Water filter vs grain mill - what would your priority be? - Page 2

[nerdymom]

Originally Posted by elleystar

Before this thread, I thought I was doing great putting all our water through a big Brita tank on the counter.
Guess I'm wrong, huh?

It's DEFINITELY a step in the right direction, filtering out chloride and some pollutants. But any water filter you can buy in a mainstream store (Wal-Mart, Target, etc) is not going to filter out fluoride. Fluoride is pretty bad for you, it messes with your thyroid and well here, read this http://www.westonaprice.org/Fluorida...e-Century.html that will give you a jumping off point for your own research.

Originally Posted by onetrumpeter

yeeeeah. we definitely need to look into a water filter. I was all proud of myself throughout HS and college that my roommates wanted filtered (brita) water and I was just fine w/ the tap water. But it seems important enough that Sally Fallon mentions "filtered water" in every recipe that calls for water and this thread is also convincing. Thanks

nerdymom, let us know what you decide to go with! where is a good primer on water filtration? What is "reverse osmosis"? what is "osmosis?"! lol I remember that word from school. something about passing through a membrane?? saturation? ooooh my. off to google. thanks for a good, helpful thread!

I don't really know about a complete source on water filters from a WAP point of view. I know that there is some concern that reverse osmosis denatures water, so that plants do not do well when watered with it. Also, a reverse osmosis filter is going to strip out beneficial nutrients as well. There are RO filters that run the water through a second process which "renatures" it, so to speak. You can also replace mineral content by adding high quality clay to the water, though I'm foggy on the specifics. This is just what I have gleaned from various sources, I'm no expert.

My main concerns are the chlorine and fluoride in our water. As I learn more and more about how damaging these chemicals are (did you know that your body absorbs a lot of chlorine from washing your hands and bathing?) the more important it becomes that we have a filter. It's going to take me a few months, I may do an enwrapture skirt co-op to cover the cost so that I can get it sooner.

[Jaesun's Dad]

Originally Posted by http://www.berkeyfilters.com/berkeymodels.htm

Not available in Iowa or California

Hmmmm .... it seems I can get them on amazon but ... why ... oh let's google!

Originally Posted by http://www.directive21.com/california.html

California, has adopted AB 1953 / SB 1334 & 1395 / HSC Section 116875. This revised “no lead law” as it’s commonly known, goes into effect January 1, 2010. The law stipulates that any “end-use device intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption through drinking or cooking,” as well as each of their individual components, materials and “pipe, pipe or plumbing fittings, or fixtures,” or flux, must be “lead free” as defined by California law. Under SB 1334, certification MUST be performed by an “independent ANSI-approved third party testing organization.” It appears that even if a product and each component of that product has no metal alloys and if a purification system actually reduces lead, under Section 116875, it must be be certified. An example of this is the Berkey sport water purification bottle; each of its components as well as raw materials utilized will have to be certified.

Ok I read AB1953 and it seems like a good thing. The meat is SB1334?

Let's see ...

This bill:
SB 1334 would requires all pipe, pipe or plumbing fittings
or fixtures, solder, or flux to be certified as lead-free
(as defined under current law) by an independent American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited third-party,
including, but not limited to, NSF International.

There it is.

Sounds like good intentions not thought all the way through. I don't have the money for one right now but I'm wondering what would happen if I tried to procure one through an amazon 3ps.

[elleystar]

I guess I assumed I was getting a lot of the fluoride out. I totally agree with you on it and (try to) avoid it like the plague. It annoys me that I've been giving it to DS. What on earth can I do? We rent so it's not like I could go putting holes in counters, and it will be a long long time before we could even buy one anyway.

[nerdymom]

Originally Posted by elleystar

I guess I assumed I was getting a lot of the fluoride out. I totally agree with you on it and (try to) avoid it like the plague. It annoys me that I've been giving it to DS. What on earth can I do? We rent so it's not like I could go putting holes in counters, and it will be a long long time before we could even buy one anyway.

