Fluoride is a common additive in water. It helps prevent dental decay, but only in small amounts. Drinking too much-fluoridated water can lead to fluorosis, which causes discoloration and weakening of the teeth. Although it’s a great preventative measure against cavities, drinking too much fluoride from your tap isn’t good for you. In an effort to remove fluoride from their water supply, many homeowners install a Zero Water filter. Many people are under the impression that these filters eliminate all types of fluoride from water—but this isn’t true! Let’s take a closer look at how the Zero Water filter affects fluoride levels in your home.
Does Zero Water Filter Remove Fluoride?
As water is treated with fluoride, it can be a health risk, especially if you are using the water to drink. The best way to have zero fluorides in your water is to use a filtration system that will not just remove the dangerous fluoride but also improve the quality of your tap water. Many people have a hard time getting the best water filter that can remove fluoride from their drinking water.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in nearly all water sources. It’s a powerful mineral that effectively fights cavities, but only in small amounts. Drinking too much fluoride can lead to fluorosis, which causes discoloration and weakening of the teeth. Fluoride is also great for fighting gingivitis and preventing dental plaque. You can find fluoride in toothpaste, mouthwash, and water. According to the World Health Organization, fluoride reduces tooth decay by up to 50% in children. This is why many countries add fluoride to the municipal water supply. When added to water, fluoride is a neurotoxin. In high amounts, it can damage the nervous system and cause developmental issues in children.
How Does A Zero Water Filter Work?
Deionization.
The first stage of the Zero Water filter is called deionization. This is where the water passes through a membrane and ion exchange occurs. The water is stripped of most of its minerals, but it’s still not ready to drink.
Carbon Filtration.
In the second stage, water passes through carbon filtration to remove any remaining contaminants and impurities. The filter also reduces chlorine, which can sometimes be found in tap water at concentrations as high as 2-4 ppm. This can cause a chlorine taste or odor in your drinking water, but it also poses a health risk because it can lead to possible neurological problems and skin irritation over time. In fact, choosing a water filter with carbon filtration is one of the best ways to reduce your exposure to chlorine and other harmful chemicals.
UV Treatment (optional).
In some cases, UV treatment may be offered as an additional step in removing bacteria from your drinking water source before the third stage begins (Reverse Osmosis). UV treatment is an effective way to kill off any viruses or bacteria that may be present in your drinking water source prior to being filtered by Reverse Osmosis technology which will not remove these pathogens due to their size being below that of 0.2 microns (which filters out at this level).
Reverse Osmosis Membrane Filtration System:
The last stage uses reverse osmosis membrane filtration to remove the remaining contaminants. This includes heavy metals and harmful chemicals. Reverse osmosis is the most effective way to remove impurities from water, but it’s not perfect. Like other filtration systems, it can’t eliminate all traces of minerals and trace elements in the water.
UV Treatment (optional).
UV treatment may be offered as an additional step in removing bacteria from your drinking water source before the final stage begins (TDS meter). UV treatment is an effective way to kill off any viruses or bacteria that may be present in your drinking water source prior to being filtered by a TDS meter which will not remove these pathogens due to their size being below that of 0.2 microns (which filters out at this level).
TDS Meter:
The final stage uses a Total Dissolved Solids Meter to measure the amount of mineral content in your drinking water which indicates how many minerals are left after filtration. The meter will display how many minerals are left including sodium, chloride, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It’s important to note that there are still some trace elements that are left behind including fluoride which can add up over time if you drink a lot of Zero Water every day. While this is a great way to improve your drinking water and reduce contaminants like chlorine and heavy metals, it can’t eliminate every trace of mineral from your drinking water. For instance, even though fluoride is removed, there is still some fluoride that is left in the water (you can eliminate all of it by using a fluoride filter on your water source).
Storage:
The last step is to store your drinking water in a container for easy access. This can be glass or plastic. You will want to keep it out of direct sunlight as UV rays will reduce the shelf life of your water.
Flushing:
After you have had your water sitting for 24 hours, you will want to flush the system by letting it run for about 1 minute. This will help to remove any contaminants that may have been picked up during storage and shipping.
Enjoy!
After you have flushed your Zero Water filter, it’s time to enjoy the pure, clean taste of Zero Water. You can use it for everything from drinking water to cooking and even making ice cubes!
Are There Any Drawbacks To Using A Zero Water Filter?
Can’t Filter All Types of Fluoride
As mentioned earlier, the Zero Water filter is designed to remove contaminants and impurities from water. It doesn’t remove all types of fluoride. It can’t eliminate all traces of the mineral because it’s too large to pass through the system. The Zero Water filter removes most types of fluoride, but not all.
Pricey Replacement Filters
Zero Water filters are expensive and replacement filters are even more so. Replacement filters for a Zero Water pitcher filter cost about $50 for a set of two, which is a lot when you consider it only lasts about six months before needing replacement again. While this may be an issue for some people, others will see it as an investment in their health and safety. Either way, it’s something you should consider before buying a Zero Water filter system.
High Maintenance Requirement
Reverse osmosis filters require regular maintenance to ensure they continue working properly. This means you must replace parts regularly and clean the system on a regular basis as well. You must also run at least one gallon of water through the system every three to four days to make sure there aren’t any leaks or other issues that could cause damage or contamination in your water supply over time if left unchecked. This is definitely something you want to be prepared for when buying one of these systems as part of your home’s water filtration needs!
Size of the Filter System
Zero Water filters are a bit on the large side. They’re much larger than other filter systems and can take up a good deal of space in your home. If you don’t have room for a large water filtration system, you might want to consider another type of filter instead.
Only Removes Fluoride From Tap Water
Zero Water filters are only effective when used with tap water. You can’t use them to purify water from other sources like rivers or lakes, though they do remove chlorine from tap water which is helpful if your tap water isn’t very clean, to begin with.
Not Designed For Families
Zero Water filters are not designed to be used by entire families. They’re better suited for use in individual households. If you have a large family, you’ll likely need several of these systems to ensure everyone has clean water to drink and use for cooking and drinking purposes.
Need To Be Maintained Regularly
Reverse osmosis filters must be maintained on a regular basis if you want them to continue working properly over time. This means you’ll need to replace parts regularly and clean the system on a regular basis as well. You must also run at least one gallon of water through the system every three or four days to make sure there aren’t any leaks or other issues that could cause damage or contamination in your water supply over time if left unchecked. This is definitely something you want to be prepared for when buying one of these systems!
Conclusion
Zero Water filters are great options for people who want to have cleaner water in their homes. They’re easy to install and they’re very efficient at removing contaminants from tap water. They do, however, cost more than other filter systems and they are a bit larger. If you have the room for them and can afford the price tag, they’re great options for your home!
