Modern filter cartridges are effective and less complex than those in the past.

Some come with three to five chambers of filtration on one filter system.

For instance, in a multi-stage water filter cartridge, several filter cartridges are in each canister.

These water filters will eliminate a specific kind of contaminant from water.

This leads to pure drinking water.

These water filter cartridges can eliminate bacteria, particles, sediments, chemicals, etc.

Here are some water filter cartridges you can find in the market:

String Wound Water Filter Cartridge

This water filter cartridge is suitable to remove sediments, dirt, and rust from water.

String wound filter cartridges come in temperature ratings of up to 125 °F.

Also, they come with a polypropylene configuration thus offering the best resistance to chemicals.

Besides, they have no additives, binders, or lubricants that may seep into the water.

 String Wound Filter Cartridge

Spun Water Filter Cartridge

To make this filter, you will melt polypropylene, blow and spin it into a cylinder-like design.

Spun filter cartridge removes large and small particles from water.

These sediments include sand, silt, dirt, rust, etc.

Spun Water Filter

Ultraviolet Water Filter Cartridges

In this filter, water will not pass through.

It has an ultraviolet light bulb within the canister.

This bulb exposes bacteria and microorganisms to UV light thus destroying their DNA.

The bulb remains on the entire time.

One can measure the lifespan in hours of operating time and not the number of gallons you purify like in other filters.

UV filters offer the best way of destroying organisms like:

1. Cysts
2. Fungi
3. Algae
4. Dysentery
5. Salmonella
6. Viruses
7. Bacteria

UV Water Filter System

Carbon Water Filter Cartridge

Carbon filters contain charcoal which is a cheap component.

Charcoal assists in eliminating harmful toxins from water.

Also, carbon water filters will only eliminate toxins and leave essential minerals in the water.

They can remove chlorine, Volatile Organic Compounds [VOC], etc.

Besides, it will remove chemicals that cause foul tastes and odors.

However, they cannot eliminate sediments, minerals, salt, etc.

Activated Carbon Water Filter

Sediment Water Filter Cartridge

This equipment will eliminate sediments and dirt from water.

The sediment filter cartridge comes with a filter size of only one micron.

This makes it unable to remove microscopic organisms, chemicals, bacteria, etc.

It is suitable for removing sediments that have a size of over one micron.

In a multi-stage water filter cartridge, this would appear first in the system.

It removes sediments such as:

1. Sand
2. Rust
3. Scale
4. Dust
5. Silt
6. Dirt, etc.

 Sediment Water Filter Cartridge

High-Temperature Water Filter Cartridge

These cartridges will remove rust, sediments, and dirt from water.

The center of these cartridges has a stainless steel tube with a temperature rating of up to 180 °F.

Also, they have no additives, lubricants, or binders that may seep into the water.

Besides the polypropylene body makes it resistant to chemicals.

 High-Temperature Water Filter Cartridge

PP Water Filter Cartridge

This is a pure polypropylene fiber and has three pieces.

PP filter cartridge removes sediments and treats water and other solutions with a neutral pH value, chemicals, and solvents.

PP Water Filter Cartridge

Melt Blown Water Filter Cartridge

The melt-blown filter cartridges can eliminate rust, dirt, or sediments from water.

Also, the density layers come with their grade.

This means outer layers capture large particles are they are more porous.

On the other hand, the inner layers capture fine particles are they have a small micron value.

Melt blow Water Filter Cartridge

Membrane Water Filter Cartridge

Membrane filter cartridge functions by removing sediments and particles from water.

Examples of processes that use this filter include reverse osmosis, nano-filtration, and ultra-filtration.

 Membrane Water Filter Cartridge

Stainless Steel Water Filter Cartridge

This is a general term that uses stainless steel as the main material for the body.

The stainless steel filter cartridges can remove particles and chemical impurities.

Also, it can come in micron ratings as 5, 10, and 50.

Stainless Steel Water Filter Cartridge

Pleated Water Filter Cartridge

Pleated filter cartridges will supply a large surface area and are durable.

They are washable and you can reuse them.

Also, they have varying sizes and micron ratings.

