FAQ

Your health is our highest priority.

We have compiled our most frequently asked questions and answered them for you for your easiest convenience. We have complied over 100 years of experience to ensure your questions don’t go unanswered. Developing research is incredibly important, we have our finger on the pulse to make sure we don’t miss a beat. If you have a question that isn’t answered below, please get in touch with us so we can get you the answers you’re after.

How do I know when to change my purifier cartridge?

When you become a customer of Pure Hydration your job is recorded on our computerised database. We then automatically contact you when your filter is due for changing, this ensures you are always getting full life expectancy from your filter and are not going over its date and drinking “off filters”.

What’s an “off filter”

Water filters have a life expectancy of either 12 -24 months. When this goes over they can start growing bacteria and the chemicals that the filter had caught then starts to leach back into your water supply but in a concentre, this becoming more of a health risk.

Where are the filters manufactured?

All our filters are either manufactured in New Zealand or imported from North America or Europe. We have selected these cartridges because of their leading edge technology and consistent high standards. This assures you of quality we can guarantee. All our filters reach Water Quality Standards (WQS).

Why does my water taste bad?

If you’re on town water supply then the taste and odour usually come from products used in the water treatment process such as chlorine. Some water has a metallic taste which can also be resolved. If you’re on tank water and the water smells or is discoloured then you have biological and mineral impurities getting into your tank.

Is chlorine bad for you?

Chlorine was first added to a community water system in 1908 and was instrumental in eliminating many types of water-borne disease such as Cholera and Typhoid fever. Prior to chlorination, many major cities had death tolls of 1 in 1000 people from Typhoid alone.

Chlorine has been used to disinfect municipal water for over 80 years and has had some positive effects on public health. In the 1970’s it was discovered that chlorine, when added to water, forms Trihalomethanes (chlorinated by-products) by combining with certain naturally occurring organic matter such as vegetation and algae. In 1992 the American Journal of Public Health published a report that showed a 15% to 35% increase in certain types of cancer for people who consume chlorinated water. This report also stated that much of these effects were due to showering in chlorinated water.

The National Cancer Institute estimates cancer risks for people who consume chlorinated water to be up to 93% higher than for people who do not. The effects of drinking chlorinated water have been debated for decades. However, most experts now agree that there are some significant risks related to consuming chlorine and chlorinated by-products in drinking water.

Can you remove chlorine from water?

Yes, we can successfully remove chlorine from your water. We recommend underbench kitchen filters or whole house filtration where we can.

What contaminants can you remove from water?

We can remove most things from water, and if you are on town water supply we have a good idea of the water make up and make recommendations. If you are on bore or surface water we always start with a water test so we know exactly what the make up of your water is. When we look further into whether a filtration system will fix the issue you have. If not, a treatment solution will be prepared for you to solve your situation. We love water treatment, it’s not only an interesting process, but it really is an art which we are fantastic at.

Is town water safe to drink?

Yes, however town water supply has Chlorine, heavy metals, fluoride and chemical impurities in the water. If this concerns you then we can help. Either with a quality underbench water filter or whole house filter.

Some of my family members have skin issues, does filtration help?

We get asked this a lot now. Chlorine is poisonous and is a skin irritant. Bathing in chlorinated water does irritate the skin but also breathing in the vapours from a hot steamy shower is also harmful. We have around a 65% success rate in helping New Zealand families skin conditions improve and in some cases improve dramatically.

Is there aluminium in my water?

Yes, town water uses aluminium during its processing stages, as you know there are links between aluminium and Alzheimers disease.

I use rain water, isn't it pure and safe to drink? It is rain water…

Rain water is a great source of water in NZ. The problems occur in the method of transferring it from your roof to your storage tank. Any faecal matter entering the water (from bird or possum etc.) has e-coli present, this can multiply rapidly and cause numerous medical conditions when drank such as stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea and in some cases death. Giardia and Cryptosporidium also enter our tank water the same way. Our immune systems are not what they used to be and these bugs are mutating. Ultra Violet sterilisation is the most effective method of protecting your home from any bacteria, viruses or e-coli.

Is filtered water or bottled water better?

While much bottled water is of good quality, there are little or no regulations or means of ensuring bottled water quality… it is a self-policed industry for the most part. In contrast, the home water treatment industry is very heavily regulated. Manufacturers must do extensive testing and reporting to prove their products effectiveness at providing quality water. Manufacturers are required to supply “Performance Data Sheets” demonstrating the products ability to remove certain contaminants; bottled water companies are not required to demonstrate their waters quality

Will filtering my water save me money?

Yes, buying bottled water is becoming very common. Some families are spending $30-40 per week buying water, a water filter will pay for itself within months.

Can water filters be bad for my health?

Yes, just like your car or home they need regular servicing. We recommend changing your filters every 12-24 months depending on your situation. Once on our client database, we will contact you and remind you when its time to change your filter and arrange a suitable time for us to service it at your convenience.

How does a water cooler benefit me?

Water coolers are a great way of having fresh water on demand all the time. Cold water is a very refreshing way of making sure you drink your 8 glasses per day. If you are a business owner or manager then having fresh cool water easily accessible will improve the productivity of your staff. Drinking water is healthier and cheaper that expensive coffee machines or soft drinks. Go on, treat yourself and your staff to the healthier option.

What is total dissolved solids (TDS)?

Total Dissolved Solids is the total measurement by weight of all solids that are dissolved in water. The dissolved solids in water are primarily calcium and magnesium and would not be a measurement of contamination. Tests which measure the conductivity of water (often used by companies selling reverse osmosis and distillation system) only give a rough estimate of dissolved solids, mostly minerals, and do not show water quality. Implying that these tests show water quality is highly misleading and should be considered unethical.

What is Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC)?

Volatile Organic Chemicals are synthetic compounds that turn into vapor at relatively low temperatures. VOCs typically vaporize at a much lower temperature than water. Most synthetic chemicals found in water, such as pesticides and herbicides are VOCs.

I’m on bore water, do I need filters or to treat my water?

There are many health benefits by removing chemicals and compounds from water, even on non-chlorinated private bores. Virtually all ground water contains traces of chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled.

How do you know if there are contaminates in my water?

All public water systems contain some level of one or more unhealthy chemicals. Regulations only require periodic testing of about 90 chemicals. There are now more than 75,000 chemicals used in our society with over 1000 new ones being developed each year. Contaminant levels fluctuate throughout the year making it impossible to know the actual level of contamination in a central water system. So far hundreds of toxic chemicals have been detected in New Zealand’s water systems.

If you are on tank water there is the increased risk from bacterial and e-coli micro organism along with risks from chemicals leaking from you roof either in the surface or spray drift from aerial spraying operations. Rain is also slightly acidic and picks up all the air borne chemicals i.e. smog, as it falls to your roof.

If you’re on bore water, have you had it tested? Heavy metals, dangerous mineral concentrations and bacteria could be in your water. We suggest a water test which we can help with.