Isn't it the job of bacteria/viruses elimination is already done by chlorine in the water before the final carbon core stage ? In your personal opinion, do you think installing an extra UV or UF filter for additional disinfection is necessary ?
BTW, PM me the solution.

It's a good question. In theory, yes, chlorine does kill the bacteria and viruses, but there are some of them that are extremely tolerant to chlorine (therefore some nations started to use bromine, chloramine etc).

Without being paranoid, I would say if you take water coming out directly our of treatment plant, chlorine does the job and your water is more or less bacteria and virus free.

What happens though, is that it has to travel through pipes and sit in the tank, and chlorine, that works well in clean water, is not so effective in "dirty" water. Chlorine starts to react left and right with pretty much every contaminant and becomes a lot less effective.

And unlike popular believe, your water is not always the same. So one day you may find no bacteria, other day there may be some. So think about your filter as an insurance. If no filter, then just boil your water.

Yes, will PM the solution now.

Ok, this time I will post without any links or any sales.

My background is water treatment. I worked in Canada, USA and South America on various water treatment projects mainly RO projects though. I was also appointed by one of my employers to go to establish manufacturing in China, which didn't go well, but whatever.

So what a good home system must have? Right now we're talking about 3 stage system only. Why 3 stage? Surprisingly, it's the most economical and easy solution. You can do 2 stage as well, but it's not worth it, I'll explain why.

Stage 1 MUST be a sediment filter. It's cheap and it takes the first hit and you should replace it often (3-6 month). There are 3 types, string, pleated and melt blown. Just use the melt blown one. Cost for a good, USA made one is roughly 20 RM, change it 3 times a year. So 60RM yearly for this one. Choose 1 or 5 micron (I prefer 5 for better flow)

If your system doesn't have a sediment filter as a first stage, then all the large kaka goes to your first filter and reduces it's lifetime and performance dramatically.

Stage 2 is your main filter. Normally it's sub-micron, hollow membrane or other technology (in USA they don't even make UF, they have other sub-micron filters). This is the heart of your system and it's also must have. Make sure it removes: bacteria, viruses, cyst, lead, arsenic, ferrous iron, mercury, pharmaceuticals and plastics. Pretty much everything except: fluoride, chlorine, bromine, iodine and VOC. Change once per year. Roughly 160-200RM for a very good one (US made)!

Stage 3 is your carbon block. This will remove chlorine, bromine, iodine and VOC. Change once a year, roughly 80-100RM for a very good one (US made, coconut activated carbon).

So you're looking at 300-350RM per year worth of outstanding quality filters.
So see the logic here: first, remove large particles. Then, remove all nasty stuff such as bacteria and heavy metals, then get rid of bad taste and odor.

What's left? Normally it will be minerals and fluoride. But, sometimes you still have a bad taste, how come? Answer is chloramine. Nasty nasty stuff. Widely used in USA now instead of or together with chlorine, but can also form if ammonia is present in your water. You need a special chloramine carbon block and these are not cheap. EVEN THE BEST SYSTEM without chloramine filter will produce nasty water. Chloramine is not removed by any UF or sub-mic or anything else. If you have chloramine, your cost of carbon block (stage 3) becomes close to 160-200RM.

So say you don't have chloramine and let's assume you don't have any radiation (unless it's well water, hopefully not). Then what's left is fluoride. They do add crappy fluoride to our water in USA and in Malaysia (Western Europe banned it for example). You need a special filter if you want to get rid of it, so an extra stage. I personally don't care, but choice is yours.

Now to plastic leaching. If components of your system (not filters, but everything else) are made God knows where, then there are high chances that they leach chemicals into your water. Anything before stage 2, we don't care, since our stage 2 will take care of it, but anything after it goes straight to your cup. So know where each and every COMPONENT that touches the water is made. (example, does your faucet contain lead? if yes, then what's the point if filtering out all the lead before?)

Last but not least, I HIGHLY recommend a system with standard housings and filters. We call them 2.5 by 10, 2.5 by 20 and so on. Even if the manufacturer of your system jacks up the price for replacement cartridges or goes out of business, you can always buy cartridges from reputable US companies at reasonable prices.

This is it for now. If you have any questions, please let me know

  good info out there.

I was offered GE sand filter as stage-1 filter install at the main intake to the house after metering while Stage-2 carbon filter as drinking water. Carbon filter (understand 0.5 micron) was made in China with NSF cert while option US made one is much more expensive.

Any comments? Need to find out the model number though if you need.

Better hear from the professional than sales ..

What happened to my water. It is from my Water Tank.

This is my current setup:

Outdoor Prefilter - Sand Filter
Outdoor Filter - 3M AP902

Is this Lead or Mercury?

you might want to focus on the matter...
you referring to the brown spot or the silver like stuff or those sediment?

Brown spots. Actually it is rust.

House main water tank? It's normal, sometimes you can find dead lizards 

Friends, not sure if allowed to ask this here, but let's suppose you have a choice between 2 identical systems, the only difference is that:

1. Filter housings and faucet are NSF certified, made in Taiwan.

2. Filter housing and faucet are NSF certified, made in USA.

Price difference is about 150 RM, of course USA is more expensive. What would you choose?

Even if it is made in China with same NSF certified standards but save RM200, I will buy China made. Just like I buy huawei phone or iPad.
I think confidence level of people buying China made products has improved tremendously, harping on US made or EU made to sell at the premium price may not be a selling point nowadays.

House main water tank? It's normal, sometimes you can find dead lizards 

Please PM me what was the offer. GE filter as stage 1 is what, 5 micron Puretrex? I need to know sizes that were offered. Assuming it's BB housings (4.5 by 20 inches?). PM me all details and we'll see.

Actually, from my experience, whole house systems rarely make sense, unless your water is horrible or you have like 5 bathrooms and 2 kitchens. Simply because you'll be using filtered water to flush toilets, wash driveways and your car etc.

And closer your filters are to the outlet better it is. Normally.

GE Pentair POE looks like this.



While the internal filter for drinking quality like the following link:-

http://www.cyaindustries.com/product/gsbf-1750-s-11/

What you said is true. Install for the entire house doesnt make sense hence think sand filter good enough if installed at the main and  easier for maintenance / backwash I suppose. While drinking water go for premium ones. Too bad rm weak otherwise 3M no need hassle to search and research further.

Got bombard by the local sales team when approached them during the exhibition. Found out little bit more about ultra filtration. They recommend UF install at main intake but as you said not making sense. For washing and flushing toilet also 0.5micron or lower for what which is excessive and insane. Hope I am wrong, looks more like marketing gimmick for the rich and ignorant. When asked more about certification and details on the filters many will not tell the full stories where the source. UF will require daily flushing so lot of wastage and maintenance. So total easily cost 3.5k including timer to install UF for a terraced house which does not come with NSF certification which I think excessive in terms of cost, design, water quality etc etc.

Yes, the water tank was originally installed by the developer. I couldn't change it before of the limited space.

The water got bad smell

UF, RO or membrane are always waste of water, daily flushing is insane.
POE filter sand media is good enough, easy maintenance and long lasting.