my tap water TDS is 50PPM. do I really need this kind of filter.
1406716
City water at 50 ppm should be good enough. Read county water report for lead/mercury and other contaminants info. To make it safer and taste better, you may use countertop filter (#CKC2) or Ultrafiltration filter (#CU-A3). Countertop filter removes sediments, rust and dirt (not counted in TDS) and chloride/odd/smell (using activated carbon, like most pitcher, faucet and fridge filters do but with much larger capacity). The Ultrafiltration uses 0.01 micron membrane that can even filter out virus and bacteria (Google "CDC ultrafiltration" and "LifeStraw" for details) without creating waste water so it can be installed anywhere (such as behind fridge). iSpring Water Systems (678) 261-7611 sales@ispringfilter.com City water at 50 ppm should be good enough. Read county water report for lead/mercury and other contaminants info. To make it safer and taste better, you may use countertop filter (#CKC2) or Ultrafiltration filter (#CU-A3). Countertop filter removes sediments, rust and dirt (not counted in TDS) and chloride/odd/smell (using activated carbon, like most pitcher, faucet and fridge filters do but with much larger capacity). The Ultrafiltration uses 0.01 micron membrane that can even filter out virus and bacteria (Google "CDC ultrafiltration" and "LifeStraw" for details)... » Read More City water at 50 ppm should be good enough. Read county water report for lead/mercury and other contaminants info. To make it safer and taste better, you may use countertop filter (#CKC2) or Ultrafiltration filter (#CU-A3). Countertop filter removes sediments, rust and dirt (not counted in TDS) and chloride/odd/smell (using activated carbon, like most pitcher, faucet and fridge filters do but with much larger capacity). The Ultrafiltration uses 0.01 micron membrane that can even filter out virus and bacteria (Google "CDC ultrafiltration" and "LifeStraw" for details) without creating waste water so it can be installed anywhere (such as behind fridge). iSpring Water Systems (678) 261-7611 sales@ispringfilter.com « Show Less
1406717
I find this whole water filtration business confounding; 50 ppm sounds good but is that 50 just minerals or the lead and the mercury and the really bad things? I am going to see what my county says about my water quality and if they stand by that to start; I know you shouldn't have any fluoride, which undermines thyroid function. good luck.
1406718
The reason we got a reverse osmosis system is because our water is very high in sodium and this is the only type of filter that removes it. you could probably get by with a good filter that is not reverse osmosis (an RO filter does waste a lot of water)
1917137
None of the cartridge filters remove TDS. If you want that, you need reverse osmosis.It's a choice. Some people don't want to remove minerals, just organics and lead, some do.
1263663
I use tap water, I was using filtered but the units (I have 2) use a lot and my filters run about $50. So I started using tap water. Just keep them clean.
1689677
Water tastes fine to me. No problems at all with the 531130 system. My water, though safe from the tap, is horrible without the filtering system.
2005124
Vic, unfortunately, I have membranes and tubing all over my house, thus I have not completed testing. I have every confidence though that this system will work well. The membrane removes 98% of TDS, but the DI cartridge life is purely a function of the supply water.
596315
In response to some of the answers, it's not a filter. It release trace amounts of polyphosphate into the water stream. I have one and I can see right through the TEE. Some of the water is diverted through the cartridge and picks up trace amounts of the chemical. I suspect that if you have a house that doesn't get as much use, it would last longer than advertised. I think you could change the cartridge on schedule, check the old one and if it still has chemical in it, swap it out the next time. Do this until it's empty. (I can hear the pellets rattling around in there.) Just my opinion.
1133486
If 1ppm solute of unknown identity went in and 59 more came out, I'd bet it's the carbon from the carbon filter. Nothing to worry about. Your water is still absolutely drinkable and mostly pure.
2025502
We use tap water in the filter. According to the book I read it filters impurities along w/ adding things good for dialysis patients
1849201
I think it depend on Water piping and your management.Never throw hot water to RO filter.But RO system basically&#12288;waste water,and in my case,this system worsen TDS(Total Dissolved Solid) .I think we'd better use drainage water to gardening or such a daily water(not for drink).i don't recommend this system.
2022704
i use tap because NYC tap water quality is excellent and not too hard ie does not contain high concentration of calcium. using distilled or spring water will become expensive, so if you have hard water filter it with brita or pur. otherwise a solution called CLR can help clean up the scaling.
777441
Depends on your water chemistry - has nothing to do with type of filter. It is very important to have your phosphate level at 100 or less if you want to keep the chemistry balanced.
1626566
It is only for adjusting the PH, if your plants have been doing good on tap water, I say they dont need it. Look at plant food to feed them- miraclegro or something.
1058432
No. If you have high TDS going in your efficiency will drop. Get the pre-filter if your ppms are over 200 going in
1187981
I don't know. Our home has a complete filter system so we don't use the filter.
1883813
The answers you got were right on . Water pressure being a big factor. It's a great filter, you will be happy with it.
1916821
I don't think it is needed. Just do a check on bottled purchased water. Every so often recheck and see if reading are same if yes no calibration required.
1699566
Yes. A filter is unnecessary. However, depending on whether your water source is full of minerals or organics, you might want to add a filter. I added a filter.