Charcoal Water Filters

It's a sad indictment of our times that the water we trust to drink may be harming us. There are so many impurities which can be health damaging.

We are mainly made of water and if we drink toxins in our drinking water we store them in our body. We all agree how important it is ensure that our water supply is toxin free.

So looking at the above you can see why so many people are installing home water filters in their houses. Unfortunately in their rush to fit a system they dont look into the type they really need to fit, to ensure pure natural water and they often end up with an inferior product.

Let's have a look at the ones to avoid: Reverse Osmosis Systems - these are a real no no - they were never designed to be used for drinking water but were first used in the paper industry which needs de-mineralized water. they are also twice as expensive as other systems, they strip out some vital minerals such as potassium and calcium (these minerals are essential for good health) and they can permit some harmful man made toxins such as pesticides to enter the supply.

The best systems need to be affordable and easy to use - but what are they? Main requirement is they must be the sort of filter which has: multi stage activated carbon blocks with ion exchange and sub micro filters.

This is the multi-filtration system and is easily the best sort of filtration system. It's fairly new and works by the formation of a chemical bond to all contaminating substances. Just as necessary is this type of filters properties of retaining healthy minerals in the supply.

So now the decision has been made to fit the correct home filter, it is necessary to decide on how far you are going to take this through the house.

There are really only three types you should consider: first the tap/faucet water filter, then the tap/shower combo unit and finally the full or whole house filter unit.

If you only choose the faucet filter you are then leaving yourself open to showering in water which has far too much chlorine dissolved in it, approx. 70% of this will be absorbed into your skin. So filtering the tap water doesn't make much sense as you then take in chlorine and other undesirable pollutants from your shower.

Mimimum recommendation is a drinking tap + shower combination. But by far the best from a longer term cost and practicallity view is the whole house filter system.

About the Author:

Joe Coburn believes that everybody should have clean water free from contaminants. He has a website which gives the lowdown on making the choice for the: Best Home Water Filters Try and go to the site to see those filters which really perform and the ones which quite frankly don't.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Some Home Water Filters are Much Better than others and Some are Not up to the Job

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After comparing, my decision is Nikon D200 w/18-200 lens, your thoughts before I click BUY button?

Here is my order..any other MUST HAVE items you would add to list right now?

Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

SanDisk SDCFX3-2048-901 2 GB Extreme III CompactFlash Card

Nikon MB-D200 Multi-Power Battery Pack for the D200 Digital Camera

Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for D200 Digital SLR Camera

Nikon Digital & Film SLR System Case Gadget Bag for D200

Hoya 72mm DMC PRO1 Digital Multi-Coated UV (Ultra Violet) Filter

Nikon Lens Pen Cleaning System

Nikon Micro Fiber Cleaning Cloth

Introduction to the Nikon D200 DVD

Nikon D200 Digital Field Guide

Total price with shipping: $2643.06 from Amazon.com

This is the exact camera and lens that I use probably 80-90% of the time. I think Amazon has bumped up the "kit" with a few things that they get practically for free to cover the real expense of finding and selling the lens, which has been going for about $200 over retail. As long as you can accept the fact that you probably can't get it any other way, I say go for it.

Now... You can probably do without the multi-battery pack, the lens cleaning stuff, the field guide, the DVD and the gadget bag. If you could only FIND the D200 and 18-200 lens at "retail" price, you could save about $500. The fact of the matter is simply that you can't find it, though. So I say buy what makes you happy. If you buy anything less, you will always look back and regret your decision. Who knows when the 18-200 will become widely available again?

Okay, it's not the world's PERFECT lens, but it is not too shabby. As I said, unless I am doing something really critical, it is my choice for a casual "walk-around" lens. Go here and read Rockwell's review:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm

Go here and look at the sample images. Click on them to view them full screen. If you click at least once in the white space, your cursor will turn into a magnifier when you scroll it back over the image. Click again over the image and it will zoom to 100% size so you can really examine the image.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200/examples/index.htm

"Optically, this lens is the best superzoom we’ve seen, though it’s not compatible with Nikon teleconverters, extension rings, or coupled macro bellows. It also costs about $300 more than third-party digital-only glass. But are extremely rugged construction, unusually well-controlled distortion, and four extra handholdable speeds worth the extra bucks? That, and more."

http://www.popphoto.com/cameralenses/2763/lens-test-nikon-18-200mm-f35-56g-dx-vr-af-s.html

Camping Water Filters...a Vital Necessity!

Imagine you are hiking through some of the lushest and most beautiful virgin forests in the middle of nowhere. The air is fresh and everything feels so pristine and perfect. You are thirsty and a small stream with clear fresh water is running in front of you. Naturally you feel the need to drink from that water source; however doing so will be ill advised. Most people think that just because water is from a natural source, is clear and tastes "natural" that means that drinking it will be fine. This is a terrible mistake and would expose you to unnecessary risk. Don't drink untreated water in the wilderness!

