Home Water Filters

Nowadays with growing awareness you can find various types of home water filters in the market. There are array of water filters which can be used at home for purification of drinking water. These days home water filters generally come in assortment of designs, styles, patterns and colors. The most striking point is that they are generally quoted at a very competitive price which can be afforded by anyone. This has made home water filters very popular and also allows storing gallons of water that can be used for drinking, washing, cooking and many more purposes. In today’s present scenario you can find simplest of water filter that can be attached on the pitcher to the latest and advanced filter. It’s just that there are various varieties of water filter catering your requirement and needs.

Apart from this there are various other home water filters which can be even set at the top of the tap from where you get drinking water. These water filters are equipped with carbon filters which not only restricts the germs but also eliminate the impurities. But they are failure in terms of stopping the smell which makes people little reluctant to go for this. This type of water filter’s cartridge generally gives the 100 to 300 gallons of pure water. But with changing times home water filters have seen various changes as now they have become more powerful and safe in giving clean water. These days’ people living at a place where impure water is must they generally opt for full home water filter as this gives them the chance to get pure water from everywhere. This makes sure that water is always available in pure form whether it is used for drinking, cooking and even bathing.

Currently home water filters are equipped with very powerful cartridge which not only restricts the germs but also eliminates the smell. With the changing time water filters too marked various changes as now majority of home water filters are built by reverse osmosis system. This is the latest technology which ensures the complete removal of germs and bacteria along with the smell. Home water filters are now installed not only for drinking purposes but also for bathing purpose. It has been seen that people have become more alert in regard to health due to which they now prefer to take bath from filtered water in order to ensure complete safety. So if you are health freak and want to live a healthy life then just install a home water filter and ensure safety.

By: Sandy Mark

Customer Service in the Bottled Water Industry - Pure Water and the Customer Promise

Almost every company discusses, at length, the need for customer service and the significance of supplying true excellence to its customers. However, very few actually follow through with what it takes to attain this excellence. This is particularly true in the bottled water business since not all providers share the opinion that customer service is of the utmost importance in any business.

The bottled water industry services a wide customer base with numerous companies and individual clients. The industry is characterized by a small number of very large firms and a substantial number of relatively small consumers with specific geographic niches.

The Nature of the Business:

The bottled water business consists of the manufacturing and delivery of spring or purified water in small packages or large containers such as 5 gallon bottles. The product is delivered directly to the customer’s site in either company owned delivery vehicles or through common carriers. Each individual bottled water company provides an implicit promise to its customers that it will manufacture the highest quality product and deliver that product at the agreed upon time.

Many, Many Customers:

The customer base in the bottled water industry is very diverse and ranges from individual consumers with single bottle requirements to large multi-cooler business accounts with significant water needs. Each client has its own specific requirements, which are met by the company providing the services and product.

The Customer Service Promise and the History of the Business:

In the past, various bottled water companies have focused on process rather than customer service. Many firms acted on the belief that the delivery of a superior product completed their obligation to the customer. However, the customer service promise includes much more than a simple delivery of a quality product and requires additional services such as on time delivery, proper pricing, responding to additional delivery requests and other specific needs. One of the most important customer responsibilities is the ability to communicate their concerns not only to the customer service departments, but also to the heads of each company.

Current Status of the Industry (The Unfulfilled Promise):

Although the bottled water industry may seem rather simple, in reality, it is a very complex business. High quality water must be produced and delivered to the customer's location on time and as ordered. Often enough, customer requests change without warning, which is one reason why flexibility is important to the success of the bottled water company.

Frequently, the water needs of the customer exceed original expectations, which causes shortages . However, in order to avoid such a situation as this, the supplier would have already invested in the communication and stock infrastructure to meet all of its clients’ demands.

For those suppliers who private label water as a means of customer advertising, the design, printing and durability of the label on the bottle is a critical factor. Therefore, companies creating labels of lesser quality in the design and printing of the labels clearly provide a substandard product to their customers.

Communication and the Customer Promise:

Many bottled water suppliers neglect the reality that proper communication channels serve as the basis for fulfilling the customer promise. An overall reliance on voicemail and/or e-mail, an inability to respond quickly to customer needs and the absence of true customer service assistance has created a negative impression of the industry for many customers.

A proper communication system has many technical elements but it should begin with a willingness to include human contact in the communication link. No customer enjoys being dropped into the voicemail void, therefore, the bottled water suppliers that continue to prosper are the companies that uphold the customer service promises and guarantee personally answered customer service calls, which they promptly use to respond to client inquiries and concerns.

Accept Responsibility and Do What It Takes to Provide Customer Satisfaction:

There are many excuses for failure to perform but the bottled water suppliers who are truly world class are those who accept responsibility and persevere with their customer satisfaction guarantees. This often includes obtaining little or no profit on a particular transaction in order to fulfill the customer service promise.

