Choosing a system / how water filtration works
For those who want the Mercedes of cottage water systems, one with every possible layer of filtration, expect to pay around $8,000 installed, says Adam Scheuer of Watertiger in Burnaby, B.C. Even with advancements in technology, no single filter and no single system can do it all. There are simply too many undesirables in surface water (and sometimes in well water). The best systems provide multiple lines of defence, like trenches on the battlefield, each one another barrier against water-borne invaders.
When taking water from a lake via land-based jet pump, for example, treatment starts even before the water reaches shore, with a screen at the foot valve to block weeds, algae, grit, fry, snails, swimmers (kidding), and other small debris that could get sucked into the intake, then up the line, potentially damaging the pump. While a wool sock covering a stainless steel grate can work, better systems include stabilizers, stands, and sediment filters and start at about $150. Plenty of submersible pumps come with a self-cleaning intake filter as a built-in solution. Some intakes even discourage zebra mussels with unique alloy screens or 100-micron socks and a back- washing filter, but the cost, of course, climbs.
The real cleansing work begins once the water is past the pump. Top-of-the-line systems installed by pros could see multiple barriers of filters and sanitizers after the pump, secured on the waterline inside or under the cottage. Most of these start with a turbidity filter (or filters) to remove suspended solids and help keep successive filters from getting clogged, failing, and restricting pressure in the system—as well as catching most microscopic nasties hiding within waterborne particles. Next come carbon filters to remove chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals, followed by an organic trap or a tannin-removal filter if the water has colour. And then a key defence—ultraviolet sterilization, in which light rays zap the DNA and rNA of enemy microbes, similar to the way the USS Enterprise blasts Klingon starships. These multiple safety nets are “just so we can kill the bugs,” says Nicholas. “Now you’ve disinfected the water.”
Even with all this elaborate treatment, those still concerned about other dissolved solids (minerals, salts, metals) should opt for another layer of protection in the form of a reverse-osmosis filter, Nicholas advises. Reverse-osmosis filters, in which water is pushed through a semi-permeable membrane, cost anywhere from $300 to $500. Sure, an RO system adds to the cost, but when tests show the water isn’t great to begin with, the expense of multi-filters and sanitization will return dividends in the form of exceptional drinkable water—as well as peace of mind. “That’s if you’ve got some pretty bad water,” says Nicholas. All those filters, “that’s the max you need.”
On the cheaper end of things, with fairly clear and clean water, a simple, quality point-of-entry system can cost as little as $1,200. That would consist of a sediment and a carbon pre-filter, followed by a UV sanitizer. “For spring-summer cottages, I’ve seen people just stick them under the floor joists and run garden hoses into them,” Nicholas says. Canadian Tire even sells a Rainfresh kit with these components for less than $500—though Nicholas warns that the UV lights on these systems are weak. Also, replacement UV bulbs, which last about a year or two, cost about $100 each, so running costs can add up. It’s also a good idea to add a quality surge protector for these pricey bulbs and to keep both the pump and the UV sanitizer on a backup generator. If the sanitizer stops working, untreated water will slip past and contaminate the line.
As an alternative to UV, Scheuer recommends ultrafiltration—a new-ish technology that will physically remove bacteria. “The downside is the cost,” says Scheuer. Ultrafiltration will run you about three times as much as UV. “But costs are coming down. And ultrafiltration has a major advantage for rural properties. If the power goes out, you still have your treatment.”
No level of filtration can purify water affected by blue-green algae, which contains cyanobacteria that can’t be killed even when the water is boiled. “If that’s in the water, it’s pretty much not drinkable,” Nicholas says. “If they’ve got blue-green algae blooms, people should just bring bottled water to the cottage.”
Assess an alternative / distillers
So what about distillation, the process of boiling water into steam then condensing the steam back into water, killing bacteria and leaving impurities behind? Health Canada says even distillation won’t remove cyanobacterial toxins; but Ehreth Horinek, the owner of Precision Water Systems in Westlock, Alta., says distillation will otherwise purify just about any water source.
“Lake water, well water, slough water, salt water—you can run it all through a distiller” and make water pure, he says. Precision sells a variety of distillers that Horinek recommends for cottage use, the most basic that you can install yourself starts at $800.
