– By Søren Lauritzen (introduction, Birgitte Coste) August 2022
Our drinking water here in Denmark is not doing well. In fact, the situation is quite dire. You too, might be asking yourself, is drinking tap water safe in Denmark?
We, Søren and Birgitte, have never really paid attention to our tap water before. But a couple of months ago (it’s now August 2022), we started to suspect that something might be wrong with the water from our Copenhagen taps. Independently of each other, we noticed that our bodies didn’t seem to be responding normally to the tap water. We were constantly thirsty, no matter how much we drank.
The fact that we both experienced this independently of each other led us to suspect that something wasn’t quite right with our tap water (this was before the PFAS scandals hit the media). At the same time I, Birgitte, happened to read that one symptom of not drinking clean enough water is “functional dehydration”. (You drink plenty of water, but your body can’t absorb it because the quality is too poor – more on that later in this blog post).
Curious as he is, Søren put on his researcher’s hat and began a thorough investigation into the state of Danish drinking water.
The results of his research are what you can read below. His writing was originally intended as a letter to friends and family, but I, Birgitte, felt it was such important information that it should be shared with anyone interested in clean drinking water. Therefore, his letter is published here.
Unfortunately, I can’t say that it makes for encouraging reading. On the contrary, it’s quite hair-raising. Both in terms of what is happening (or not happening) politically, and the fact that the purity of our tap water is declining rapidly, making the situation increasingly serious.
Because nothing is being done politically, we have decided to take matters into our own hands regarding our personal water supply. You can do the same. It does cost something, yes, but we believe it’s worth it. What you can do yourself is also detailed in Søren’s letter.
May you enjoy your reading.
I hereby give the stage to Søren and his letter to his friends and family … and now also to you, dear visitor on our website:
Dear all of you who are interested in clean drinking water
My research on obtaining clean and healthy drinking water is now complete.
It turns out that the state of our drinking water is worse than feared, and it was also much more complex than initially assumed to determine what can be done to provide better drinking water for yourself and your children.
My notes on the subject are extensive enough to become a small dissertation, but you don’t need to read those.
To keep it as ‘light’ as possible, I will first present the most important conclusions on the next page.
If you don’t want to read more than that, you can simply read the next page.
After the next page, there will be several pages with additional detailed information (with relevant links).
If anyone wants to know even more than what is in this document, I am happy to answer if I can – I also have various extra texts and links I can send you.
Best regards,
Søren
Table of Contents
If you are looking for something specific, you can simply jump further down in the article via these links:
– The Situation Under Scrutiny: Is Drinking Tap Water Safe? Our Danish Drinking Water Is in a Major Crisis
– We Must Purify Our Own Water
– Søren’s Suggested Water Purification Method
– Addition of the Minerals Removed by Reverse Osmosis
– Making Drinking Water more Alkaline (Is a Good Idea)
– Vitalization: Changing the Molecular Structure of the Water
– Summary on the Enrichment and Vitalization of Our Water
– Can We Measure “Stuff” in Our Water?
– Purifying the Water: Which System Should We Choose?
– What ELSE Can Be Obtained – Alternatives to a 99% Effective Purification System …
– What I Think We Will Want
– RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000
– Reasonable Alternatives to RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000
– Overall Summary …
Overview of the Situation with Our Drinking Water and What You Can Do Yourself
– The Most Important Conclusions in Brief
Back in the days we Danes all learned that Denmark has – approximately – the best and cleanest drinking water in the world. Well, that was back then. It is no longer true. Drinking water in Denmark is no longer good, and it is getting significantly worse year by year. The situation is surprisingly serious, and we don’t even know the full extent of the problems.
Politicians and the relevant authorities (e.g., the Environmental Protection Agency) have been completely asleep at the wheel, and continue to be. Or even worse: They consciously choose to ignore the problems. They deserve a total failing grade!
Birgitte and I are both sensitive in many ways, and we have – independently of each other – noticed that in recent years, something has gone wrong with our drinking water. For example, it no longer quenches our thirst.
For the sake of our own – and our children’s – health, there is now no way around having to purify our drinking water ourselves. In addition to that, there is also the possibility that we can (re-)mineralize, enrich and vitalize it. At a minimum, we should re-mineralize it, but enrichment also seems like a good idea, at least it’s smart to have the option. Vitalization sounds interesting, but is probably more of a … matter of taste.
How should we do it? I have considered a wide range of factors, reviewed almost all options for water purification systems from Danish suppliers – and also some foreign ones.
My choice has fallen on a water purification system from Switzerland, the Wetality W-1000, which is sold by a supplier in Funen, rent-drikkevand.dk (Danish link). (They call it RO Unik 8).
The three main reasons for this choice are:
1) Quality: It is probably the best and most effective system on the market with a total efficiency of 99.9%
2) Ongoing operating costs, which are on the lower end
3) Flexibility: It is highly flexible, meaning the system can do a lot from the start and can also be adapted so everyone can get it the way they prefer
However, it is not a cheap system. Without modifications, it costs about 8,000 DKK, and the adjustments I would suggest will likely make it a bit more expensive (but probably not much).
The annual cost for filter replacements is around 2,000 DKK (cheaper most years if you can do it yourself). If you add up all costs (i.e., the price of the system itself + new filters + service) and look at it over a 4-year period, the annual cost for clean, healthy water is approximately 3,000-3,500 DKK per year.
If anyone – in addition to the purification, re-mineralization, and enrichment that the Wetality W-1000 / RO Unik 8 can provide in one system – also wants to vitalize their water (i.e., improve the molecular structure of the water), there is no service or filters involved, and the cost is a one-time expense of between 1,000 and 7,000 DKK.
If someone does NOT want to invest the approximately 9,000 DKK required to get the best system on the market, which removes 99.9% of all the things we DON’T want in the water (i.e., heavy metals, pesticides (both non-water-soluble AND water-soluble), medication residues, microplastics, bacteria, cysts, parasites, and viruses), I also have other, cheaper suggestions of various kinds, some of which are mentioned in this document. You can simply ask me about the rest.
Alternative options are typically cheaper but, of course, not as good / effective. However, the problems with our drinking water have reached a level where any purification is better than nothing.
The Situation Under Scrutiny: Is Drinking Tap Water Safe? Our Danish Drinking Water Is in a Major Crisis
Our Danish drinking water is worsening year by year. In 2022, pesticides were found in 65% of all Danish water wells (and that’s only for the approximately 50 chemicals they actually test for, see below).
