A Guide to Water Contaminants

PFAS (per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances) is the general name for a chemical family consisting of at least 5,000 individual substances. They are also sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ and are becoming more and more of a concern for people around the world because these synthetic chemicals don’t break down easily in the environment, or in our bodies.

Doing everything you can to reduce ingestion of these, especially when their long-term implications are uncertain, is a fantastic way to protect yourself and your family.

We recommend taking a look at our PFAS Chlorine Reduction Cartridge, which is available in our DUO and TRIO under sink water filter systems, or for an option with no plumbing involved, the British Berkefeld with Ultra Sterasyl Filter has been tested to filter 95% of PFOA and PFOS in your drinking water.

Chlorine is one of the most common contaminants that our customers want to reduce in their drinking water. Often making your tap water taste or smell a little bit like swimming pool, Chlorine is a distinct flavour that even our dogs and cats dislike!

If you’re looking reduce the taste of Chlorine and make your water more palatable, then all of our water filters will help you do this! So really, the choice comes down which solution best fits around your lifestyle.

Our portable water filter bottle will help to keep the flavour at bay when you’re on the go, our countertops and our under sink systems are fantastic options when it comes to more fixed solutions at home.

The UK’s pipework and plumbing network is absolutely amazing, there is no doubt about this.

However, many houses built before the 1970’s, for example, may still have lead pipes or solder joints. Meaning that whilst your water has been treated at a central treatment plant, the pipes that they then travel through may pick up some unpalatable taste and heavy metals along the way via old pipes and fittings.

As with Chlorine, most of our filter systems will help to reduce Lead in your water, helping to reduce any associated risks, whilst helping your water to taste great in the process. If you are looking for a wider range of heavy metal reduction, the British Berkefeld with Ultra Fluoride filters would be the perfect solution.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that enter your water through a range of sources such washing synthetic clothing, plastic packing and even from industrial processes.

Whilst water companies do everything that they can to reduce contaminants in your water, microplastics can still enter your drinking water supplies due to their size and shape getting though the system!

Research is still ongoing around what long term implications they can have to your health, but as they say – prevention is always better than cure.

Therefore, if you’re at all worried about microplastics our range ceramic filter systems is the perfect way to reduce concerns.

Most of the water filter systems from Doulton are not specifically designed to reduce Limescale. Most of our range actually retain some of the contaminants that are known to cause limescale such as calcium and magnesium, because they are beneficial to your health.

If you are seeking a specific solution to inhibit the effects of limescale whilst retaining the minerals then the Biotect Ultra SI would be the best fit. This advanced ceramic water filter works to reduce scale deposition, especially on your kettle and other appliances you’d use tap water in such as your coffee machine.

If you want to filter out the magnesium and calcium which causes the hardness our Limescale Reduction Cartridge can be used which our Biotect Ultra ceramic filter in our DUO or TRIO under sink systems.

Harmful bacteria in our drinking water is fairly rare. We know that the DWI (Drinking Water Inspectorate) sets extremely high regulatory standards and guidelines for water treatment companies to meet to ensure that our water supply is wholesome and safe.

However, there have been incidents in the media where areas have been advised to boil their water or avoid drinking their water altogether for a variety of reasons. With this news comes uncertainty and we understand that some people may want to take a preventative approach to ensuring that their water is of utmost safety at all times and take more control over their water for peace of mind.

If this applies to you, then you can ensure peace of mind with most of the ceramic filters from the Doulton range that are designed to reduce up to 99.99% of pathogenic bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella typhi (Typhoid), and Klebsiella terrigena (Raoultella terrigena).