Water filtration advice?

[morkus64]

A bunch of you know of my ongoing move to chicago saga - here's the latest question:

My fiancee, already in our apartment there, isn't a big fan of the water - she feels like it is making her sick. My bet is that it's our pipes (which we can't do much about), since it is an old building and chicago water is supposed to be pretty decent.

I've been looking into water delivery (which seems expensive) and water filtration.

As far as filtration, it seems like the reverse osmosis systems filter a little too much? Stripping away the good stuff too?

I was looking into maybe this for drinking water and this for the shower.

Any thoughts?

UPDATE:

Ok, so my lady is concerned about the Chromium-6, so now we are looking at RO systems. Anyone recommend a particular one? Also, are there any that don't require setting up a second faucet for the drinking water and can just connect to the faucet that is there?

 

[Texashiker]

The 3M Filtrete 3US-PS01 looks like it will get the job done

Keep in mind that heavy water is good for you. So do not get anything that removes all of the minerals. Regardless of what the tv commercials say, those brown stains from leaking water are a good sign.

 

[Wyndru]

I just use a brita filter, but I was thinking about getting a reverse osmosis, I wasn't aware that they filtered out too much. Are you referring to fluoride that gets removed?

 

[Vette73]

Yea just get a Pur/Britra filter. They have ones that screw onto the tap.

But how is she getting sick? I'm guessing it has little (nothing) to do with the water.

 

[irishScott]

http://www.waterfiltercritic.com/

 

[irishScott]

Yea just get a Pur/Britra filter. They have ones that screw onto the tap.

But how is she getting sick? I'm guessing it has little (nothing) to do with the water.

If they've just moved in it's possible she hasn't adapted to the local water yet. Especially if she's coming off well water. Can make one a little nauseous.

 

[vi edit]

RO stripping too much? What ever. You don't drink water for minerals. They are simply there for the ride and can add flavor...for good or bad. And for the articles that spew on about RO water leaching minerals from your body....LOL. About the only thing that it can strip away is the flouride from the municipality. And if you want that then just use a floride mouthwash at night instead.

If you want clean tasting water, get an under sink RO and be done with it.

 

[gophins72]

go for reverse osmosis. it will remove chromium-6:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...um-national-toxicology-program-drinking-water

 

[Texashiker]

RO stripping too much? What ever. You don't drink water for minerals.

Which one do you think is easier to absorb, minerals in water, or minerals in vitamins? I think its easier to absorb minerals from water.

If I can get some iron, calcium,,,, and other essential minerals from my water, then I will.

 

[vi edit]

Which one do you think is easier to absorb, minerals in water, or minerals in vitamins? I think its easier to absorb minerals from water.

How about option C: A balanced diet?

Again...you don't drink water for minerals.

 

[Mark R]

Which one do you think is easier to absorb, minerals in water, or minerals in vitamins? I think its easier to absorb minerals from water.

If I can get some iron, calcium,,,, and other essential minerals from my water, then I will.

Except the minerals in water are negligible in content. Drinking a gallon of water would give you less than 1% of the daily requirements of most minerals.

And anyway, the minerals in food are more easily absorbed (due to the way the body processes nutrients, certain minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, etc. go in pairs together with carbs/proteins. In the absence of carbs, they can't be absorbed).

This is why isotonic 'sports drinks' have sugar, glucose, and other food-type substances in. Without the sugars, the minerals and electrolytes are largely ignored by the body.

 

[Texashiker]

I don't drink water for minerals.

There, I fixed that for you.

"You" may not consider mineral content in water important, but I do.

 

[bruceb]

Whatever method you end up with, if this is a very old house / apartment, say over 15 years or so, odds are the pipes are either copper or galvanized pipe. If copper, most likely lead solder was used. Either way, if you intend to use the water for drinkiing, ice cubes, coffee , tea, you should let the tap run about 1 minute or so before use.

 

[richardycc]

check out zuvo...uv, ozone, and carbon filter all built into one unit, kinda pricy with unknown reliability, but it has everything you want in a water filter.

 

[Wyndru]

kinda pricy with unknown reliability

Now that sounds like my kind of filter

 

[morkus64]

Whatever method you end up with, if this is a very old house / apartment, say over 15 years or so, odds are the pipes are either copper or galvanized pipe. If copper, most likely lead solder was used. Either way, if you intend to use the water for drinkiing, ice cubes, coffee , tea, you should let the tap run about 1 minute or so before use.

Yeah, the pipes are more my concern than anything else. I want to make sure the lead is filtered out.

 

[boomerang]

RO stripping too much? What ever. You don't drink water for minerals. They are simply there for the ride and can add flavor...for good or bad. And for the articles that spew on about RO water leaching minerals from your body....LOL. About the only thing that it can strip away is the flouride from the municipality. And if you want that then just use a floride mouthwash at night instead.

If you want clean tasting water, get an under sink RO and be done with it.

That's what we have. I was able to put the holding tank and filters in the basement. They can take up a lot of space under the sink.

 

[Texashiker]

Yeah, the pipes are more my concern than anything else. I want to make sure the lead is filtered out.

How do you know there is lead in the water to start with? Have you had it tested?

If you that concerned about the quality of the water, get it tested, get a baseline, and go from there. Because right now your just shooting in the dark.

 

[Howard]

How do you know there is lead in the water to start with? Have you had it tested?

If you that concerned about the quality of the water, get it tested, get a baseline, and go from there. Because right now your just shooting in the dark.

Old building in Chicago = guaranteed to use leaded solder

 

[Texashiker]

Old building in Chicago = guaranteed to use leaded solder

Even of there is a 99.99% chance that "yes" there is lead in the water, you dont think that he should have the water tested to see what else might be in there?

If the op is really concerned about the quality of the water, I say get a base line with a water test. At the very least he would have "something" to work with instead of just guessing.

 

[disappoint]

I have the AquaPure AP-DWS1000
It's pretty good. 2 stage carbon filter. Filters down to 0.5 microns.

Filters chlorine taste & odor, lead, cysts, VOCs like Atrazine and Lindane from insecticides and herbicides MTBE from petroleum products leached from soils into the water

It's a bit pricey at ~$350 but I believe it's worth it. The 2 filters cost ~$100 to replace.

It has an automatic shut off valve after 625 gallons at which point you replace the filters and reset the valve (easy).

 

[Howard]

Even of there is a 99.99% chance that "yes" there is lead in the water, you dont think that he should have the water tested to see what else might be in there?

If the op is really concerned about the quality of the water, I say get a base line with a water test. At the very least he would have "something" to work with instead of just guessing.

You have a point. If it turns out the water is cleaner than the effluent of Virgin Mary, you'll just be wasting money with an RO system.

EDIT: While you're at it, get a microbial test as well.

 

[morkus64]

Ok, so my lady is concerned about the Chromium-6, so now we are looking at RO systems. Anyone recommend a particular one? Also, are there any that don't require setting up a second faucet for the drinking water and can just connect to the faucet that is there?

 

[Saint Nick]

Just go get some water from Lake Michigan.

 

[FelixDeCat]

I only drink filtered water at home. Straight tap is nasty.