FAQ's

1. Why should I consider a POU treatment strategy? What are the potential benefits?

Implementing a POU or POE treatment strategy may be substantially less expensive than building, expanding, or upgrading a central treatment plant since only a portion of water used in the household is treated to a higher level.

Some forms of POU and POE treatment may provide your customers with equal or better protection from certain contaminants than central treatment at a lower cost. For example, total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) may be reduced to a lower level with POU treatment than is economically feasible with central treatment.

POU products may also protect the PWS from future regulations. As regulations become stricter and new water contaminants are on the horizon for regulation (perchlorate), POU products may provide compliance to these new regulations at no additional cost to the water system.

2. What water quality problems have been addressed with POU treatment?

Communities have successfully implemented a POU treatment program to treat a wide variety of inorganic and organic contaminants. A brief list includes:

• Arsenic
• Copper
• Fluoride
• Lead
• Nitrate/Nitrite
• Radium 226/228
• TDS

3. How do I install the equipment once I have decided to implement a POU strategy?

It is easy and cost efficient to make use of a local water dealer for the installation of the POU systems. These water dealers have the experience to install these RO units, and overcome any installation issues that may arise.

If you currently have a relationship with a water dealer, we suggest using that individual for your program. If however you are in need of some referrals, Watts Premier has developed a list of certified water dealers nationwide that can assist you in the installation of your RO units.

It is important to install the unit in a manner that will permit you to service and monitor it quickly and easily. Garage or basement installations may also improve your ability to access the unit.

4. What if I have a greater water demand than what a normal under counter system can deliver?

Watts Premier RO systems are typically set with a 25 gallon per day reverse osmosis membrane and a three gallon holding tank. In the event that a service connections has special needs, such as a large family, or a food service kitchen, these RO systems can easily be fitted with higher producing membranes in order to keep up with the water demand. Additionally, in some cases, it may be beneficial to use a larger holding tank such as a 5 or 10 gallon tank.

5. Will it involve special equipment/filters or will replacement filters and parts be readily available?

These RO systems do not require any special equipment or filters other than the ones supplied through Watts Premier. All parts and filters are readily available directly through Watts Premier.

6. How often will the filters need to be changed?
Watts Premier recommends the following replacement frequency:

• Three pre filters - once a year
  

• One post filter - once a year
  

• RO membrane - 2 - 5 years
  
  

Cost analysis for use of the RO for arsenic treatment estimates that the RO element is changed every two years. This is done in order to represent a worst case scenario. Additionally, many states are requiring RO elements be exchanged more frequently than recommended by the manufacturer in order to provide another safety factor. All systems will be equipped with a TDS monitor, which can be set to a specific percent TDS reduction. TDS reduction is an indicator of RO membrane integrity. All Watts Premier RO elements achieve initially an average TDS reduction of 96.8%. RO systems equipped with TDS monitors will turn from green to red at any percent TDS as deemed acceptable as a minimum (85% - 80% - 75%).

7. What is the Cost for these filters?
Watts Premier provides annual replacement filter packs for our five stage RO users. In a cost analysis using these RO systems, including installation, two system maintenance checks a year, and all replacement filters, the cost to purchase, operate and run these systems comes to under $13.00 per service outlet per month annualized over a 10 year period.

8. Does the system have a monitor?

Requirements of the SDWA require the POU device to have a way to tell the user if it is working properly. This type of monitoring device is called a performance indicator, and there are a few ways to accomplish this.

Some performance indicators actually shut off the water to the user. Through conversations with many regulators and home users, they agreed that this was not a preferred performance indicator for compliance purposes as the home owner is inclined to use water from a non treated tap for a period of time if the water treatment system stops water flow.

Watts Premier has developed a total dissolved solids (TDS) monitoring faucet. TDS removal is an indicator of the effectiveness of an RO membrane. Through this TDS monitoring faucet, the community can set exactly what is the minimum percent reduction they will accept for their specific water quality needs.

In short, when an RO is initially installed, it typically achieves 96% reduction of TDS (and 98 - 99% reduction of arsenic). If the community has an arsenic level of 30 ppb, they would not want it to exceed 10 ppb. They could then set the TDS monitoring faucet to turn from green light to the red light when it senses that the system is achieving only 70% TDS reduction. If the arsenic influent is 30 ppb, and the RO membrane is achieving 70% reduction, you can estimate that the system is reducing the arsenic from 30 ppb down to 9 ppb, and therefore there is a need to service the system. This still provides a safety factor and filtered water for the end user until the water dealer can service the unit.

9. In addition to changing these filters, what other maintenance is required?
(tank drained, etc)
There is little to no additional maintenance for these products. There is no requirement to drain the tank on a routine basis. During the one year system check, the plumber should inspect all the plumbing connections to see if any need to be tightened. Additionally, it is recommended to sanitize the system once a year, which should be completed by the plumber during the routine check up.

For vacation homes, if no one has used the RO unit for over two months, it is recommended that you drain the RO tank as the water may have a stale taste to it.

10. What if some homeowners already have an RO installed?
There are a couple items that you will need to look at when addressing this question.

• Is the unit certified for arsenic reduction
  

• Does the unit have a TDS monitoring faucet
  

• What are the cost implications long term for replacement elements

If the system is certified for arsenic reduction, but does not have a TDS monitoring faucet, one can easily and cost efficiently be retrofitted to the system. However, the cost of replacement elements and maintenance on those systems will in the long run be higher as the individual performing the O & M on the systems will need to stock parts and replacement elements for all the different systems that are in the community. Keep in mind that water systems will most likely receive volume discounts on replacement elements when ordered in bulk. You may not receive the same discounts from the other system manufacturers ad the volume will not be there.