Size is not the determinant in the customer service equation. Often, smaller companies are ready, willing and able to better fulfill the customer promise.
Look for a supplier with a track record of not only achieving the customer promise but also one with a history of fulfillment of the promise.

Why do we use replacement water filters

Water is the basic necessity of every human being. It is the substance which is essential for the survival of the civilization and population. Water is not only used for drinking but also for irrigation, cooking, washing and many more to mention. In short we can say that it is the inseparable part of everyone’s life. Since the time people got aware of the water borne diseases the significant increase in water filters has been recorded. Majority of populace have installed best water filter in their houses so that they can get pure and clean drinking water. And those who want to be extra cautious simply go in for the installation of whole house water filters. This makes them get the pure water not only for drinking but also for washing, cooking and even bathing.

But they are replacement water filters which have certainly stirred the market. They have become the hot property and the most proud possession. Replacement water filters are another type of filters which can be either attached or removed at any point of time. They are very flexible that they can be attached on the pitcher and also to the tap. Replacement water filters are very compact and powerful despite being of small size. They are simply attached on to the pitcher or tap and you get the instant clean and pure drinking water. This water filter is equipped with very powerful filter which not only eliminates the impurities but also the bacteria and germs. These replacement water filter cartridges should be periodically changed so that there is prevailing of bacteria and impurities.

Replacement water filters are very inexpensive and are easily available in the market as they have gained sudden popularity and hype. Majority of the companies have started emphasizing more on replacement water filters as people have started depending more on them as they are easy to install and are very handy too. Nowadays many companies have started offering extra filters with replacement water filters so that people buy more of these. Being so handy they can be attached anywhere you want whether it is tap, pitcher or even faucet. In short from wherever you can get water you can attach it.

So if you are health freak and want the safety for your whole family then simply installs this replacement water filter in your house and gets pure and safe drinking water anytime.

Disaster Planning For The Hurricane Season - Pure Water For Natural Disasters

The hurricane season will be upon us shortly and it is wise to begin preparations for all consequences associated with these catastrophic events. Timely and proper planning will avoid much of the stress resulting from hurricane damage and may well avoid injury and loss of life.

The Hurricane Season

Many people do not realize that the hurricane season is lengthy and spans the six month period from June 1 to December 1 each year. The frequency of major storms has been escalating recently in cycles that increase and decrease over 10 to 20 year periods. Most weather forecasters acknowledge that we are presently in a cycle of increased hurricane activity with the potential for as many as 15-17 named storms forecasted in 2006.

Areas of Risk

Hurricanes and tropical storms are a worldwide phenomenon. The storms affecting the United States and the Caribbean are called hurricanes while the storms in the Pacific are called typhoons and tropical storms in the Indian Ocean are designated tropical cyclones. Low lying coastal areas are at increased risk but inland areas as far as 200-300 miles can still suffer heavy damage. In the United States the coastal areas of the Southeast are at risk and all areas of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico have historically seen extensive storm damage; areas as far north as Massachusetts and Rhode Island have suffered direct hurricane hits. In 2006, at least one major storm is forecasted to hit the Middle Atlantic and Northeast states.

Hurricanes are Serious Events

Anyone who has experienced a hurricane will attest to the fact that these are serious weather events.

Hurricanes are ranked from category 1 (sustained winds in excess of 78mph) to category 5 (sustained winds in excess of 155mph); even a category 1 storm can create extensive damage. Damage from wind, flooding and storm surges can destroy buildings and cause widespread flood damage. By far the most serious cause of impairment however, is the storm surge created by wind pressure and wave action. Storm surges as high as 30 feet are not uncommon in major storms.

In 2005 a category 3 storm (Katrina) destroyed a large portion of New Orleans and, notwithstanding substantial Federal Government aid, the area has yet to recover. In 2004 a deadly category 5 storm (Ivan) destroyed many of the homes and buildings on a number of islands in the Caribbean and the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. Ivan was particularly dangerous with 24 hours of sustained winds of 165 mph and wind gusts recorded as high as 207mph. With a storm surge of over 20 feet, approximately 1/3 of a particular island was covered by water and disappeared from radar as the storm passed.

Hurricanes generally result in at least some loss of life both at sea and on land even for relatively minor storms, however major storms can be much more devastating. At the turn of the twentieth century, an unnamed storm took the lives of between 6,000 to 10,000 people in Galveston, Texas. The worst recorded loss of life resulted from a tropical cyclone that hit East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) with over 200,000 lives lost.

At a minimum, hurricanes result in the loss of water service, electrical power and communications for a period of time during and after the storm. Frequently, this period can extend for weeks and even months in some cases.

Modern Technology is Good News

Modern computer technology and forecasting techniques have increased the period of warning that allows preparation for the impact of the storm. These types of warnings allow preparation and even evacuation in the event of a powerful, threatening storm.

