What is cheaper for Water purification...Distillation or Reverse Osmosis

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any good brand names of products u have used.

-- w (w@e.d), October 06, 1999

Answers

i've used both, and both are very expensive. we just purchased a 'big berkey' berkefeld water filter which is really super. it costs $275 upfront, but its 'longterm' costs are zip.

-- lou (lanny1@ix.netcom.com), October 08, 1999.

Depends on the purpose of your water purification. If you are looking for "emergency" filtration, be aware that most distillation units are electric (my uncle has one and he says it is very expensive to operate). I think reverse osmosis units rely on water pressure, and although they "waste" a lot of water, water is cheap (at least right now, when it is plentiful). Both water pressure and electricity could be in short supply at the turn of the year.

Check out http://www.pwgazette.com/pwp.htm and give Gene a call. He's got to be the most friendly and helpful "water salesman" I've ever spoken with. Their prices are quite reasonable, and I think they will recommend the best system for you, not for their bottom line.

PWP sells the Doulton ceramic catridges (as used in the Berkefeld) in a variety of filter vessels. If you are looking for an "emergency" filter they have a great little siphon setup for just a few $$ (see http://www.pwgazette.com/gravity.htm) which doesn't rely on chemicals to sterilize water (as most of the "camping" type filters do).

I myself have just installed an undersink double vessel unit that uses a carbon block (for chlorine and other chemicals) and a Doulton ceramic (for "bugs"). The Doulton will probably last me a lifetime unless I drop it and break it. I also have one of their "emergency" filter setups, which will do the job for a fraction of the cost of the other setups I looked at.

Check out their web site. I have no monetary interest, and am just a satisfied customer who would recommend them to my friends.

e.m.

-- Eyell Makedo (make_do@hotmail.com), October 09, 1999.


After a year of research and nail-biting, I finally opted for the General Ecology Seagull purification unit. I also purchased an extra filter and the emergency attachment. So I can install this unit, and with just a couple of twists, take it out from under the sink and take it with me.

Granted, I'm not an expert in water purification, but after using the EPA and the National Water Council guidelines and reviewing several independent studies, and then comparing them to the effectiveness of various products on the market, I felt the investment in the General Ecology unit was worth the money. It's not cheap by any means. But I considered this as one area of preps I would not do "on the cheap". You can visit their site at www.general-ecology.com. They're very helpful people.

-- mom (mom@mom.com), October 10, 1999.


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