Frequently Asked Questions

1) Question: What does the purifier remove?

Answer: The FW1000 removes a broad range of contaminants from water. Contaminants found in water can essentially be placed in three different categories - microbiological, chemical & aesthetic. Impurities within these categories that are removed by the FW1000 system include - harmful bacteria, protozoa organisms, chlorine, trihalomethanes, volatile organic chemicals (VOC), synthetic organic chemicals (SOC), foul tastes & odours, rust particles, sediment, aluminium sulphate and numerous other undesirable elements including dissolved and particulate metals.

2) Question: What does the purifier leave in the water?

Answer: The FW1000 is designed to remove virtually all harmful contaminants from water while leaving minerals essential to good health and taste intact. Calcium for example contributes to the overall taste of drinking water, is a major component of bones and teeth and is essential for various bodily processes such as blood clotting. The minimum required concentration of calcium in drinking water has been set by the EEC at 60 mg per litre. While some products such as distillers and reverse osmosis systems remove calcium and other beneficial elements, the FW1000 system has been designed to remove only harmful contaminants while leaving in essential minerals.

3) Question: Will there be a noticeable difference in the quality of water from the pure supply?

Answer: Yes. Most people immediately notice a significant difference in the overall quality of purified water when they install a FW1000 system. The extent of this depends largely on the level of contaminants in the water and individual sensory thresholds. Most complaints relating to the taste and odour of tap water are due to the presence of chlorine. As the system also removes wide range of impurities and contaminants, people often notice a marked improvement in the clarity and taste of the purified water. Pure water enhances the flavour of tea, coffee, soups and cooking in general.

4) Question: How does the FW1000 system work?

Answer: By lifting or pressing the lever on the tap body, cold water is diverted through a non-return valve to the purification unit located under the sink. The housing of this unit contains the replaceable Fresh Water 1000-25-SM cartridge. The cartridge is constructed in six stages:

a) An outer shell of microporous ceramic that removes harmful bacteria, protozoa cysts and all particles above 0.9µ (micron). The ceramic element is proven to remove 99.99% of particles between 0.6 - 0.7µ (micron). For comparative purposes a red blood cell is approximately 5µ (microns) in size while the lower field of human vision is estimated at 20µ.

b) A premium grade anthracite based Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) to complement Stage (d) for the elimination of organic pollutants. These include chlorine, pesticides and other organic chemicals, foul tastes and odours and numerous other undesirable impurities.

c) Separation baffle to counteract channelling and improve contact time.

d) Another type of premium grade coconut G.A.C

e) Selective ion exchange resin to especially remove dissolved heavy metals such as lead, copper, cadmium and mercury.

f) A pure polypropylene sinter to prevent escape of any filtration media. After purification the water continues through its own separate channel and is dispensed via a dedicated or three way tap.

5) Question: How will I know when I need to change the cartridge?

Answer: After six months use the filtration media begins to lose its effectiveness, usually coinciding with a significant decrease in the pure water flow as the ceramic outer section begins to clog with contaminants. The customer Information / installation Instructions supplied with the system contains a Freepost registration card on which is printed a unique serial number. Returning the card enables us to register your details which in turn will ensure you receive a reminder when a cartridge change is due. Registration will also assist us in dealing with any additional enquiries you may have.

6) Question: How difficult is it to change the cartridge?

Answer: The procedure for replacing the cartridge is very simple and takes only a few minutes. The company does provide a call out cartridge replacement service thought this is very rarely required. Full Instructions explaining how to change the cartridge can be found in the installation Instructions and also come with every Replacement Cartridge.

7) Question: How much space does the system require?

Answer: The system takes-up very little space: the purifier housing weighs 1.6kgs and is only 32cms high with a 7cm diameter , it will fit neatly under the sink in any size base unit.

8) Question: Does the FW1000 require the use of chemicals or electricity?

Answer: No. The system has been designed to work from mains water pressure, does not require the use of any chemicals and the cartridge is constructed entirely of natural .

