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Removing Fluoride from Your Water

The removal of fluoride from water is not an easy process.

Most water filter sales literature actively avoid the subject. If your water filtration system does not specifically state it removes fluoride, then it does not. In the war against fluoride there are four known ways to remove it, some more effective than others.We will break down the options as well as stating their pros and cons.

Removing Fluoride from Your Water

The removal of fluoride from water is not an easy process.

Most water filter sales literature actively avoid the subject. If your water filtration system does not specifically state it removes fluoride, then it does not. In the war against fluoride there are four known ways to remove it, some more effective than others.We will break down the options as well as stating their pros and cons.

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DISTILLATION

Distillation is the process of removing impurities from water by boiling the water and then condensing the steam into a clean container.

Pros
– The distillation process will remove fluoride from water, as well as all other contaminants the water may contain.

Cons
– The process takes time and is not energy efficient. The same process that removes the contaminants also removes any good elements from the water, leaving it empty and lifeless. It would be necessary to add minerals back to the water before drinking.

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DISTILLATION

Distillation is the process of removing impurities from water by boiling the water and then condensing the steam into a clean container.

Pros
– The distillation process will remove fluoride from water, as well as all other contaminants the water may contain.

Cons
– The process takes time and is not energy efficient. The same process that removes the contaminants also removes any good elements from the water, leaving it empty and lifeless. It would be necessary to add minerals back to the water before drinking.

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REVERSE OSMOSIS

Using pressure and a semipermeable membrane it is possible to reverse the normal osmosis process to purify water.

Pros
– Reverse Osmosis can remove up to 90 – 95% of fluoride in your water (depending on the current water quality and the efficiency of the RO system. The RO membrane traps the contaminants and is flushed away in waste water. Reverse Osmosis systems include pre-filters that are successful at removing many other contaminants besides fluoride.

Cons
– The process is wasteful. It requires 2-4 gallons of water to produce one purified gallon of water. The higher the contaminants in an area’s water supply, the shorter the life of a RO filter. Like distillation, the RO process leaves water empty and lifeless and in need of rejuvenation.

ALUMINA

Running water over activated alumina is a very effective way to remove fluoride from water. Fluoride (as well as arsenic) is attracted to the alumina and it’s huge array of tunnel like pores. This is the most commonly used method for removing fluoride available today.

Pros

– When used properly, the alumina can remove up to 98% of fluoride in water. Waste water is minimal, and it does not use an extraordinary amount of energy.

Cons

– The water must remain in contact with the media for an extended period of time for the fluoride to be absorbed by the media. The flow needs to be kept below ¼ gallon per minute or else there is not enough time for the media to absorb the fluoride. Depending upon the size of the media, it can become saturated with fluoride and need to be replaced often. The biggest challenge to alumina is the fact that the system can release aluminum into the treated water, effectively replacing one problem with another. The tank type fluoride removal system is more efficient and can work for many years, but are not environmentally safe. Caustic chemicals are required to backwash and recharge the media. These chemicals (specifically sodium hydroxide and sulphuric acid) end up in the waste water and eventually, when the tanks are replaced, into a landfill.

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REVERSE OSMOSIS

Using pressure and a semipermeable membrane it is possible to reverse the normal osmosis process to purify water.

Pros
– Reverse Osmosis can remove up to 90 – 95% of fluoride in your water (depending on the current water quality and the efficiency of the RO system. The RO membrane traps the contaminants and is flushed away in waste water. Reverse Osmosis systems include pre-filters that are successful at removing many other contaminants besides fluoride.

Cons
– The process is wasteful. It requires 2-4 gallons of water to produce one purified gallon of water. The higher the contaminants in an area’s water supply, the shorter the life of a RO filter. Like distillation, the RO process leaves water empty and lifeless and in need of rejuvenation.

ALUMINA

Running water over activated alumina is a very effective way to remove fluoride from water. Fluoride (as well as arsenic) is attracted to the alumina and it’s huge array of tunnel like pores. This is the most commonly used method for removing fluoride available today.

Pros

– When used properly, the alumina can remove up to 98% of fluoride in water. Waste water is minimal, and it does not use an extraordinary amount of energy.

Cons

– The water must remain in contact with the media for an extended period of time for the fluoride to be absorbed by the media. The flow needs to be kept below ¼ gallon per minute or else there is not enough time for the media to absorb the fluoride. Depending upon the size of the media, it can become saturated with fluoride and need to be replaced often. The biggest challenge to alumina is the fact that the system can release aluminum into the treated water, effectively replacing one problem with another. The tank type fluoride removal system is more efficient and can work for many years, but are not environmentally safe. Caustic chemicals are required to backwash and recharge the media. These chemicals (specifically sodium hydroxide and sulphuric acid) end up in the waste water and eventually, when the tanks are replaced, into a landfill.

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