What is Reverse Osmosis Water?
For great taste, try FreshPure™ Reverse Osmosis Water.With trace amounts of minerals, and none of the impurities found in tap water, natural RO Water is our most popular drinking water – a taste favorite! It makes a superior cup of coffee or tea.

Our FreshPure™ Waters system pre-filters city water, then forces this filtered water, under very high pressure, through a semi-permeable, reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. RO membranes imitate the ability of human cells to filter out impurities. They work on a molecular level to remove up to 99% of any contaminants and minerals in the water remaining after pre-filtration. The purified FreshPure™ RO Water then passes through carbon post-filtration in order to enhance its taste. As a final safeguard just prior to dispensing, the water is sterilized by high-intensity ultraviolet light.

What is Deionized Water?
Choose FreshPure™ Deionized Water whenever ultra-pure water is desired. Comparable in purity to distilled water, FreshPure™ DI Water is ideal for cleansing fasts and special diets. FreshPure™ DI Water is truly water and nothing but water. 

In the deionization process, water first passes through the pre-filtration and reverse osmosis systems (above).  It is then filtered through a special deionization medium, which further “polishes” the FreshPure™ RO Water by removing the 1-2% of trace minerals that may remain.  This deionized water can exceed distilled bottled water in its purity. Use FreshPure™ DI Water anywhere you would use distilled water.

What is the difference between distilled water and FreshPure™ Deionized Water?
The process of distillation is a thermo-based, energy-intensive process. Water is heated, and the resulting steam is captured and condensed into distilled water.  Unfortunately, during the distillation process, it is possible that volatiles contained in the original water will vaporize and pass with the steam into the distilled water. With FreshPure™ Deionized Water this is never a problem.

Where do FreshPure™ Waters come from?
FreshPure™ Waters are purified on-site at your local natural food store. We bein with your EPA-approved municipal water. The water flows through our multiple filters like water percolating through the sedimentary layers of the earth. Our reverse osmosis membrane imitates the ability of human cells to filter out contaminants. We use ultraviolet light, which incorporates the same purifying spectrum as the sun, to ensure maximum water safety and quality. Our comprehensive filtration process, backed by constant monitoring, ensures that FreshPure™ Waters are always healthy and delicious. Taste the difference!

How is the water purified?
FreshPure™ Waters are purified in several stages.

• EPA-approved city water first passes through sediment pre-filtration removing particles larger than five microns.
  (A typical human hair measures 30 microns in diameter.) Heavy sediment is captured during this initial phase.
• The pre-filtered water then passes through an activated carbon filter, thereby reducing potential levels of chlorine, chloramines and trihalomethanes. The carbon filter also removes toxic volatiles such as benzene, toluene, etc.
• The pre-treated water is then forced under high pressure through a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. Similar in nature to the ability of human cells to filter out impurities, the RO membrane works on a molecular level to remove up to 99% of any remaining contaminants. Reverse osmosis, also known as hyper-filtration, is the finest water filtration procedure known. The process allows the separation and removal of ion-sized particles from water. Only trace levels of the minerals originally found in the municipal water are left behind.
• At this point, some of the FreshPure™ RO Water is passed through an ion-exchange media to become FreshPure™ Deionized (DI) Water.  In deionization, trace ions that remain in FreshPure™ RO Water are removed and replaced with H+ and OH- ions, which combine to form extremely pure water.
• As FreshPure™ RO and DI Waters are dispensed, they pass through yet another filter for the removal of taste and odor.
• As a final safeguard, the FreshPure™ Waters streaming into your container are exposed to a concentrated dose of high-intensity ultraviolet light for complete sterilization.

Are FreshPure™ Waters tested? Do they meet EPA Standards?
Absolutely. Our FreshPure™ Waters systems are engineered from the finest components available, and meet or exceed all city, state and federal testing requirements. You’ll find the FreshPure™ Waters system within your local natural food store, never outside where it could be exposed to damaging elements or vandalism. A field technician visits each store every week.  The technician cleans, checks and sanitizes the equipment, and tests and tastes the FreshPure™ Waters to ensure that our high quality standards are upheld. A record of cleaning and maintenance is kept at each machine, and is always available for your inspection.