The increase in groundwater pollution since 2016 is now so rapid that if it continues as it has (and it will, as these chemicals have been migrating from the surface to the groundwater for about 30 years), it doesn’t matter whether the increase is linear or exponential.
In either case, there are only three years left before the number reaches 100%, meaning ALL Danish drinking water wells will be contaminated with pesticides. It is therefore definitively the end of clean Danish drinking water.
LINKS [only a few selected articles … For those interested in being even more alarmed, I have links to many more articles]:
Pesticides in Our Drinking Water (Sprøjtegift i drikkevandet)
https://www.dn.dk/vi-arbejder-for/drikkevand/sprojtegift (Danish link)
The Groundwater Is Contaminated with Fungicides (Grundvandet er forurenet med svampemidler) – January 22, 2020 by Anette Harbech Olesen
A new report documents that residues of legal pesticides have ended up in our groundwater. This is the first time researchers can assert with one hundred percent certainty that the use of the fungicide 1,2,3 -triazole in agriculture ends up in our groundwater. In several places, the amounts exceed the permitted limit.
https://www.madforlivet.com/viden-og-forskning/grundvandet-er-forurenet-med-svampemidler (Danish link)
Forbidden Substances May Threaten the Drinking Water in the Capital Region (Forbudt stof kan true drikkevandet i hovedstadsområdet) – Jakob Hvide Beim – April 23, 2021
An unwanted substance is spreading at waterworks in the capital region, which may struggle to meet the established limit.
https://politiken.dk/danmark/politik/art8168998/Forbudt-stof-kan-true-drikkevandet-i-hovedstadsområdet (Danish link)
The allowed amount of fluoride in drinking water makes us dumber with each generation
https://www.information.dk/debat/2020/12/tilladte-maengde-fluorid-drikkevandet-goer-dummere-hver-generation (Danish link)
What We Know and What We Lack Answers About in Relation to PFAS (Det ved vi, og det mangler vi svar på om PFAS) – August 3, 2022
https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2022-08-02-det-ved-vi-og-det-mangler-vi-svar-paa-om-pfas (Danish link)
And, note that when we say that 65% and an increasingly higher percent of groundwater wells are contaminated with pesticides, we are only talking about the approximately 50 chemicals that they are actually testing for. In addition to these, there are (according to the organization NOAH) nearly 3,000 other substances (primarily from fields, but also from, e.g., factories, airports, hospitals, and sick people (released medication residues), and not least landfills) making their way into the groundwater.
For example, in 2019, 1054 current or former landfills in Denmark were assessed as posing a threat to our drinking water, and there is still neither funding allocated to check all the other landfills nor to address those we already know are a problem.
LINK:
See the Map: Here, Old Landfills Risk Contaminating Your Drinking Water (Se kortet: Her risikerer gamle lossepladser at forurene dit drikkevand) – October 17, 2019
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/regionale/syd/se-kortet-her-risikerer-gamle-lossepladser-forurene-dit-drikkevand (Danish link)
Politically, there appears to be no genuine interest in our drinking water, as the primary response to almost all warnings and issues is to ignore them – apparently deliberately.
LINKS:
Ministry Receives Severe Criticism for Pesticide Control of Our Water: See if Your Drinking Water Is Affected (Ministerie får stor kritik for pesticidkontrol af vores vand: Se om dit drikkevand er berørt) – December 6, 2019
The Ministry of Environment and Food has, among other things, deviated from its own guidelines for 13 out of 18 pesticides, conclude the State Auditors.
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/ministerie-faar-stor-kritik-pesticidkontrol-af-vores-vand-se-om-dit-drikkevand-er (Danish link)
Waterworks Send out SOS – But Is Anyone Listening? (Vandværkerne udsender SOS – men er der nogen, der lytter?) – October 13, 2021 by Anette Harbech Olesen
In a few years, it might be over with pouring yourself a glass of clean drinking water from the tap. Why aren’t we reacting?
https://www.madforlivet.com/viden-og-forskning/vandvaerkerne-udsender-sos-men-er-der-nogen-der-lytter (Danish link)
(And yes, the rumor is true: The previous Venstre government (Venstre, Liberal Alliance, The Conservative People’s Party) “solved” the problem of too many toxins in drinking water by raising the permissible limit values. But Social Democrats, SF, Danish People’s Party, and the Radicals were also part of the agreement.)
LINKS:
Pesticides – New Law Allows more Spraying and Higher Limit Values in Our Drinking Water (Pesticider – ny lov tillader mere sprøjtning og højere grænseværdier i drikkevand) – April 30, 2017 by Anette Harbech Olesen
[Note: The government from 2015 to 2019 was led by Venstre with Lars Løkke Rasmussen as Prime Minister]
https://www.madforlivet.com/viden-og-forskning/pesticider-ny-lov-tillader-mere-sproejtning-hoejere-graensevaerdier-drikkevand (Danish link)
Politicians Allow 7.5 Times More Chemical Residues in Our Groundwater (Politikere tillader 7,5 gange flere kemi-rester i grundvandet) – by Magnus Bredsdorff – April 21, 2017
Agriculture needs more pesticides than are currently allowed on Danish fields. Therefore, the limit values for some breakdown products in groundwater are significantly raised by the new political agreement.
https://ing.dk/artikel/politikere-tillader-75-gange-flere-kemi-rester-i-grundvandet (Danish link)
The Environmental Protection Agency was supposed to protect us but it does not. Instead, the Environmental Protection Agency has, over many years, exhibited highly questionable (according to both common sense and the State Auditors) and in some cases outright illegal behavior. This has resulted in scandal after scandal. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency has deliberately granted illegal permits to supply toxic water to Danes for seven years despite EU requests to stop. Not that it has any consequences (for anyone other than us consumers).
LINKS:
For Seven Years, the Agency Has Ignored Criticism of Pesticides in Our Drinking Water: Minister Is Furious (I syv år har styrelse ignoreret kritik af sprøjtemidler i drikkevandet: Minister er rasende)
Danish waterworks have been allowed to have pesticides in drinking water for many years, contrary to regulations.
