Water filtration systems

[jackcorbett 2]

I've seen them for sale at places like C, Carre Four, etc for making tap water safe to drink. There's also reverse osmosis setups which are probably more expensive. Who has experience with these setups and what do you think of their effectiveness for purifying one's drinking water. Also, what maintenance is involved in your experience?

 

So far I've been buying my drinking water in large plastic containers in a nearby shop that is similar to Family Mart. The containers hold around 5 gallons of water and run me 50 baht each. I simply take my empties to this shop and bring a full one back into my condo. This is not a bad way to go but for reasons of my own I want to look at setting up my own filtration system here in the condo.

[joekicker 53]

I have a reverse osmosis setup, largely at the instigation of the minister of finance, who has a yuppie gene. It's OK, and here is why I say that. The water is bloody clean, no doubt about that. But it's TOO clean, you know, like distilled water? I kind of like the bottled stuff better. I drink this stuff because it's right there, and there are always a bunch of bottles in the fridge.

 

If you want REALLY clean water, I can recommend it. But next time, I'll go for a normal filtration system. As you note, it's cheaper, too.

 

I do like to have a filter because all other methods are more work. You can boil water, have it delivered (you run out sometimes) drive to the store to pick it up as you do -- all are more work than having a filter with a tap on it right in front of you.

[jackcorbett 2]

I have a reverse osmosis setup, largely at the instigation of the minister of finance, who has a yuppie gene. It's OK, and here is why I say that. The water is bloody clean, no doubt about that. But it's TOO clean, you know, like distilled water? I kind of like the bottled stuff better. I drink this stuff because it's right there, and there are always a bunch of bottles in the fridge.

 

If you want REALLY clean water, I can recommend it. But next time, I'll go for a normal filtration system. As you note, it's cheaper, too.

 

I do like to have a filter because all other methods are more work. You can boil water, have it delivered (you run out sometimes) drive to the store to pick it up as you do -- all are more work than having a filter with a tap on it right in front of you.

 

Joekicker, I hear what you are saying about having water that is too clean. When I used to live on the farm in the U.S., I installed a water distillation system and when I bought it the company that supplied it sold me a small quantity of chemicals to add back many minerals that the distillation process took out of the water. I have noticed that the normal filtration setups are readily available at a number of outlets at very reasonable cost and that there are a number of models to choose from.

[BigDUSA 71]

Remember when we went shopping for a filtration system before you moved into your condo? I recommended a three stage system then and I still stand by that recommendation. You can buy filters that are good for 3,000 gallons. That's well over a year for filter replacement.

[vidman 2]

Your 5 gallon plastic bottle should only be costing you 15baht!

 

 

AND go to the mini style cash and carry (youll know them by beer crates stacked high). You will get 12 bottles of Namthip water for 55baht.

 

Nothing to do with water filtration but an alternative til you get setup

[python 27]

Jack,

 

I have some experience of these and would agree with BigDusa. Go for as large a three system as you can get or have space for. You still need to get advice on how often filter/cartridge requires changing. This not only to do with amount of water that has passed through it but for health reasons.

 

You do not require RO water systems for drinking water and is more expensive. The domestic system I had was plumbed to my fridge for drinking water and ice. The tap over the sink I left unfiltered water as this is mostly used for hand washing and filling the kettle. Saves a little on cartridges which should be changed around once a year and is a five minute job on a domestic system.

 

I have had 3 stage systems fitted in my home for years and a large commercial system outside as I kept fish. The water in Northern Ireland is pretty good compared to other parts of the world I think, so when people commented as to why I bothered to fit these systems I gave them a glass of chilled filtered water, they said ,yeah its ok. Next I gave them a glass straight from the tap, they spit it out. Tastes not bad if you taste it first but terrible compared to the filtered.

 

Regards,

[sinbinjack 252]

I have no experiance of any kind of filters as we dont use them at home (UK)and when in LOS I use bottled water,but in my condos hallway there is a water filter machine that charges I think 1 baht a litre all you do is put a bottle under the spout and put money in the slot and it gives you as much water as you paid for .I have seen these machines all over Pattaya but never used one ,is this a safe way to get water?.

[BigDUSA 71]

sinbinjack,

 

If they change the filters on a routine basis then yes it's safe. I would want to look inside to see how many filter cartridges they use. For me at least two is the minimum needed.

[mike100 0]

Have used a 3 stage filter system for the last 5 years here in Patts with no ill effects.

 

Filters changed once a year, or so by the supplying company at about 800 bah.

 

Probably cheaper to buy large water bottles weekly, but happy with the way it is.

 

mike.

[Fonz 0]

mike was that 800B for each filter or800B for 3 filters.

 

Cheers

[jackcorbett 2]

Many thanks everyone. Looks like the 3 filter system is the way to go. Denny, you were right. I just didn't want to buy anything more than absolutely necessary while outfitting the condo with nice furniture, fridge and everything essential so I wanted to wait for a long time solution. The five gallon bottles from the shop is okay so long as the shop is in my building. Before I have actually taken filled five gallon bottles on my motorbike from just up the street. I think the days of the shop below are numbered however.

[Eneukman 1]

I have no experiance of any kind of filters as we dont use them at home (UK)and when in LOS I use bottled water,but in my condos hallway there is a water filter machine that charges I think 1 baht a litre all you do is put a bottle under the spout and put money in the slot and it gives you as much water as you paid for .I have seen these machines all over Pattaya but never used one ,is this a safe way to get water?.

 

View Talay 2 are talking about putting a similar system in here. One day - maybe. #

 

Alan

[mike100 0]

mike was that 800B for each filter or800B for 3 filters.

 

Cheers

 

800 baht for all three filters.

 

cheers,

mike.

[Fonz 0]

Thanks for the info mike.

Once a year I pay 75nz$ =1.725b. to get one filter fitted and until now never gave it a thought.

Come monday will make enquires as to the cost of a single cartridge to find out how much I am being charged to fit one.

 

Cheers.

[jackcorbett 2]

Got all setup now. Went to Home Pro (Carre Four) and got totally confused looking at all the different water filtration setups. Had about 6000 bath in my wallet and had left the ATM cards back in the condo. While looking at filtration setups I ran into two of my fellow condo co-owners there. One of them, an Aussie, had done considerable work with me improving the condo's pool area and he's a builder by trade. There were several nice looking stainless steel setups. One was pretty substantial in size but for one thing it cost more than I had in my wallet, and I had serious doubts it would fit nicely underneath my kitchen sink. These stainless steel setups employ one ceramic filter and two other enclosures that operate as filters because in one of them you fill it up with a resin substance that is available at very low cost in plastic bags while the remaining one you fill up with activated charcoal. Well, I bought one of the smaller units that was on sale for 4500 baht, took it home with me and had the maintenance guys working for our condo install it a couple of days later. Maintenance of this unit will entail every 15 days my opening a couple of valves and letting the water flow through until clear into a bucket. Then once a month I'll have to pull the setup off its bracket, open the top of one of the filters and put a salt water solution into it for 20 minutes, then drain it. The ceramic filter gets cleaned when the flow out of the tap becomes restricted. Well.....perhaps this setup is more maintenance intensive than other types of units but the annual operational cost will be quite low (you just replace the resin and charcoal, then the ceramic filter) and whatever time I devote to maintenance will be less hassle than hauling 5 gallon water bottles from the shop downstairs to my condo once a week.