Although New Zealand's water quality is generally high, filtering town or mains supply water can still offer important benefits:
1. Improved Taste and Odor
Even safe drinking water may have an unpleasant taste or odor due to chlorine or naturally occurring minerals. Filtration can effectively remove these substances, enhancing the flavor and smell of your water.
2. Removal of Contaminants
While New Zealand’s water is well-regulated, contaminants can still find their way into the supply:
- Heavy Metals: Lead and copper from aging pipes.
- Microorganisms: Bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that municipal treatment may not fully remove.
- Chemicals: Pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals present in trace amounts.
3. Protection Against Infrastructure Issues
Aging infrastructure can lead to pipe corrosion or leaks, introducing contaminants. Filtration adds a layer of protection.
4. Hard Water Treatment
In areas with hard water, containing high levels of calcium and magnesium, filters or softeners can prevent scale buildup in pipes and appliances, extending their lifespan.
5. Health Concerns
For those with weakened immune systems or specific health conditions, filtering water offers additional protection against potential contaminants.
6. Peace of Mind
Filtration provides reassurance that your water is as clean and safe as possible—especially important for families with children or elderly members.
Recommended Filtration Systems
For optimal results, a combination of systems is best:
- Whole House Filtration: Install a sediment and activated carbon filter at the point of entry to remove particles and chlorine, improving taste and odor.
- Point-of-Use Systems: For drinking and cooking, consider a reverse osmosis (RO) system for removing a wide range of chemical and biological contaminants.
Heavy Metals in Drinking Water
Heavy metals in water refer to naturally occurring metallic elements that can be toxic or harmful to human health when present in elevated concentrations. Common heavy metals found in water include:
- Lead (Pb) – Often from corroding pipes, plumbing materials, and old infrastructure.
- Mercury (Hg) – Usually comes from industrial pollution and runoff.
- Arsenic (As) – Can leach into water from natural deposits or industrial waste.
- Cadmium (Cd) – Common in agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and deteriorating galvanized pipes.
- Chromium (Cr) – Often originates from industrial waste and natural mineral deposits.
- Copper (Cu) – While necessary in trace amounts, excessive copper can come from corroding pipes or industrial sources.
- Nickel (Ni) – Found in water due to industrial activities and corrosion of plumbing systems.
These metals can accumulate in the body, causing health issues such as kidney damage, neurological disorders, and developmental issues, particularly in children. Heavy metal contamination in water often arises from industrial discharge, corrosion of plumbing, or runoff from mining and agricultural activities. Testing and proper filtration, such as reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters, are typically used to remove these contaminants.
Heavy metal exposure could increase cardiovascular disease risk, study finds Journal of the American College of Cardiology- Click Here
Carbon Block Filters (CTO)
Our high quality NSF certified Matrikx. Effectively removes chlorine, improves taste and odor, reduces sediment, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), disinfection byproducts (THMs), and some heavy metals like lead. It has a typical filtration rating of 5 microns for efficient contaminant removal.
A 1-micron CTO (Chlorine, Taste, Odor) Plus carbon block filter offers enhanced filtration compared to standard filters. Here are the key advantages:
- Finer Filtration: A 1-micron filter captures smaller particles, including fine sediment, rust, and some microorganisms like cysts (e.g., Giardia, Cryptosporidium), improving water clarity and safety.
KDF
- KDF Media: KDF filters use a copper-zinc alloy to remove contaminants through redox reactions, KDF filter media is used to safely reduce and/or remove, iron, Chlorine, Hydrogen Sulphide, Heavy metals and inhibiting bacterial growth.
- KDF 55 Process Medium is so effective that it removes up to 98% of inorganic water-soluble heavy metals that are a concern to many public health officials and many consumers. In addition, KDF 55 Process Medium controls microorganisms and reduces lime scale in problem areas like showers and tubs. KDF 55 Process Medium even changes waterborne calcium molecules that inhibit scale buildup and improves the taste of some of your favorite beverages.
summary
• Less bacteria • Less free chlorine • Less heavy metal content • Less scale buildup • Less filter maintenance
GAC
- Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): Effectively removes chlorine, chloramine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, herbicides, disinfection byproducts (THMs), and improve taste and odor. They also reduce some organic chemicals and pharmaceuticals. However, GAC does not effectively remove microorganisms, nitrates, or dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium.
Choosing the Right Carbon Filter
- Carbon Block Filters: Ideal for high-efficiency contaminant removal, improving taste and odor, with consistent filtration but potentially slower flow rates.
- KDF GAC Filters: Suitable for removing heavy metals, preventing microbial growth, and allowing higher flow rates
Best Filters to Reduce Heavy Metals In Drinking Water
Reverse Osmosis #1 Click Here
RO filters remove 99.9% of all chemicals, heavy metals and viruses, microorganisms, herbicides and peticides found in water. It is the No1 choice for the best most purest drinking water.