How often are the filters changed on your system?
This routine varies from store to store and is determined by the local water quality, seasonal changes, and the volume of water that had been dispensed.  Due to our extensive monitoring, components are replaced before there is a decline in the quality of FreshPure™ Waters. We have some of the most exacting standards for water quality in our industry.

Don’t we need the minerals in drinking water?
There is much controversy about minerals in our drinking water.  As a species, humans evolved consuming surface water found in streams, rivers and lakes. Surface water is naturally low in minerals.  When humans began to dig deep wells, they tapped into groundwater with a much higher mineral content. These minerals exist in a form and quantity that the body cannot easily absorb.  Consequently, they tend to build up in the organs and tissues, instead of being utilized by the body. FreshPure™ RO Water contains only trace levels of minerals (typically 5-20 ppm), similar to the low levels found in fresh surface water.

Optimally, the minerals needed by the body are obtained from either a diet rich in whole foods, or through food-based supplements. All FreshPure™ Waters systems are located within reputable natural food stores. We encourage you to contact their knowledgeable associates for more information and for recommendations on how you can improve your diet, health and well-being. The simple step of adding high-quality water back into your diet can help improve your health tremendously.

What is TDS?
TDS, or Total Dissolved Solids, is the total quantity of dissolved chemical solids (usually mineral salts) in water, measured in ppm (parts per million).  Municipal water supplies typically contain up to 800 or 1000 ppm. TDS is just one of the methods FreshPure™ Waters technicians use to evaluate water quality. The lower the TDS, the more pure the water. FreshPure™ Waters RO Water contains only trace levels of minerals (typically 5-20 ppm).  FreshPure Waters™ DI Water has virtually no TDS at all.

What is the pH of FreshPure™ Waters?
The pH of FreshPure™ varies with the chemistry of the incoming municipal water supply.  Generally, reverse osmosis filtration tends to lower the pH of water. This pH becomes naturally balanced once the water contacts your intestinal system.

What contaminants are typically found in city water?
It is important to note that while the EPA ensures that your city water is safe, and does not exceed the recommended Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for various impurities, many people believe that even low levels of contaminants are undesirable in drinking water.What are these contaminants? Chlorine, chloramines, trihalomethanes and fluoride; volatiles such as benzene, toluene, MTBE and gasoline; and heavy metals such as lead, iron, aluminum and arsenic can all exist in your tap water. In areas of high population growth or intense agricultural activity and livestock concentration, it is also common to find nitrates, pesticides and herbicides in water.

Even though water treatment plants are carefully regulated by the EPA, a lot can happen to water as it travels to your faucet. Tap water is dependent upon the condition of city infrastructure and your home’s plumbing. Lead, asbestos, copper, brass and PVC, which are common plumbing materials, have all been linked to health disorders.

The MCL guidelines are set by the EPA.  But at National Water Services, Inc., we believe that you deserve better water. The purity of FreshPure™ Waters meets or exceeds EPA standards as well as that of off-the-shelf bottled water.  Our natural process removes or reduces virtually all of the contaminants found in your municipal water supply. 

What is chlorine?
Chlorine is the most widely used disinfectant for municipal water because it oxidizes cellular material, thereby destroying biological contaminants. In human beings it acts as a free-radical, causing oxidative damage to cells.
For more information visit the EPA website.

What are trihalomethanes?
Trihalomethanes (THMs) are hazardous byproducts resulting from the chemical reaction between chlorine and organic contaminants in water. THMs are known to be cancer-causing in humans. 

What are chloramines?
Chloramines result from the reaction between chlorine and ammonia.  The practice of adding chloramines to city water has been employed in municipal water treatment for over 70 years.  The growing use of chloramines by water treatment facilities stems from chloramines’ ability to kill bacteria and maintain residual disinfection without increasing the level of THMs in water. Chloramines generally produce less “chlorine” odor and aftertaste. For more information visit the EPA website.

Does the FreshPure™ Waters system remove harmful chlorine and chloramines?
Yes. Because of our multi-stage treatment approach, FreshPure™ Waters systems consistently remove virtually all the chlorine, chloramines and trihalomethanes from city water. 

Does your system remove bacteria or cryptosporidium?
Yes. Our multiple-stage filtration process eliminates harmful levels of bacteria and other organisms, including cryptosporidium. As a final safeguard, FreshPure™ Waters are exposed to high- intensity ultraviolet light, which sterilizes the water as it is dispensed. 

