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Compostable all-natural water filters

kickstarter.com

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Re: Compostable all-natural water filters

#21

Post by saidajigumi »

This and other products roughly similar to Brita filters all seem a bit ridiculous and wasteful. At least this one is glass and so free of plasticizers[1]. A simple drip-through filter isn't going to do that much to improve most U.S. water supplies.

Instead, just get a multi-stage reverse osmosis filter unit. That'll take out virtually everything potentially nasty and/or bad tasting: chlorine, flouride, metal salts used to control algae, misc. minerals and so forth. Coffee and tea brewers, you really owe this to yourselves. The maintenance amounts to replacing a few filters in an under-sink unit every one to three years depending on your local water supply. No remembering to refill a pitcher, just a little extra spigot on your sink.

[1] BPA-free isn't good enough. Replacing one plasticizer with another that also has high estrogenic activity is pointless.

Re: Compostable all-natural water filters

#22

Post by zachallia »

nostromo wrote: post #20

I wish they'd show someone using it. How big is it? Seems like it's about the size of a gallon jug. Maybe bigger. The hourglass shape, unlike a traditional filter, wastes a lot of fridge space. Do I have to remove the filter to pour? That would be a deal-breaker for me. If not, is it spout directional, or can I pour at any angle? Pouring from of a top-heavy hourglass could be awkward. Especially if it's weighted down…

It's smaller than in the video. We had to use an early prototype there to have the video ready in time. It's designed to fit nicely even in small hands. You do not have to remove the filter to pour, there is a spout that is hidden but runs up the side. I'll make sure we get some pictures of the pitcher from angles that you can see the spout / lid.

Re: Compostable all-natural water filters

#23

Post by DareOlonoh »

Seems like a great product and business model. I ditched my Brita filter for bottled water a couple years ago because of the black dots. It was embarrassing to pour water for people when there were black dots floating in it. Might have to switch back to a filter now.

Re: Compostable all-natural water filters

#24

Post by wooster »

[deleted] wrote: post #15
mhp wrote: post #14

I think the design is great, and from a business perspective I like their desire to do it on a subscription basis (like Proactiv for example). As a consumer, that annoys me a bit, but I guess they'll see how it turns out. HOWEVER, the United States has pretty awesome water coming right out of the tap. And charcoal based filters are mostly taste filters. They aren't going to remove most pollutants (you'd need a revers…

[deleted]

"lead, mercury and arsenic"

As the manufacturer of this product you're going to want to be very careful making claims like that in a public forum.

I see no evidence of CDPH certification, despite the product being sold from San Francisco:

  When a manufacturer claims that a drinking water treatment device
  will reduce contaminants [such as lead, Cryptosporidium (protozoan
  cysts), pesticides, herbicides, solvents, heavy metals, bacteria
  and viruses] or makes other health related performance claims,
  the device must be certified by CDPH, pursuant to Health & Safety
  Code Section 116830.
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/device/pages/watertreatmentde...

Re: Compostable all-natural water filters

#26

Post by chockablock »

LaGrange wrote: post #18
revelation wrote: post #11

What exactly is filtered by this? In Germany, water from the tap is commonly found to be cleaner than the stuff you can buy in plastic bottles. The only application that comes to mind would be regulating water hardness.

In fact I tried San Francisco water, and it was completely fine. And there's also the obvious question about the carbon footprint of bringing coconut shells to US for manufacturing. On the other hand, in several places in Poland a water filter is, actually, fairly useful.

I use a carbon block filter (Clear2o) for SF tap water, and appreciate the lack of chlorine taste. (Or more properly, chloramine: http://www.sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=357 )

Re: Compostable all-natural water filters

#27

Post by JshWright »

DareOlonoh wrote: post #23

Seems like a great product and business model. I ditched my Brita filter for bottled water a couple years ago because of the black dots. It was embarrassing to pour water for people when there were black dots floating in it. Might have to switch back to a filter now.

Are you in the U.S.? On municipal water? What's wrong with your tap water?

Re: Compostable all-natural water filters

#28

Post by chockablock »

saidajigumi wrote: post #21

This and other products roughly similar to Brita filters all seem a bit ridiculous and wasteful. At least this one is glass and so free of plasticizers[1]. A simple drip-through filter isn't going to do that much to improve most U.S. water supplies. Instead, just get a multi-stage reverse osmosis filter unit. That'll take out virtually everything potentially nasty and/or bad tasting: chlorine, flouride, metal salts u…

Thanks--you inspired me to check these out. I'm pleasantly surprised to find that undersink units go for ~$200.

Re: Compostable all-natural water filters

#29

Post by skewp »

saidajigumi wrote: post #21

This and other products roughly similar to Brita filters all seem a bit ridiculous and wasteful. At least this one is glass and so free of plasticizers[1]. A simple drip-through filter isn't going to do that much to improve most U.S. water supplies. Instead, just get a multi-stage reverse osmosis filter unit. That'll take out virtually everything potentially nasty and/or bad tasting: chlorine, flouride, metal salts u…

The U.S. has some of the cleanest drinking water in the world.

Re: Compostable all-natural water filters

#30

Post by JulianMorrison »

zachallia wrote: post #3
stephengillie wrote: post #2

Interesting. This isn't just a product, it's a product-as-a-service.

We spent a lot of time figuring out the problems with current in home water drinking. One of the main things was that people forget to change their filter. We're looking to change that behavior!

Now they will forget to be at home when the filter deliverer comes around.
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