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/i-syv-aar-har-styrelse-ignoreret-kritik-af-sproejtemidler-i-drikkevandet-minister-er (Danish link)
Again, the Environmental Protection Agency Allows the Use of Banned Pesticide Suspected of Harming the Brain (Miljøstyrelsen giver igen lov til at bruge forbudt pesticid, der mistænkes for at skade hjernen) – Henrik Hindby Koszyczarek – June 24, 2022
For the third consecutive year, potato growers are granted dispensation to use a substance that has been banned in the EU due to potential brain damage.
https://økonu.dk/politik-og-udvikling/miljostyrelsen-giver-igen-lov-til-at-bruge-forbudt-pesticid-der-mistaenkes-for-at-skade-hjernen (Danish link)
Of the approximately 3,000 other substances mentioned, between 1,000 and 1,500 are likely pesticides. All of this is also making its way into our drinking water – or is already there. We don’t know for sure, as the Environmental Protection Agency, after intense pressure and additional funding, has only tested for a minority of these substances (about 100-150 per year, but varying, totaling 492 over several years) in samples across the country. And, even worse: the annual samples are only taken from a meager 250 out of around 3,000 Danish waterworks.
LINK: The Environmental Protection Agency Finds Pesticides in the Groundwater That May Be Harmful to Young Children (Miljøstyrelsen finder pesticider i grundvandet, der kan være skadelige for små børn) – March 12, 2022 https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/miljoestyrelsen-finder-pesticider-i-grundvandet-der-kan-vaere-skadelige-for-smaa-boern (Danish link)
(Regarding the link above: The Environmental Protection Agency’s subsequent reaction was – not surprisingly – that yes, the toxins are there, but they are probably not harmful, so we will just raise the limit values – that “solves” the problem, see next link).
LINK:
New Assessment: Pesticide Findings in Groundwater Cannot Harm Young Children Based on New Studies (Ny vurdering: Pesticidfund i grundvandet kan ikke skade små børn). The Environmental Protection Agency has increased the limit for how much of a pesticide found in groundwater children can tolerate. Therefore, it is no longer considered a health risk for young children, as previously stated. [<— NB: This does not make sense!] https://www.altinget.dk/miljoe/artikel/ny-vurdering-pesticidfund-i-grundvandet-er-ikke-skadelige-for-smaa-boern (Danish link)
And let’s not even discuss the so-called “cocktail effect,” which occurs when toxins moving through soil layers change chemically and mix with other toxins – with completely unpredictable results that obviously cannot be tested for, as we do not know what they are.
LINK:
Pesticides and the Cocktail Effect – Researcher Interview: Nina Cedergreen (Pesticider og cocktaileffekt – Forskerinterview: Nina Cedergreen) https://grundvandet.ku.dk/biologi/pesticider-og-cocktaileffekt (Danish link)
Researcher: There Is Likely More Pollution on Its Way into Our Groundwater. It Is Time to Accelerate Protection (Der er sandsynligvis mere forurening på vej ned i vores grundvand. Så det er på tide at sætte skub på beskyttelsen) – By Lisbeth E. Knudsen, Professor, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen – April 19, 2022 https://www.altinget.dk/miljoe/artikel/forsker-der-er-sandsynligvis-mere-forurening-paa-vej-ned-i-vores-grundvand-saa-det-er-paa-tide-at-saette-skub-paa-beskyttelsen (Danish link)
(And again: The Environmental Protection Agency only requires waterworks to test for about 50 toxins … which many of them still don’t do because they can’t afford it. In reality, no one knows what’s in our drinking water).
The lack of testing has led to unpleasant surprises in several places, with hormone-disrupting, DNA-altering, and disease-causing pesticides far exceeding the limit values (for example, 35 times more than allowed in Funen – and that water is still being sent out to consumers).
LINK:
Ayoe Drinks Water with 35 Times the Allowable Pesticide Residue Level (Ayoe drikker vand med 35 gange for højt niveau af pesticidrest) – March 14, 2018 In Krogsbølle on North Funen, residents drink water where the concentration of the pesticide residue Desphenyl-Chloridazon is 35 times over the limit. https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/ayoe-drikker-vand-med-35-gange-hoejt-niveau-af-pesticidrest Danish link
In some places, spot checks have also found extra dangerous pesticides in our drinking water that were never legally permitted but have been used to such an extent that they have seeped into groundwater.
There is also a completely “ordinary” substance like nitrate (salts of nitric acid) used in farmers’ fertilizers, which also seeps into the groundwater. It is measured, and limits are set, but are these limits adequate?
The answer is no. A new, large joint Danish / American study from 2022 combined a million births with information about water from 4,000 water utilities. The study shows a direct link between birth defects and the amount of nitrate in the drinking water – which is, of course, below the set limits.
Nitrate in water causes children to have, in particular, eye defects but also defects in their ears, face, neck, and nervous system.
LINK:
WATER CAN HARM YOUR FETUS (VAND KAN SKADE DIT FOSTER) – Clara Edgar Jakobsen – January 25, 2022
Fertilizer used on fields contains nitrate. Researchers have correlated a Danish cohort of over one million births with a range of nitrate measurements in drinking water samples from nearly 4,000 public Danish water utilities. They found a connection between birth defects and Danish drinking water, particularly an increased risk of eye defects. There also seems to be an increased risk of damage to the ears, face, neck, and nervous system. Additionally, there is a link between nitrate in drinking water and cancer in adults.
https://www.naturli.dk/artikel/vand-kan-skade-dit-foster (Danish link)
Danish research on 2.7 million people followed over 35 years has also investigated the correlation between nitrate in the drinking water and cancer incidence in adults … and yes, there is a direct link: Nitrate – in amounts below the limits – causes cancer. (The “funny” thing was that these research results were published in 2019, just half a year after the then – Minister from the Venstre party decided that it was nonsense for private wells to test for nitrate and therefore dropped the requirement).
LINK:
Even Small Amounts of Nitrate in Our Drinking Water Can Cause Cancer, New Research Shows. Now the Authorities Are Responding (Selv små mængder nitrat i drikkevand kan give kræft, viser ny forskning. Nu reagerer myndighederne) – February 14, 2018
Unique Danish study (2.7 million people followed over 35 years) shows increased cancer risk at nitrate concentrations far below the limit – now the environmental minister is put under pressure to reconsider the current limit
https://www.information.dk/indland/2018/02/smaa-maengder-nitrat-drikkevand-kan-give-kraeft-viser-ny-forskning-reagerer-myndighederne (Danish link)
That our water is becoming increasingly toxic, and that we don’t even know precisely how toxic it is, is a serious problem in itself. Additionally, our tap water now contains so many foreign substances of various kinds that the water actually “clumps” (naturally, we cannot see this with the naked eye), which has consequences for us.
LINK:
[NOTE: Scientifically heavy article, Only for the truly interested]
Water, Water, and More Water (Vand, vand og atter vand) – Søren Rud Keiding, Professor and Director at the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University – October 6, 2014
https://videnskab.dk/25-soforklaringer/vand-vand-og-atter-vand (Danish link)
Yes, it sounds strange, but water molecules tend to cluster around foreign substances, creating what could be called “thick water”. This water cannot hydrate our cells because the “clumps” are too large.
