For many years our family has been using a high quality domestic bench top jug style water filters. Initially we were pleased with the improved taste and smell of the water and we thought it was doing the job we wanted it to. However, about a year ago, I decided to scientifically test the water quality coming out of our water filter just after a brand new cartridge was installed. The tests showed that the unfiltered water from the tap (Sydney Metropolitan) had 110 parts per million of impurities, and after going through the filter it was 71ppm; only around 30% was being removed. I then decided to speak to a chemist who advised that our system did not remove many of the nasties out of the water like Fluoride, Chloramines, Heavy Metals, Pesticides etc, and that the only way to get rid of these in a home setup is to get a reverse osmosis water filter.
My sister in law and myself spent countless hours trying to find a quality system at an affordable price. What we found was that nearly all of the decent systems cost well over $1000, some as high as $3000, and we couldn’t afford that. The system we were looking for had to meet Australian plumbing standards, be hard wearing, easy and cost effective to maintain. We found a system that fitted the criteria, and best of all it took out tap water from 110ppm down to 2ppm. A friends of ours (who is also a  scientist) told us that the remaining 2ppm is most likely just oxygen and nitrogen from the air, so effectively this system removes all dissolved substances! We then decided to offer these top quality systems through Green Pastures Australia, at a price people could afford. We secured a contract with a company selling top quality systems from USA, and are now able to offer a reverse osmosis system for an incredible $540!!
The system has been designed to be easily installed by a home handyman. It also comes with an instructional DVD.
The only way to describe the taste of this water is clean and fresh, if you can imagine the taste of water from a cool pristine mountain stream in an isolated wilderness; well that what we think this water tastes like. But if you want to try it for yourself, if you’re in the neighbourhood (Sutherland Shire Sydney) and you would like to try before you buy, you’re more than welcome to come and try a nice glass of cool refreshing water. I am also a barista, and I am currently promoting the benefits to the coffee industry of these filters. If you like your coffee and want to taste its affect on coffee, I’d love to make you a great espresso or latte when you call in!
We have a detailed FAQ about Reverse Osmosis on our website HERE.
If you would like to know more about the benefits of our system please give us a call on (02)9526-1783.
Damien Armstrong.
Feb 19th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Sounds great Damien. A Wwhile ago I tested and bought an Amphora to store my filtered water. Not only is it a beautiful, very pleasing egg shape, it is designed to use gravity and slight evaporation to swirl the water in a lemniscate (figure of eight) pattern constantly, which enlivens the water. It is designed from Victor Schauberger’s amazing work with water. Early last century Schauberger discovered ways to use the natural flow of water to move very bulky items (trees that would normally sink) down rivers.
Water from this Amphora definitely feels better in my body. Perhaps you guys could tell Phil from flow forms (http://www.livingwaterflowforms.com/) about your great product. You could do a cross promotion.
Feb 20th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I have been using this water filter for nearly 12 months now.
It has been the best investment.
Our water is now clear, tasteless and odourless (what a concept!)
I no longer have to drink tap water and wonder what I am really consuming!
I would highly recommend this system!
Feb 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I recently purchased one of these reverse osmosis filters from Green Pastures Australia, and at such a low cost we are extremely happy with it. I was horrified to learn of the impurities and heavy metals my previous carbon block filter was not filtering out! Now we have the most delicious pure tasting water, and it comes out of a spout on my sink. My husband installed it himself easily within an hour or two. It’s great to know that all of our family are drinking nothing but (almost) 100% pure water. Green Pastures Australia are so friendly and easy to deal with too.
Feb 27th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I have been looking into water filters of late and am somewhat unsure as to which is the best in relation to the practices as espoused by Dr. Price. S.Fallon has cited a number of long lived communities and their livestock drinking hard water with a high mineral content from mountainous regions. Yet they did not have to contend with chlorine and fluoride in their water supply.
Reverse osmosis units ensure water purity but make soft water. Is the reduction of mineral content a small price to pay to ensure that all harmful contaminants have been removed? Or rather would it be preferable to use a filter that eliminated only the chief contaminants and retain the mineral content? If so, what would be deemed the most important elements to be removed from our drinking water?
Any insights would be appreciated.
Feb 28th, 2008 at 1:57 am
Hi Guy,
Great question, one that I have spent much time trying to understand myself. Unfortunately it is a very in-depth issue, and requires some facts and figures to illustrate and explain. I hope I don’t lose you with the following, if you need to call us, our land line is (02)95261783.
