Water Filtration Advice

[John Mercier]

Is the UV maybe deactivating it but leaving it in the water at a level of detection?

I think an RO might be the only option to remove it after the UV deactivates it.

[FlyingScot]

I have no technical expertise here, but following on John's RO post--we have a Kinetico system from Second Wind Water (actually, we've had several Kineticos at different houses over the past 30 years or so). Both the system and the service are excellent. The Second Wind guys have great expertise and passion. Kinetico looks expensive on paper, but it is a fraction of the cost of Poland Spring on a per gallon basis, and there's no lugging

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

I have no technical expertise here, but following on John's RO post--we have a Kinetico system from Second Wind Water (actually, we've had several Kineticos at different houses over the past 30 years or so). Both the system and the service are excellent. The Second Wind guys have great expertise and passion. Kinetico looks expensive on paper, but it is a fraction of the cost of Poland Spring on a per gallon basis, and there's no lugging

Flying;

Can you give me a ballpark on cost of this system installed?

Thanks for your input!

Dan

[SAB1]

I think I’d be getting some info from a water professional rather than here.

[John Mercier]

He is, he is using a professional lab.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Flying;

Can you give me a ballpark on cost of this system installed?

Thanks for your input!

Dan

It's been a few years since our last one, and we've loved all of them, so I was not really paying attention to price, but I think the under sink system is $2,000-3,000 and the filters that are replaced every year or two are $300-500 depending on which ones you need. The filters last longer than the spec. When I compared prices to Poland Spring MANY years ago, Kinetico was 1/3 or maybe less than the price per gallon.

But I agree with the other poster above--you should call Second Wind Water. They'll give you the real scoop in just a few minutes

[Descant]

My mother spent the last couple of months of my pregnancy in the Glendale Cabins, presumably drinking unfiltered lake water. I've been drinking unfiltered lake water on Welch Island, both sides, since 1950. No ill effects. About 15 years ago I had my island tap water (south side) tested. Nothing remarkable. A small level of bacteria. Consultation with Dr. Moody, a White House hydrologist and Water Resources Director for OAS summed up that all lake water will have bacteria. All safe unless it causes some unexpected stomach upset. I recall one of the GIA guest speakers, noted that many bacteria are below the filtration threshold for most filter systems including R/O.

As many of you know, Merrimack, Litchfield and surroundings had PFAS contamination from St. Gobain Performance Plastics. At that time (2016) there were only a handful of labs in the country that could test for PFAS, and the test was hundreds of $$ and took time due to wait lists. That has improved, but your average lab still can't do PFAS due to expense of test equipment and they send it out. Our home well tested at low levels of PFAS (been drinking unfiltered 1977 - 2020. Reimbursed by a state settlement fund we (Second Wind) installed a Granulated Activated Carbon point of entry (whole house) filtration system ($5500). Replacing filters quarterly costs about $120/year. It is my understanding that PFAS contamination comes from identifiable industrial sources and those have been identified in NH, as well as countrywide. Thus the likelihood of PFAS in the lake is very small now. There are still some "small chain" related forever chemicals lurking, so there could be new findings in the future. Remember it was not that long ago that we could not detect PFAS, so it was not known to be a hazard.
LAKE:
Some, not all, members of our family don't want to drink lake water and they lug. They (through Second Wind) also installed an R/O under sink filter. Last summer they (family) never got around to changing the filter and went back to lugging. Labor is still involved but I believe there is municipal water available at the Glendale PD office to refill your jugs, no charge. Municipal systems have to test and publish results on an annual schedule, called a Consumer Confidence Report. https://www.gilfordnh.gov/file/4267/...eport_2025.pdf

Bottled water: may contain up to 10 ppb arsenic, less, depending on the brand, but NH, especially the SE, has a naturally high level of arsenic. Also, if you like the idea, there are also brands that contain fluoride, but harder to find. (Source: personal experience and served on the NH House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee 2000-2018)

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Descant

Consultation with Dr. Moody, a White House hydrologist and Water Resources Director for OAS summed up that all lake water will have bacteria. All safe unless it causes some unexpected stomach upset. I recall one of the GIA guest speakers, noted that many bacteria are below the filtration threshold for most filter systems including R/O.

Thanks Descant! After speaking to a friend who is a hydrologist for the state, he pretty much confirmed everything you said above...I may still look for a secondary UV or RO countertop or under sink filter to appease my better half...

Dan

[sunfishman]

I'd be checking my neighbors' septic systems, if they even have one. And I'd think twice about swimming in that area.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by sunfishman

I'd be checking my neighbors' septic systems, if they even have one. And I'd think twice about swimming in that area.

There was no no e-coli (Escherichia Coli) in the water samples tested so that rules out septic or other fecal born bacteria be it from humans or animals.

