Question:
I am interested in any people who have installed a whole house waterpurification system (i.e. distillation, reverse osmosis, etc..). I wantto filter my water down to the micron level (for water-borne bacteria,as well as lead).

Has anyone installed one of these that can provide insight intoinstallation, cost, satisfaction, etc...? Also, who sells these (Sears comes to mind).

Answer: I am a water treatment dealer and maybe you don't want my opinion but here itis for others. What you are asking for (whole house RO etc.) is overkill, andwhen you get the price ($10,000 maybe) and space requirements (150-750+ gallonstorage tank for one) you may change your mind. Additionally, the waterproduced by the systems you mention may not be to your liking if you get thesystem you describe.

Individual pieces of equipment, no more than needed is what I'd suggest. I.E.a sulfur/iron/acid neutralizer filter, a softener, and an ultra violet light.That is "whole house" (point of entry {POE}). Then followed (at the kitchensink etc.) a drinking/cooking water separate faucet (point of use {POU})filter for chemicals/metals etc., or RO or multi-stage filter. Cost installedwill range from approx. $1800 up to $4500 depending where/what you buy. Thisway you won't be "eating up" your plumbing with acidic RO water or mixing rawwith RO water to prevent this from happening. The maintenance/operating costsis/are negligible and you get the water quality you wanted without theproblems of the type of equipment you originally asked about. Filteringbacteria requires .5 micron or less and will constantly plug up with invisible"dirt", and drive you and the dealer crazy to boot. You don't filter bacteriaon the whole house type installations, you "kill" it with chlorine, ozone, UVlight etc.. I didn't mention distilled because I know of no POE distillers,which would (like RO) require a storage tank and re-pressurization pump andpressure tank.

You should not buy anything without a water analysis and specific equipmentproposals from 2-3 dealers. Select equipment from the dealer that tends toknow the most about all types of equipment and treatment methodologies ratherthan just what s/he sells.