chloramine and RO/DI water

[yraveh]

A seller was trying to convince me today to add a second carbon cartridge ("CARBON BLOCK FILTER CHLORINE GUZZLER") as a third stage in my RO/DI system due to high chloramine level in Miami's water.

Randy's article states:


Carbon Filters:
The next filter in line typically contains activated carbon. The primary purpose of this activated carbon is to break down the chlorine and chloramine in the tap water (Figure 2). If not removed, these compounds may damage the RO membrane. They will also pass through the remaining filters (RO and DI) fairly readily, and so can end up in the final filtered water.


Does that mean that chloramine would not be measured by TDS meter?
Is chloramine level higher indeed in well's water?
Is there any scientific basis to designating some carbon cartridges as being more chloramine remover/neutralizer than others

 

[kgross]

I do not believe you will find any chloramine in well water. It is something that is added to sterilize the water at the water treatment plant.

Kim

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree that I would not be concerned about chloramine in well water. Also, a decent RO/DI will take out chloramine adequately, and it is easy to test for chloramine with a cheap chlorine kit testing the effluent (or well water) if you are concerned.

It is true, but potentially misleading, to say that a TDS meter will not detect chloramine.

Is there any scientific basis to designating some carbon cartridges as being more chloramine remover/neutralizer than others

Probably just more carbon surface area to break down the chloramine.

 

[yraveh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14207643#post14207643 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
Is there any scientific basis to designating some carbon cartridges as being more chloramine remover/neutralizer than others

Probably just more carbon surface area to break down the chloramine. [/B]

They call it catalytic GAC

I am not sure whether it makes sense financially to invest in an additional stage of carbon filtering.

 

[Billybeau1]

I do not believe so. Not in your case anyways.

 

[estamm]

My water in San Diego is unusually high in chloromines, the water treatment plant went on a campaign to rid the pipes of slime and the result was rediculous chloromines in the tap water. I got a water report from the city that revealed the high level. the membrane stage wont last long without first breaking down the chloro's. The byproduct also contains amonia. If you dont break it down in the RO stages it will eventually break down in your tank into its nasty components. I had no end to problems until I added a canister filled with good carbon, not the block type stage but a full canister, I use it as the second stage right after the particle stage. chloromine wont show up on the TDS meter and well water should be free of chloromines unless water is leaching in somehow.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

[welcome]

So you used a good commercial RO/DI system and found that there was chloramine getting through it? How much was getting through?

 

[yraveh]

without being 100% convinced that it's indicated, I decided to invest in an additional stage of carbon. mainly due to high and fluctuating chloramine levels in my city, It's only 16 dollars. the test kit costs $15.

specification:
$16.00 â€"œ CHLORAMINE MASTER FILTER PREMIUM GRADE CATALYTIC GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON

HAS A HIGH DEGREE OF CATALYTIC REDOX ACTIVITY SPECIFICALLY PREPARED FOR CHLORAMINE REMOVAL.

THIS CARBON HAS RECEIVED A SPECIAL ACID BATH, AND IS pH BUFFERED, AND RINSED WITH SANITIZED WATER, AND IS VERY CLEAN.

10" CARTRIDGE

I hope I am not wasting my money

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Well, it can't hurt.