 Pleated Water Filter Cartridge

Alkaline Ionizer Water Filter Cartridge

Once you filter water, the basic minerals are also not available.

These water filters will add back minerals to the water.

It does this as water passes via the ion-active mineral rocks.

These rocks will boost the pH value hence balancing the water.

When you pass water via alkaline ionizers, it helps the water to contain more oxygen than basic water.

It also adds antioxidants and electrolytes that will benefit the body.

Alkaline Ionizer Water Filter Cartridge

Ceramic Water Filter Cartridge

These filters are special because they have a positive charge on them.

This enables them to capture bacteria from water.

The bacteria will come into contact with the ceramic because of the positive charge.

Once this happens, the filter will dispense metal ions that have a positive charge.

This charge will eliminate the bacteria.

Also, they are very durable than other water filter cartridges.

This is because other contaminants do not fill it as water passes through.

These water filter cartridges will only eliminate bacteria and not other types of sediments and particles.

 Ceramic Water Filter Cartridge

Reverse Osmosis Membrane Water Filter Cartridge

This filter cartridge has dense membranes hence can remove the smallest of particles.

Some of these filters can eliminate small microorganisms and viruses with a size of 1/10000^th of a micron.

The extremely dense membranes can remove essentially everything from water.

Reverse Osmosis Membrane Water Filter Cartridge

It can eliminate:

1. Odors
2. Pesticides
3. Bad taste
4. Chemicals, etc.

A micron is a unit of measurement which is similar to one one-thousand of a millimeter.

This is the size of the opening in a water filter cartridge that allows it to filter out particles or sediments.

Large micron size allows large sediments to pass through than a small micron size filter.

Any size below 40 microns is not visible to the naked human eye.

Here is a list of some micron sizes of substances:

• Viruses: 0.01 to 1 microns.
• Bacteria: 0.5 to 50 microns.
• Pollen: 10 to 90 microns.
• Asbestos: 0.08 to 0.8 microns.
• Silica sand: 100 to 200 microns.
• Yeast: 2 to 15 microns.

An absolute filter contains pore sizes that are exact to its micron rating.

Nominal filters contain pores that are an approximation to their micron rating.

For instance, a nominal 30-micron filter can allow a small fraction of debris than have a 30-micron size to pass through.

Absolute filters have an efficiency of over 95% thus they will not permit particles with their micron rating to pass through.

For an accurate filtration process, it is suitable to acquire an absolute filter and not nominal filters.

Nominal filters are the most common but you can find absolute filters.

When using micron filters, a pressure drop dictates the time one should change the filter.

The pressure drop is the difference between the incoming pressure versus the outgoing pressure.

Water will experience resistance as it tries to pass through a water filter.

An increase in pressure drop means more debris is within the filter.

This means the water filter cartridge is at maximum capacity.

One can classify the micron size as follows depending on their effectiveness:

• Class 1: 0.5 to < 1 micron
• Class 2: 1 to <5 microns
• Class 3: 5 to <15 microns
• Class 4: 15 to <30 microns
• Class 5: 30 to <50 microns
• Class 6: >50 microns

Here is how a water filter cartridge works depending on the technique:

Mechanical Process

This process works by physically removing particles, dirt, or sediments via a barrier.

They can be in form of large meshes or ceramic filters.

Also, they come with micron ratings to highlight their effectiveness.

Some ratings you might find are:

1. 5 microns eliminate particles that you can see without any equipment.
2. 1 micron removes particles that you only can see without using a microscope.
3. 5 microns will eliminate cysts.

Absorption Process

Carbon is the main material that filters out contaminants in this process.

This is because it has several pores that trap chemical impurities.

Granular activated carbon [GAC] minimized bad taste and odors through absorption.

Carbon blocks are expensive and can effectively remove small particles since it has a small micron rating.

One can use varying materials in the carbon filters like coconut shells and wood.

Sequestration

In this process, you will isolate substances chemically.

One can use food-grade polyphosphate to sequester calcium and magnesium that causes corrosion and limescale.

The process involves introducing polyphosphate in small amounts to minimize scaling and not eliminate it.

This means polyphosphate will not soften water but rather prevents it from scaling on other surfaces.

