There are many different impurities in water, with specific types depending on the environment and peculiarities of the area. Filtration systems like ZeroWater are employed to remove these pollutants in the water, but how well do they do this? You should ask this valid question about the specific impurities in your water, as their effectiveness varies based on the substance they remove.
ZeroWater is tasked with removing various impurities in water. One of the many impurities that go under the radar is fluoride, and this is because it can be helpful and harmful depending on its quantity. With fluoride in the soil, your water source can easily get contaminated, so choosing a suitable filter is vital.
If you already have a ZeroWater filter installed or want to get it, you may wonder if it can remove fluoride in water. ZeroWater filter spots a 5-stage filtration process that ensures precise water purification. In this guide, we’ll see if ZeroWater can filter fluoride with its efficiency. But before then, what is fluoride?
Fluoride
Fluoride is a chemical compound formed when salts combine with fluorine. There can be some confusion when describing fluoride as naturally occurring, seeing that a combination of two substances creates it. It is a trace mineral found in water and rocks. While it is found in small quantities, being the ionic form of fluorine means it can also be created.
In trace amounts, fluoride is highly beneficial, especially to your teeth. This is why toothpaste has fluorides in them. Even public water sources go through a process called fluoridation, where fluoride is added to the water. All these prove that this compound can be a valuable addition to your water. So why all the fuss?
Fluoride can immediately become a dangerous mineral when it goes beyond trace amounts in water. At this point, filters are your best bet in controlling its concentration in the water entering your home. Similarly, fluoride in more significant doses can strengthen the teeth in more significant portions, but above the limit can cause teeth decay, dental fluorosis, and skeletal fluorosis, among other dangerous conditions.
Before you get all worked up, it takes a lot for the fluoride in your water to get to the levels tagged as dangerous. However, getting a testing kit and a suitable water filter where necessary is always best. 0.7 mg/l is the acceptable concentration, with four mg/l being dangerous.
Before determining if ZeroWater can remove fluoride, it is best to learn how a high fluoride level can occur.
How Does Fluoride Get into Your Water?
Fluoride naturally occurs in water, soil, rocks, and air, albeit in traces. While the quantity of fluoride in water is often low, it can increase significantly when the fluoride from other sources is washed into your water source.
You must monitor the fluoride level in your water to avoid the various damaging consequences. Understanding how your water source can become flooded with this mineral is the first step to controlling it. What is the best action? Filter out the surplus fluoride.
Does ZeroWater Remove Fluoride?
Does ZeroWater remove fluoride? ZeroWater manufacturers say yes, but can we trust them? Most manufacturers will say anything to sell their products, but is there any truth in ZeroWater’s claim?
Several test results have proven that ZeroWater does remove fluoride from water and does so with high efficiency. Some results have shown a total eradication of fluoride in the water. So ZeroWater was right in tagging their countertop filter as a fluoride remover. You’re forgiven if you thought only significant, sophisticated filters could remove this mineral.
The tests were done using a fluoride meter and ZeroWater filter to determine the filtration efficiency. First, the water is tested to identify the concentration of fluoride in the water then the filtration process is carried out. After the purification, another meter test is done to see how well the ZeroWater filter works.
How ZeroWater Filters Fluoride?
By now, we’ve established that ZeroWater filters can efficiently filter excess fluoride from your water. But how does this simple countertop unit manage such a feat?
One of the primary reasons ZeroWater can effectively remove fluoride is its ion exchange system of purification. Remember, fluoride is negatively charged, so passing through an ion exchange system will cause some reactions. Another reason this system is so effective is the number of filtration stages. While most filtration units have single or double filter stages, ZeroWater uses a whopping 5-stage process.
ZeroWater focuses on removing large particles like sand and microorganisms in the first filtration stage. The next step uses the froth distributor to filter dissolved particles. The dissolved substances are filtered as the water passes through tiny holes in the foam.
By the third step, purification is intense, with the more advanced carbon filtration technology taking center stage. The water is sterilized, and chemicals like chlorine, pesticides, and mercury are removed through the numerous activated carbon layers.
The fourth section is the ion exchange system, where the actual fluoride purification happens. It gets even better as the unit features a double ion exchange which is twice as thorough as a single ion exchange filter. This is why it can remove almost 99% of the fluoride in the water while stripping the water of other radical contaminants.
After the fourth level, most impurities are out, but ZeroWater needs to be sure with a final stage that combines a fine screen and a non-woven layer. This combination ensures any remaining pollutant in the water is blocked off as the water gets transferred to its storage tank.
What Else Does ZeroWater Remove?
If you’re still deciding whether to buy a ZeroWater filter to remove fluoride, discovering its other uses should concern you. ZeroWater is not limited to eliminating fluoride, so even if you don’t have a high enough level, this system may effectively eliminate other substances. So what else can a ZeroWater remove from the water?
ZeroWater has a high-efficiency level in removing elements like arsenic, chlorine, chromium, uranium, and barium. In contrast, ZeroWater has an average purification level for cyanide and sulfide. The list of what this filter can remove is long, as it contains a lot of different metal, inorganic substances, among other materials.
Alternative Options to Remove Fluoride?
There are other filters with effective fluoride removal systems that you can use if ZeroWater is unavailable. These alternatives vary in capacity, price points, filtration process, and efficiency.
Reverse osmosis filters will remove up to 90% fluoride in water and can be of different capacities, depending on your needs. Waterdrop, AquaTru, and Clearly Filtered are other units with sound fluoride removal systems.
Waterdrop is the budget option here, while AquaTru and Reverse osmosis will cost considerably more. Incidentally, Waterdrop spots an unlimited capacity as it is connected directly to the faucet, with its easy-to-install unit giving it an edge over others.
FAQ’s
Do you have any questions about ZeroWater’s capacity to remove fluoride from water? We compiled and answered some common questions to make it easier for people looking to add this unit to their home filtration system.
Can you filter fluoride out of water?
You can remove fluoride from water by using the appropriate filters with the capacity to remove minerals like ZeroWater, reverse osmosis systems, AquaTru, and WaterDrop.
What level of fluoride in water is considered safe?
0.7 mg/l and below is considered safe levels of fluoride by the CDC and other regulatory bodies. Anything above that may still be acceptable, with four mg/l considered dangerous.
Is fluoridated water good for you?
Fluoridated water is essential for healthy teeth and bone growth if the fluoride is in small traces. When it becomes high, it poses a huge problem that can cause several ailments.
Conclusion
Fluoride naturally occurs in the environment, including water, and is healthy in small traces. It becomes a problem in high concentrations and needs to be filtered. ZeroWater is an effective filter to remove up to 99% of fluoride from the water. Its high efficiency is tied to the advanced 5-stage filtration process and ion exchange system.
ZeroWater can also remove minerals, inorganic substances, and dissolved materials in the water. So you can purchase the unit even though you don’t have much fluoride in your water.