So, no matter how much water we drink, our cells still do not get enough hydration. In fact, the trigger for this investigation was precisely this realization by both Birgitte and me (independently of each other). We found out that we are ‘functionally dehydrated’, which is not a good thing.
LINK:
Mild Dehydration Affects Us More than Previously Thought (Mild dehydrering påvirker os mere end hidtil antaget) – David Benton, Professor, Psychology, University of Swansea – 31 August 2016
A new study challenges the common perception of how dehydrated we need to be before cognitive functions are affected. Here, a British professor presents the latest findings.
https://videnskab.dk/forskerzonen/krop-sundhed/mild-dehydrering-paavirker-os-mere-end-hidtil-antaget (Danish link)
Conclusion: We Must Purify Our Water Ourselves
It is actually now quite necessary that we purify our drinking water ourselves – and perhaps / preferably also mineralize it and possibly even enrich it – and maybe even vitalize it.
And yes, all this costs money, but at least the vitalization is a one-time expense, and enrichment with basic ionized hydrogen can also be a one-time expense if you choose the more expensive method. Purification and mineralization, which are probably the most important, require filters, and these are an ongoing expense.
There are many methods for purification, and I have been through most of them, sorting them in my notes from the least effective to the most effective, as well as noting what should be placed before or after what. However, but I will not bother you with that.
In practice, a combination of methods is clearly preferable, which is what the better and more expensive systems have.
Søren’s Suggestion for a Water Purification Method
My recommendation would be to use a “reverse osmosis system” combined with:
1) A coarse filter (sediment filter)
2) A carbon filter (there are two types: granulated (‘GAC’) and ‘block’ – each with its advantages and disadvantages)
3) A reverse osmosis membrane filter
4) A re-mineralization filter (for basic alkalization of the water, i.e., to make it neutral / alkaline again)
… and possibly also …
5) A filter that adds ionized hydrogen to make the water alkaline (you can also get machines for this)
… and, perhaps less importantly, but just an option …
6) Various types of special filters, for example, if you know for sure that your water is contaminated with something specific or if you want to be extra cautious regarding pesticides, nitrate, heavy metals, or viruses
The different filters serve different purposes, and none of the first four elements can, in my opinion, be omitted, but you can add more. The more filters, the cleaner the water … to a certain point, of course, namely when the water is completely clean.
The fifth filter above is smart and a good idea because alkaline water seems to have health benefits, and a special ionized hydrogen filter is the cheapest way to make alkaline water (as mentioned, there is also another option with special machines, which are very expensive – about 10,000 DKK, whereas a filter might cost around 500 DKK).
Just to be clear, you can also have, for example, two or three sediment filters, two or three carbon filters (possibly both types), or even two reverse osmosis membranes, followed by several re-mineralization filters, etc. But the more filters the water has to go through, the higher water pressure is required to push the water through – so almost all serious systems (which have several / many filters) have a built-in, electrically powered pump (except for the Kinetico K5, which has a patented, pump-free system but is also limited to a total of 5 filters).
The sixth option above, additional special filters, can be fine if the reverse osmosis filter is not super good. My suggestion is that we choose a system where it IS super good, and therefore there is no real need for additional special filters.
Apart from the filters, the system can come with or without a pump and with or without a buffer tank.
A pump increases the water pressure, making purification more effective (reverse osmosis becomes more effective at high water pressure), and the clean water is delivered faster. In apartments, especially on higher floors, a pump may be necessary due to low tap water pressure.
A buffer tank holds already purified water, which can then be delivered faster when you turn on the clean water tap. If the system has a buffer tank, it might be a good idea to place a carbon filter after the tank, i.e., right before the water comes out of the tap, to ensure that the water does not “taste like tank.”
Addition of Minerals Removed by Reverse Osmosis
Re-mineralization / basic alkalization of purified water (point 4 above) is technically not required, but it is still a really good idea because the purified water is so clean that even the basic minerals have been removed, which can make it slightly more acidic (e.g., pH 5-6.5) than neutral (which is pH 7).
Additionally, completely pure water “absorbs” things from its surroundings, such as CO2 from the air, which surprisingly quickly (within minutes / hours) makes the water more acidic. So, if you store completely pure, non-re-mineralized water, it should be kept airtight.
For fun, you might call completely pure and mineral-free water “hungry water” or, even better, “thirsty water,” but it is actually called “aggressive water,” and we won’t get into a discussion about it here. I can just mention that some professional window cleaners prefer to use reverse osmosis-purified, non-re-mineralized water for their work precisely because it “absorbs” impurities.
For the same reason, some people believe that drinking reverse osmosis-purified, non-re-mineralized water for a few weeks or more serves as a good detox for accumulated toxins in the body.
On the other hand, people say that re-mineralized water tastes better than completely pure (slightly acidic) water.
Additionally, if you want to enrich the purified water with extra hydrogen via an (expensive) machine, which makes it more alkaline and healthy (higher pH value, e.g., 8-9.5), the electrolysis process involved typically requires minerals in the water. (However, if you instead use a filter that adds ionized hydrogen, minerals are not required in the reverse osmosis-purified water; in fact, minerals are typically included in that filter as well).
Personally, I think mineralization is indispensable. I also believe that it is advantageous if re-mineralization occurs with organically bound minerals, which we can absorb more easily than the inorganically bound minerals found in water from the start, which are filtered out by reverse osmosis.
Making Drinking Water More Alkaline (Is a Good Idea)
Enrichment of water (e.g., with hydrogen through ionization) alters / improves the water’s chemical structure – making it extra alkaline. This is considered very healthy because our diet (including what we drink) is typically far too acidic, which is not good for our body. Hydrogen-enriched water is a powerful antioxidant, which is always beneficial, and is said to be an effective way to restore the acid / alkaline balance. It is believed to help with many conditions, especially:
– Arthritis
– Irritable bowel / bleeding colon (and other gastrointestinal problems)
– Muscle fatigue and muscle cramps
– Various skin problems such as rashes, acne, and psoriasis
Studies are also underway to check if hydrogen-enriched water can be beneficial for:
– Parkinson’s
– Multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases
– Diabetes
– Wound healing
– Patients undergoing cancer treatment with radiation and / or chemicals
So far, the results appear promising. This is not least because hydrogen-enriched water is a strong antioxidant, which positively affects oxidative stress, a factor in diseases such as Parkinson’s.