9) Question: What is the operating pressure of the FW1000 system?

Answer: The system works on normal mains pressure. The maximum pressure that the unit should be subjected to has been calculated at 75psi (5 bars), and the minimum recommended pressure is 25 psi (1.7bars). Average mains pressure falls somewhere between the above while the pressure from a header tank in a bungalow is likely to be lower than the recommended minimum. Small pumps are available to deal with low pressure situations and pressure limiting valves can be supplied for households experiencing a higher than average water pressure.

10) Question: What is the flow rate from the pure water supply?

Answer: On normal water pressure the average flow rate of the pure water supply can go up to around 3 litres per minute. For optimum chemical removal performance, the service valve can be adjusted to provide a flow rate of around 1.5 to 2 litres per minute.

11) Question: What are the minimum and maximum temperatures the system should be subjected to?

Answer: The purifier should never be subjected to freezing temperatures as this can damage the unit. Damage can also occur if the purifier is connected to a hot water supply.

12) Question: Can I purchase the FW1000 purifier without the tap?

Answer: Yes. The FW1000 has been designed as a complete system but the housing and cartridge can be used for many different applications and can be plumbed in-line to coolers for instance and customers own individual taps.

13) Question: Does the FW1000 system soften water?

Answer: No. The FW1000 is not a water softener but can be used in conjunction with a household softener thereby supplying hot soft water, cold soft water and hard pure drinking water. Hard water is good for drinking while soft water is beneficial for bathing and other uses that do not involve the actual consumption of water. We can provide the FW1000 with a specific Scale reduction cartridge, this does not have the filtrartion abilities of the Pearl cartridge but is effective in reducing lime scale.

14) Question: Do I need to purchase a separate purifier for the water dispenser in my American style fridge or for my instant hot water unit?

Answer: No. A special fixing kit incorporating a tee piece is available, thereby allowing two separate supplies of purified water to be drawn from a single unit.

15) Question: Will the purifier stop my kettle from scaling up?

Answer: To a degree the answer is yes, though this reduction will be limited and depends on the overall chemistry of the water. The FW1000 is not a water softener, and unlike some filters, does not remove the minerals essential to good health and taste. Calcium and magnesium, perhaps the most essential of these minerals, are the cause of scaling. Some contaminants combine with these minerals and by removing the contaminants the scaling effect can be reduced.

When water is boiled, some of the temporary hardness (in the form of calcium carbonate) precipitates into the water. In extreme cases this results in the appearance of white flecks in the boiled water or as a surface film on tea and coffee. A convenient remedy for this problem is to use one of the new generation of kettles now available. These kettles incorporate a fine mesh screen that remove the precipitate but not the dissolved minerals, thereby complementing the use of the FW1000 system.

16) Question: How do I clean the tap without damaging the finish?

Answer: Care should be taken not to damage the plated or painted finish of the tap. To clean, all that is required is to gently wipe over the surface with a soft damp cloth. You should not under any circumstances use abrasive liquids, powders, or scouring pads to clean coloured taps.

17) Question: Is the FW1000 system guaranteed?

Answer: Yes, the stainless steel housings are guaranteed for 10 years and the rest of the system has a warranty for a period of twelve months after purchase (if free from defects in and workmanship, when properly installed, and operated in accordance with our Instructions. The cartridge life will depend on influent water quality, pressure and overall usage and is not covered by this warranty.

18) Question: Does the FW1000 system remove nitrates?

Answer: The FW1000 system is not designed to remove nitrates and while it will remove a certain percentage, this can be regarded as accidental. The actual amount removed depends on whether or not any of the nitrate present is organically bound. However the FW2000 can incorporate a second cartridge for special needs such as the removal of nitrates. A separate data sheet on this is available on request.

19) Question: Will the FW1000 fit a sink with a standard size hole?

Answer: Yes. The base of the FW1000 tap conforms with European standards relating to the diameter of the tap base and the diameter of the fixing hole. The thread size of our taps is only 12mm so an additional drinking tap on any work surface or in the corner of any sink is very easy to install.