For most people, getting a drink of water is just a matter of walking a few feet, turning on the faucet and drinking up. However in the camping or hiking scenario the normally simple task becomes a bit more laborious. Usually the safest option when you are out in the wilderness is to simply bring your own treated water. However, if you are going for an overnight hike or camp-out this simply won't be an option as you can't bring the amount required, the only option will be to treat water that you can source from the hiking or trekking area.

Potential Contaminants
Water taken from natural sources such as lakes, river, streams and ponds may look clean and have no undesirable odor or taste. However pathogens found in water are not only harmful, but are also invisible to the naked eye and may be odorless or tasteless. The pathogens in question are bacteria, viruses and protozoa which can cause mild nausea and fever or can develop into more serious illnesses such as severe diarrhea, hepatitis or typhoid fever. Water from lakes, rivers, streams and ponds should always be disinfected and treated before being used of cooking or drinking.

These pathogens may seem out of place in such pristine environments but rotting or fecal matter in the water harbors these pathogens. This means that there is a chance that some animal has either died or excreted body wastes in the natural water source or there could be some contaminated water run-off from a source upstream which would render the water source unknowingly unusable.

Besides pathogens, sediments from mud, soil or sand may also render natural sources of water unusable. The general practice before the advent of portable water filters is to collect the water and let it sit in a bowl of some sort to let the sediments collect at the bottom then pour the remaining water on the top to another receptacle for consumption. This can normally be a very time consuming process and in emergency situation might not be very practical, especially since the water still isn't fit for consumption, pathogens as discussed earlier may still reside in the water and thus still has to be treated before consumption.

On a more alarming note, the U.S Geological Survey reports that in North American wilderness waters, there are trace amounts of organic chemicals, pesticides, solvents, gasoline compounds, refrigerant and fumigants in the supposedly pristine wilderness waters. The good news is that the levels of chemical concentrations are very low but is an early warning that human activity is having an effect on regional surface-water quality even in remote areas.

Water Treatment Devices for Campers/Hikers
Water treatment devices can generally be divided into two groups following their functions. The first group are water treatment devices to improve the overall taste, smell and appearance of water or to remove undesirable chemicals or minerals, these types of water filters are not as essential to the camper/hiker thus we will not discuss them there. The next group is water treatment devices designed to disinfect water which we will discuss here since the biggest risk for hikers or campers is ingesting water with active pathogens which will cause illness.

Chlorinators, Iodinators and Ultraviolet Light (UV)
These are generally the most practical mean to disinfect larger volumes of water that might be needed for drinking purposes of a large camp site. Chlorine and iodine kills most disease-causing organisms and require short to moderate contact times with the water before taking effect. Chlorine is used widely in municipally treated water and has virtually eliminated waterborne infectious diseases such as typhoid and cholera in urban areas.

However, chlorine and iodine treatment alone will not eliminate all pathogens, protozoa such as Giardia Lamblia and Cryptosporidium Parvum will not be killed with just chlorination. If protozoa are present or suspected, then it is recommended that the water be passed through a water filter with a 0.1 micro-meters or smaller pore size to remove these harmful parasites then treated with chlorine or iodine before consumption.

Iodine is another alternative to disinfecting water, however should be reserved for occasional or emergency use only. Iodine should not be used as a long term solution for disinfection because iodine is physiologically active thus ingesting large amounts over a long period can also be harmful.

Both chlorine and iodine are effective at killing pathogens however research has indicated that long term chlorine usage is dangerous and can be linked to cancer and also brain damage, it is thus advised that these treatment agents be used as a last resort where other water treatment options have been exhausted.

Ultra-violet devices are also effective against bacteria, viruses and protozoa. You don't have to add anything to the water thus the treated water has no taste or odor, additionally only a few seconds of expose is necessary if the water is clear. This system however is rather expensive compared to the other types of water filters and also doesn't guarantee the quality of the water beyond the point of use. Basically, once you apply the UV light, you should drink it immediately, it isn't a long-term solution where you can store the water in a receptacle for future consumption.

Ceramic or Glass Fiber Filters
These types of filters normally come in a canister form for use in camping or hiking situations. They treat smaller amounts of water, suitable for camping with few people or when the water needs aren't very high. These types of filters can remove most bacteria and protozoa from mildly contaminated water and are normally sufficient for the average camper/hiker's needs. When presented with heavily contaminated waters, it is recommended that these filters be used in conjunction with the above mentioned chlorinators, iodinators and ultraviolet lights to get a broad spectrum of disinfection and treatment.