LINKS:
This page, from a Danish supplier of water ionization systems, contains several links to studies, etc.
https://sundt-vand.com/ioniseret-vand-og-sygdomme (Danish link)
This article (in PDF) is also from another supplier but provides a broad overview of the topic:
https://www.moola.dk/fileadmin/images/behandlere/TYENT_danmark/Ioniseret_vand_-_Moola_hjemmeside.pdf Danish link
As mentioned, there are two ways to enrich water with hydrogen ionization: filters or a specialized machine.
Filter … This is by far the cheapest solution (e.g., 500-600 DKK), and it can even be integrated into a water purification system. However, it is not as precise, flexible, high-performance, or long-lasting (because the filter can only ionize a certain amount of water at a time and wears out over time). But if you can integrate an option to turn the filter on and off, and you can, it is a very fine solution.
Machine … It is everything that a filter is not (i.e., precise, flexible, high-performance, and long-lasting), but the essential elements of such a machine are electrically conductive plates made of titanium and platinum, and this alone makes it expensive, in the range of 10,000 DKK.
You can get a small, pocket-sized hydrogen-enriching machine for about 2,000 DKK, which – in some capacity, as it has no settings – hydrogen-enriches 0.5 liters of water at a time. But 2,000 DKK is also not exactly cheap, and the limitations are obvious.
Some of the properties that hydrogen-enriched water has seem quite relevant to us, and some of them we know. So, my recommendation would be that we give ourselves the option for hydrogen-enriched water.
Fortunately, the water purification system I will recommend does just that, because it uses the cheaper solution for it, namely a filter. We can then add a T-piece, some hoses, and a tap, and this will give us the option to bypass / avoid using the hydrogen-enriched water if that’s what we want.
The ability to choose which type of water to use at any time must be the optimal solution.
Vitalization: Changing the Molecular Structure of Water
Vitalization is said to change / improve the molecular structure of water, making it easier for the body to absorb. This process supposedly causes the water’s own molecular structure to shift from large “chains” or “clusters” to smaller ones, making the water feel softer, more “alive,” and more hydrating (one could perhaps call it more “cell-friendly”).
The vitalization process is said to be based on information transfer / resonance, where the vitalized / structured water in the device used for it transfers its structured state to all the non-structured water that comes near the device. (Somewhat like how you can get a bell or tuning fork to resonate and produce “its” sound by sending precisely its frequency to it with your voice – or something else.)
The information transfer process that vitalizes water is currently incomprehensible to classical science, but the effects are seemingly undeniable: the water gains different, better properties.
Critics naturally say it is unscientific and does not work since they do not understand it and cannot measure it. And that’s quite human, but it does require them to ignore, in a not very scientific manner, the fact that you can see and taste a difference, and that many people experience it working; for example, large Danish companies – many of which are engineering-heavy – such as Carlsberg, Danisco, Haldor Topsøe, Arla, and others. They have chosen to spend money on it, and they probably wouldn’t if it didn’t produce the results they desire.
LINK: Grander vand Syd Nyt (Grander Water South News) – Michael Martinussen – March 23, 2011 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW8e4uzKR-g Danish link
Many (around 150, if I remember correctly) pig farmers have also invested in a Grander unit for their water – and they are not easily convinced to try such “hokus pokus” – but they do it because it works: Their pigs are both fed and bathed in vitalized water (which is also said to be good for dry skin), and the farmers say that the pigs no longer get sick in the same way, grow faster, and generally seem happier. There are also nurseries that use vitalized water. And, of course, plenty of people who, completely privately, swear by it.
LINKS:
GRANDER Vandvitalisering i Landbruget
Svinefarmer Anders Lassen fra Bornholm fortæller om sine erfaringer med GRANDER Vand.
(GRANDER Water Vitalization in Agriculture
Pig Farmer Anders Lassen from Bornholm Shares His Experiences with GRANDER Water). https://youtu.be/qYY9NoBRx-I
Økologisk Landmand Anders Laugesen fortæller om sine erfaringer med Grander Vandvitalisering (Organic Farmer Anders Laugesen Shares His Experiences with Grander Water Vitalization) – December 19, 2019 https://youtu.be/C-dlx6gRQZY Danish link
Prof. Dr. Dartsch: “GRANDER WATER can prevent oxidative stress” – December 22, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz321gdC6G4
Prof. Dr. Dartsch: “GRANDER WATER promotes cell regeneration and well-being” – December 23, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRkCuQolY0
On DR2 (via YouTube), Lasse Spang Olsen also tests Grander water vitalization in various ways and is impressed by its effects. An expert he consults cannot explain it.
LINK:
Grander Water Vitalization on DR2 “Vandets hemmeligheder” (“The Secrets of Water”) Lasse Spang Olsen talks about Grander Water Vitalization and conducts exciting experiments demonstrating the self-cleaning properties of vitalized water. https://youtu.be/qYY9NoBRx-I
There are two suppliers of water vitalization modules: the original Grander and the newer and – according to the competing company itself – improved EWO. Grander vitalization is the best known and has the most tests and results.
A Grander unit for the water pipes in an apartment / house costs 5,000 to 6,000 DKK. For 1,100 DKK, you can also get a small stainless steel cylinder (“pen”) that you can stir in a glass of water, wine, or other liquids to vitalize it, or you can get a plate with Grander water on it, which you can place, for example, water or wine on (or put under your pillow) for around 2,000-3,000 DKK.
Since the water only needs to flow close to or through the Grander unit and the typical Grander model is essentially a pipe with encapsulated, vitalized water around it (i.e., there’s a hole all the way through it), I can’t help but think that you might not actually need to install it on your water pipes so that the water flows through it, but could instead just run the hose from the water purification system through the Grander unit – similar to how you could run a garden hose through any ring or hole in a wall. I am guessing, but I don’t know for sure.
If you choose a Grander model for water pipes, there is a 12-month unconditional return policy, which -as far as I understand it – means that you can safely buy it and try it out, and return it within a year if you don’t like it. Whether this understanding is correct should be confirmed with the supplier.
LINKS:
https://grandershop.dk (Danish link)
https://grandershop.dk/handelsbetingelser(Danish link)
An EWO unit for the water pipes in an apartment/house also costs 5,000 to 6,000 DKK.
