Water Filter systems for mission use in Africa

I came across your website online and am very impressed with your water purification products. I am a registered nurse working for a non-profit missions agency in West Africa and have been doing a lot of research on water filters for our members to use. The water here is not potable and cholera is a constant problem in many parts of the country. People here are using the Katadyn "bucket" system, Pentapure systems, and trying out the Sawyer filters. We have found pro's and con's with each system and I am constantly on the lookout for a product that will provide better water quality and that is easy to use.  A couple questions I had for your company are as follows: 
1. Some people report "arthritis-type" of symptoms and pain after longer term use of the Katadyn (often ceradyn candle) system. Have you found complaints like this with your system. I realize that a company does not want to advertise any side-effects or adverse events of heir product, but the reality is that we have to drink filtered water here every day and this last many years for some people if they live here. I think it is important to be aware of some of the long-term effects of use.
2. Does your company offer a purchase price for non-profit organizations, especially if the systems and replacement candles are bought in bulk?
 Thank you for your time and many years of making a quality product.

Doulton has been a leader in Emergency filter systems since 1828 and there has never been side-effects associated with using these filters. It will efficiently filter out cholera and other pathogens to the highest degree and provide safe drinking water for your members in Africa. They are supplied to Relief Organizations across the globe, ie, the Red Cross and Unicef, as well as, militaries in operation.  We would be happy to provide a 30% discount off these systems if purchased in bulk quantities.  International shipping, if that's the initial shipping destination, can become quite expensive but we would be happy to provide a quotation or refer to you the appropriate department.
 Please let us know which filters you are interested in along with the quantities you see and we can provide a Quotation for you to consider. Please, also, inform us as to where they will be shipping to.

Thank you for your prompt reply! I appreciate your feedback and information. I am very interested in your system and I talked to our directors here and they would like to look at all the options before ordering.
 I am wondering if I could order one system for myself to try and use as a "test model" over here? Would the 30% discount still apply, or is that only for bulk orders? 
We do have a shipping and receiving center NC that we use and they ship things over here in a container. That way the shipping costs are much more affordable. :)

 What gravity filter would you like to test-pilot. The beauty of the Doulton system is that is has been produced for over 180 years and is quite established as far as its' performance is concerned, in Europe more so than U.S. That being said, I understand your need for testing before purchasing in a bulk quantity. We would be happy to provide a 15% discount off a single unit for you to try in your application. Please let us know which filter you are most interested in GSS2 or LP5
and we would be happy to send you a formal quotation.

Need proper thread nuts for gravity candles

I have a set of 4 Doulton gravity fed water filter candles (10 inch) with 1/4" threads and I need the nuts to go with them. I cannot find any that fit the threads. Can you help me?

 The candles we just sent you have the 1/4" thread and we have the nuts available for those filters. You can find them (ACC-GW) .on Accessories page.

Portable fluoride filters?

Does GSS-Mini-A Personal Emergency Gravity (drip) Water Filter take out fluoride. If not can I add another portable filter to it? What other filters do you recommend for traveling to south east Asia and S America?

 The GSS-Mini filters do not have fluoride removal capability.
Do they add fluoride to the water in SE Asia and S America?
Our larger portable filters can be taken to those locations and you can add the 2"x4" Specialty fluoride filters to the GSS2 systems (all located on the following link, including "add-on" fluoride filters)

Wing nut and gasket replacement for gravity filters

Is there a part number and price for replacement wing nut and gasket for the 7" or 10" candle filter?

 It's the ACC-GG Gravity Candle Gasket and ACC-GW Gravity Candle Wing-nut. Both of the items are found on the following accessories page :  http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/doulton_filter_parts.htm.

Gravity filter spigot

I bought from you a Gravity Water Filter GSS2 . Now I need to replace the spigot (ACC GSP Gravity filter spigot with 2 washers) and I need to know if you can send it to Portugal; if so, what are the procedures?

This part can be found and purchased from the following link http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/doulton_filter_parts.htm with the understanding that you will incur an additional international shipping cost of about $ 22.00 for International rates to Portugal.

Puro Water Filter replacements

I am the proud owner of a ceramic (leadless glaze)  "Purro Water Filter" by Royal Doulton, England. It belonged to my Mother who would be 104 if she were alive and I brought it with me from Africa when we moved to Portugal.
 Is it possible that cartridges (candles) are still manufactured for my filter? It is 47cm high and carries two candles, one of which  is marked "Doulton-super Sterasyl" and has what I call a bakerlite fitting and is 22cm long from top to bottom (including fitting). The other candle is longer and has a metal fitting marked Katadyn A G Wallisellen Zurich.
 I would be interested in ordering two new candles and would be grateful if you could let me know details.

