Water is an essential part of life; you need it to hydrate and wash your body, cook meals, and keep your home clean.  On Hawaii Island and especially in East Hawaii—thousands of homeowners catch the rain water on their roof and have it stored in a catchment tank where it often sits for a long time before being pumped into the home for consumption and washing. When water is contaminated with sediments, bacteria, and impurities, it can lead to health problems.  Acid rain which we get here results from tiny Volcanic air particles or ‘VOG’.  It will corrode copper water supply pipes over time, so it is preferred to install CPVC water piping in East Hawaii normally and there are other measures that can be taken to counteract the acidity by adding some baking soda to your catchment tank.  Either way, each homeowner with a water catchment system needs to be proactive in assuring that their water supply is clean and safe.  Contact a licensed plumbing contractors to design the best water supply system for your home with water filtration solutions. Start with a UV Filter and add Sediment and Charcoal Filters.

Three main Water Filter Types recommended for homes with water catchment systems:

1. Ultra-Violet Water Purification –  Ultraviolet technology is more expensive than standard water filters, but offers peace of mind as it effectively destroys 99.9% of waterborne microorganisms.  If you are building a new home with a water catchment system—you would be wise to budget this in from the get go.  UV is an environmentally friendly alternative to chlorine disinfection and has no disinfection by products.  It works night and day whenever your water is being pumped through the pipes.  It is clean with no dirty parts to dispose of.  It’s FDA approved and there is no odd taste or odor, as one can sometimes detect in chlorine treated systems.  Note though, UV light cannot remove heavy metals, salts, chlorine, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals or sediments. 

 It operates only while your electricity is on, and if the water is murky with “floaties” a pre-filter should be used, because the UV light cannot effectively reach the microorganisms due to the rays be blocked by other particles.  We suggest that you also have us install two more filters..

1. SEDIMENT FILTERS –  A sediment filter catches the sediment which has gathered in your gutter and catchment tank.  Sediment filters are rated by micron numbers.  Sometimes people choose to put more than one sediment filter on their water catchment systems—first for larger micron sizes, then for smaller microns.  Usually though we see just one sediment filter is added.  Sediment filters do no remove chemicals or heavy metals or make the water taste better.  They do help your Ultra-Violet filter perform better.
2. CARBON FILTERS – Use a bed of activated carbon to remove contaminants and impurities by using chemical absorption.  They are effective at removing chlorine, particles such as sediment, volatile organic compounds, taste and odor.

Best to have all three filter types if you can!

There are various types of water filtration systems designed to suit any homeowner’s needs and budget. A whole-house system is the most expensive option and takes more labor to install. However, since it’s installed at the main water supply line’s entrance into the home, it protects the entire property from contaminants. This is effective at solving whole-house issues.  We sometimes install water filtration systems for individual sinks, however Emery Plumbing does not normally recommend reverse-osmosis systems.  

(Don’t hesitate to call us if you need help with your water pump and hot water heater replacements, also!)

When you want to improve your home’s drinking water, contact John Mingo at Emery Plumbing in Hilo, HI on his direct cell phone at (808) 960-8828 to discuss which filter options are right for you.  John is an experienced and licensed plumbing contractor and journeyman plumber that has served Big Island residents and businesses for almost 20 years. This family-owned and -operated company is equipped to handle a variety of plumbing installations, repairs, and emergencies in kitchens, bathrooms, and remodeling projects. Learn more about their residential services online, or call John Mingo at (808) 960-8828 to speak about your home’s filtration needs.