LINKS:
EWO, Energie Wasser Optimierung:
https://www.ewo-wasser.at/en/
Water Vitalization – The proven EWO technology – Florian Scharlock – 2. jun. 2011
https://youtu.be/NXpHTy-39KI
Summary on Enrichment and Vitalization of Our Water
Vitalization and enrichment are more challenging to recommend to everybody, but personally, I find that both vitalization and enrichment through hydrogen ionization seem to offer relatively convincing benefits. Therefore, I believe it’s worth trying, especially when it can be done in a flexible manner.
Can We Measure “Stuff” in Our Water?
Yes, we can. The first thing to measure is the water pressure at the faucet, for which you use a pressure gauge. If the water pressure is too low (below about 3-3.5 bar), you typically need to buy a system with a pump.
The next relevant thing to measure is TDS (Total Dissolved Solids). You use a thermometer-like instrument, a TDS meter, which costs 100-200 DKK and provides a simple number (ppm) for how much “various substances” (including natural minerals, pesticides, heavy metals, etc.) are in the water.
A low number is good, while a high number is bad. The TDS number in ppm should ideally not be over 500 ppm, which is the maximum limit for drinking water in the USA. A number under 100-200 is preferred.
Finally, many waterworks publish their measurements of drinking water. I found one from HOFOR, which covers Copenhagen, and after reading it, I have the following comment: Only 47 parameters are measured, but they are all present in the water, just not in large quantities.
The overall effect must be “thick” and not-so-healthy water. However, I have not yet purchased a TDS meter, so I have not measured my local drinking water’s TDS, but a qualified guess would be that it is a high number.
Water Purification: Which System Should We Choose?
Reverse osmosis (RO) water purification systems come in many different models at various price points. However, there are several factors to consider:
– The system’s purification capability (more expensive systems are better, but all systems costing around 4,000 DKK or more do a decent job)
– The system’s water pressure requirements (water pressure in apartments is often lower than in houses, especially on higher floors)
– Purchase price of the system (or rental price, if possible, if you do not wish to own it)
– Installation (typically connected to the water pipes and requires a new faucet or a combined faucet for purified water)
– Ongoing operating costs, including:
– a) new filters, i.e., a1) how many there are, a2) their cost, and a3) how often they need to be replaced
– b) electricity for potential pump
– c) potential need for maintenance
– Flexibility (= does it have / allow for special filters, e.g., for re-mineralization or for removing pesticides?)
– Durability / reliability (the length of the system’s warranty can provide an indication)
– Ease of use (= how easy it is to operate and change filters – and does the pump make noise?)
– Physical placement, space requirements, and possible appearance
– Satisfaction of existing users (not always possible to find, but sometimes available)
Specifically regarding the system’s overall ability to purify water, it can be categorized into these purification levels:
– Under 90% of all contamination: Various single filters (e.g., ceramic filters), i.e., not actual systems
– 90-95% of all contamination: Advanced, more expensive combination single filters + inexpensive RO systems with few filters
– 95-97% of all contamination: Mid-range, most common systems
– 99% of all contamination: More expensive systems such as Kinetico K5 and DIY iSpring RCC7AK
– 99.9% of all contamination: More expensive systems such as RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000
One of the hardest things to remove is substances dissolved in the water, such as water-soluble pesticides. It is likely these that you “choose” to have or not have when selecting between a total efficiency of, for example, 95-97% and 99%. My personal opinion is that if we are doing it, we might as well do it properly. Therefore, my recommendation would be a total efficiency of 99% or higher.
One final, general thing to know is that all more effective systems need to be connected to the water pipes and have their own (physically smaller) faucet, which should be installed in the kitchen sink area next to the existing faucet. You then get your purified water from this new, smaller faucet.
You can also purchase a combination faucet (for both tap water and purified water) that replaces your existing faucet, so you avoid drilling into the kitchen countertop for the new faucet and only need one faucet in total. If you want such a combination faucet, you should be careful where you buy it, as the exact same faucet can vary in price from 2,500 DKK in some places to 1,100 DKK in others.
LINKS to some Danish suppliers of water purification systems (as always, you should check them on Trustpilot.dk before making a purchase):
https://rent-drikkevand.dk
https://det-rene-vand.dk
http://www.rent-postevand.dk [For the DIY people]
https://danpure.dk
https://www.purepro.dk
https://oekovand.dk = avand.dk
What You CAN ALSO Get – Alternatives to a 99% Efficient Purification System …
You can:
– Get a simple, slow, and very energy-consuming water distiller for around 1,000-2,000 DKK. In terms of purchase price, this is probably the cheapest way to get very pure (about 99.9%) water, BUT it takes four hours with quite high energy consumption to produce four liters of pure water (and it might be noisy), and the pure water is not re-mineralized (which means it is “aggressive,” has a pH value below 7, and needs to be stored in an airtight container immediately).
You could then possibly buy a mineral product from a health store and add it to the water yourself. If so, I would suggest the “alkalizing dietary supplement with minerals, trace elements, and vitamins” called Basica Vital (and not the other products from Basica);
– Purchase a small, very basic reverse osmosis system without re-mineralization (but you can manually add Basica Vital) and without a pump for 700-1,500 DKK. It simply screws onto the faucet, so it requires a certain water pressure to avoid waiting too long for your purified drinking water.
Such a system typically has an overall purification efficiency of around 90-95%, i.e., on the lower end. For example, you can get one from an aquarium store or from rent-postevand.dk for about 700 DKK, or a similar one from rent-drikkevand.dk called “TEST Vacation and Trial Package (Portable Movable System)” for 1,300 DKK.
They recommend it as a way to try reverse osmosis and for travel. The advantage of the slightly more expensive rent-drikkevand.dk supplier is that they build it by hand and can add a mineralization filter if you want (and have enough water pressure to operate it).
If you don’t have a Grayl Geopress filter bottle for travel (which also costs about 700 DKK), such a small system could be an alternative, as long as you have patience when dealing with low water pressure locations;
– Pay around 3,400 DKK for an electrically powered reverse osmosis system without re-mineralization. It sits on the counter and looks like a coffee machine. It is is easy to change filters on – although it needs to be done more frequently than usual, every six months. It does not need to be connected to the water pipes but instead is manually filled with 5 liters of water, after which it produces about 2 liters of relatively well-purified (90-95% or 95-97% depending on the model), non-re-mineralized water;
– For about 4,000-4,500 DKK on Amazon Germany, purchase a seemingly good and 99% effective reverse osmosis system from iSpring aimed at DIY enthusiasts. It connects to the water pipes and can be placed in the cabinet under the sink, and you install and maintain it yourself – just be handy and not afraid to change filters every six months and move some hoses around to clean it by flushing;
– For various, relatively low amounts of money, buy a system from the Danish supplier rent-postevand.dk, which is particularly aimed at DIY enthusiasts. For example, the reasonably priced RO6pump for 2,100 DKK, with an overall filtration percentage of 95-97%, is not super-good but falls into the most typical / common category. It is currently sold out but can be viewed here: https://rent-postevand.dk/shop/RO6pump Danish link
However, with these solutions, either the operation is costly (and possibly slow and noisy), or the quality / durability and purification efficiency are not very high, or it lacks flexibility and something is missing (e.g., basic filters and / or re-mineralization), or it requires a lot from us – or a combination of these factors.