The filter you would need for the Puro Water Filter would be two of the CN-SS 10" Super Sterasyl (L) located on the following link for $ 38.65 ea.: http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/ceramic_candles_gravity.htm#gravity

 Hello- thank you for your prompt reply. With regard to the CN-SS 10" Super Sterasyl(L) filter you indicate, I see that it is recommended that 3 ilters are put into use and my filter only takes 2. Is is this a problem?  Also, what is the difference between the abovementioned filter and your Sterasyl CN-S 2"x10" Katadyn Ceradyn drip filter that sells for $68.50? Does the latter give better performance? i.e. why is it more nearly double the price?

The CN-SS 10" SuperSterasyl ceramic candle only requires 3 filters if you're using it in a Katadyn drip filter (which you are not). You can use just 2 if need be and it will work the same. The CN-S, as opposed to the CN-SS 2x10 does not contain any activated carbon for chlorine or chemical removal but the ceramic shell on both candles are identical as well as ability to filter out particles and sub-micron contaminants, ie. bacteria. The reason the CN-S is more pricey even without more ability is because it does not require replacement every 6 months or 1 yr. It is simply cleanable and reusable for several years.

 Hello there- sorry to keep coming back but I need to be sure! You tell me that the reason why your CN-S is more pricey is because it does not require frequent replacement (which for me is very attractive) but then you give me to understand that it "does not contain activated carbon for chlorine or chemical removal" which is surely a disadvantage? 
Perhaps I should let you know that I use my filter to ensure pure drinking water for my very small household and  that I live in a rural area completely free of any industrial activity and that the water I get from my tap comes from an underground spring. But I would like to be sure that my filter acts against such things as herbicides,pesticides and other nasties, and  know that "they" are about to start employing chlorine in our water installations.

Then you need a filter which contains carbon inside of it, like the SuperSterasyl.

5in. Imperial SuperSterasyl candles with ATC.

We purchased one of your Aquacrock water chillers some years back. We noticed that our last shipment of replacement candles are about half an inch Shorter than the prior versions of your 6" Imperial SuperSterasyl candles. Is there any reason for this, and will this necessarily affect the performance or durability of their filtering if they're now Shorter than the prior versions?

 The ceramic filters for the AquaCrock used to be 6 in. This was the case up until about 2007 when the manufacturer designed it as a 5 in. replacement candle element which has Lead Reduction capability. Each of these ceramics have a 500 gallon capacity (1,500 gallons when using three).

Imperial SuperSterasyl Ceramic Canldle

Can you  tell me the advantages to purchasing the Imperial SuperSterasyl Ceramic Canldle rather than the SuperSterasyl Canldle?

 The Imperial filters give you higher flow/drip rates and larger operating capacities than the standard size filters. Please review the links and specs. of the two differing units: 2"X7" SuperSterasyl Canldlehttp://doultonusa.com/Pop%20up%20products%20descriptions/Super%20Sterasyl%20Candle%20Water%20Filter%20Element.htm
and IMPERIAL Supersterasyl http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/imperial_superS_candle.htm

Ceramic Water Filters for hiking and camping

I was looking at the Ceramic Water Filter Candles for portable systems. The question(s) came up:

 How many gallons will the filter provide before it goes bad for the 7" Supersterasyl and 10"?
 Since there is the 7" and the 10" Supersterasyl candle filter, will this change many gallons each one will provide? If more then one candle is added to the buckets will it increase the amount of gallons before going bad? 
Are the candles re-useable and if so how long?
Will the thickness of the filter change the difference of the water provided? Is there a re-useable candle?
I'm asking these question(s) because our family we go out hiking and camping for long period(s) of time and we would love to find something that can fit our lifestyle, we really don't want to end our trip short because of lack of drinking water.

The CN-SS 2"x7" Supersterasyl filter candle has a 535 gallon capacity, whilst the 2"x10" ceramic candle has a 750 gallon capacity rating. It make it easier to use the same size candles for determining the replacement frequency. Essentially, however, you can get about 1,285 gallons of filtered water before you need filter replacement. The more filters you use within the system, your move overall capacity, as well as, production (drip-rate) you will receive achieve.
All of our ceramics, including the ones mentioned above and below, use what's called a Sterasyl shell (membrane). We sell a Sterasyl filter which does not contain activated carbon inside to reduce chemicals, taste and odor. The Sterasyl is simply used to remove suspended solids and micro-organisms from the untreated water. It is because it does not contain any GAC inside, that these filters can be cleaned over 60 times and not need to be replaced for several years. This model is CN-S, and is located on the following link http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/ceramic_candles_gravity.htm with Doulton other gravity filter candles.