20) Question: I have heard that water filters breed bacteria, is this true?

Answer: Yes, but it does not apply to the FW1000 system. Certain carbon filters have in fact been criticised for their ability to breed bacteria. However, in fairness to the manufacturers of these, the situation has been widely exaggerated and only applies to heterotrophic opportunistic bacteria. By comparison the ceramic shell of the 1000-25-SM cartridge was originally developed for its bacteriological removal capability.

1) Why Should I choose The Fresh Water 2000? 

Answer: All the benefits of the Fresh Water 1000 but with an additional housing. Using a twin cartridge assembly means that the filter properties may be varied to suit individual needs and preferences, for example for additional hardness (inorganic calcium) removal. Alternative filter configurations for specialist medical or health requirements are also available. The unit is just as easy and simple to fit and use as the Fresh Water 1000 and delivers up to 4 litres of pure fresh water per minute.

2) Question: What does the purifier remove?

Answer: The FW2000 removes a broad range of contaminants from water. Contaminants found in water can essentially be placed in three different categories - microbiological, chemical & aesthetic. Impurities within these categories that are removed by the FW2000 system include - harmful bacteria, protozoa organisms, chlorine, trihalomethanes, volatile organic chemicals (VOC), synthetic organic chemicals (SOC), foul tastes & odours, rust particles, sediment, aluminium sulphate and numerous other undesirable elements including dissolved and particulate metals.

3) Question: What does the purifier leave in the water?

Answer: The FW2000 is designed to remove virtually all harmful contaminants from water while leaving minerals essential to good health and taste intact. Calcium for example contributes to the overall taste of drinking water, is a major component of bones and teeth and is essential for various bodily processes such as blood clotting. The minimum required concentration of calcium in drinking water has been set by the EEC at 60 mg per litre. While some products such as distillers and reverse osmosis systems remove calcium and other beneficial elements, the FW2000 system has been designed to remove only harmful contaminants while leaving in essential minerals.

4) Question: Will there be a noticeable difference in the quality of water from the pure supply?

Answer: Yes. Most people immediately notice a significant difference in the overall quality of purified water when they install a FW2000 system. The extent of this depends largely on the level of contaminants in the water and individual sensory thresholds. Most complaints relating to the taste and odour of tap water are due to the presence of chlorine. As the system also removes wide range of impurities and contaminants, people often notice a marked improvement in the clarity and taste of the purified water. Pure water enhances the flavour of tea, coffee, soups and cooking in general.

4) Question: How does the FW2000 system work?

Answer: By lifting or pressing the lever on the tap body, cold water is diverted through a non-return valve to the purification unit located under the sink. The housings of this unit will contain the replaceable filters you selected with your purchase. Once the water has passed through the two filters and purified it continues through its own separate channel and is dispensed via a didicated or three way tap.

5) Question: How will I know when I need to change the cartridges?

Answer: After one years use the filtration media begins to lose its effectiveness, usually coinciding with a significant decrease in the pure water flow as the ceramic outer section begins to clog with contaminants. The customer Information / installation Instructions supplied with the system contains a Freepost registration card on which is printed a unique serial number. Returning the card enables us to register your details which in turn will ensure you receive a reminder when a cartridge change is due. Registration will also assist us in dealing with any additional enquiries you may have.

6) Question: How difficult is it to change the cartridges?

Answer: The procedure for replacing the cartridge is very simple and takes only a few minutes. The company does provide a call out cartridge replacement service thought this is very rarely required. Full Instructions explaining how to change the cartridge can be found in the installation Instructions and also come with every Replacement Cartridge.

7) Question: How much space does the system require?

Answer: The system takes-up very little space: the purifier, which is only 31cms high, will fit neatly under the sink in any size base unit.

8) Question: Does the FW2000 require the use of chemicals or electricity?

Answer: No. The system has been designed to work from mains water pressure, does not require the use of any chemicals and the cartridge is constructed entirely of natural .

