(Part 3) Best replacement water filters according to redditors

Before the hysteria kicks in

95% of all the waterlines in the city of Regina are non-lead. Majority of those pipes are PVC with maybe a few lines downtown still being clay tile but they are also being replaced with new PVC.

What the news articles are missing is that majority of the lead pipes in the city are individual services running from the water curb box in your front yard to your house. This is not a City issue. This is an individual homeowner issue.

Do you think the you may have a lead service running into your house? Then here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Have you had your sewer service replaced recently? If so then you could have also had your water service updated already.
   
2. Is your house older than 1960? You may have a lead service but then again read #1 again. You have most likely had to replace your sewer service already and had your waterline replaced. Thank you elm trees
   
3. If you are still concerned then get your water tested. City will do it for free but there will be a long wait list now.
   
4. Do you want to pay out of pocket for the testing? You can go to places that sell reverse osmosis systems and they can test your water. Remember they are salesmen and want to generate business. Another option is to talk to Sequoia Environmental Engineering or environmental and testing engineering companies.
   
5. Still concerned and can't wait for the City or other companies to test your water then purchase a reverse osmosis system ~$1,000 a few years ago or buy a Brita Longlast Filter. A Brita will remove 90% 99.5% of all lead from your water. Here is the data sheet on the Longlast Filter
   
6. Home testing you can do yourselfhttps://www.regina.ca/home-property/water/water/lead-service-connections/
   
   The City of Regina water from the distribution system is safe to drink. It maybe your water service that is the problem
   
   Edit: added in Point 6, Thank you u/squirtmasterflash for posting the original link.
   
   Edit: Edited Point 5, thank you u/atron306 for correcting me

> 5-10$ every time you need a new filter

They can be had for under $5/filter.

I'm not sure where you're buying bottled water that is cheaper than the volume cleaned with that $5 filter. As per that listing, a single filter will clean an estimated 40 gallons of water.

I'm going to assume a "flat" is 24 500ml bottles, or 2.6 gallons. That means that the Britta filter can clean 15 "flats" of water for $5. Buying the same volume of water in bottles will cost you $30 at $2/flat, or $45 at $3/flat.

So buying your water in bottles by the flat is actually 600%-900% more expensive by my math.

^^*disclaimer: ^^I'm ^^not ^^factoring ^^in ^^your ^^cost ^^of ^^getting ^^water ^^to ^^your ^^house ^^either ^^by ^^municipal ^^pipes ^^or ^^via ^^a ^^well, ^^but ^^I'm ^^sure ^^even ^^with ^^these ^^figured ^^in ^^your ^^cost ^^for ^^water ^^would ^^be ^^significantly ^^cheaper ^^than ^^buying ^^bottled

Sawyer too and it's better than both of them.

Not sure about Brita but PUR sells filters specifically to filter out lead.

Amazon

La jarra de 10 tazas: Brita Pitchers 10 Cup Everyday Water Pitcher with 1 Filter, Large, White https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B01FXN3E74/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QY5VAbW8BSG6A

Hay una de 18 también.

Y los filtros genéricos de Amazon, mucho más baratos que los originales y funcionan bien: AmazonBasics Filtro de agua para jarra AmazonBasics y Brita, reemplazo - 6 unidades https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B06XYGW6DF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.15VAbW1QZS8A

I use a Berkey with flouride filters. Its by far the cheapest way to filter water without reverse osmosis. I've been using it for 5 years. Well worth it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y1VTW9H

Links to the ones I used:

Cannisters:
https://www.amazon.com/Single-10-Inch-Canister-Housing-Tubing/dp/B074Q2F3MZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=aquatic+life+canister&qid=1558720321&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Cartridges: https://www.amazon.com/Membrane-Solutions-Polypropylene-Replacement-Cartridge/dp/B07QPM9HKZ/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=50+micron+water+filter+10+x+2.5&qid=1558720738&s=gateway&sr=8-6

https://www.amazon.com/Aquagear-Pitcher-Replacement-Water-Filter/dp/B018F13GJC/ref=pd_bxgy_79_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RT4ENRBAM0PQ17JD547Z one of these with a pitcher.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-4-stage-ro-only-system-75gpd-2.html

This is RO only. For a fish tank; a person would use RODI (reverse osmosis deionizing). But DI is not needed or really wanted for drinking water and is really expensive to use as drinking water.

I normally run 1 sediment filter, 2 carbon blocks, and then I have to reverse osmosis membrane. Most "drinking water" built filters only have 3 filters - sediment, RO, carbon. But with the ones made for fish - you get an extra chamber so you can have more than one sediment filter if you have really cloudy water, or an extra carbon block.

Then. I have that going to a pressure tank. Which holds about 3 gallons of water. The RO can filter about 75 gallons ever 24 hours in best conditions. So the 3 gallon pressure tank allows me to have 3 gallons ready to drink with pressure. Otherwise it would come out of the filters as a trickle.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-add-on-faucet-kit.html

Since my well pressure was not the best for the RO filter, I later added a booster pump.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/1-4-aquatec-8800-booster-pump-kit.html

Replacement filters can be bought on Amazon of course. And in many cases if you already have a under sink filter, yours might take the same size that is used in the "fish filters".

