Norit, leading in purification


Frequently Asked Questions Why should tap water be filtered? Why should I choose a Norit H2OK filter? Which H2OK filter should I choose? Why are water softeners important? Why are water sanitizers important? Do H2OK filters require a prefilter? How do you know when to replace the H2OK filter? What should I do with a used H2OK filter? Are H2OK filters certified? What methods can be used for purifying water? What is the difference between MF (Micro-Filtration) and UF (Ultra-Filtration)? What is the difference between Ultra/Micro filtration and reverse osmosis? What is the difference between Ultrafiltration and UV purification? Is a pump required for H2OK filters to work properly? How does ion exchange work? How can you remove heavy metals and what technology is used to do this? Why should tap water be filtered? In the Western world, tap water is generally of reasonable quality. However, the possibility of finding substances which are bad for the health in tap water cannot be ruled out. Examples might include (incidental) contamination by micro-organisms such as Rotavirus, E. coli or Cryptosporidium. Tap water may also contain low values of certain chemical constituents such as medicine or hormone residues. These constituents are not filtered out by current water treatment techniques. The growth of bacteria can occur even in good quality water. This can happen quite easily if water is left to stand for a long period of time as in the case of a water cooler which is not used very often or a domestic water supply system if the inhabitants are away for a long period of time. Another possible source of contamination is within the water supply system itself. If this system is really old, contaminants can leak into the system through cracks. In addition, heavy metals can find their way into tap water via the water supply and/or domestic sanitary installations. In high concentrations, heavy metals such as lead and copper are harmful to health and professional water filtration is recommended. back to frequently asked questions. Why should I choose a Norit H2OK filter? There are three good reasons to choose a filter from the H2OK range, namely: they guarantee safe water, the filter itself indicates when replacement is required and they are easy to use. A brief explanation of each of these points is given below. Guaranteed safe water Norit is the market leader when it comes to large-scale water treatment. The H2OK filters are the first filters in which advanced membrane technologies are applied in point-of-use (POU) applications. Allowing tap water to flow through a Norit H2OK filter just prior to use enables viruses, bacteria, medicine residues, chloride and heavy metals to be effectively removed from the tap water. By doing this, Norit guarantees the highest possible level of safety for your drinking water. The filter itself indicates when replacement is required (failsafe mechanism) An H2OK filter equipped with membrane technology, will always be replaced in good time because the (considerably) reduced outflow of water clearly indicates that the filter needs to be changed. This is in contrast with activated carbon-only filters where there is no drop in pressure on reaching saturation point. These filters can even serve as a breeding ground for bacteria if they are not replaced in good time. Easy to use Both installing and replacing an H2OK filter is exceptionally easy. The filters are fitted with a handy bayonet coupling so that they can be fixed to the filter head in no time at all. When a filter is removed on reaching saturation point, two check valves ensure that the water supply is shut off automatically. back to frequently asked questions. Which H2OK filter should I choose? Depending on the quality of the inflow water and the demands made on the outflow water, there are six different H2OK water treatment filters to choose from. For a clear overview of the differences between the H2OK filters, click here. If required, H2OK filters can be used in combination by connecting the filter heads to each other. Besides these six water filters, the H2OK range also offers a water softener and a water sanitizer. back to frequently asked questions. Why are water softeners important? Continuous heating of water can cause a build-up of insoluble carbonates (limescale) in cooler and vending machines, resulting in high energy consumption and poorly functioning equipment. Ion exchange is the most effective way to treat temporary water hardness. It replaces insoluble carbonates with sodium ions, resulting in less scaling in machines and a better taste. back to frequently asked questions. Why are water sanitizers important? Even if you are using high-quality filters, you might still get some contamination in a machine. This contamination (biofilm) provides a breeding ground for living bacteria and is unhygienic. Biofilm also gives the water a nasty taste. Biofilm and limescale can be loosened and rinsed off effectively by cleaning the machine every six months when replacing the filter with H2OK sanitizer which is safe, odourless and has no taste. back to frequently asked questions. Do H2OK filters require a prefilter? Under normal circumstances, H2OK filters do not require a prefilter. However, under certain local circumstances, the H2OK filter may become blocked very quickly. In the specific case that the filter clogs up too quickly, a prefilter may be required in order to prolong the life of the H2OK filter. Please contact us if that is the case (). back to frequently asked questions. How do