9) Question: What is the operating pressure of the FW2000 system?

Answer: The system works on normal mains pressure. The maximum pressure that the unit should be subjected to has been calculated at 75psi (5 bars), and the minimum recommended pressure is 25 psi (1.7bars). Average mains pressure falls somewhere between the above while the pressure from a header tank in a bungalow is likely to be lower than the recommended minimum. Small pumps are available to deal with low pressure situations and pressure limiting valves can be supplied for households experiencing a higher than average water pressure.

10) Question: What is the flow rate from the pure water supply?

Answer: On normal water pressure the average flow rate of the pure water supply can go up to around 3 litres per minute. For optimum chemical removal performance, the service valve can be adjusted to provide a flow rate of around 1.5 to 2 litres per minute.

11) Question: What are the minimum and maximum temperatures the system should be subjected to?

Answer: The purifier should never be subjected to freezing temperatures as this can damage the unit. Damage can also occur if the purifier is connected to a hot water supply.

12) Question: Can I purchase the FW2000 purifier without the tap?

Answer: Yes. The FW2000 has been designed as a complete system but the housing and cartridge can be used for many different applications and can be plumbed in-line to coolers for instance and customers own individual taps. Please refer to technical specifications for flow rates and capacities.

13) Question: Does the FW2000 system soften water?

Answer: No. The FW2000 is not a water softener but can be used in conjunction with a household softener thereby supplying hot soft water, cold soft water and hard pure drinking water. Hard water is good for drinking while soft water is beneficial for bathing and other uses that do not involve the actual consumption of water, however a scale reduction cartridge can be installed into one of your housings if you are concerned with lime scale.

14) Question: Do I need to purchase a separate purifier for the water dispenser in my American style fridge or for my instant hot water unit?

Answer: No. A special fixing kit incorporating a tee piece is available, thereby allowing two separate supplies of purified water to be drawn from a single unit.

15) Question: Will the purifier stop my kettle from scaling up?

Answer: To a degree the answer is yes, though this reduction will be limited and depends on the overall chemistry of the water. The FW2000 is not a water softener, and unlike some filters, does not remove the minerals essential to good health and taste. Calcium and magnesium, perhaps the most essential of these minerals, are the cause of scaling. Some contaminants combine with these minerals and by removing the contaminants the scaling effect can be reduced.

When water is boiled, some of the temporary hardness (in the form of calcium carbonate) precipitates into the water. In extreme cases this results in the appearance of white flecks in the boiled water or as a surface film on tea and coffee. A convenient remedy for this problem is to use one of the new generation of kettles now available. These kettles incorporate a fine mesh screen that remove the precipitate but not the dissolved minerals, thereby complementing the use of the FW2000 system.

16) Question: How do I clean the tap without damaging the finish?

Answer: Care should be taken not to damage the plated or painted finish of the tap. To clean, all that is required is to gently wipe over the surface with a soft damp cloth. You should not under any circumstances use abrasive liquids, powders, or scouring pads to clean coloured taps.

17) Question: Is the FW2000 system guaranteed?

Answer: Yes, the stainless steel housings are guaranteed for 10 years and the rest of the system has a warranty for a period of twelve months after purchase (if free from defects in and workmanship, when properly installed, and operated in accordance with our Instructions. The cartridge life will depend on influent water quality, pressure and overall usage and is not covered by this warranty.

18) Question: Does the FW2000 system remove nitrates?

Answer: The FW2000 can incorporate a second cartridge for special needs such as the removal of nitrates. A separate data sheet on this is available on request.

19) Question: Will the FW2000 fit a sink with a standard size hole?

Answer: Yes. The base of the FW2000 tap conforms with European standards relating to the diameter of the tap base and the diameter of the fixing hole. The thread size of our taps is only 12mm so an additional drinking tap on any work surface or in the corner of any sink is very easy to install.

20) Question: I have heard that water filters breed bacteria, is this true?

