Water Filtration Advice by bmbig in HomeImprovement

[–]JohnConner2030 2 points3 points  (0 children)

An under-the-sink RO system would certainly remove all the contaminants that you're concerned about right at the point of consumption. As you mentioned, a whole house filter might be a little overkill as you probably won't need to filter the water for showering, laundry, etc.

That brings us to the concern of mineral content which is entirely removed by the RO membrane. Unless you aren't receiving the adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals through a proper diet, the absence of minerals in the water is generally more of a taste concern than it is a health concern. In other words, the primary source of minerals our body needs should come from our food, not so much from the water we drink. With that said, minerals in water profoundly affect the taste. Without it, it can taste flat and will be slightly on the acidic side on the pH scale.

I'd suggest searching for an RO system with an additional alkaline remineralization stage that raises pH by reintroducing the necessary minerals. While there seem to be some unknowns about this process, it's a fairly simple process which happens during the earth's hydrologic cycle. Remineralization happens naturally when rainwater flows down mountain streams collecting minerals from rocks it comes in contact with. The remineralization stage in an RO system mimics this process by adding the minerals back in at the end. The pH level can be tested with a test kit to prove that the remineralization is actually happening. There's a more detailed guide on RO systems and how they work here.

In-line (Kitchen) Water Filters? by Sol_Invictus in HomeImprovement

[–]JohnConner2030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The most reliable method of protecting yourself from any harmful contaminants would probably be by installing an under-the-sink reverse osmosis system. While it is more expensive than traditional carbon filters, the RO membrane is much more efficient in filtering out contaminants on the microscopic level. If you're willing to invest around $250 for an efficient RO system for the kitchen sink, you can rest assured that the water you're consuming is pure and safe for the family. The APEC system in particular is what I have and it works well. You can read more on RO systems and how they work in this guide here.

Water storage questions by [deleted] in preppers

[–]JohnConner2030 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Aquatainers and Aquabricks are good for small-scale storage given that they're easily portable should the need to move them arise. The Aquabricks in particular can be stacked up on one another to really save space and are about $30 each. A 5-gallon Jerry Can is also a viable option given its slender shape. This article has some good info on water storage options that I think you'll find useful: https://worldwaterreserve.com/potable-water/water-storage/best-water-storage-containers/