What I Think We Will Want
Any purification is better than none, but my sense is that most of us primarily want something that is as effective as possible.
In addition, we want it to be as all-inclusive, easy, and ‘hands-off’ as well as inexpensive to operate as possible. Ideally it should provide us with as much water as we want, whenever we want it. Moreover it should work for years because it is of high – or at least good enough – quality. Even if it has a higher initial cost and does not necessarily have the cheapest possible filters.
If it can even enrich the water and make it alkaline, that’s great – but it should be an option, not something the system always does.
So when I consider this and ALL the above factors, my recommendation ends up being the RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 – with a few subsequent modifications in the form of bypasses and faucets to make it more flexible.
RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000
This system costs around 8,000 DKK without modifications. Wetality (from Switzerland) claims to have designed the best possible system, and it seems they have succeeded.
LINKS from the Swiss manufacturer and supplier:
https://wetality.com/water/machine.php
https://wetality.com/water/wetality-water-products
https://wetality.com/water/lab-analysis.php
https://wetality.com/rent-drikkevand (the Danish supplier’s page at the Swiss manufacturer’s website)
LINKS from the Danish supplier:
https://rent-drikkevand.dk/bedstitest/
https://rent-drikkevand.dk/produkter
Here is the brief version of information about the system, divided into: a) advantages, b) mixed advantages AND disadvantages, and c) disadvantages:
a) The main ADVANTAGES of the RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 system are:
1) It provides possibly the most effective water purification for private use on the market. It features 5 levels of filtration and 3 levels of enrichment. The osmotic filter is exceptionally fine and efficient (filtering down to 0.0001 microns, which is at the most effective end of the scale). The system’s overall purification efficiency is 99.9%.
2) It uses standard filters, hoses, etc., meaning it is flexible, and you can choose other filters and / or add more filters as desired. And because it includes a built-in pump, it can handle additional filters you may want to add. You can also add faucets and bypasses, making it even more flexible (see point 5).
3) It comes with two enrichment filters that add a range of minerals and trace elements that make the water neutral (pH 7), and these are also organic, meaning we can absorb them.
(Special note to Birgitte: The amount of organic minerals it adds is several times smaller than the amount of inorganic minerals in tap water in most of Zealand, where we have very mineral-rich water. The final result for the amount of minerals we absorb will likely be roughly the same with tap water as with purified water that is remineralized. However, the mineral distribution is likely better in remineralized water because it is balanced. Tap water predominantly has calcium / lime).
4) In addition, the RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 comes with a third enrichment filter that performs hydrogen ionization of the water, thus making it alkaline. This is considered particularly healthy as it regulates the body’s acid / alkaline balance. Most of us have this balance skewed towards acidity, which weakens the immune system and health. Alkaline water is believed to be especially good for: arthritis, gastrointestinal issues, skin problems, and there are indications it might also help with Parkinson’s, various nerve diseases, and diabetes. (Some of these issues seem relevant for us).
5) Because it uses standard filters, you can – through rent-drikkevand.dk – add filters and faucets (with bypasses), allowing you to configure it so that you can choose exactly which type of water you want by opening or closing faucets, for example:
a) Pure, non-mineralized water (pH about 5-6.5), good for detox programs, cooking, and window cleaning
b) Pure, organic mineralized water (pH about 7), good for drinking and cooking
c) Pure, organic mineralized AND hydrogen-ionized water (pH about 8-9), extra healthy for drinking
Another advantage of doing it this way is that you can measure each type of water yourself (it’s very easy) and check both pH value and other metrics, thus precisely determining when a filter REALLY needs to be replaced.
6) Most of the filters are inexpensive, and even though the osmotic filter is highly effective, it is reasonably priced (a bit more expensive than standard, but much cheaper than, for example, the one for the Kinetico K5). A standard filter pack (excluding the osmotic and UV filters, which need to be replaced less frequently) costs €104 = 775 DKK, which is a very reasonable price, as it only needs to be purchased once a year. The osmotic filter lasts about 3 years before it needs replacing and costs €96 = 715 DKK, while the UV filter, which should last 4 years, costs €58.50 = 435 DKK.
b) The RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 system has five mixed advantages AND disadvantages:
1) It self-cleans, which is smart (and absolutely necessary due to the extra-fine osmotic filter) – BUT it does so every time you use it, so you need to wait 18-20 seconds for your purified water, which is a drawback. This waiting time means you’ll likely want to fill a jug, glasses, or bottles while you’re at it. For self-cleaning systems, this waiting time is standard (except for the Kinetico K5, which is unique in this regard). Personally, I think it might have been better if it cleaned itself right after dispensing water rather than before. But as it is, it does ensure that you get completely clean water every time.
2) As the final stage in purification, it includes a UV filter that illuminates the water to neutralize any parasites, bacteria, viruses, and similar contaminants. Such a UV filter isn’t exactly cheap (around 500 DKK), tends to develop a ‘film’ over time (especially in systems with a less effective osmotic filter), which reduces its efficiency, and seems somewhat redundant after the water has undergone the highly effective prior purification. Therefore, you are paying for something that might not be necessary. However, the supplier claims that it can last at least 4 years, so it might not be a major issue.
3) There are four ways to acquire the RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 system, described from the cheapest to the most expensive solution, averaged over 4 years:
3.1) You can purchase and own the system with a 2-year warranty and, after one year, buy and replace the filters yourself (i.e., without service). Provided the system doesn’t break down in the last two years, the cost averaged over 4 years is approximately 2,954 DKK per year, including both the system and filters. And you own the system.
3.2) You can purchase and own the system with a 2-year warranty, and after one year, buy the filters yourself and also pay for annual service. Provided the system doesn’t break down in the last two years, the cost averaged over 4 years is approximately 3,285 DKK per year, including both the system, filters, and service. And you own the system.
3.3) You can purchase and own the system but pay a subscription that includes 4 years of warranty (i.e., 2 additional years), filters, and service. The cost averaged over 4 years is approximately 5,250 DKK per year, all-inclusive. And you own the system.
