Water filter

[moosefly]

We have a Brita water filter jug with a digital countdown 'to change filter' reader on the top ,does anyone know how many times you can actually use the filter before replacement?

[Gef]

Why bother? Just drink tap water (UK) it contains fewer dissolved solids than bottled mineral water.

[Cactus]

Gef, i challenge you to come and drink a glass of tap water from where i live - it comes out a browny yellow sometimes and tastes like TCP! I have a filter jug, but it's a Kenwood and it hasn't got the digital countdown. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "how many times you can use". If you mean how many litres of water can you pass through a filter before it needs replacing, then i think that piece of information lies somewhere deep in the vaults of Brita themselves. Not sure if they've got a website, it might tell you on there if they have. If you literally mean "how many times can you use a filter" then i'm afraid the answer is "once". With my filter jug, they recommend that you change the filter once a month, and with yours i assume it's when the digital counter reaches zero. You can't wash the filters out and re-use them, just throw away and fit a new one. Not sure how much the Brita ones cost, but the Kenwood are about �8 for 3 filters. And Gef, i can tell you want to know where this TCP flavoured water is. Well, it's in the Westcountry. Devon to be precise, and the water pressure isn't great either. Mind you, i do live up high...

[5029]

moosefly and cactus - where do you live? Our water is also bad and we use a britta water filter, however we don't use the countdown, we just change it when the water starts to taste bad, usually this is long after the date it suggests, therefore saving money

[ipek]

I've got one of these 'countdown' filters as well....which I totally ignore. It depends on how often you need to fill it up, not on how long the filter has been in there (which is what the countdown goes on). I'm with 5029 on this - change it when you notice the difference in taste.

[Cactus]

5029 - I can't speak for moosefly, but i'm in Devon. The tap water unfiltered is foul. I think it might have something to do with some kind of build up on the inside of the pipes, but i don't know how far back it stretches. I suppose i could get a plumber to have a look, but he might just charge me a forune to tell me that it's the warterboard's pipes that are furred up, not mine. For now, a waterfilter does the job and at least makes it 'drinkable'. Suppose i shouldn't complain, at least i'm in a 'soft water' area, so i don't suffer with limescale in my kettle/washing machine!

[WendyW]

Cactus ... why don't you try contacting the water board. Just tell them that your water tastes funny and is an odd colour and they will come out and test it. Then if there is a problem in their pipes they should be able to deal with it. We once had a problem with discoloured water and they flushed out the pipes which sorted it out.

[5029]

We tried contacting the water board, to no avail. They flushed out the pipes, which made no difference, then refused to admit there was a problem, tasting the water and saying there was nothing wrong with it. Good luck!

[Cactus]

Hi WendyW, thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately (or do i mean fortunately, i can't decide) our water discolouration is intermittent. Some days, you can turn on the tap and get virtual mud. The rest of the time it looks clear, but still tastes foul. As 5029 says, it's a matter of taste - a Waterboard official could come to my house and say "That tastes fine to me" but he'd be lying. But how can you prove it? My waterfilter makes it drinkable, and i'm satisfied with that. If i run a bath and the water turns brown halfway through, i just pull the plug out, run the tap until the water turns clear and then start running the bath again. I used to live in London, and i guess i got spoiled by the quality of the water you get round there. I've moved to "The Sticks" for a bit of peace and solitude, and i guess you have to pay a few penalties for the privellage. (not being able to get broadband for one!) I'm prepared to put up with my water quality (or lack of it) for now, as with a waterfilter and a little patience you can work around it. Thanks for your helpful suggestions, they are appreciated. Sorry moosefly, i didn't mean to hi-jack your thread!

[snowey]

30

[snowey]

Hey does anyone know that this water isn't even being monitored. you could put the filthiest or the cleanist water in ireland in there and it wouldn't make a difference.by the way i am doing a young scientist progect on this stuff and i don't tink ill ever buy on again. i mean you have to pay for something that comes straight from your clean tap into something that has been collecting your waters dirt for the last month. Does anyone else have anything to say about this.