In a recent Gallup Poll, it was estimated that 63% of Americans worry a “great deal” about the safety of their drinking water.
Why is this concern so high?
The most likely reason is the impact caused by the lead in water crisis in Flint, Michigan. This, plus the growing lifestyle trends in health and wellness have the public wondering, “Is my water safe?”
Lead is a neurotoxin that, if consumed at certain levels, can cause significant learning disabilities. Since young children are most susceptible to the health dangers, it is no surprise that schools are receiving so much attention.
While schools may be aware of the issue, they often lack the resources and expertise to solve the problem. For that reason, we’ve decided to spotlight a viable solution for reducing the amount of lead in water, Elkay’s WaterSentry® filters.
One of the most popular options for schools, Elkay’s carbon block filters are making a case as the effective, efficient and affordable solution for helping to remove lead in water.
How do Elkay’s filters solve the lead problem?
Elkay’s WaterSentry filters are installed at the point of use. They are housed in a drinking fountain, water bottle filler, or vandal resistant retro-fit kit.
The filter is tested and certified by the Public Health and Safety Organization (NSF) and the Water Quality Association (WQA) to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 for the reduction of chlorine, taste and odor, particulate Class I, and lead.
In an average influent of 142 ppb lead levels, the WaterSentry Plus (used for bottle fillers) is rated to reduce amounts an average 99.3% (see full testing conditions here). For perspective, these influent testing conditions are almost 10x higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s permissible levels of 15 ppb.
Below is one example of a water test conducted in Boston Public Schools, where prefilter testing shows lead levels as high as 420 ppb, while post-filter lead levels are reduced well below EPA Standards to <0.50 ppb.
What are the alternatives to point-of-use filtration?
Previous to point-of-use filtration, schools have remediated their lead problem using either traditional pipe or fixture removal, or a flushing protocol.
Pipe / Fixture Removal
If the goal is to remove lead from water, there is nothing more effective than removing it from the source. However, conducting a “profiling” method to identify the source of lead can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take years to complete.
Why?
Lead in water could be derived from a number of locations. Sources could include the public distribution system (although rare), the service line (connects public street plumbing to building plumbing), and/or internal pipes or fixtures. As noted above, identifying and removing the lead from one of these sources can be quite uneconomical.
If budget and time are on your side, this could be the ideal solution. However, most U.S. schools, especially public, are unable to access the funding needed to remediate in this way.
Flushing
A flushing protocol requires an assigned staff member to manually run the water from the tap usually about one minute, or however long the water line would require. This method literally flushes out the lead that was accumulating in the pipes between usages.
The flushing option may be appealing to some schools because there are seemingly no new costs. However, someone from the schools staff will have to manage this project by spending about an hour or so each day before anyone begins drinking the water. Between this and the increased water bill, the economics are often the disadvantage of this option.
However, more important than the economics, new research out of Polytechnique Montreal in Quebec, Canada suggests that flushing is not necessarily safe. The study shows unsafe lead levels returning as soon as 15-20 minutes after flushing.
Between the high costs of pipe removal remediation, and risk associated with flushing, the case is growing stronger for point-of-use filtration.
What maintenance is needed for Elkay’s filters?
How often should the filter be replaced?
A key benefit of the Elkay bottle filling station is its filter status indicator — a tricolor light that informs you when it’s time to change the filter.
The newest Enhanced models have an upgraded feature called FillSafe™. This update automatically stops dispensing water when the filter status light shows red, which means its reached 100% of its usage. Each WaterSentry Plus filter lasts 3,000 gallons, which usually sustains 6-12 months, or about 24,000 16-ounce bottle fills.
How do I replace the filter?
Filters need to be replaced regularly in order to ensure the proper functioning of the unit. Fortunately, this process is simple and can take as little as five minutes to complete.
Begin by turning off the fountain or filler’s water supply and removing the machine’s lower cover to locate the current filter. Once located, Elkay’s Quick-Disconnect feature makes it easy to unscrew the current filter and replace it with a new one. For a step-by-step replacement overview and additional guidance, please refer to our Maintenance Guide.
How much do Elkay filters cost?
Compared to pricey structural work or labor-intensive flushing, Elkay’s water filters are a budget-friendly and financially predictable way to achieve cleaner, healthier water. WaterSentry filters come in at about $65-$80 per unit per year, or approximately $.03 per gallon.
Can I turn my non-filtered fountain into a filtered one?
The EF1500VRBMC includes a filter status light making it easier to know when the filter needs to be replaced. Note that the capacity of these filters is 1,500 gallons and the filter replacement system is not the same as the one described for the bottle filling station. The filter used in the vandal resistant retrofit kit is the WaterSentry VII filter. Full usage details can be found here.
Moving Forward
We hope that this product spotlight has been helpful. If you have any further questions, contact us at support@becausewater.org and one our support specialists will be happy to assist you.
