water filter recommendation?

[DonaldW]

Here is what I recommend with a couple of accessories:

5 stage RO system: http://amzn.to/1XwrKsK

I recommend this model with the standard size filters (opposed to the thin line models) because the large normal 10" filters are a lot cheaper and more readily available, not to mention that they last longer due to larger size.

Now this is a model which is sold for use on a conventional US pressurized water system. It won't work on a gravity feed (tank on roof) without a water booster pump, which can be found here:

Auxiliary booster pump: http://amzn.to/1LVuSHw

Now even if you have a pressurized system serving your home, if it has a small tank and for example if it cuts on and off a lot, many times you'll want the booster pump anyway because rather than presenting a fluctuating load to an existing pressurized system where the home service water pump may cut on and off a lot, the way the booster pump works is to pump a higher amount of water through the filter to get "done" (RO tank full of water) faster so it will minimize any cycling of the house system that does take place.

Now this system setup to be most effective in questionable municipality water systems really needs and additional "stage" and that would be to kill any micro biological living things in the water source. The RO system as it exists will be better than almost every other type of filter, but still it is not perfect. If you are going to the trouble why not make it near perfect, right? To kill or block the biological matter, you can go two routes, with either an additional UV filter or an additional ceramic filter. The disadvantage to the UV is they burn out every 6-12 months and the UV lamps can be expensive and hard to find in Mexico. The disadvantage to the ceramic is that it must be carefully washed periodically (with each 6-18 month filter change or the carbons & sediment, for example) and normally requires a system where the booster pump exists due to the pressure required to force water through a ceramic. The ceramic is added between the final carbon and the RO membrane; the UV is added as the first stage prior to the sediment.

I'd choose one or the other of these setups:

UV front end (choose UV or Ceramic): http://amzn.to/1POPCqe
Note: This model has a switch to only turn on during flow, saving bulb life

Ceramic mid end (choose UV or Ceramic): http://amzn.to/1k7fdxd plus, add a housing for it http://amzn.to/1Mgwvi6 , plus connections http://amzn.to/1M00TSe

With the booster pump, you will hear a hum of the pump starting when the pressure in the RO tank gets down to about 30PSI and it will run until the RO tank pressure builds up to about 45PSI under normal circumstances. And to repeat, the overall system requires about 45-65 PSI of input pressure to operate properly and the booster pump will supply about 100-110PSI which means with the booster it will filter at about twice the rate as on a conventional pressurized home water system (fill the tank up quicker) than an normal pressurized household which typically has the 45-65PSI as an ambient water pressure.

Note most gravity feed homes of 2 stories have at maximum about 15PSI on the first floor.

Note when I have installed these for many friends in the past, I also normally Y off the feed to the spigot to the ice-maker as well. In the concrete homes of Mexico, for aesthetic purposes this should be considered as not "for everyone", however, when building a new home, always consider running a 1/4" PEX or copper tubing from where you plan to install the RO system (typically under sink) to where the refrigerator will reside.

P.S. Try not to miss lugging those 5 gallon bottles too badly ;-)

Disclaimer: The information in this post was gathered by my own experience in over 20 years of installing RO systems along with that supplied to me by the owner of local company Pure Water Systems in Denton TX. No water filtration system is perfect and I am in no way taking on responsibility for your results of using my own suggestions or those of any other manufacturers. Use your own research to make the final decision on what water filtration system is best for you and remember that you are responsible for your own safety. This setup is one that has worked for me with no ill health of anyone I have worked with as a result. And last but not least, always remember with water filters and like with everything, marketing is simply that, marketing.