you know when to replace the H2OK filter? We recommend that H2OK filters be replaced every six months. This advice is based on the standards which apply in the industry. However, it is possible that a filter may have to be replaced sooner on account of above-average contamination of inflow water. What is unique about the H2OK filter is that if that is the case, the outflow water will stop automatically so that the filter itself indicates when it needs to be replaced. back to frequently asked questions. What should I do with a used H2OK filter? Used H2OK filters can be disposed of as normal waste. In the incinerator, the used filter provides additional energy (because it functions as a fuel) and is converted into electricity. A used H2OK filter cannot be cleaned. back to frequently asked questions. Are H2OK filters certified? All the products in the H2OK range are subjected to rigorous water filtration tests. More detailed information can be found on the product data sheet of the relevant H2OK filter. To download the product data sheet, click here. back to frequently asked questions. What methods can be used for purifying water? Generally speaking, there are five methods which can be used to purify water. A number of water purification techniques are often used in combination. The existing techniques include: • Biological purification: bacteria “eat” contaminants. • Activated carbon purification: activated carbon is very effective at absorbing substances which are dissolved in the water and can give the water a nasty taste or smell. • Filtration: water flows through filters and contaminants are kept back mechanically. Depending on the desired result, specialized filters can be used. With filter techniques, it is possible to remove different and smaller particles from the water than would be possible if the activated carbon-only method was used. • Reverse osmosis: all the substances occurring in the water are forced through a membrane under high pressure. • UV purification: UV rays generated using electricity kill the organisms living in the water. These dead organisms remain in the water but can no longer be harmful. back to frequently asked questions. What is the difference between MF (Micro-Filtration) and UF (Ultra-Filtration)? An MF filter (used in H2OK water filters) has a different structure and different physical features to a UF filter (used in H2OK water purifiers). The pores in the UF filter are smaller so that these filters can also keep back viruses. UF filters also have a longer service life and a more constant flow. back to frequently asked questions. What is the difference between Ultra/Micro filtration and reverse osmosis? With reverse osmosis (RO), all the substances occurring in the water are forced through a membrane under high pressure. What remains is purified water which no longer contains either harmful or “good” substances which could affect the taste of the water. With filtration, the contaminated water flows through a filter. Harmful substances are left behind in the filter while the purified water, as well as the substances which are important to the smell and taste, are allowed to pass through. A second difference is the lower environmental impact of filtration compared to RO. The pressure from the water supply system is all that is needed for filters to work properly. So no electricity is needed to force water through a membrane under high pressure as is the case with RO. In addition, no water is lost when using filtration: one litre of contaminated water is converted into one litre of clean water and the contaminants are left behind in the filter. With RO, on average three litres of water are needed to produce one litre of clean water because, due to the high pressure, H2O molecules are also forced through the membrane. This also means that in the case of water purification by means of RO, a discharge system is required. back to frequently asked questions. What is the difference between Ultrafiltration and UV purification? With UV technology the water is treated by electromagnetic waves of a certain wavelength. It inactivates the DNA structure of any bacteria present in the water, so they cannot multiply themselves anymore. In ideal circumstances it can be an effective way of treating your water. However, there are a number of things that have a negative influence on its effectiveness. Most important of these is the so-called shadow effect that is caused by insoluble particles in the water that absorb the UV waves and leave some bacteria untreated. Compared to ultrafiltration, UV is a less reliable technology. back to frequently asked questions. Is a pump required for H2OK filters to work properly? H2OK filters require a water pressure of 2 bar which is the same as the pressure in the water supply system. No pump, or electricity supply, is therefore required. back to frequently asked questions. How does ion exchange work? Hardness of the water is caused by deposition of insoluble calcium and magnesium carbonates, often referred to as limescale. This especially occurs with water is heated inside a machine. Ion exchange resin replaces these insoluble carbonates with sodium ions, resulting in less scaling of machines and a better taste of the water. back to frequently asked questions. How can you remove heavy metals and what technology is used to do this? Heavy metals can be removed by using a carbon block specifically designed for this purpose in the filter. The water conditioner from the H2OK range is fitted with this type of carbon block. back to frequently asked questions.		.