For the average cottage, Horinek recommends a 30-litre unit the size of a large suitcase that will handle cooking, drinking, and ice cube duties all day. It costs $3,000, can sit in a closet or under the cabin, and is an upfront investment that requires no more than a little maintenance and electricity. “That gives you a holding tank that boils the water automatically, and has a pump system and an auto-drain system so maintenance is low. That’s a lifetime investment. A guaranteed source of pure water.”
So what’s the catch? Critics point to the loss of good minerals such as calcium, sodium, and magnesium that get stripped away from the water in the process, leaving water that can more easily absorb compounds from whatever the water is stored in—bisphenol-A from plastics or nickel from stainless steel. Another disadvantage is the high electrical cost of running distillers—though Horinek says these are nothing compared to the cost of buying bottled water.
Keep it simple / countertop filters
One of the cheapest options for small amounts of drinking water is a gravity-fed water purifier that sits on the counter. These range from simple clay carafes with ceramic filters to bigger stainless steel units. U.S.-based New Millennium Concepts makes the ubiquitous Berkey line of purifiers, which the company says will stop 99.99 per cent of all contaminants, including pathogenic bacteria, cysts, parasites, pesticides, organic solvents, VOCs, detergents, silt, sediment and sedimentary minerals, foul tastes, and odours. That’s about the same result as an elite system, though typically these units are for smaller quantities.
The Big Berkey uses filters made of coconut shell carbon and other proprietary materials, with millions of microscopic pores that are so small that they produce a “tortuous path” for water. Good for the needs of four people and holding about eight litres of water, the Big Berkey comes with two filters capable of cleansing 13.3 litres per hour and costs $336 with free shipping. The filters will clean 11,000 litres of water before needing replacement, at about $140. The beauty of the Berkey is its simplicity—no plumbing, no set-up, no winterization. Just counter space.
There are also under-the-counter filters, or those that attach to the tap, to stop just a few specific elements, such as lead and sediment. These units cost anywhere from $100 to $500, but are limited in what they can filter out.
Keep in mind that no matter what system you choose, all require monitoring, maintenance, and cleaning. For three-season cottages that aren’t heated in winter, that means a complete shutdown in the fall that involves draining all the waterlines and filters to ensure they’re free of H2O that will turn to ice in just
a few weeks time. These can often be drained by gravity, but using a compressor to blow air through the entire system, once all the filters are removed and the power is shut down, will have your system set for spring, when hauling water will be a chore of the past.
This story originally appeared in our Fall ’17 issue.
Common water problems and how to treat them
Sheldon Crawford, a water purification specialist with 360Water Systems, outlines some common water problems and how to treat them.
Problem Hardness from calcium and magnesium
Issue Causes scale in pipes and soap curd on fixtures
Treatment Water softener
Problem Hydrogen sulfide gas
Issue Rotten egg smell; corrosive to plumbing; ruins taste of foods and drinks
Treatment Oxidizing iron filter and aeration system (which sprays water into a storage tank, separating the gas from water, with the gas drawn off by a ventilation system)
Problem Iron, manganese
Issue Discoloured water; can stain clothing or fixtures
Treatment Oxidizing iron filter
Problem Sulfur bacteria
Issue Forms slimy deposits in pumps, pipes, and toilet tanks; rotten egg odour possible
Treatment UV and oxidizing iron filter
Problem Turbidity
Issue Mud, silt, and sand in water can ruin appliances; can clog filters
Treatment Back-washing sediment filters
Problem Low pH water (acidic)
Issue Corrosive water can damage iron or copper pipes and fittings
Treatment Soda-ash feeding (soda ash is mixed with water, and the solution is fed into the system with a pump) or neutralizing filters
Problem Organic matter
Issue Unsightly; bad taste; can stain
Treatment Aeration and then filtration, or chlorination followed by filtration
Problem Tannins and humic acids
Issue Brown water; staining; affects taste of food and beverages
Treatment Ion exchange or oxidizing agents and filtration
Problem Coliform bacteria
Issue Can cause serious disease and intestinal disorders
Treatment Chlorination, ozonation, or UV treatment
Problem Herbicides, pesticides
Issue Can cause poisoning
Treatment Carbon filters and reverse osmosis
Problem Nitrates, chlorides, sulfates
Issue Can cause dehydration, diarrhea, nausea
Treatment Ion exchange, deionization, or reverse osmosis