There are also portable glass fiber/ceramic filters with iodine-releasing resins designed specifically for campers or travelers to countries where drinking water quality is questionable. Some of these iodine-releasing portable filters also have activated carbon filters to remove excess iodine from the water.

Generally, these types of filters are the most practical when it comes to hiking or camping because of their easy of use and portability. If the camper of hiker is looking to clean the natural water that isn't overly contaminated, using these types of filters is recommended above the rest of the treatment options.

Distillers and Ozonators
These are point-of-use devices that are suitable where electric power isn't available such as during a hiking or camping trip. The distillation water filters are effective for the removal of inorganic chemicals including heavy metals and selected organic chemicals. They are often combined with activated carbon for the removal of certain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) such as trihalomethanes and tetrachloroethylene. It should be noted that distilled water is demineralized, there have been quarters that say drinking demineralized water for extended periods will cause illness however there has been no research to prove or disprove this theory.

Ozonators produce small quantities of ozone which is a very strong oxidizing agent that is effective in killing pathogens over a short period of time. Ozonation produces no taste or odor in the water. Unlike chlorine and iodine, ozone does not protect water after the application (however is safer based on research) and is normally combined with activated carbon filtration to achieve a more complete water treatment solution.

These type of filters are normally used in conjunction with ceramic or glass fiber filters when a much broader spectrum of contaminants is present in the water. Generally these types of filters are bulkier, take longer to filter and should only be used where water is known to be contaminated with these toxic chemicals. Under normal circumstances, such a high level of filtrations isn't necessary.

To conclude, the main objective of campers when it comes to their water needs is to ensure that water consumed is free from harmful pathogens, chemicals and toxins so that they don't get ill on their trip. As such, water filters which provide the most balanced filtration needs for the camper/hiker would be ceramic or glass fiber water filters, again assuming that the water isn't overly contaminated.

About the Author

About The Author
Mark Blake is a successful writer providing valuable health tips and advice for online purchasers of water filtration systems, such as water filters and whole house water filters

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Renovate Your Kitchen With Modern Kitchen Appliances

The Kitchen Appliances not only help you in your kitchen work, but also bring a nice look to your kitchen. There are many appliances that are available in the market to decorate your kitchen beautifully. The refrigerator, mixer grinder, gas stove and pressure cooker are the major kitchen appliances that every modern house should have. Without taking the assistance of these appliances, you can not prepare your meals easy and fast. Refrigerator keeps your food items fresh and cool. With the help of mixer grinder, you can mix even the rough items within the snap of a moment. If you want to cook more food at a time, you can use the pressure cooker that cooks food within 2 or 3 minutes.

Apart from these major appliances, the coffee maker, blenders, ice-cream maker, micro oven, dryer and dish washer are also some other useful and needed appliances for kitchen. Do not think that there is no need of these small appliances in your kitchen. Because, they help you in a great way and save your valuable time.

For instance, a coffee maker is a small kitchen appliance that helps you a lot to save your time while making coffee. Before the advent of the modern technology coffee makers, people used filters to prepare instant coffee. To make coffee with rich taste within seconds, there are several types of coffee makers available in the present day market. They include the Krups, Tassimo, Flavia, Braun, Russell Hobbs and Cuisinart coffee makers. According to your budget and needs, you can select any one of these to have a tasty coffee in every morning.

To renovate as well as to enjoy with modern comforts, you can find numerous home appliances in the market. They make your home like a heaven and keep your mind pleasant and happy. Some of the modern home appliances are air cooler, television, washing machine, music player and home theatre etc. Cooking appliances also come under the category of these appliances as kitchen is one of the major parts of the home.

Like this, all the small and large cooking appliances are very useful and help the people to lessen their labour, while making food in their kitchens. Before going to purchase home or kitchen appliances, just estimate your budget and consider the size of your home. For example, if you purchase a large kitchen appliance, which is not fit for your kitchen, then your money will be wasted. So, according to your convenience and budget, if you choose the appliances, you will feel happy and comfortable with them.

About the Author

The author is a specialist in retail writing. Her writing skills reflect the outcome of years of exposure to the retail industry. Working with retail giants as a consultant has enriched her knowledge base and her passion for writing got fire. She can be read regularly on RetailsDirect.com. For details please visit: www.retailsdirect.com Men's Watches,Spykar Jeans India.

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Will a cotton ball filter micro-organisms?

i think it can partially filters micro-organism.. only if the cotton balls are tightly compressed forming a dense layer of cotton. this action eliminate empty space inside the cotton ball thus provide possible filtration

Buying Water Filters - Let Me Tell you Something

There is a lot of hype and doubtful claims about water filters in the media. It's hard for the average consumer to understand the different methods and types of water filtration systems without buying into all the sales talk.