Ion Exchange

This process will soften hard water by replacing magnesium and calcium with sodium or hydrogen ions.

The exchange of ions will eliminate hard minerals, minimize limescale, and make it suitable in high-temperature applications.

Ion exchange happens by the use of ion-exchange resins.

These resins are in the form of small beads.

The resin will make use of sodium ions which you will recharge periodically to ensure it remains effective.

This method will increase the salt levels thus not suitable for drinking water.

To combat this, one can use hydrogen-based ion exchange resins.

Reverse Osmosis [RO]

In this process, you will remove inorganic sediments like calcium and magnesium.

It forces water under pressure via a semi-permeable membrane.

This allows contaminants to remain while water passes through.

Aside from being effective, one can combine it with mechanical and absorption methods to enhance its filtration.

This process will employ water pressure to force it through the membranes hence requiring no electricity.

These working techniques will all pass through these steps:

Preparation Stage

First, install the water filter cartridge in place after confirming that it works well.

Water Inflow

Allow water to flow within the water filter cartridge.

Filtration Process

As water passes, the filter will eliminate particles and microorganisms depending on its micron rating.

The longer the water moves within the filter, the more effective the filtration process.

Water Outflow

Water will pass within the housing to the exit as pure water free from contaminants.

Filtration methods come with their set of limitations.

This means one can combine individual water filter cartridges to get the best level of purification.

For example, one can employ mechanical, absorption, and ion-exchange combinations.

Here is how these two compare:

Surface and Depth Filtration

Surface Water Filter Cartridge

A surface water filter cartridge will filter out contaminants at the surface of the filter.

It can have sheets of nylon, Teflon, polypropylene, etc.

These sheets have pleats to provide a large surface area for filtration.

The contaminants here will stick on the surface which will also assist with the filtration process.

One can wash and reuse this filter cartridge.

Depth Water Filter Cartridge

This can be a wound string, spun cartridges, or melt-blown cartridges.

They will remove large sediments on its surface and small sediments within the cartridge itself.

Besides, they are suitable when you are filtering water that has varying particle sizes.

Also, they eliminate and hold a lot of particles than the surface water filter cartridge without a loss in pressure.

Several materials make up this filter and it depends on the type of filter.

They include:

• Carbon
• UV light bulb
• Stainless steel
• Polypropylene
• Ion exchange resins

This is the process of forcing water in the wrong direction through the water filter.

The purpose of this technique is to remove clogs like dirt and sediments that block the filter.

It is common for places that treat large quantities of water for general purposes.

However, it is not suitable for drinking water.

This is a process that allows reverse osmosis units to continually self-clean.

When water is passing via the membrane, some go downstream.

This will sweep off the contaminants from the membrane into the drain.

It is suitable for preventing contaminants from blocking the membranes.

They include:

Water Filter Pitcher

This is a low-cost, portable, and easy-to-use device.

It comes with activated carbon that cleans water.

They are suitable for filtering water for drinking and cooking since they have a small capacity.

Faucet Water Filter

This device installs on the faucet thus removing contaminants before it comes out.

Also, they will improve the taste and smell of tap water.

They are small, affordable, and easy to install.

The cons are that they may be incompatible with low faucets and that they slow the water flow.

Showerhead Water Filter

This device is on the showerhead.

They eliminate simple contaminants, are cheap, and are easy to install.

The drawback is that they offer a slow flow.

Countertop Water Filters

These devices are on the faucet, thus, filter water as you open the tap.

They are small, relatively affordable, and offer more filtration than faucet water filters.

However, they occupy the countertop area, meaning you need to have extra space for installation.

Under Sink Water Filters

These filters are large and will filter a lot of water in a short time.

They are usually under the sink, thus not visible, and can filter out various contaminants.

Besides, they are costly and take time to install.

Whole House Water Filters

This is suitable in areas that do not have tap water.

Installation happens at the water tank.

It connects to the main pipe and filters the water before it enters the various rooms on the premises.

Also, it will remove most contaminants and is cost-effective as you will not require other filters.

Besides, it is expensive and needs a professional to install.

Water Bottle Filters

They are small, affordable, and have a small capacity.

