Finding a nice Water Purity system

hill,

How much water does it take to wash the panels and how often? I'm wondering if finding a source for filling a small plastic tank with deionized water would make more sense? Hook it up to a small pump with spray nozzle and wash away.

When we had some nasty tasting drinking water down South I just used one of the Pur filters on the kitchen faucet. In one home it was periodic--whenever temps reached a certain level and we were in drought the river draw to the water plant would produce a wet earth/leaves taste (cannot remember the specific organic compound.) Edit: You could smell it in the shower too. We normally got the bulk of our water from another water plant that had the top taste ratings in the nation, but when it got hot all that good water ended up on people's yards who were nearer to that plant, while we got a mix of earthy water.

 

Charcoal does not soften water. It works well for removing chemicals and odors, but not dissolved minerals. Softening water requires RO, ion exchange, or both.

Tom

 

Call 260 0552, company called aquafuzion, ask for cameron I specialize in water purification systems

 

Those are contradictory demands. An activated carbon charcoal filter will take care of chlorine odor, but for the rest of your needs an RO and/or a good water softener

 

Up here, its code that the water softener is not used for outside hose bibs or the kitchen cold tap. I ran a second hose bib for softened water, so when I wash the vehicle, it's not covered in white hard water spots

 

The whole purpose of softening water is to remove minerals, so yes, softened water will have less calcium. Actually the softening process does not reduce the total amount of minerals, but does an ion exchange to replace annoying minerals with less offensive ones. RO, on the other hand, actually reduces the total amount of mineral.

In general you don't want to drink softened water or deionized water. At the very least, it doesn't have much taste. For drinking, I prefer normal tap water filtered with charcoal.

Here is a link to a write-up I did awhile back. It should answer some of your questions:

http://priuschat.com/forums/knowledge-base-articles-discussion/18275-what-causes-water-spots.html

Tom

 

Using the hose bib from the water softener, does not eliminate water spots, but sure makes them a lot easier to live with. The well water here is very hard.

I never used to worry about drinking water softener water, have done so since I was a kid. Let's hope my kidneys aren't screaming in pain

 

We used to make coffee in the lab with deionized water. The coffee maker never needed to be cleaned, although I imagine the boiler tube was getting thinner and thinner.

Tom

 

if i saw the first write up, i had forgotten it. thanks for the reminder. that should really be part of the FAQ as washing the Pri is a major issue for many here

as the owner of both old and new, i can say without hesitation that the new 2010 paint jobs do a much much better job of showing water spots

 

Well, as long as you didn't drink the DI water straight from the tap.

Um .... you didn't, right?

 

If he did it wasnt long before he made a run to the crapper with the runs.

 

And here I was thinking that intestinal problem was c. diff.

No, I didn't drink the DI water. That wouldn't be a real good idea.

Tom

 

That would be the least of your problems. Although who doesn't like the occasional bout of cramping, explosive, bloody diarrhea?

You at least had a hint of what was once a common ailment: dysentery. Apparently, an effective treatment for dysentery is - wait for it - eating warm camel feces. No s***, really!

There is a bacteria in camel s*** that kills whatever causes dysentery. I guess I had better rush out there and buy a camel

 

C'mon, I'm sure you can get some camel owner to sell you the "yummy bits" without buying the animal. I mean, if somebody comes up and offers to purchase excrement...well, I might not shake their hand after the deal, and I'll keep their money separate from the rest in my wallet...

 

Are there not de-mineralizer cartridge attachments for hoses? That would be a lot cheaper than any built-in system.

 

Yes. The Mr. Clean car wash system contains just such a cartridge.

Tom

 

i am beginning to see why it was common.

 

Uhh... why? Doesn't it start with potable water? Or do all kinda bugs take up residence in the resin or downstream plumbing?