Filtration system in time of emergency

I want to purchase a ceramic candle (or similar) filtration system that I can use in time of emergency. I do not want something that hooks up to a current plumbing system. I want something that I can use with river water, for example, and turn it into drinking water. What do you recommend.

 For personal use, consider the Personal Emergency Gravity (drip) Water Filter   http://doultonusa.com/doulton_water_filters/Emergency-gravity-filter.php. For household/family use, consider  the GSS2 http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/portable_systems.htm.
 These systems will all provide you with premium quality water from any water source (except for sea water). The only main differences is the container size, as well as, the total output (per hour, per day, total capacity).

Rainwater from the roof

I recently purchased the GSS2-IMP for my part-time home in Hawaii. It is safely stashed away against the possibility that the piped water supply is cut off (hurricane, power outage, etc.).
My plan is to catch rainwater from my roof which is the usual asphalt shingle construction (appx two years old).
 Please confirm that the unit will successfully and safely filter roof-caught rainwater including removing whatever petroleum products may leach out of the shingles and become a part of the runoff.

The GSS2-IMP will be extremely efficient at making the water potable and free of micro-organisms, particulates, and carbon based chemicals, such as petroleum products. If you want to filter further, consider two  CN-B2 2"x4" heavy-metal reduction elements to add on to your system. They can be purchased at the following link for $ 24.00 ea http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/ceramic_candles_gravity.htm.

Problems with aquacrock

We bought 2 aquacrocks a few weeks ago. One went to my husband's office and the other is in our house. The house one is only  producing about a quart of filtered water in 6 hours. What is wrong?

I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing problems with your AquaCrock filter system. With gravity filters, such as these, it can take 3-4 days for the ceramic filters to condition themselves to the water
supply. During this time, the filter production rate can be brutally slow. After 72 hours of the filters being in contact with your water, the flow-rate should drastically increase and even reach above 1/2
gallon (2 quarts) per hour. How long has these filters been installed and have been filtering the water? If the unit is not producing water fast enough after several days in operation, then I would advise you
to remove the 3 candles from the system and let them completely dry out. After about 24 hrs and dry, reinstall the candles and run 1 batch of water through the unit and discard it. Then, fill up the top
reservoir full of water once again and see how long it takes to filter the water. At that time, you can consume the filtered water.
If the problem still persists after this conditioning process, please let us know right away and we'll take the next step.

Nitrate Filters For Gravity Filters

gss2- i want nitrate protection also...how do i configure the gss2?
do i run water through supersterasyl candles and then replace supersterasyl candles with nitrate candles and run it through again?

 The 2"x4" Nitrate filters connect to the SuperSterasyl filters at the UNDERSIDE of the upper chamber. We provide it with a coupler that connects the two kinds of candles together so that the water goes through BOTH filter elements. Please see

Installation Instructions of Specialties Elements for Gravity Filters

http://doultonusa.com/doulton_water_filters/Installation-instr-for-specialties-elements.pdf

PORTABLE/GRAVITY FILTER CHOICES

I am looking at two of the water filters trying to compare &  decide which one will remove more chemical pollutants from groundwater. I live in Norfolk, VA, and am told that the main difficulty in using well water here in an emergency is not so much filtration of bacteria & such,which is pretty straightforward, but the chemicals in the water table.
 Of course after I purchase a unit, I am still going to have the filtered water tested at a lab for VOC's and anything else that can be tested before I commit to drinking it, but m intent is to obtain safe filtration of local groundwater for use after a major hurricane. here in Tidewater Virginia, local watersources have already been made undrinkable for an extended period from contamination after a mere category II hurricane (not severe), and no one seems alarmed by this.

 GSS2 Series - Portable gravity filter 10 GPD (40 LPD) two candle system Offers some add-ons or upgrades. One can apparently upgrade the original CN-SS supersterasyl filter to the Imperial Supersterasyl filter  CN-SSI. There are several more possible upgrades listed for this filter system.
 CN-B2 2x4 Fluoride/heavy metal reduction element for gravity drip water filters 2"x4"
CN-A3 2x4 Nitrate reduction element for gravity drip water filters 2"x4"
CN-M1 2x4 MTBE reduction element for gravity drip water filters 2"x4"
CN-A5 2x4 Arsenic reduction element for gravity drip water filters 2"x4"
Do I as the user have to decide which of these2x4 filters I want to use, or can I use all 4 of them in addition to the Imperial Supersterasyl filter upgrade?
May main concern is removing chemical pollutants.