Exactly my position! we move so much for DH's job, that we feel buying a home would be foolish. I think that there are a few good options in this thread though.

[7thDaughter]

Consumer Reports just rated water filters in their May 2010 issue. Most libraries have a subscription in their magazine dept. I don't know if you can access the article online if you're not a member but worth checking.

I did a 5-year computation using their data. The filters are a hugely significant factor. Can you imagine buying a $35 pitcher with $180/year filters, and it doesn't filter out organics??? (The Z-pitcher from Zero Water.) Compared to Clear2 O, a $30 pitcher with $60/year filters that does filter out organics.

I love reverse osmosis until I see that it wastes 3-5 gallons of water per gallon purified. I can't justify wasting water in today's world, unless there's a way to reuse the water for laundry, bath & garden use.

[elleystar]

Originally Posted by 7thDaughter

Consumer Reports just rated water filters in their May 2010 issue. Most libraries have a subscription in their magazine dept. I don't know if you can access the article online if you're not a member but worth checking.

I did a 5-year computation using their data. The filters are a hugely significant factor. Can you imagine buying a $35 pitcher with $180/year filters, and it doesn't filter out organics??? (The Z-pitcher from Zero Water.) Compared to Clear2 O, a $30 pitcher with $60/year filters that does filter out organics.

I love reverse osmosis until I see that it wastes 3-5 gallons of water per gallon purified. I can't justify wasting water in today's world, unless there's a way to reuse the water for laundry, bath & garden use.

I didn't realize there were cheaper options out there. does the Clear2 O filter out fluoride? That's a price I can actually swing and I'd be happy to ditch the Brita for it.

[Metasequoia]

My concern with the pitchers is the plastic. I've asked Brita what it is & they won't say, just that it doesn't contain BPA.

We're lucky that our county doesn't have chlorinated water.

I've been eyeing the Berkey...

[nerdymom]

Originally Posted by 7thDaughter

Consumer Reports just rated water filters in their May 2010 issue. Most libraries have a subscription in their magazine dept. I don't know if you can access the article online if you're not a member but worth checking.

I did a 5-year computation using their data. The filters are a hugely significant factor. Can you imagine buying a $35 pitcher with $180/year filters, and it doesn't filter out organics??? (The Z-pitcher from Zero Water.) Compared to Clear2 O, a $30 pitcher with $60/year filters that does filter out organics.

I love reverse osmosis until I see that it wastes 3-5 gallons of water per gallon purified. I can't justify wasting water in today's world, unless there's a way to reuse the water for laundry, bath & garden use.

Thanks for the info, I'll have to go check that out!

[7thDaughter]

Furnace & car both died – lots to do right now. Briefly, Consumer Rpts article doesn’t address each specific contaminant except for lead & chloroform. They say look at your city water test report and pick a filter that reduces the contaminants found. Some remove 2 or 3 contaminants, others over a dozen. The report covers carafes, countertop, & undersink designs.

The report also says, “Manufacturers of carafes don’t have to disclose whether their products contain BPA, but all the carafes they tested are BPA free.”

I look at the report as a general guide, then evaluate the better rated items individually according to our needs.So, take a look at the report and ratings and compare with your own family’s needs.

[nerdymom]

I'm thinking about getting a cheap Britta filter for the time being because it seems that the county has upped the chlorine content of the water to unbearable levels. I literally cannot drink it right now, not even after it airs out for 24 hours!

[mouso]

Another happy Berkey owner here!

I use the black filters. We don't have fluoride so not sure if they filter it or not, but the 2 will filter 6000 (yep, thousand) gallons of water before they need replacing.

[WorldsBestMom]

You could get the grain mill since it will save you money and another time you get the water filter.

[7thDaughter]

The Nourishing Traditions, Sally Fallon talks about the benefit of hard water with high mineral content. We need the calcium, potassium, magnesium, & trace minerals. We don't want the flouride & chlorine and pollutants, and we don't want denatured water or soft water where the salt ions replace the other minerals.

It's so confusing...