Point-of-use water purifiers reduce and remove waterborne pathogens right at the source – typically at the sink or shower head. This helps reduce infections and healthcare costs.
They are durable and easy to maintain with larger units only requiring replacement of filters every 5-7 years. They produce high quality general purpose water but don’t produce bottled water quality.
What is a Point-of-Use Water Filter?
A point-of-use water filter is a home drinking water treatment system that’s installed at the source of your water, like under the sink or on the counter. These systems use a variety of filters to reduce or remove water contaminants including turbidity, lead, mercury, chlorine (taste and odor), asbestos, PFAS, arsenic and more.
These systems are often based on advanced multi-stage purification technologies like reverse osmosis and carbon filtration. They can offer much higher quality water than refrigerator or water pitcher filters and eliminate many more tap water contaminants.
While POU filters can improve the taste and odor of your tap water, they are not designed to clean out your pipes or prevent clogs. They also do not protect your appliances and plumbing from damaging particles found in your city’s tap water, which is why whole house filtration systems are better suited for softening and cleaning the entire home’s water supply. The best way to find out if a POU system is right for you is to schedule a free, in-home consultation with a Monkey Wrench expert.
POU vs. POE
There are two types of water filtration systems – POE and POU. The type that is best for you depends on your needs and budget.
A POE system is installed either outside where the water supply enters a building or within a home before the taps, faucets and other dedicated outlets used for drinking, cooking or bathing. POE systems may include large carbon filters, water softening and conditioning or other technologies to address chemicals, remove odor, neutralize aggressive water, or eliminate sediment.
A POU is smaller and designed for low flow rates at a single end-point, such as your kitchen sink or a specific tap in your home. For example, a reverse osmosis unit is a POU system that filters your drinking water using a complex set of stage filters and a membrane to produce high quality, safe water. You may also choose to use a simple filter on your kitchen sink that reduces chlorine and improves the taste of your drinking water. Whether a POU or a POE is right for you, an experienced water treatment specialist will be able to assist you.
Benefits
There are many benefits to using a point-of-use water filter in your home. They are much more effective than refrigerator filters and water pitchers, and can help you eliminate the most common tap water contaminants.
They are also less expensive than whole-house filtration systems. However, you should know that they only provide filtered water for one faucet in your home. This means that you won’t be able to use the water from any other taps in your house.
The best point-of-use water filtration system uses advanced methods like reverse osmosis and carbon filtration to produce clean, safe drinking water for you and your family. They can remove harmful contaminants such as PFAS, arsenic, and lead that may be present in your drinking water.
They can also reduce toxins in your water such as MTBE, which has been linked to liver, kidney, testicular, and central nervous system damage. They can also remove sulfates, chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from your water. These chemicals are known to cause health problems such as asthma, cancer, and reproductive issues.
Installation
Unlike whole-home solutions that filter water at the point of entry, POU systems treat drinking water in a specific location. This is often under the sink, in a kitchen or bathroom faucet. Many under-the-sink systems have a multi-stage filtration process, including sediment and carbon filters or reverse osmosis membranes. They’re easy to install and convenient for everyday use, removing contaminants from the water as it flows through the pipes and out the tap.
Having a professional installer for your POU system is a good idea, as they’ll be familiar with the unique requirements of each model. They’ll be able to spot problems during installation and prevent costly repairs down the line.
Having a professional install your POU system will also ensure that the entire installation process goes smoothly. They’ll have experience working with these systems every day, so they’ll know how to handle even the most complex of installation challenges. From rerouting plumbing in tight spaces to finding innovative mounting solutions, professionals will be able to do it all without breaking a sweat. This is especially helpful if you have a complicated under-the-sink water filter, like a reverse osmosis system.
Maintenance
Point-of-use water filtration systems are not a one and done solution. They require regular maintenance to ensure they continue working properly. The most common maintenance items include replacing filters, adjusting the water flow, cleaning scale buildup and disinfecting the system.
POU systems are typically based on media filtration, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, UV disinfection and remineralization (usually after RO)11. Large particles, rust, dissolved contaminants and pathogenic microorganisms are removed by filtering through string-wound sediment or other filters. Depending on the water treatment technology used, the system may also employ ion exchange and/or activated carbon to remove chemical contaminants. UV disinfection inactivates the organisms that can cause disease, and remineralization adds back the minerals that were removed during earlier filtration stages for pH-buffered, better tasting water11.