Water Filtration With Less Waste.
In wake of recent controversies surrounding water quality and potability, as well as the supply issues related to the pandemic, water filtration has become an increasing concern. As a result of the focus and high sales there is an increasing scrutiny of water filtres and filtration methods. Though differences in quality and ease of use have been concerns for years, attention to the environmental impact of different filtres has only recently materialized.
Water filtration can take several forms, with in-house systems and under sink systems, as well as more simplistic options, such as pitchers and other similar devices, often using various carbon based filtres and meshes. These options are the most common and often use the principle of carbon, also known as Activated Charcoal as the main means of filtration; Activated Charcoal functions because of the inherent porousness of the carbon, which allows for organic and chemical impurities to adhere to the filtre, while water passes through in a sanitized state.
An environmental issue with this solution is related to both the disposability of the filtration, often encased in plastic, and the plastic more broadly used in the typical construction of the these water purifiers, contributing to waste. These solutions can also prove expensive, with regularly purchased replacement costs, if annualized comprising over $30 for the popular Brita filtration pitchers.
An alternative to these options that has seen increasingly population of late, is the use of so-called Activated Charcoal sticks, thin slices of the filtration material, placed in bottles and or pitchers for similar effect to the charcoal based filtration found in more common filtration products. These carbon sticks, after being placed in the water, will, over a period of several hours filtrate a small pitcher of water; after a period of several months, typically three months, the sticks can be boiled in water, thus allowing them to be reused.
This alternative prevents the need for reinvestment in filtration products as well as avoiding the use of disposable plastics. Though these carbon rods can be purchased from various sources and manufacturers, certain types have proven more effective than others; research has indicated activated carbon sourced from a blend of sources to be the best, while the least effective was coconut based only.
By using blends of different activated charcoals, leaving them in place for several hours in a clean container of unfiltred water, a more affordable and waste free alternative can clean water effectively.