Water filters?

[Blossomtime]

We're needing to do something about our drinking water... We will hopefully do a kitchen reno in a couple of years and will get a proper filter system put in but just wondering if anyone can recommend a counter top water filter? Any experience with the stoneware ones? Or BRITA? Any other suggestions?

[Rinelle]

I've used brita ones before, and my mum has one of the stoneware ones. I think they're both pretty good. Both should do a pretty good job of removing chlorine from the water. (I assume that is what you are wanting to remove?)

Be aware though, that none will filter out fluoride. You'd need reverse osmosis for that.

[Blossomtime]

Thanks Rinelle :)

I'm after it for rust and heavy metals... old house with mostly new plumbing, but even new poly pipes can leach cadmium... I can't remember what the plumber put in, but I have noticed rust and unusual stuff on and off since we've been here, so I'd like to make sure what we drink at least is clean...

Just researching I've found that this (http://www.southerncrosspottery.com.au/flouride.php) company make a fluoride reducing model of stoneware filter.

[Rinelle]

Sounds like it would work. From what I've heard though, it is difficult to tell when the filter is nearing the end of it's life (and not filtering flouride anymore), but lookes like it would be a good start.

Any carbon activated filter (I'd go for at least 1 micron, we have 0.5 on our house) would remove rust and I would expect heavy metals. We do find it won't remove the 'stains' from the flowers that get into our guttering from the tree over the roof, but works for nearly everything else.

It's a bit strange to be seeing rust though? Unless the plumber disturbed some when he was removing old pipes maybe?

[Blossomtime]

When we arrived here the bath water was brown with rust... That has been remedied largely, but there is some brown rusty stuff that flushes through occasionally. I've noticed it most when the council workers/water people have been doing stuff in our street. Yuck.

[Rinelle]

Sounds like it might be something outside your house then? Water filters are probably the way to go then.

We filter our whole house, as many things (such as flouride and chlorine) can be absorbed through the skin as well as by drinking. Well, actually, we filter for bacteria and other particles, as we have tank water.

[Nyree]

If I can find our Brita jug, you can use that until you find something better. We used to use it at our old place as the tank water started tasting pretty funky, but the Brita jug worked really well. Don't need it now as we have an under-sink filter (not keen on Huon tap water), but I'd like a whole-house filter one day (I'd also like down pipes so we can actually get water in the tanks we've had sitting there for months, but that's another story ;))

Let me know if you want the jug & I'll see if we put it somewhere accessible :)

[Blossomtime]

Thanks Ny :) Brita make 5L casks with a tap and I thought that might be a good way to get the girls to drink water... If I make it accessible to them. They thought it was a good idea too ;) I think I might see if Big W have them as they have a sale on Brita products at the moment. If its a no-go though, a loan of the jug would be great while we get sorted! x

[Nyree]

I know Big W had them last time I looked, so hopefully they'll still be there :)

[Bron]

the brown water that comes from the tap, if it doesn't happen all the time, is much more likely to be from the council scouring the pipes, as rinelle said :)