Water hardness is normally given in terms of Calcium, but occasionally in terms of Magnesium and seldom in terms of other trace minerals. There are a few different ways of measuring hardness, and many different units by which they are measured. Dissolved Calcium measured in milligram per litre (which equates to Parts Per Million) is becoming the norm.
In Australia the RDI for Calcium is 1000mg (1g) per day. Sydney Tap water has between 9 and 20mg of dissolved Calcium, but 15mg seems to be the average. Most people would drink on average 1.5 litres of water per day which would yield them 22.5mg of calcium or 2.25% of their RDI.
To put this into perspective 100g of hard cheese on average would have 1200mg, or a glass of milk or serving of yoghurt typically has 400mg calcium. A cup of black herbal tea has 5mg Calcium and espresso from your favourite cafe would have 200 to 300mg Calcium.
There is a limit to how much Calcium can dissolve in pH neutral water, it is around 13mg per litre. To get it higher, the water needs to be acidic to make this happen. In many cases of very high water hardness from natural sources, there is many other salts contributing to this like: magnesium, sodium, iron, chlorides, nitrates etc, else the water is naturally acidic like in thermal springs.
The chemicals Australian Water Authorities add for treatment are:
Chlorine gas, Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach), Calcium Hypochlorite (Pool Chlorine), Ammonia (Household Cleaner), Sodium Silicofluoride and Hydrofluosilicic Acid (Last two are highly toxic)
If you read an MSDS for these at these you will wonder why they even add it to drinking water given their toxicity.
In practice it is almost impossible to remove the fluoride and chlorine components without also removing the other trace minerals dissolved.
RO Removes everything, but for people very concerned about this we can supply a remineralisation cartridge that can add around 12 to 15mg calcium back into the water, after it has been filtered.
We don’t promote this as we see it as not being necessary, given that a good traditional diet will provide you with more than your RDI of trace minerals that RO takes out.
Best of all, the water tastes so clean and has an almost sweet note to it when straight out of our filters, and we believe that this is the way it taste best and is good for you.
Hope this helps
Damien
May 9th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Hi Guy,
I had the same problem. Finding a good purifying system often removes all of the important solids that are needed for optimal hydration. The most important element we all need in water is salt. As the human cell is constructed of saline (if you were to taste a cell, it would match the saltiness of the ocean) we are actually quite salty! That is why when you exercise or train, you taste salt on your lips when you sweat! So when we drink purifed water that is ’soft’, or anytime of water infact, indeed we miss this most important element, and often do not reap the optimal hydration. Talk about being cheated, you finally get good clean water yet the cellular penetration is minimal and trips to the toilet are maximal! Without the salt present, the cellular wall does not recognise the fluid as consistent with what is on the inside of the cell, and instead of getting proper transference across the cellular wall, the ingenious security system that the cell has blocks it from crossing over. We end up passing the majority of the water through us, purifed and clean or otherwise!
So my advise is to absolutely go for a fantastic cleaning system (such as available from green pastures) this removes all the ‘badies’ and then all you need is a pinch of CERTIFIED ORGANIC CELTIC SEA SALT (unrefined, unbleached). One pinch per litre is all you need, if it tastes salty you put too much in! This then provides you with water the way mother nature intended, perfectly clean, and with the high TDS (300+) that is required for optimal hydration.
Hope my advise helps.
James.
Aug 31st, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Hi,
I am really keen to invest in a water filter, and dont mind paying what it costs to get a quality one! However, I am only 25 years old, still renting and don’t plan on investing in a house for some years. I want to get hold of a free standing or easily moved system that I can use in my home without having issues with the land lord! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Sep 1st, 2008 at 5:45 am
Hi Rebecca,
Katrina & I are in the same boat, we rent our unit, but wanted a quality water filtration system. This was one of the key criteria when we started looking at systems out there in the market place.
The great thing about our system is that it can be set up on a shelf in the laundry without the need to drill holes or make permanent alterations. We can supply a double adaptor which will fit onto the tap that your washing machine utilises and you’ll be on your way to drinking pure before you know it. This is exactly how we have set up our system, we even run the waste water into our washing machine to use this for the first wash cycle, so we are being effecient with our water. If you are Sydney based, you’re more than welcome to come and see our setup else we can email you some photos.
Email us on:
sales@greenpastures.com.au
or else give us a call on (02)9526-1783.
Damien Armstrong.