For those who remain in place during a storm, advance preparation is required in order to survive the aftermath of the storm. This requires stockpiling of the proper supplies prior to the storm because demand for supplies immediately before a storm increases rapidly and shortages occur. Therefore, advance preparation is the key to survival success.

A Three Step Disaster Plan

In order to survive a hurricane disaster, proper planning is critical and takes enormous effort. In addition to assembling supplies as early as possible, a plan must be devised and also practiced. A simple but effective plan developed by The Harvard Medical School is as follows:

1) Collect disaster supplies

The devastation incurred by Hurricane Katrina is graphic evidence of just how destructive natural disasters can be. Those affected are without electricity, water, domestic gas, telephone and even shelter. To be prepared, collect the following items and store them so that they will easily be found in the event of an emergency -- but not so easily that you end up depleting the supplies without realizing it. Some people store these items in a section of the basement or a closet that is used infrequently. Decide what will work best for you.

Disaster-supply list

-- Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day; three-day supply ideal)
-- Cash (ATM and credit cards may not work or be accepted by businesses)
-- Cellular phone (with non electrical charger, such as a car charger or AAA battery pack)
-- Clothing and underwear
-- Phone numbers of friends and family
-- Important Documents (driver's license, passport, birth certificate, etc.) in a waterproof container
-- Dust mask (one per person)
-- Eating utensils (plastic or disposable)
-- Emergency numbers: local, state and federal
-- Financial inventory (a list of bank and investment accounts, mortgages and loans, including account numbers and location of original documents)
-- First-aid kit (see "Your first-aid kit," below)
-- Flashlight with extra batteries
-- Food (canned goods and other nonperishable items that do not require cooking)
-- Masking tape, duct tape
-- Medical information (list of your medications, any chronic conditions and medical history)
-- Medications (three-day supply of all daily medications)
-- Paper towels, toilet paper and sanitary products
-- Pet supplies and carrier (include food, water, leashes and records of shots)
-- Plastic sheeting
-- Radio (battery-operated) with extra batteries
-- Scissors
-- Sleeping bags or blankets (one per person)
-- Toiletries (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.)
-- Tools (can opener, knife, pliers; a Swiss army knife may suffice)
-- Trash bags

2) Create a portable supply kit

In case you have to evacuate your home, it is good to put the supplies you think you would need the most in a portable container. Some people try to fit all of the supplies listed above in a large rolling trashcan with a lid or a large rolling cooler. Another option is to store the items in several small coolers or boxes. Think about what supplies you need, what you can reasonably carry or store in your car, and how many people will be available to help you transport the supplies.

3) Develop and practice an emergency plan
All the planning in the world will not do much good if you do not prepare ahead of time. Not only does this enable you to go through your plan while you are calm and thinking clearly, but it also enables you to modify it before you have to put it into action.

-- Identify emergency evacuation routes and shelters in your community and near your workplace.
-- Decide where family members should meet if you are separated in an emergency.
-- Identify a backup location to meet at, in case the first location is impossible to reach.
-- Identify a point-person in the family who will serve as the central contact to call in case of confusion.
-- Choose an out-of-state friend or relative to serve as a backup contact, in the event that local lines are tied up or out of service.
-- Provide every member of the family with a cellular phone or prepaid phone card to make sure they can make a call in the event of an emergency.
-- Consider family members with special needs while making plans. (For example, who will help someone in a wheelchair?) Do not forget your pets, either. (For example, where can you leave pets if you have to evacuate to a hotel that does not allow them?)
-- Practice the plan at least once per year.

Water is Critical

Of all the supplies listed the most critical by far is an adequate supply of drinking water. Everything else (including food) is secondary to water because the body needs a large and continuous supply of fresh water. After a hurricane, water service is interrupted for lengthy periods of time because of lack of power and the fact that existing water supplies are often polluted. Pure and fresh water is mandatory to ensure proper hydration and avoid disease spread through polluted water.

Plan to collect and store water supplies that exceed the minimum and use the highest quality water possible. Ultra-pure distilled water can be stored for long periods because there are no minerals or bacteria in the water; supplies can be maintained almost indefinitely if stored in a cool dark place.

Estimate supplies for more than your immediate needs because in times of emergency and hurricanes many people move to safer structures or higher ground, which may burden existing supplies of safer locations.
Plan for the worst as your life and well being may be at stake

The hurricane season will be upon us shortly and it is wise to begin to plan for all eventualities associated with these catastrophic events. Proper planning now will avoid much of the stress resulting from hurricane damage and may well avoid injury and loss of life.


Jon Stout is the Chairman of the board for Element H2O, a bottler in Chantilly, Virginia offering only Ultra Pure bottled water products and private label opportunities for small and large businesses in all 50 states and Canada.

Elements H2O’s clients include businesses in the health and fitness and hospitality industries, fitness centers, gyms, large and small hotels, day spas, catering companies, and many others.