Activated Carbon with KDF (KDF-GAC) inline filter cartridges will provide the ultimate solution for better tasting safer drinking water with the added benefit of bacterial reduction. The Omnipure KDF-GAC filters will reduce the following and more as follows: Click Here
- Aluminium 97%
- chlorine 99%
- Selenium 98%
- Endrin 86%
- Lindane 99%
- Toxiphene 85%
- Arsenic 96%
- Chromium 96%
- Mercury 99%
- TTHM 99%
- Iron 50-90%
- Sulphur 99%
- Lead 85%
- Nitrate 75%
- Cadmium 80%
- Copper 90%
Whole House Filtration - Options
Install a multistage filtration system (twin or triple) for maximum coverage:
- Sediment Filters: Capture particles from 50 microns down to 1 microns
- Activated Carbon Filters: Removes chlorine, improves taste and odor.With many additonal benefits from High quality water filters
- Activated KDF Activated Carbon Filters: Remove chlorine, improves taste and odor, reduces heavy metals and bacterial build up.
- UV Purification: UV purification is a method of water disinfection that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to eliminate harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. It’s a chemical-free, eco-friendly way to purify water, often used in homes, businesses, and industries to ensure safe drinking water.(see below)
At NZ Pump and Water Filters we offer only certified top quality water filters though all our brands. There is no compromise on quality.
Filtering Water from Natural Sources: Rain, Well, River, or Stream
Each natural water source has unique filtration needs:
- Rainwater: Requires first-flush diverters and sediment filters to remove debris and pollutants, and UV purification for safety.
- Well Water: May need water softening, iron, and manganese removal.
- Stream and River Water: Use a combination of sediment filtration, activated carbon, and UV purification for safety.
Replacement times
Regular filter replacement is essential for maintaining clean water. Replace sediment filters every 6 -12 months and activated carbon filters every 12 months for optimal performance. When the pressure drops it might indicate its time to replace your water filters.
Benefits of 20-Inch Filters
Larger 20-inch filters generally provide:
- Higher capacity and flow rates.
- Longer lifespan with less maintenance. While they may cost more initially, they offer better efficiency for whole-house and high-demand systems.
Fluoride Reduction
Removing fluoride from water can be a tricky thing to do.
The best and effective methods are as follows:
#1 Reverse Osmosis (RO): Removes up to 85-97% of fluoride alongside other heavy metals. It’s one of the most effective ways to reduce fluoride at the tap.
#2 Water distilling: The steam is then condensed back into liquid, producing purified water with significantly reduced fluoride and other minerals, heavy metals, and most contaminants.
#3 Activated alumina filters
NSF 61-certified granular activated alumina (AA) is a specialized filter media designed to effectively remove fluoride and arsenic from drinking water. Made from aluminum oxide, AA has an exceptionally high surface area, which allows it to adsorb fluoride efficiently. In municipal water supplies, fluoride concentrations are typically around 2 ppm, and AA filters can reduce this to below 0.1 ppm.
Fluoride Removal Efficiency: AA filters are effective at reducing fluoride, with performance typically starting strong and gradually decreasing as the filter becomes saturated. The filter can continue to remove a significant portion of fluoride, depending on the level of saturation and water pH levels.
If the fluoride concentration is particularly high or the filter is used heavily, the effectiveness may decline sooner.
Note: There is no definitive time frame or capacity for when a fluoride filter should be replaced, nor a guaranteed lifespan. To ensure optimal performance, periodic water testing and filter replacement based on usage are recommended.
Best Activated Alumina options
Undersink designated drinking water dual water filtration with a low flow tap will provide the best results effctively removing up to 98% of fluoride when it is new. The second filter (CTO 1 micron carbon block filter ) will help to improve the water quality and prevent any taste issues.
Whole house systems are good, but for best results rely on the fluoride to have as much contact time with the filter media as possible allowing the fluoride to be bonded to the highly absorbant Activated Alumina media. Example if the flowrate passing through is high due to the amount of taps running at one time the fluoride reduction rates are significantly reduced. A single flowing tap under 10lpm will provide the best reduction rates.
PH Levels Impact AAL
The best pH level for activated alumina to effectively remove fluoride from water is between 5.5 and 6.5. At this slightly acidic pH range, the activated alumina surface is optimized for fluoride adsorption, allowing it to attract and retain more fluoride ions.
Here’s why this pH range matters:
- Higher Fluoride Adsorption: The slightly acidic environment enhances the fluoride-binding ability of activated alumina.
- Lower Effectiveness at High pH: At higher pH levels (above 7.0), fluoride removal efficiency decreases significantly because fluoride ions are less likely to bind to the alumina surface.
- At pH 7.5:Efficiency might drop to about 30-50%.
- At Optimal pH 5.5-6.5: Efficiency can reach 85% or higher.
Examples:
Approx guide when a 10" x 4.5" AAL filter cartridge is used containing 2.5–3 kilograms of media and an avergae daily water usage of 100 litre per day.
- 10” Jumbo cartridges have an approx. capacity of 15,000 litres
- 20”Jumbo cartridges have an approx. capacity of 30,000 litres
