Point of use water filter

Point of use water filters are used in individual houses or offices to provide filtration of potable water close to the point of consumption. The related topic, <a href="/facts/Point_of_use_water_treatment/VuNpqJ9p">point-of-use water treatment</a> describes full-scale water treatment options and technologies designed to serve communities when municipal water treatment fails or is unavailable.
Probably the best known POU water filters are those installed in the plumbing in kitchens just prior to the tap and also jug filters where water is passed through a filter in a specially constructed plastic jug.
Such filters are typically based on <a href="/facts/Ion_exchange_resin/z6KwlG8K">ion exchange resins</a> designed to remove calcium ions to reduce <a href="/facts/Water_hardness/Ay4aksF4">water hardness</a> and removing any <a href="/facts/Toxic_heavy_metal/2VRBFJVm">toxic heavy metal</a> ions such as <a href="/facts/Lead/EYljasJN">lead</a>. Many filters also incorporate <a href="/facts/Activated_charcoal/YAbaXCcb">activated charcoal</a> to eliminate excess <a href="/facts/Chlorine/y27UwYBM">chlorine</a> and to reduce unwanted tastes and odours. They may also be effective in reducing concentrations of halogenated organic species that can be created through the halogenation of organic rich waters as part of the disinfection process at the municipal water treatment facility.
Filters incorporating reverse osmosis are also available and can be effective in removing many <a href="/facts/Pathogen/axMXtV1M">pathogenic</a> organisms.
Point of use filters have limited capacity to modify water chemistry and typically require that treatment cartridges are replaced at regular intervals, especially in <a href="/facts/Hard_water/Ay4aksF4">hard water</a> areas.

Point of use water filter open-in-new

Point of use water filter