Is etching copper plate better than reverse osmosis filter?

Buying bottled water to drink and cook at home is expensive and not environmentally friendly. Plastic bottles are among the top ten pollutants. Drinking raw tap water is scary, because it can be contaminated with microbes and parasites contain substances that are unnecessary for the body. The solution can be a etching copper plate.

Before buying a water filter, manufacturers recommend finding out what kind of water flows from your tap, whether the content of permissible substances in it is exceeded, what is its hardness.

How can we check water quality with etching copper plate?

In addition, the quality of the water in your tap can be checked through an independent laboratory. In USA, the cost of analyzing tap water starts on average from 2.5 thousand rubles. You don't have to spend money on a etching copper plate, but drink boiled water. But it needs to be cooled and stored somewhere in reserve.

Filter jug

Pros

The simplest and most affordable option does not require installation. Manufacturers claim that replaceable filter cartridges purify water from harmful impurities (for example, chlorine, oil products, heavy metals), and also eliminate unpleasant odors. Such a filter is easy to use - it is enough to filter the water three times with a new cartridge and drain it.

Cons

Cleans a small amount of water at a time (1-1.5 liters) and does it slowly (in 5-10 minutes), so it is unlikely to be suitable for a large family and large pots of soup. etching copper plate lasts an average of 2 months, after which the cartridge must be replaced.

Filter in the form of a nozzle on the tap

Pros

Easy to install, the system is mounted on a crane. It has a higher degree of cleaning than a filter jug. The cartridge needs to be changed much less frequently - once every 4-6 months, and some models even once a year.

Cons

The nozzle is rather bulky and can visually spoil the interior of the kitchen. To replace the filter, you will have to unscrew the nozzle from the tap and disassemble the entire structure. It was not possible to find information on the acceptance of such filters for disposal.

etching copper plate under the sink

This is a stationary multi-stage filter consisting of 3-4 cartridges. etching copper plate is mounted to the water supply under the sink; a separate tap is brought out.

Pros

It cleans water well, disinfects and softens it. Some models can be used more widely by making a branch after the first stage of mechanical cleaning to a conventional mixer, dishwasher or water heater.

You will rarely have to change the cassettes of such a filter - once every six months or a year. Moreover, some models can be recycled.

Cons

It is not easy to install such a filter yourself; you need to call specialists. The cost of such systems starts from 2-3 thousand rubles.

Reverse osmosis filter

This water purification system is also installed under the sink with a separate tap outlet.

Pros

It is believed that such a etching copper plate purifies water best of all, including most viruses and bacteria. It lasts a long time, depending on the model, from 6 months to 2 years, and then some filters can be recycled. There are storage-type systems with a reservoir that allow you to always have a supply of clean water.

Cons

Reverse osmosis systems are cumbersome and require specialist installation. Their cost starts from 8-10 thousand rubles. For use, it is necessary that the pressure in the water supply be at least 2.5 atmospheres (water must pass through the membrane under pressure).

There is one more disadvantage - waste of water. The reverse filters are designed so that they give out a liter of clean water, and 3-5 liters of drainage (technical) water, which washed the membrane, are poured into the sewer.

Can you drink tap water at all?

The quality of tap water differs from region to region.  And in general, the situation with the purification of tap water is improving throughout the country.

Rules for the operation of the etching copper plate

The recommended service life is 5 years. For full-fledged operation, mesh water filter is necessary to change the cartridges in a timely manner and wash all its components with dishwashing detergent every time the replaceable filter element is replaced. The filter is dishwasher safe. With proper operation, problems with any biological fouling do not arise.

Triple filter care

Fouling of flasks and hoses is common in flow systems, since the filter is a good medium for their growth. The service life of such a system is also five years. It is necessary to replace cartridges every 6 months. When replacing, be sure to wash the flasks using household dishwashing detergents. To ensure safety, it is recommended to disinfect the system, which includes a number of stages:

1. Before cleaning the mesh water filter, you must turn off the supply tap.
2. Open the tap on the sink and release the excess pressure.
3. Take out the used cartridges.
4. Screw on the second and third flasks.
5. Add a disinfecting tablet or 50-60 ml of a chlorine-containing agent into the filter flask number one and screw it up.
6. First you need to open the tap on the surface of the sink, and then the water supply.
7. When you hear a chlorine smell, you need to shut off the supply and drain.
8. Ensure system downtime for 2-3 hours.
9. Open the drinking and supply tap. Drain the liquid until the chlorine smell disappears.
10. Shut off the water supply.
11. Wash hands thoroughly and install a new set of etching copper plate.
12. Monitor the system for 2 hours to avoid leaks.

Reverse osmosis filter maintenance and disinfection

In such systems, by analogy with triple filters, microbiological fouling is often observed. Most often, you can meet them in pre-filter flasks, concentrate drain tubes, less often on the surface of a membrane element or storage tank during long-term operation.

Mineralizers and post-filters are extremely rarely susceptible to this problem, since they are supplied with sterile water purified by a membrane.