Answer: Yes, but it does not apply to the FW2000 system. Certain carbon filters have in fact been criticised for their ability to breed bacteria. However, in fairness to the manufacturers of these, the situation has been widely exaggerated and only applies to heterotrophic opportunistic bacteria. By comparison the ceramic shell of the 1000-25-SM cartridge was originally developed for its bacteriological removal capability.

1) What is osmosis?

Osmosis refers to the passage of water across a thin membrane from a dilute solution to a more concentrated one. In other words, water moves through the semi-permeable barrier trying to even out the difference in concentration between the two sides.

2) What is reverse osmosis (RO)?

The other side of the coin is reverse osmosis. A pump is used to cause a difference in pressure. This difference in pressure means that that water is forced through the membrane. Pure water molecules (H2O) are small enough to pass through the membrane whilst larger solute molecules get trapped. When water is processed by reverse osmosis a large fraction of dissolved material is removed. The cleaner the input water the cleaner the output water will be. Conversely, if your input water is clean enough, you may not need an RO unit.

3) How does RO equipment work?

There are 3 stages to R.O. filtration:
1. A pre-filter (PR1-25-OE) initially removes larger suspended particles from the raw water
2. Water is forced through the membrane leaving behind smaller dissolved particles
3. A carbon post-filter (XCTO-25-OE) polishes the water. Carbon particles readily absorb organic substances in the water for further improvement of taste and odour.

3) What about membranes?

Our reverse osmosis system uses a TFC membrane, which can be used to treat natural as well as mains water. The TFC membrane is exceedingly fine. The pore sizes are about 5 angstroms (five hundred millionths of a centimetre!). The membrane is packaged into a spiral wound element because the productivity of a membrane is proportional to its size

4) How long does a membrane last?

That really depends on you! In a well-maintained unit, where filters are changed regularly before they reach saturation, a membrane may last up to 4 or 5 years. If the unit is not looked after quite so stringently, the membrane may need to be changed every year to 18 months. The life of the membrane also depends on the solute level of the raw water being fed into the system.

5) How often will I need to change the filters?

The pre- and post-filters should be changed every 6 months to maintain the optimum performance of the system and extend the life of the membrane.

6) What can you use RO water for?

Pretty much everything you use normal water for! R.O water is free of most solutes and sediments, so it’s perfect for use in cooking as it doesn’t mask the natural flavour of foods. You can use 30% fewer coffee granules and still get the taste you love! R.O. water is also important for people with allergies as there is reduced risk of irritation caused by solutes. However, R.O. water should never be given to babies as the minerals in natural water are important for their healthy growth and development.

7) What are the pros of RO usage?

• RO water is much cheaper than bottled water- you get an unlimited supply of pure, fresh water for less than 3 pence per litre.
• Improves the taste, odour and appearance of your water.
• Enhances the taste of fruit squashes and coffee so you can use less and still enjoy the taste you love.
• No more limescale in your kettle or coffee machine.
• Improves the taste and texture of vegetables, soups and sauces.
• Great for those who are sensitive to solutes in water.
• The concept is very easy to understand- R.O. water has basically just been passed through a very fine strainer.

8) What are the cons of RO usage? 

• R.O. filtration is relatively expensive to set up, however it will start to pay for itself over bottled water in only a few years
• A lot of waste water has to be disposed of. Remember, though, that waste water is very like your tap water so it can be used in applications where you tap water works well. Examples might include laundry, watering the garden and toilet flushing.
• Minerals in water are thought to be beneficial for health reasons. Drinking of R.O. water, particularly by children, may deprive them of this important source of minerals. 

9) What are the alternatives to RO? 

Ceramic filtration: most popular in the UK, ceramic filtration effectively removes contaminants from the water whilst leaving in beneficial minerals. Our unique, world-beating, six-stage “Pearl” cartridge system combines ceramic with carbon filtration to remove 99.99% of bacteria, particulates and chlorine.

Distillation
Mimics the natural hydrological cycle of evaporation and condensation to produce extremely pure water, free of almost all contaminants.

