System Comparisons
Start improving the water quality in your home.
Compare Effective Water Filtration Systems
on Whidbey Island
Features
Unit Price
Capacity
Number of tanks
Minimum gallons per minute
Removes iron, manganese, dissolved minerals
Removes sulfur odor
Removes particulates
Kills bacteria
Removes chemicals
Quiet
No parts to replace
Removes pharmaceuticals
Removes hardness
No air bursts
Removes tannin
Removes arsenic
Custom-designed
Free water test
Low-maintenance
Eliminates heavy iron bacteria
Air
$2400
Medium
1
7+ gpm
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Chlorine
$4337
Large
6
6.5-9 gpm
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Ozone
$6000
Large
2
8+ gpm
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Oxygen
$7795
Large
3-4
10+ gpm
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Chlorine System
Ozone System
Oxygen System
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance Task
Clean electrodes
Add chlorine
Replace ozone pump
Re-set timers
Re-build ozone pump
Clean posi-vent
Clean ozone cells
Re-bed media tanks
Add salt
Replace check valves
OP pressure test
Replace posi-vent
Re-bed electric drier
Rebuild valve
Replace ozone transformer
Replace ozone generator
Frequency
15 minutes once every 1-3 months
2-4 times a month
After 3 rebuilds
After power outage
Every 2-3 years
Every 2-6 months
Every 3-5 years
Every 4-6 years
Every other week
Every other year
Every six months
From 2-10 years
Once a year
Once in ten years
Within 10-20 years
Within 10-20 years
Ozone
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Oxygen
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Chlorine
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Whidbey Water Filters
Water Filtration Systems to Oxidize Dissolved Minerals
Four Technologies
Dissolved minerals cannot be filtered out of water unless they have been oxidized. There are only four ways to oxidize water: chlorine, air, ozone, and oxygen. In simple terms, oxygen rusts the minerals so they turn into larger particles; then these flocculated clumps can be filtered out. For example, ferrous iron converts to ferric iron, calcium carbonate turns into calcium bicarbonate, arsenic 3 turns into arsenic 5.
Cost Range
In order of water purification cost, compressed air is the least expensive and the least effective, while chemical injection is a mid-range price and treats most things. Ozone is 100% effective, powerful and chemical-free, but sometimes other systems must be added. Oxygen is 100% effective and all-inclusive. Although the initial cost of the oxygen system is the highest, the long-term costs are the lowest. Unit prices are listed on the comparison chart above.
Best Choice: You Decide
Each system is appropriate within certain parameters. Decide for yourself which system is most applicable for your situation.
AERATION
Advantages:
Air injection is inexpensive
and works well with water that has low levels of contaminants. It is low-maintenance and chemical-free. It will reduce the level of dissolved minerals, will settle out any particulates, and will off-gas the sulfur.
The single tank takes up a small footprint and fits in small spaces
Disadvantages:
However, it will not kill bacteria,
will not remove 100% of iron or manganese,
and will not soften the water.
The technology relies on the fact that air contains 19%-21% oxygen, and therefore will reduce but not remove all contaminants.
CHLORINE
Advantages:
If there there is aggressive iron bacteria in the well, a chlorine system is an excellent option.
It will kill all bacteria,
will fully oxidize the dissolved minerals,
will filter out chemicals and chlorine,
the water softener will treat any hardness,
and the price is in the average range.
Another advantage is that the flow rate requirement is only 6.5 gpm-9gpm.
Disadvantages:
Six tanks require ample space
Chlorine and salt must be purchased and added constantly
The injection tubing will clog and must be cleaned or replaced periodically.
There is an on-going expense of purchasing salt and chlorine (or hydrogen peroxide, which is more expensive).
The salt is not filtered out of the water, leaving a slight taste.
OZONE
Advantages:
Chemical-free
Ozone is a powerful oxidant and will quickly oxidize dissolved minerals such as iron and manganese. The system requires a flow rate of 8 gpm - 10 gpm.
Ozone can penetrate the cell wall of a bacteria within seconds, whereas it may take up to an hour for chlorine to penetrate it fully.
Unlike chlorine, ozone is not residual and is off-gassed after it has served its purpose.
Nothing is added to the water, but the contaminants are all removed
Disadvantages:
The ozone pump makes a sound every time water is turned on. Ozone is instantaneous, but not residual; bacteria could grow in the pipes between the filter and the faucet. Over time, multiple components will clog, wear out, weaken, or need some sort of servicing, such as cleaning or replacement. For example, the ozone pump will wear down and will need to be rebuilt every two or three years, for at least $400.
OXYGEN
Advantages:
Quiet
Salt-free
Chemical-free
Low-maintenance
Eliminates iron, manganese, sulfur, hardness, chemicals, bacteria, staining, and even arsenic—all the problems we have here on Whidbey Island.
The system is custom designed based on the results from a free extensive water test of over 130 contaminants.
Once installed, it is guaranteed to remove all undesirable contaminants.
The price for extended maintenance over time is the lowest long-term price of all the systems.
Disadvantages:
Initial cost is higher than other technologies.
Requires flow rate of 10 gpm - 15 gpm.
My Personal Choice
Why did I choose the ECOsmarte oxygen system for my own house?
- The chlorine system did not appeal to me for a number of reasons, primarily because I do not like using chemicals or salt. Water softeners make the water feel slimy and impossible to rinse the soap off during a shower. The production of chlorine is destructive to the environment and is a chemical that is dangerous to produce and use. The maintenance is not fun. Six tanks take up a lot of room, and backwash a lot of water.
- Aeration systems are not fully effective. I want totally clean water, not partially clean.
- I had an ozone system on my house for many years, but it was high maintenance and required frequent inspection. As the pump piston wore down, the ozone injection would become increasingly less effective. It also would not remove any calcium. My shower heads would constantly cake up with white deposits that were difficult to remove. Maintenance cost money and took a lot of time.
- The ECOsmarte oxygen system does everything the ozone system does, with the additional benefit of removing calcium and residually killing the bacteria in my pipes. The biggest benefit is that maintenance is easy and infrequent. Besides knowing that my water is safe and my pipes are clean, my favorite part is that my shower heads have no white deposits.