System Comparisons
Start improving the water quality in your home.
Water Filtration Systems on Whidbey Island, WA
Although we recommend ECOsmarte® Oxygen Systems to homeowners in Freeland, WA and across Whidbey Island, we understand that budget or preference may sway you in another direction. For water with high iron and manganese content, heavy mineralization, hard water, tannin, arsenic, toxic chemicals, and sulfur, sometimes multiple systems are necessary. Dean Petrich at Whidbey Water Filters can explain the benefits and drawbacks of each, so you can make a smart decision about your potable water.
Order an ECOsmarte system soon. As of December 24, 2021, the price changes from $6495 to $7700.
Features
Unit price
Capacity
Number of tanks
Min. gallons/minute
Automatic backwash
Removes iron, manganese, dissolved minerals
Removes sulfur odor
Removes particulates
Kills bacteria
Removes chemicals
Quiet
No parts to replace
Removes pharmaceuticals
No flow restriction
Removes hardness
No air bursts
Removes tannin
Removes arsenic
Custom-designed
Free water test
Low-maintenance
Eliminates heavy iron bacteria
Chlorine
$2999
Large Capacity
6
6.5-9 gpm
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Ozone
$5000
Large Capacity
2
8+ gpm
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Chlorine Injector
Oxygen
$6495
Large Capacity
3-4
10+ gpm
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Chlorine Injector
Chlorine System
Oxygen System
Ozone 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
Oxidation Water Filtration Systems Whidbey Island WA
How do different water filtration systems stack up against each other and against the contaminants in your potable water? Whidbey Water Filters has compiled a convenient breakdown of different systems and their water purification capabilities. We recommend Whidbey Island WA homeowners compare and contrast different options before deciding on any one system (or combined filters) to treat their potable water. Here’s what you need to know.
Four Technologies
How do different water filtration systems stack up against each other and against the contaminants in your potable water? Whidbey Water Filters has compiled a convenient breakdown of different systems and their water purification capabilities. We recommend Whidbey Island WA homeowners compare and contrast different options before deciding on any one system (or combined filters) to treat their potable water. Here’s what you need to know.
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.
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 will reduce the level of dissolved minerals, will settle out any particulates, and will off-gas the sulfur.
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% 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 $3000 is an average price for a basic water system.
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).
OZONE
Advantages:
Chemical-free
Ozone is a powerful oxidant and will quickly oxidize dissolved minerals such as iron and manganese
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.
There are numerous components to the system that will clog, wear out, weaken, or need some sort of servicing.
The ozone pump will wear down and will need to be rebuilt every two or three years, for about $400. As other parts fail, they also cost.
Requires at least 8 gpm flow rate, if not 10 gpm.
OXYGEN
Advantages:
Quiet
Salt-free
Chemical-free
Low-maintenance
Eliminates iron, manganese, sulfur, hardness, chemicals, bacteria, and even arsenic—all the problems we have here on Whidbey island.
The price for extended maintenance over time is the lowest long-term price of all the systems.
If additional systems are required, they will be included at lower than normal prices, or sometimes for no additional cost.
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.
Disadvantages:
Initial cost is higher than other technologies
Requires at least 10 gpm flow rate
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.
- 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. It also would not remove any calcium.
- The ECOsmarte oxygen system does everything the ozone system did, with the addition of removing calcium and residually killing the bacteria in my pipes. The biggest benefit is that maintenance is easy and infrequent.