1) Are gravity filters plumbed in?

No, gravity filters are not plumbed in, which makes them great for use in temporary accommodation or out in the field where are ready supply of potable water is unavailable. To use, simply fill the upper container with water. The force of gravity means that dirty water passes though the ceramic cartridges and clean water collects in the lower cabinet.

2) What is the difference between GS2 and GS4?

The GS2 holds 2 filter cartridges whereas the GS4 holds 4 cartridges. The extra cartridges in the GS4 allow a faster flow rate. The GS4 can produce up to 100 litres per day.

3) Which cartridges should I choose?

We sell 3 types of cartridges for our gravity filters:
For untreated water, choose either ‘Jade’ or ‘Ruby’:
• ‘Jade’ silverised ceramic (S-22-LM)- removes harmful bacteria and parasites. Perfect for use with untreated water, e.g. river water, where chemical contamination is less of an issue
• ‘Ruby’ silverised ceramic (SC-22-LM)- removes harmful bacteria and parasites. With granular activated carbon for further improvement of taste and odour.
For mains tap water, choose ‘Sugalite’:
• ‘Sugalite’ silverised ceramic (SCD-22-LM)- In addition to pathogenic bacteria, the Sugalite removes organic pollutants, such as agricultural pesticides and herbicides, chlorine, and dissolved heavy metals, such as cadmium, lead, mercury and copper. Recommended for filtration of mains tap water

4) What is a ‘silverised’ ceramic?

Our ceramic cartridges are impregnated with silver which prevents bacterial growth on the cartridge.

5) Is it safe to use the filter after it has been idle for a long period?

Yes, though it would be best to sanitise the unit before using it again. Add ‘Puritabs’ or another sterilising agent to water in the upper compartment and allow the solution to pass through the normal filtration process. This will remove any build up of bacteria that may have occurred. You may also want to clean the cartridges by brushing them gently under cold running water.

6) What kind of flow rate can I expect?

The GS2 can produce up to 40 litres of pure water a day. The GS4 can produce up to 80 litres.

7) How much water can the container hold?

The lower canister should hold around 8 litres of pure water.

8) Can I remove fluoride from my water?

Yes, by using our FL-12-CP17 Fluoride Removal Cartridge in addition to your regular cartridges you can remove fluoride.

9) Can I remove nitrates from my water?

Yes. Use our ‘Jasper N’ in addition to your regular cartridges to remove nitrate.

10) Can I remove limescale form my water?

No, the gravity filter does not remove hardness from your water. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which cause limescale, are considered extremely beneficial to health.

11) How often should I change the cartridges?

We recommend that you change your cartridges every six months to a year to maintain optimum performance.

1) How to decide which Freshwater Whole House Filtration System is right for you?

The FreshWater MPB10/K and MS5/K Whole House Systems are suitable for homes with 4 or less people, with conventional gravity hot water systems where mains water feeds a holding tank in the loft, which in turn feeds a hot water cylinder sited on a floor below.  Both units are supplied complete with flexible plumbing connections.  (nb the MPB10/K and MS5/K are not suitable for use in hot water systems with Combination Boilers and Megaflow Cylinders)     

The FreshWater MPB20/K and MS10/K Whole House Systems are larger capacity units suitable for the larger household and for Combination Boiler and/or a Megaflow Cyinder hot water systems.  To ensure optimum flow it is necessary to install these units using fixed plumbing and full-bore bypass valves that match your pipe size.

2) Should I choose the MPB unit with plastic housings or the MS unit with stainless steel housing?

The choice is yours depending on your preference and budget.  Both filter systems are designed to withstand the maximum water pressures encountered in domestic situations.   

3) How often should I change my cartridges?

To maintain the flow and to ensure your water is of consistantly high quality we recommend that you replace the main filter cartridge annually and the pre-filter cartridge every 6 months.  No additional routine maintenance is necessary.

Important Note - Not sure which model is right for you?  Then please contact us.  A member of FreshWater's customer service team will be happy to assist you.