3.4) You can rent the system for 4 years, which also includes warranty, filters, and service but excludes ownership. The cost averaged over 4 years is 5,592 DKK per year, all-inclusive. If you continue with the subscription for another 4 years, it will be a new contract, and you will receive (i.e., rent) a new system. HOWEVER, you do NOT own any system.
In my opinion, option 3.2 would be optimal for us. Here we would buy the filters ourselves (which is easy online), but we pay for service / filters changes – without it being excessively expensive.
4) The special filter that adds ionized hydrogen to the water is very smart and inexpensive, as a standalone machine that hydrogen-ionizes water (via electrolysis on titanium and platinum plates) costs about 10,000 DKK, and you don’t need that. HOWEVER, the way RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 controls how alkaline the water should be is somewhat primitive, as it’s just a filter through which the water flows.
The less you tap per hour, the more alkaline it is – and vice versa: the more you tap per hour, the less alkaline it is. So in practice, you control the pH level of the water in this way:
– If you want a fairly high, alkaline pH value of 9 in your drinking water, you should only tap about half a liter and then wait an hour before tapping the next half liter with a pH value of 9.
– If you want a medium-high, alkaline pH value of 8, you should tap about one liter and then wait an hour before tapping the next liter with a pH value of 8.
– If you want a slightly alkaline pH value around 7.5, you should tap about 2 liters and then wait an hour before tapping the next 2 liters with a pH value around 7.5.
– If you want completely neutral water with a pH of 7, you should tap 2.4 liters and then wait an hour before tapping the next 2.4 liters with a pH value of 7.
– If you tap about 2.5 liters or more, the pH value starts to drop below neutral (pH 7) until you have tapped about 4.2 liters in an hour, where the filter can no longer keep up, and the water no longer gets ionized hydrogen but is just regular water from a reverse osmosis system without mineralization – with a pH of 6-6.5. Unless you are on a detox, this is not very attractive for drinking water (which is precisely one of the reasons for re-mineralizing your water). But it is perfectly fine for cooking (e.g., boiling spaghetti in).
– Wetality writes that you don’t need to worry too much about it because, on average, we all need 2-3 liters of water per day, and if we just tap it when we feel like it, we will get an average reasonable result.
In my opinion, it is very important that, via rent-drikkevand.dk, you can choose to add some extra taps and bypasses (inside the system, not on the kitchen counter), which you can open or close, allowing you to choose whether to use ionization or not – and still get mineralized water if you want – or completely non-mineralized water if that is what you prefer.
c) The biggest DISADVANTAGES of the RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 system are:
1) The aforementioned waiting time for the water.
2) It has a small motor that uses electricity and makes a noise, though primarily when it is working, i.e., when you are tapping water.
3) Changing filters on the RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 is not so difficult, but it’s not super easy either. It is designed for self-servicing, and 4 of the filters are really easy to change, but the other three could definitely be easier (like on the Kinetico K5). (On the other hand, most are standard-type filters, which increases flexibility and lowers their cost).
After watching some videos about it, I would say that most people, but maybe not all, can change the filters if they “keep their wits about them”. But maybe not everyone who can will feel confident doing it. So it would be nice to be free from that. Fortunately, rent-drikkevand.dk collaborates with an installer, Sebastian, who lives somewhere between Sorø and Copenhagen, and who can do it in both locations for about 700 kr. once a year, when needed.
4) There will be an additional cost for extra taps, T-pieces, and hoses inside the system (and installation) if you want the flexibility that I suggest we should have.
Conclusion:
For its relatively high price, the RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 probably provides the purest drinking water you can get directly from a private water purification system, and it is a significant advantage that it includes a filter that can add ionized hydrogen and make the water extra alkaline.
The system is probably the best on the market, but it is not perfect. The UV filter, for example, is relatively expensive and maybe unnecessary, and there are also some other minor “buts” about the system, not least the waiting time for clean water when you turn on the tap. If you add some taps and bypasses inside the system – and if you pay to avoid annual service / filters changes, it will be a bit better – but also a bit more expensive.
Reasonable Alternatives to RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000
Here, I will mention just two alternatives especially chosen due to their high purification efficiency, which is 99% for both.
Kinetico K5 – Expensive, Inflexible, but Effective, Silent, Reliable, and the Easiest to Service
Produced by kinetico.com, sold through the Danish supplier det-rene-vand.dk, and costs about 10,000 kr. The system is quite expensive to purchase and operate due to costly filters that must be from Kinetico.
It has a high overall purification rate (99%), is very easy to service / change filters, and due to a patented system, it does not require a power-consuming pump, even with very low water pressure at the tap.
The system is self-cleaning when not in use, meaning it provides water immediately when the tap is turned on.
Only three types of filters come as standard; an additional re-mineralization filter must be actively chosen and paid for. (It is unspecified whether the re-mineralization is with organically bound minerals, which are easy to absorb, or inorganic minerals, which are harder to absorb).
Additionally, there is an option for an extra Kinetico filter against, for example, pesticides (probably not necessary). The system cannot hydrogen-enrich water.
LINKS:
https://www.kinetico.com/drinking-water-filtration-systems/kinetico-k5-drinking-water-station
[The system cannot be seen on the Danish supplier’s website, det-rene-vand.dk – the owner has informed me that they are behind on updating their website]
iSpring RCC7AK / iSpring RCC7P-AK – Good, Effective (99%) and Affordable for DIY Enthusiasts
The system is called iSpring RCC7AK without a pump or RCC7P-AK with a pump if you have a water pressure in the pipes below 45 PSI / 3.1 bar. The system, which you have to install and maintain / change filters yourself, can be found on Amazon Germany for about 4,000 kr. (or 4,400 kr. with a pump).
The filters, which for some need to be replaced twice as often as on the RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 and Kinetico K5, are relatively inexpensive – about 1,100 kr. for a year’s supply. One of the filters in the system is a re-mineralization filter, so it comes automatically. It is not a self-cleaning system, meaning you will need some DIY skills.
Link to the system without a pump:
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/iSpring-RCC7AK-Legendary-featuring-See-through/dp/B005LJ8EXU
Link to the system with a pump:
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Ispring-6-Stage-Reverse-Filtration-Pressure/dp/B005LKKMYS
Link to the filters:
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Ispring-9-Piece-Filters-Alkalis-Minerals/dp/B00BOASJ1M
Overall …
Overall, however, I would recommend the RO Unik 8 / Wetality W-1000 to us. It is my best suggestion.
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