5 Reasons to Use a Commercial Water Filter
Water filters remove contaminants from the water supply that can make it unhealthy for drinking. There are a variety of types available to fit individual needs, from large tank-based commercial filters that can hold up to 10,000 gallons to cartridge systems that only need to be replaced once they’re empty.
Hardness
Typically speaking, water hardness refers to the concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts (in combination with bicarbonates, chlorides, sulfates or nitrates), and it’s measured in grains per gallon (gpg). If your city’s municipal water supply is hard, you will likely need a commercial water softener.
While hard water does not present a health risk, it is problematic for a number of reasons. For example, it clogs pipes, reduces the efficiency of hot water heaters, and creates mineral scale on pipes, fixtures, and appliances. This can lead to expensive repairs, as well as reduces the lifespan of these devices. Additionally, it can cause soap curds to lodge in the bathtub, sink and shower drain, and leave soap scum on glassware.
A commercial water softener can address these problems in a few ways. One method is an ion exchange system, which swaps out calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. This can be effective up to a hardness Filter cartridge consumables level of around 100 gpg, which is ideal for dishwashers, laundry machines, and a number of espresso machines (Nuova Simonelli requires this treatment for their copper boilers, while Synesso prohibits it for stainless steel ones).
Another option is a saltless water softener, which transforms the calcium found in hard water into mechanically stable, heat resistant calcite crystals that no longer form lime deposits or leave spotting on glassware. However, this type of filtration is not recommended for coffee or espresso machines, as high heat can cause the inhibitor media to fail, allowing calcium and magnesium to re-crystallize and form scale again.
Sodium
Although sodium is a necessary element, it should be consumed only in small quantities to ensure good health. If it is consumed in excess, it can disturb the normal functioning of the human body, causing many health problems including high blood pressure and diabetes. The amount of sodium in drinking water should not exceed 20 milligrams per litre. Fortunately, there are several commercial water filters that can remove excessive amounts of sodium from the water.
These commercial ro water systems are large tank-based filters that can treat a lot of gallons of water at a time. They are ideal for large private residences, offices, and business establishments. These systems are more cost-effective than smaller water filters, and they can easily dispense large amounts of clean, fresh drinking water.
Sodium hypochlorite is an effective water treatment chemical that offers superior disinfection properties, making it one of the most preferred chemicals for treating water. It is also more stable than other chemical treatments, which makes it a safer choice for water treatment. Unlike Hydrochloric Acid, which is toxic and requires extensive safety precautions, Sodium Hypochlorite has very few side effects.
Sodium is naturally present in most water sources such as springs, lakes, and rivers. It is also found in the soil and the air. However, the level of sodium in the water varies depending on the location. When erosion occurs on rocks, it releases sodium elements that mix with the water.
Bacteria
Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms that can be found almost everywhere on Earth. They are the simplest, most ancient cells with free-floating genetic material. There are millions of bacteria in a milliliter of water, and they can live under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. Bacteria are also the basis of all life. They are crucial to the planet’s ecosystems, and they can help to break down complex organic compounds in soil and eat dead organisms to provide energy.
Bacterial species can be classified according to their shape and the way they obtain their energy. For example, some bacteria look like spheres and are called cocci. Others are shaped like rods and called bacilli, while others look like corkscrews and are named spirilla. There are also rare types that look like stars or squares.
Most bacteria do not cause disease, but some of them are deadly. For example, the bubonic plague was caused by Yersinia pestis, and it killed many people in history. Some bacteria can also be used for bioterrorism, causing infections in hospitals and other places where people are vulnerable.
Water filtration is necessary for any business that uses non-potable (that is, not for human consumption) water. The contaminants that are in these water sources include organic and inorganic minerals, salts, metals and other chemicals. Having a commercial water filtration system helps to reduce the risk of these substances building up and jeopardizing pipes, tanks and other equipment. One popular filtration type is carbon, which naturally absorbs tiny impurities, attracting them into pore channels. Another filtration method is UV rays, which can make bacteria and viruses inert by altering their deoxyribonucleic acid.
Lead
Lead is a poisonous metal that can cause numerous health issues, especially in children. Excessive levels of this colorless, odorless and tasteless substance can contribute to high blood pressure, kidney or liver damage, memory problems and a lowered IQ. Lead is also harmful if taken in over long periods of time, such as from a drinking water supply.
The most common source of lead in residential water supplies is corroded plumbing components. Corrosion of copper pipes can produce small leaks, blue-green stains and metallic tastes in the water. The Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory has found that, in Pennsylvania, 12 percent of first-draw samples contained unsafe lead levels of 15 ug/L or higher, and it was nearly always due to corrosion of metal plumbing components.
Water filters are designed to reduce the amount of dissolved and particulate lead in the water supply. They can be tested for their ability to remove lead by pooling a before-filtration grab sample of water filter membrane unfiltered water with a similar pool of post-filtration grab samples. This helps to control for variables that affect lead concentration, such as varying consumption times, temperature, water use and the length of time between water uses.
Many types of water filters are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) to reduce lead in drinking water, but it is important to choose a system that is designed for your specific situation. Reverse osmosis systems, for example, are a very effective way to filter lead from drinking water because they push water through a semi-permeable membrane that traps the particles.