It filters the water as you drink it.

Straw Filters

These are affordable, light, portable, and easy to use filters.

They work as a normal straw only that they have a filter on one end to remove contaminants.

Water Softeners

These filters eliminate hard minerals by introducing sodium ions.

It makes water not leave limescale when it dries.

Besides, they are expensive to acquire and install.

Gravity Water Filters

This is a small, portable, emergency water filter.

They are effective and durable.

It works by hanging one reservoir and allowing gravitational force to pull water to another reservoir bag.

They are affordable and have a small capacity.

Portable Pump Water Filters

They are emergency water filters hence are durable and reliable.

A manual pump creates suction once you dip the hose into the source of water.

Clean water comes out the other side of the hose.

They are quick and have replaceable filters.

Here are some considerations that may help:

Filtration Rate

Some filter cartridges can filter only a small amount of water per unit of time.

Others can filter large amounts of water daily.

Daily water consumption should not exceed the daily filtration rate.

Ensure the filter you choose will handle the amount of water available.

Quality of Water

Make sure the water filter cartridge not only removes contaminants but also improves water quality.

This includes foul smell, bad taste, and incorrect pH.

It should also preserve minerals in the water.

Budget

The amount you have will impact the water filter cartridge you can afford.

Quality Standards

Ensure you select a water filter cartridge that conforms to international standards.

Micron Rating

Make sure the water filter cartridge you select will meet your filtration needs.

A small micron rating will result in the purest water.

Also, take note that there are absolute and nominal micron ratings.

Installation

Some water filter cartridges require professionals to install.

This will cost you some extra money.

Space

There are filter cartridges that require large spaces for installation.

Ensure you have enough space for installation, maintenance, and operation.

Maintenance Cost

Ensure the water filter cartridge is easy and affordable to repair and replace.

Operating Cost

Make sure after installation, the filter does not need extra accessories to function.

Configuration

Ensure the water filter cartridge is the right size for your application and installation.

These filters come with some limitations.

This means they can remove some sediments and leave others.

The best way to ensure pure water is to combine them.

This ensures you remove large sediments and microorganisms.

Several but not all filters will eliminate parasites.

Here are some indications on the label that show it can remove parasites:

• Reverse osmosis
• An absolute pore size of 1 micron or small.
• Conformity to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for cyst removal or reduction.

Some indications on the label  that it will not remove parasites include:

• A nominal pore size of 1 micron.
• Carbon filter
• EPA approval and registration
• Water softener
• Chlorinated
• Ultraviolet light
• Pentiodide resins
• Activated carbon
• Water purifier

The durability of the filter depends on the level of contaminants you are dealing with.

For areas that have lots of contaminants, the filter will not last for that long.

On the other hand, in areas that have tap water, it may last for approximately 1 year.

Distilled water will taste flat since it has no minerals and nutrients.

Filtered water is easy to acquire and needs minimal machinery.

Distilled water takes time and expensive equipment to achieve.

Filtered water retains oxygen from the source liquid.

Distilled water contains no fluoride thus can cause tooth decay and cause electrolyte imbalance since it lacks electrolytes.

Also, distilled water can negatively alter the pH of the body.

Stainless Steel Water Filter Cartridge

Having a reliable water filter cartridge is vital.
This is because it protects you and others from harmful contaminants.
When you do not replace them, they will not function properly.
The filters will clog thus making water not pass via the system.
This will affect the water pressure in the pipes.
Also, it will host contaminants like bacteria, mold, etc, which are harmful to your health.
This is because it will continue working efficiently by eliminating contaminants.

There are times when you detect a foul smell or taste in water.

Besides, a slimy residue may accumulate on the filter and this is not easily noticeable.

A visual check-up, on clear containers, to see if there is any dirt can assist in making this decision.

Also, there could be a decrease in water pressure due to clogs in the filter.

If you notice any of these changes, it may be time to replace the water filter cartridge.

The manufacturer will also indicate the time that is suitable to do a replacement.

Also, the amount of water it filters also can indicate if it is time for a replacement.

Here is a useful guide on filter replacement you can learn from.

One can determine the effectiveness of the filter by testing the water before and after filtration.