These portable filters are the perfect choice for you to use when there is not a reliable water source or for any periods of emergency. If there's bacterial and chlorine resistant Cysts in the water, it will filter them out. These are all extremely good at removing VOCs from the water. The specialty elements you have listed should only be used if you are using the filter daily for drinking water. You should only use one kind of "add-on" filter with these systems. For example, for city water, typically choose the CN-B2 2x4. If you use a mix of filters, you are essentially only filtering half the water for that specific contaminant.
All three options will provide virtually chemical and microbiological free water. You just have to choose which set-up you prefer and best suites your tastes.

Differences in GSS2 and GSS2 IMP

 I do not know if my gravity filter is a GSS2 or a GSS2 IMP so am unsure what replacement filters to order. Are the filters interchangeable? Can you use the Super Sterasyl filter candle in either model?

The filters are interchangeable. The IMP filters have a CN-SSI  2 3/4" diameter compared to a CN-SS  2" diameter. That's the only difference. The difference in price represents the higher flow and higher capacities associated with the Imperial elements.

Differences in GSS-Mini-A and GSS-Mini-7

I am interested in your GSS-Mini-7 water filters for travel.
2 questions:1. What's the difference between the Gss-mini-7 and gss-mini-A?
2. Do i simply pour water into the container and then re-pour the filtered water out to drink?

 To use the filter you simply pour water into the upper chamber and then the filtered water drips into the lower chamber. It's a surgical-grade stainless steel container which you can drink from or pour into another container to consume from.
 I have provided the following link which shows a table that provides the most clarity as to the difference of the two models. Please review:  http://doultonusa.com/doulton_water_filters/Emergency-gravity-filter.php.

Do the Specialty Element Filters Work with the GSS-Min

Do you make any flouide/arsenic/MTBE filters to fit the personal GSS-Mini which takes a Doulton 2x7 Supersterasyl candle?

Unfortunately, because of the size constraints, those specialty element filters will not fit a personal traveler filter.

Trihalomethanes (THM) removal from drinking water

Do you test any of your water filters for removal of THMs? This is of particular concern for our town water supply. I'd like a drip system but have been unable to find one that tests for THMs.

THMs are reduced by an activated carbon filter. They are not as easily removed as say chlorine, for example because they require more contact time between the water and the carbon media. It is that particular reason why drip or gravity filtration is the BEST at THM removal. We have one test result, however, that shows that even with a pressure filter, the Doulton ceramic filter elements will filter these organic chemicals out to a very high degree. Please see: http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/copper_removal_Ultracarb_cartridge_test.htm
and
SuperSterasyl Ceramic Water Filter Replacement for Gravity Fed Portable Systems 

Filtering Bromate

 I have two of your water filter systems and am very pleased.
My question is does it also filter Bromate out as well??

 Though Bromate is not normally found in water, it can be present in low concentrations when ozone is used as a primary disinfectant. The amount of Bromate converted from Bromine depends on the amount of Bromine in the source water, reaction time, pH, etc. The EPA has set forth guidelines to limit the amount of Bromine from the water, as well as, MCL goals which restrict the amount of Bromate formation levels down to "safe, allowable levels" from long-term exposure.
There is no know 100% reliable way to remove Bromate from water but given favorable conditions, Reverse Osmosis, GAC, and Ion-Exchange have been used and given warrantable further analysis for
 filtration. That being said, at this time, I would recommend a filter system containing 2-3 Activated Carbon filters within it, such as; R.O. systems or a multi-housing filter system like a Doulton 200 series filter unit, http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/ip200UC_plus.htm. I also think a gravity filter would perform well because it offers significant, necessary filter contact time (slow, drip filtration), such as http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/portable_systems.htm. .

Want to buy some product-portable on counter type we should consider?

I want to buy a gravity fed system. I want to use the highest grade filter you have.

It seems the  Gss2 and Gss2 imp are similar. Do they use the same filter technology?
Is the main difference one is fancy looking?  I do care about durability/long lasting,
which should I get? Where is most bang?
Is there another portable on counter type we should consider?

All of the gravity filters use the same ceramic filter technology. It's only the size of the candle which differ. They are both very durable and will essentially provide you with the same
quality of water. The advantages of the GSS2 series is that they are constructed of surgical-grade
stainless steel . System holds 2 filters , it can produce between 10-20 gallons per day which is typically more than what most families would ever need for their drinking and cooking water.
The choice is yours! We are confident you will be happy with whichever model you choose.