Water filtration or treatment in itself is a quite a large topic with many methods and technologies involved. Most household water filters/treatment systems are designed to remove various contaminants such as chlorine, lead, mercury, Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs), Total Dissolved Solids (TDSs), Cryptosporidium, Chloramines, pesticides, herbicides, Giardia and other bad smell or taste elements.

Feature and Function Differences
Most water filters work on the same general process. Water is passed through a filtration agent (physical, chemical or ultra-violet) where contaminants are either removed or neutralized. The treated water is then either dispensed out of the system or is stored in a storage tank for future use. Generally, most water filters are fairly simple and inexpensive items that aren't very different from one manufacturer to the next. Below is a list of features and functions which you should consider before buying a water filtration system.

1). Filtering Technology
The first and most common sort of filter uses a physical barrier to remove suspended particles such as mud, silt, sand or rust as well as micro-organisms such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium. Physical filters are measured by microns. The finer the filter the smaller the micron number and the more types of particles can be removed from the raw water.

Another type of filter uses chemical processes to remove or neutralize potentially harmful contaminants in raw water. Depending on the type of contaminant, the filter elements can comprise of activated charcoal, copper, zinc etc.

The newest form of filtration technology is to use ultra-violet light to destroy bacteria, viruses or pathogens in water. The ultra-violet light is typically encased in a tank where-by the water is treated either when in storage or is run through a ultra-violet canister. The ultra-violet light deactivated the DNA of the organic particulates which ruin their ability to reproduce and cause disease.

Typically, a water filtration system will contain more than one type of filter because each filter has its own specific strengths and together enable a much wider spectrum of filtration.

2). System Types
There are a few basic types of water filters that range from small portable units to units that can supply an entire house or office. Here are the more common types:

Counter-top: These types of filters are placed on top as of the counter as suggested by the name and is connected to the faucet. The system normally has limited capacity while the filtered water is only available at the faucet.

Under-counter: These systems are very similar to the counter-top systems in that they have smaller capacities and only provide treated water to one faucet. The difference is that these systems don't take up valuable counter space however would require more sophisticated plumbing which makes it slightly more expensive.

Faucet Mounted: These systems are the cheapest and easies to install however offer the least amount of filtration. The system is mounted on the faucet itself and offers treated water to that faucet alone.

Whole House: These water filter systems are typically the most comprehensive and costly filter types that will be needed for a house or office. These systems attach to the pipe mains before entering the house/office which means that they will supply treated water to the entire house/office. These water filters are generally quite expensive to buy and maintain however all water in the house is treated.

Water Softeners: These types of water filters are used specifically to remove only some types of contaminants, namely unwanted elements such as calcium, magnesium, lime, and iron from a household's water supply. These elements make water taste metallic and salty.

Dispensers/Pitcher Water Filter: These systems are normally very simple filter assemblies that are built into a Pitcher/Dispenser. Again, this type of filter is very simple and cheap however doesn't filter contaminants all that well compared to the more comprehensive examples.

Portable: These water filters are made to be portable, some are designed for camping and light travel while some are built into sports drink bottles. Interestingly, an ultra-violet light pen is available which should act as a microbe de-activator similar to more complex household systems as mentioned earlier.

3). Capacity
There are generally two measurements for water filters that use "capacity". Capacity can be used as a measure to determine how much water the filter can actually treat before it needs filter replacements.

On the other hand, capacity is also a measure of the storage tank if the water treatment system is built with a storage tank. This goes hand-in-hand with the flow rate. This measurement is normally in gallons per minute. It should be noted that for counter-top or under-sink applications, flow rate isn't that important as waiting a few seconds longer to fill a glass of water won't be much of an issue. However, flow-rate is very important for Whole House systems, you won't want to be stuck in the shower with no water.

It should be noted that capacity and flow rates are directly related to how expensive the system will be.

4). Costs
When choosing to buy a water filter, you must also consider the maintenance and running costs of the filter. Generally the more complex and higher capacity systems will cost more to maintain and also more to run. Depending on the amount of water treated, water filter systems will need their filters replaced or treated every so often.

Additionally, some complex filters like Reverse Osmosis water filters will only produce 1 gallon of water for every 4 gallons of water supplied which will mean an increase in your water bills too. Further to this, ultra-violet light systems will also require a power source which will also affect your electricity bills.

In conclusion, I hope I have shed some light on buying water filters. The list of points in this article are by no means exhaustive but should serve as a rough guide in the selection process.

About the Author

About The Author
Mark Blake is a successful writer providing valuable health tips and advice for online purchasers of water filtration systems, such as water filters and whole house water filters

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