- There has been a lot in the news lately about how certain types of plastic leach byproducts, and I've seen several specific mentions that you shouldn't refill and reuse the bottles that bottled water comes in for this reason.
- From another angle, there have also been many stories in the news about how all the bottled water bottles are creating so much more trash than before, and are really bad for the environment.
- And from a personal standpoint...are you ready...we use a Brita refillable water dispenser that sits out on the counter, and because we are here in Florida and have a skylight in the kitchen, every few weeks or so I have to clean ALGAE OUT OF MY BRITA! Gross!
[NOTE: Apparently, Brita Algae isn't an uncommon problem, because when I searched on the internet, I found several references to the problem, even on the Brita website. (In case you're wondering, if you don't keep the container in the fridge, algae is likely going to grow.]
OK back on track....for some reason, I always figured Miami's water wasn't too fantastic. I think it stems from memories of being a kid growing up in the Keys, and every so often, the water would run rust-colored, so I grew up with the mindset that Florida water was dirty. After reading the Forbes story, and also the original news release that I saw, I understand where our Miami water comes from and why it is fairly nice and clean. Lately, I've been filling the kids' cups with tap water, and also my own. And, I'm avoiding the chore of cleaning the algae out of the Brita!
Posts
1 comments:
Brita's offical response to the algae issue:
I am sorry to learn that you are noticing algae in the water processed by your BRITA filter. As you know, algae is a microorganism that lives in water; both warmth and sunlight contribute to its growth. Public water systems can contain low levels of algae, especially in warmer climates and in hot weather. If the algae is not killed by the chlorine that your municipality adds to the water supply, it may still exist in your tap water.
The BRITA filter will capture some of this algae; some of the algae also may remain in the filter after the water has flowed through. If your BRITA pitcher is left in a warm or sunny area, the algae that is in the filtered water may start to grow. This is more likely to happen if the filter has been used for longer than the recommended 40 gallons or about 2 months.
As you probably are aware, BRITA makes no claims about removing organic matter such as algae from water. Since our filter is rated as Class V for particulate reduction (which means it can't filter particles smaller than 30-50 microns) smaller particles can pass through the filter.
If you experience algae growth in your BRITA water, you should do the following:
1. Remove and discard the used filter.
2. Clean your system thoroughly using liquid dish detergent and water. A small amount of household bleach may also help with the cleaning. You may use a soaking solution of bleach that consists of 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water; you may soak the BRITA pitcher, reservoir and lid in this solution for 5 to 10 minutes, followed by a thorough rinse. Do not mix the bleach with the dish detergent however, since hazardous gases could result. Use the bleach soak after washing and rinsing the system first.
3. Insert a new filter. In the future, be sure to replace the filter on a regular basis, every 40 gallons or 2 months, whichever comes first.
4. Use your BRITA as you normally do, but be sure to refill the unit every day or two. It is also a good idea to wash your pitcher thoroughly on a weekly basis. These steps will minimize the opportunity for algae to grow.
5. We recommend that you store your BRITA in the refrigerator, ready at any time to pour a cold, refreshing glass of BRITA water. If you really would prefer to keep your BRITA outside of the refrigerator, we recommend that you keep it in a cool area out of direct sunlight, and replace any filtered water every few days.
Again, thank you for contacting us
Post a Comment