the beneficial mineral content while preventing the possible negative scale formation associated with these minerals. By rendering the hardness minerals harmless while still keeping them present, you truly get the best of both worlds. Other treatment methods fall short. In a 2005 report on Nutrients in Drinking Water, the World Health Organisation writes... "We conclude that hard water is good because it contains nutrients valuable in themselves...To minimise heart disease risk, the ideal water should contain sufficient calcium and magnesium to be moderately hard." What are some of the ideal applications for OneFlow? Virtually any application where scale reduction or scale removal from water hardness is required or desirable. For example: hotels, restaurants, apartments, offices, boilers, irrigation systems, humidifiers, distillers, steam generators, solar heating systems, tankless water heaters, RO pre-treatment, misting systems, laundries, food service applications, are all ideal for a OneFlow system. How about other chemicals found in water, such as Fluoride and Chlorine. Does OneFlow remove them? No. Please contact us if you want to remove these as well as reduce hardness. What factors may effect OneFlow's system performance? Water chemistry and peak flow rate are the guidelines used to assure optimal system performance. Most mains water falls well within OneFlow's performance guidelines to ensure scale control results. Correct sizing of the system is important to ensure proper performance. However, OneFlow is more forgiving of flow variations and unplanned peaks than a conventional water softener. Does the media in a OneFlow system need to be replaced? Yes. Filter housing based systems require cartridge replacement every 1-2 years. Systems should be installed with this in mind. Are there any application limitations to OneFlow? Untreated well water may pose a limitation to OneFlow due to the unknown chemistry it often possesses. High hardness is never a problem for OneFlow, but with well water, hardness minerals are often accompanied by other contaminants with levels outside of our operating guidelines. How easy is it to install a OneFlow system? It's easy. Full instructions will be given with every order. What are the ongoing maintenance costs and considerations for OneFlow? Other than the planned cartridge replacement, nothing else is required. Why is OneFlow a 'Green Technology'? OneFlow saves water and energy in the following ways: Reduces Energy Consumption - OneFlow uses no electricity and reduces energy consumption by keeping heat transfer surfaces free of energy-robbing scale formation. Reduces chemical or raw material consumption - OneFlow requires no chemical or significant ongoing consumable (salt, as an example) Reduces waste water discharge and water consumption - because OneFlow does not discharge or require backwashing it meets both objectives. Reduces space requirements - OneFlow systems use approximately 75% less floor space than water softeners. Retains natures minerals in the water. The beneficial minerals, calcium and magnesium, are completely retained.
Fountain Filters, Strowger House,
Sandy Lane Ind. Est.
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 5HE, UK.
https://w3w.co/pipes.ranked.dates
VAT Reg: 370859370
