KIT Definition Purpose
This month’s KIT outlines my approach to water safety along with some forward looking statements as I continue to experiment with my water. I’ve been concerned about water safety since my childhood when my favorite dog was exposed to some toxic waste that was literally seeping into a nearby stream. She ended up dying, and at that time – my eyes were opened to greed and destruction of the environment in a very personal way. The local authorities at the time slapped the firm on the wrist, and a chicken wire fence was raised to protect the local animal (wild or domesticated) population. The authorities did not address the seepage into the water flowing right behind the factory.
Revisiting the same site years later, they had filled it in with some sand and sprouting grass. And life goes on.
Since then we’ve learned of all sorts of corporate and non profit initiatives associated with monetizing water – all aimed at purity. I believe the topic of water safety, in particular – drinking water safety is a complicated topic with all sorts of studies and science at odds across a variety of nuanced topics within ‘water safety.’
Given my prior post on the mixed messages in the media being passed around – the biggest point here is this:
Don’t default to your current approach.
Own your water safety and take appropriate measures.
This is a common theme here at Energy and Action – too many times in our lives – we default to whatever the script is that we’ve been given. Water safety – drinking water in particular – is yet another example. Apparently those of us that have been drinking bottled water believing that it was the safer alternative to tap water have been led down a ‘default path’ if the recent World Health Organization study referenced earlier is to be believed. Even they admit that their study warrants further investigation. What are we to believe? Everyone has an agenda. I for one continue to drink bottled water when I’m on the road for work as I still believe it to be safer than unfiltered water in those water taps at airports…
The purpose of this month’s KIT is to provide you some insight into some practical steps you can take at home. I readily admit that this month’s kit is incomplete, and I intend to share the results of my next steps that are outlined below. This KIT does represent my current approach, and I believe it is a strong approach for those on a budget – as water testing can be hundreds and even thousands for lab tests – let alone the filtration and disinfection systems that can be installed to get you that purest of water.
Onto this month’s edition of Energy and Action’s KIT feature:
KIT Payback / Value Prop
KUBE Water Filtration System – $180
The payback is beyond financial if you believe the claims made by the manufacturers of the KIT outlined here. I’ll make an assumption that for a single adult here in the US – you are drinking 1 gallon a day of water. This may not be as much of a stretch when you consider home brewed coffee, teas, soups, and plain water.
According to the Kube website – the payback looks like this:
- Kube Water = 4 cents per gallon
- Pitcher Filter = 20 cents per gallon
- Faucet Filter = 19 cents per gallon
- Bottled Water = 63 cents per gallon
So if you are drinking pitcher/Brita water or faucet water – you will be paying 1/5 the cost of that gallon of water with substantially cleaner water quality. If you do bottled water, the payback is even greater.
Additionally, for my money – this was a no brainer – as I originally spent way more than you have to today via Amazon. I got my unit when it was first released via Home Depot.
According to their website located here, this is what you can expect from this filtration system:
Kube Advanced Water Filtration System significantly reduces the following contaminants that may be in your tap water:
| Taste & Odor | Chlorine |
|---|---|
| Heavy Metals | Lead, Mercury |
| Pharmaceuticals* | Birth Control, Pain Killers, Antidepressants, Tranquilizers, Antibiotics |
| Gasoline Additives | MTBE (Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether), Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, Xylene |
| Microbial Cysts | Cryptosporidium, Giardia |
| Particulates | Sand, Silt, Rust |
| Industrial Pollutants | Styrene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Chlorobenzene, Tetrachloroethylene (TCE), Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) |
| Disinfection By-products | TTHMs (Total Trihalomethanes), Chloroform, Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Tribromoacetic Acid |
| Pesticides & Herbicides | Alachlor, Atrazine, Carbofuran, Endrin, Lindane, Methoxychlor, Simazine, DEET* |
Quite an impressive list of badness it yanks out of the water, don’t you think?
If you want to geek out – check this link where the details are further outlined. I’m not as well versed in these measurements, although it does look like it is strong first step in protecting one’s self.
This system will NOT protect you as a submicron-based filtration approach. Only until recently did I understand that such a thing exists. Something to research further for a future post.
Samsung Refrigerator Water Filter – $22
I’ve also incorporated a Samsung compatible water filter into the mix. This filter is a carbon based filter.
A breakdown of the type of water filtration systems is something worth mentioning here. Depending upon your situation, the aggressiveness of measures will vary. For example, many here in the USA that get their tap water from their local municipalities have disinfected water flowing to their taps. Local governments are typically sampling the water disinfection efficacy on a weekly basis, and in the case of unusual circumstances such as severe weather – sampling will be increased. Many times when a ‘boil water order’ is issued – it is because the disinfection approach has been overwhelmed.
A point to note here – disinfection does not address contamination of organic and inorganic materials. Sub particle plastics for example can be disinfected, and yet be flowing into your tap water. Organic and inorganic compounds similarly can also be disinfected – yet remain in harmful amounts in your water. This is why you must look at filtration systems if you are concerned with the purity of the water you are taking in each day.
Types of Water Filtration in Progressive Order
- Carbon Filters – These are the most common types of filters out there. The will remove organic compounds and generally improve the taste of the water to make the water taste ‘safe.’
- Reverse Osmosis – These filtration systems will remove many heavy metals and pesticides – essentially many of the inorganic compounds.
- Submicron Filtration – These filtration systems go even further by removing materials that typically pass through the reverse osmosis and carbon-based systems as the particles, such as plastics, are too small to be captured in their filters.
- Disinfection Systems – Disease inducing bacteria are not going to be filtered out of the water by any of the prior approaches. A combination of filtration and of disinfection systems must be employed to ensure total purity if you suspect bacterial infections. These sorts of systems range from distillation, chlorination, and ozonation treatment systems.
Time / Total Investment
Kube Water Filtration – Total time invested – about 2 hours, as I did a custom install by hiding the lines in my cabinets above my refrigerator. You could argue this was unnecessary, although I really did not want the unit visible at all.
Samsung / Pure Line Water Filter – This was less than 30 minutes between ordering on Amazon, pickup, removal of the old one, and installation of the new unit. The longest part of the install was running the three gallons through to activate the carbon and to drain off the grey/dark residue of the new unit.
All told you can purchase this KIT for $202 and a few hours invested. This will get you about six months for a family of 4 via the Kube, and three months with the Samsung filter.
KIT Contents
Kube Advanced Water Filtration System
Pure Line Refrigerator Water Filter, Compatible with Samsung DA29-00020B
KIT How To’s
Kube install – this video walks you through this in step by step fashion
Samsung Filter – just turn the filter to unlock and pull the old one out. Put the new one in, and twist it. Then run the water through the filter for a solid three gallons to flush the carbon out completely.
KIT Next Steps
I strongly recommend that you test your tap water in your home, and to test any filtered water that you are currently drinking to do a comparison.
Drinking Water Test Kit For Municipal Tap and Well Water – Simple Testing Strips For Heavy Metals, Bacteria, Nitrates, Chlorine and More
This is the current test I’m working with at the moment. It is stressed by many reviewers at Amazon that this type of test is indicative, and not specific on all fronts – particularly regarding the presence heavy metals. If you’ve never tested your water – this is a cheap test for $20, and I’d order two test kits so you can take two samples at least a week apart to validate the findings.
I’ll be posting my results and further testing and filtration approaches in a future post. More to come on this topic.