This is known as a performance test, and you can do it in two ways:

Conducting Full Performance Test

In this method, you do two tests.

One before filtration and the other after filtration.

A full performance test will evaluate how effective the filter is by comparing the contaminants before and after filtration.

Conducting Post-Treatment Test

In this test, you will analyze the water after the filtration process.

It determines if the water is safe to drink after filtration.

Also, you will check the levels of contaminants in the drinking water.

Besides, it is cheap to conduct as you only need one test.

A full performance test is the most effective to determine the effectiveness of the filter.

Manufacturers of water filter cartridges may exaggerate their systems.

This may mean that the lifespan, filtration rate, and effectiveness do not match up.

Some manufacturers indicate that their filters offer a 99% reduction of lead or 95% elimination of chlorine.

These numbers may be incorrect.

The Water Quality Association [WQA] and NSF international assist with certifying these devices.

They will test these cartridges and their components.

After approval, they place their logos on these water filter cartridges to ascertain their quality.

NSF international will certify that a water filter cartridge will eliminate certain contaminants.

When NSF certifies a water filter cartridge, it means that:

• It has a solid structure
• The material construction is durable.
• Also, it contains plastics and parts that will not leak into the water I.e. BPA.
• Besides, the test results are 100% accurate.
• The labels are 100% correct.

NSF certificates may approve some parts or the contaminants that it can minimize.

Some NSF certifications available include:

NSF Standard 53

This ensures the water filter cartridge will reduce specific toxic elements.

These contaminants are:

1. Lead
2. Giardia
3. Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE)
4. Cryptosporidium
5. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

The safety standards include structural principles, reduction of contaminants, and safe materials.

NSF Standard P473: PFOA/PFOS

This certifies the reduction of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate.

NSF Standard  58

This also is a safety standard relating to lead and other contaminants.

It looks at water filter cartridges that use membranes such as reverse osmosis [RO].

NSF Standard P231

This will certify the removal of contaminants such as bacteria and viruses.

NSF Standard  42

This standard certifies the ability of a water filter cartridge to eliminate chlorine.

NSF/ANSI 42, 53, and 401 describe the aesthetic effects of these systems.

This standard excludes harmful by-products of chlorine

It indicates that these filters can remove:

1. Chlorine
2. Particulates
3. Taste
4. Odor
5. Iron
6. Zinc
7. Manganese
8. Total dissolved solids [TDS]

NSF Standard  401

This is a new standard that highlights the ability of these filters to minimize up to 15 various contaminants.

Also, it applies to carbon and reverses osmosis water filters.

It combats unnatural chemicals such as:

1. BPA
2. Pharmaceuticals
3. Pesticides
4. Herbicides

They include:

Iron

This component makes up 5% of the crust of the earth thus is available in water sources.

Symptoms of high iron levels in water are:

1. It will darken beverages.
2. Clothing material will discolor when you wash them.
3. Water will have a metallic taste.
4. There will be brown-red stains on dishes, laundry, etc.
5. The water will turn reddish or brownish when you draw it from the taps.

The most common forms of iron in water are:

1. Bacterial iron
2. Colloidal iron
3. Redwater iron
4. Clearwater iron
5. Organic iron

Manganese

This element occurs with iron in the water.

They collect on the plumbing and show when you draw water.

It can cause clogs in pipes and fittings.

Manganese will oxidize more slowly than iron.

Symptoms of high levels of manganese are:

1. Clogging of pipes.
2. Blackwater.
3. Black sediments.
4. Blackish turbidity.

Calcium and Magnesium

These make water to be hard.

More levels of calcium and magnesium lead to a high degree of hardness.

• Other contaminants

These include:

1. Nitrates
2. E-coli
3. Sodium
4. Tannins

These standards ensure the quality of water.

They include:

• Water Quality Association [WQA]
• NSF
• Current Good Manufacturing Practice [cGMP]
• Restriction of Hazardous Substance [RoHS]

I hope you found the information you’re looking for.

At Filson Filters, we design and manufacture a range of water filter cartridges.

Even the replacement filters for reputable brands, will find them right here.

Contact us today for all your water filter cartridge needs.