All lake and pond water has bacteria...the healthiest of lakes have bacteria in them. The question is, is it good or bad...since there is no feasible way to test for every form of bacteria, the idea is to kill it all or at least as much as possible.

E-Coli is the one you really need to look out for and ensure it is not entering your water system...

Dan

[Formula260SS]

Dan,

Use an undercounter RO, we (and all my neighbors) use this one which works perfectly. Water has been tested in the past, no issues. Been drinking from it for 5+ years. Winni water though an RO is the best tasting water you'll find.

https://www.qualitywaterforless.com/...BoC5EoQAvD_BwE

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Formula260SS

Dan,

Use an undercounter RO, we (and all my neighbors) use this one which works perfectly. Water has been tested in the past, no issues. Been drinking from it for 5+ years. Winni water though an RO is the best tasting water you'll find.

https://www.qualitywaterforless.com/...BoC5EoQAvD_BwE

Thanks Formula!

Great info!!

Dan

[codeman671]

At both of our island properties we used a whole house filter and a Trojan UV only. Never a problem.

On Mark we had deep water with a submersible pump. On Bear, a jet pump with very shallow water. Our pickup was in 3-4 feet of water (300-400 feet offshore), and only the height of a cinder block off the bottom. Depth was a problem there, to get it much deeper we would have been probably 800 feet out.

[fatlazyless]

Is there all that much difference between a shallow or deep well drilled into the ground on a Winnipesaukee island, and drawing water from the lake water? Neither one has filtered, treated and tested water like a N.H. municipal water system.

The amount of water used for coffee, cook'n and brush'n teeth is probably less than one gallon per day which can easily be lug-a-jugged from town water, ashore somewhere.

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Is there all that much difference between a shallow or deep well drilled into the ground on a Winnipesaukee island, and drawing water from the lake water? Neither one has filtered, treated and tested water like a N.H. municipal water system.

The amount of water used for coffee, cook'n and brush'n teeth is probably less than one gallon per day which can easily be lug-a-jugged from town water, ashore somewhere.

Well…Mother Earth (soil) is the OG filter. I would think water that passes through (clean) soil is likely safer/better than directly from a lake/pond. IMO.

[John Mercier]

Even with the shallow wells, it was surface run-off contamination.

[The Real BigGuy]

I also installed a UV system when I reach my early 70s. Lugging 5 gallon jugs from home got old and to difficult fo an old man. Been using my Viqua system (5 micron sediment filter, 25 micron carbon filter, and UV tube) for 3 yrs without any issues. (Also installed a deep well pump in the lake and so nice not to have to go thru the pump priming process.)

One of the things people need to know/remember is that a UV system doesn't kill bacteria, it essentially sterilizes them so that they will not reproduce in your body. It is this reproduction of the bacteria that makes you sick.

This is also why it is a good idea decontaminate your piping system (chlorine bleach) at start up of a UV system. If you miss a pipe run, existing bacteria can multiply and back contaminant the water pipes.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

This is also why it is a good idea decontaminate your piping system (chlorine bleach) at start up of a UV system. If you miss a pipe run, existing bacteria can multiply and back contaminant the water pipes.

I would like to do this step at my place but need to figure out an easy way to bypass the septic tank. Not good at all to drain chlorinated water into the septic tank….

Dan

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I would like to do this step at my place but need to figure out an easy way to bypass the septic tank. Not good at all to drain chlorinated water into the septic tank….

Dan

Do you have a bypass for winterizing?

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I would like to do this step at my place but need to figure out an easy way to bypass the septic tank. Not good at all to drain chlorinated water into the septic tank….

Dan

For the 1 time a season you would do it, I would not worry about it.

[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I would like to do this step at my place but need to figure out an easy way to bypass the septic tank. Not good at all to drain chlorinated water into the septic tank….

Dan

As others have said, you probably use chlorine bleach in the washing machine at home (I do) and it hasn't been an issue there. Also, the way things are set up at my place, I think most of the bleach ends up in the hot water tank. I have an outside shower so I let the hot water run (before turning on the tank) thru the shower for 5 min or so to flush as much bleach water as possible from the hot water side. I also let the cold run thru the shower and the hose bib, but that is only flushing between the treatment system and those 2 locations. I open up the sink valves, the lines to the washing machine (into a 5 gl bucket), the indoor shower valves and let them flush for 5 min. Then i flush the toilet 2 or 3 times. All this seems to eliminate any bleach odor.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Is the UV maybe deactivating it but leaving it in the water at a level of detection?

I think an RO might be the only option to remove it after the UV deactivates it.

That's a great question and I'm not sure how I could find out...If it's deactivated I'm assuming you mean dead it probably poses no harm...I will call Nelson and see what they say.

Edited to add: Called Nelson they said the bacteria if noted as present is in fact living...

Thanks for the thought!

Dan