Sediment filter and Carbon filters - what I have to replace the most - about every 4-6 months
https://www.amazon.com/Water-Filters-Depot-WFD-Replacement/dp/B078PW4CKM

Osmosis membrane - replaced about every 2 years but really depends on your usage. I replaced mine at 5 years which was overdue.
https://www.amazon.com/HiKiNS-Universal-Membrane-Drinking-Filtration/dp/B0795RJGZ3

Check out TAPP 2 . The company behind it is one of the few that openly shares all lab reports, studies, etc. An extra plus is that the cartridges are biodegradable.

Amazon listing:
https://www.amazon.com/TAPP-Water-Click-Eco-Friendly-Microplastics/dp/B078F1GHY3

Their first generation is one of the most popular faucet filters in Europe.

Your cylindrical filter with a spout probably has charcoal in it. Depending on the level of contaminants in your water, it may not be enough to filter everything. I would suggest going one step further and buying a under sink reverse osmosis filter. It will clean your water through multiple filtration stages and finally get rid of all taste and odor issues.

Check this one out.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075R6D935/

There is nothing proprietary about the filters and they are self-contained in their own disposable housing so there so assuming your system is using the standard 1/4" outside diameter water line tubing, you could easily add it to your system without needing to replace the entire thing.

All you would need is to get two sets (4 total fittings) 1/4" quick connect water filter fittings (which you reuse every time you change the filter) and the filters; pH filter post carbon filter (doesn't have to be these brands, any similar filter will do the trick if it is good quality). For install:

1. Screw the quick connect adapters onto the filters.
   
   
2. Shut off the water valve heading into the filters as well as the valve at the tank (same process as when you change the filters).
   
   
3. Open the faucet to depressurize the system and get as much of the water out of the line as possible.
   
   
4. Cut the line between the tank and the faucet.
   
   
5. Connect the now split water line onto the quick connect adapters for the post carbon filter.
   
   
6. Cut the line again between the faucet and post carbon filter.
   
   
7. Connect the now split water line onto the quick connect adapters for the pH filter.
   
   
8. Open up the water valves at the tank and heading into the system.
   
   
9. Shut off the faucet when water starts coming out again.
   
   Worst case scenario is you might need additional 1/4" tubing if you don't currently have enough excess line to route the line to a place you can support the additional filters so the water line isn't supporting their weight and they aren't put in a position where the tubing can kink. They make filter clips so you can mount them on top of the RO filter and even each other if you are trying to figure out where to put them. The only reason I could see as to why you may need to replace the entire system is if you wanted to add an additional stage pre-RO filter as those housings are different so you can't just add an additional filter without swapping a 2-filter housing for a 3-filter housing and at that point it may be more economical to swap out the entire system.

I've been making cold brew coffee for the past 4 months or so and it's amazing. I bought a box of Alto Cold Brew Bags and they work great.

1 Cup of coffee grounds per 4 cups of water and steep in the fridge for 24 hours. It can be very strong depending upon the coffee that you use (strength/grind). Been doing Lavazza Oro and it is plenty strong. It is an espresso grind, so that probably makes a big difference.

I fire up the tea kettle on the stove and dump in about 1/4 to 1/3 of the cup with the cold brew concentrate, and the rest with boiling water.

It is the smoothest coffee I've ever tasted. Zero bitterness, and it's so easy to dial in how strong the cup is.

I've used the $190 system linked below for ~3 years and have been very happy with it's water quality and minimal running cost. Filter cost is $30 a year when buying the $90 / 3 year kit linked below.

This unit is also an alkaline / mineralized system. Normal RO systems don't have this and ironically make the water so pure that it pulls the healthy minerals out of your body which are then peed out - which is bad. This linked system creates completely pure water then has an extra canister that adds back the healthy minerals to the water that your body needs.



https://www.amazon.com/Express-Water-Alkaline-Reverse-Filtration/dp/B00MU20LN2?ref_=ast_sto_dp.

https://www.amazon.com/Express-Water-Replacement-Membrane-Sediment/dp/B01LR8312W/ref=pd_aw_fbt_328_img_3/146-5640012-4590858?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01LR8312W&pd_rd_r=6ac6d1d5-cfa1-4112-8592-9ecc7f0cd754&pd_rd_w=2iB2w&pd_rd_wg=wHJdH&pf_rd_p=6e6afc8a-fbbd-4649-97cf-4e08f5113612&pf_rd_r=8HYG7C2F0SZ1R8BWAKWX&psc=1&refRID=8HYG7C2F0SZ1R8BWAKWX

I just got this simple device that makes great coffee, and no filters required: Stainless Steel Pour Over Coffee Maker Maybe you can get one for your wife...

There are RO systems you can mount up to your to your tap. Usually run $200-$400.

Example.

Yeah, they look like water filters that come with Mr. Coffee machines. Here are some on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KTF63W

You can zoom in on the 2nd picture for a close up. Of course, a lot of filters will look similar.

Thank you so much for the detailed response. I truly appreciate it! This is the filter that I am currently using: https://smile.amazon.com/PUREPLUS-Activated-Replacement-Cartridge-Compatible/dp/B01N2H2OO6 - any chance bacteria could grow on it? I had a water test done by the builder and here are the results: https://imgur.com/a/4HdfZRR - According to that, there was no bacteria it seems. If the cause is sulfur, do you agree with the air sulfur filter recommendation?

Something like these. Anything similar to this should work. Just make sure it's NSF rated and made for a potable water supply.

The product description says what kind of filter housing these will fit into.

Big Blue CTO Carbon Block Water Filters 4.5" x 10" Whole House Cartridges (4 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0D19G2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hXShDb36EJTVF