What about fluoride?
Medical research has shown that fluoride, when ingested, can have a negative impact on bone calcium.  Topical applications of fluoride are recommended for healthy teeth. Our FreshPure™ Waters system removes greater than 90% of the fluoride that may be present in city water.

I’ve heard that the industrial pollutants MTBE and perchlorate have been found in  municipal water sources.  Are they in FreshPure™ Waters?
MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) is used as a fuel additive in gasoline in order to prevent engine knock. Perchlorate is the primary ingredient of solid rocket propellant. A growing number of studies have detected MTBE and perchlorate in underground aquifers throughout the country. In some instances these contaminated aquifers form sources of drinking water.  If these pollutants are present in your municipal water source, the FreshPure™ Waters state-of-the-art purification system will remove them.

My water comes from a well.  Why should I purchase FreshPure™ Waters?
At this time very few regulations exist that govern the quality of private well water supplies. While most people’s wells are safe, the impact of population growth can negatively affect the quality of well water. Agricultural and livestock activity can contribute toxic organic and inorganic elements. Additionally, the deeper that wells are dug, the higher the mineral content of the water. FreshPure™ Waters offer you a better tasting, consistently pure alternative.

What about those inexpensive filters for the home?
Many of the small carbon-based filters designed for home use remove only the odor and taste of chlorine.  They can do almost nothing to treat heavy metals, radon, chloramines or the high mineral content of the water. By virtue of their size, they do not last very long, and are quickly exhausted. If not changed regularly, they can actually create a breeding ground for bacteria.

What about bottled water on the shelf?
Self-serve FreshPure™ Waters offer better value and freshness over pre-packaged bottled water. Though consumers pay a premium for it  bottled water, quality standards vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and from water to water. Bottled water comes in many forms and with many names.  There is Spring Water, Mineral Water, Sparkling Water, and Artesian Water, to name a few.  Most of these waters are bottled at a source and then warehoused.  As many as 60 days can elapse before bottled water reaches the consumer.  Typically, bottled waters are stored in inexpensive polyethylene containers that can impart a “plastic-y” taste and odor to the water.

Trust the great taste of FreshPure™ Waters. Your water is refined on the spot, not stored for long periods in plastic bottles.  When you dispense FreshPure™ Waters, you always know it’s fresh and delicious.

What are the different types of bottled water?
The FDA has established a Standard of Identity to define the several different types of bottled water, based on specific characteristics of the product. Bottled water may be labeled using one or more of the following terms:

Spring Water - Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring, or through a borehole tapping the underground formation that feeds the spring. Spring water collected with the aid of an external force must be from the same underground stratum as the spring, and must retain all the physical properties present before treatment, and must be of the same composition and quality as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth.

Mineral Water - Bottled water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its near- constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals may be added to this product.

Sparkling Bottled Water - Water that after treatment, and possible replacement with carbon dioxide, contains the same amount of carbon dioxide as it had when it emerged from the source. Sparkling bottled waters may be labeled as "sparkling drinking water," "sparkling mineral water," "sparkling spring water," etc.

Artesian Water/Artesian Well Water - Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level is situated at some height above the point of discharge.

How do I use the FreshPure™ Waters machine?
After choosing the FreshPure™ Reverse Osmosis or Deionized Water that’s right for you, simply fold the stainless steel shelf up or down to accommodate your bottle size, position the bottle under the correct spout, and lift the handle to dispense the water.  Gently lower the handle to stop the flow.  When full, tightly cap the bottle, place it in your shopping cart and continue shopping.

Where do I pay?
With self-serve FreshPure™ Waters there’s no need to fumble for loose coins.  Just take your filled container to the checkout with the rest of your grocery selections.

How can FreshPure™ Waters cost so much less than bottled water and still be of high quality?
When you fill your container with FreshPure™ Waters, you’re investing in the freshness, great taste, and ultra-purity of our water.  You’re not paying for a disposable bottle, a label, shipping and storage, so you pocket the savings! Plus, you are reducing energy consumption, plastic waste and landfill loads – a benefit to our environment.

What kind of container should I use?
Since we installed the first FreshPure™ Waters system in 1991, we have helped prevent millions of empty bottles from arriving at our landfills. We encourage everyone to join the re-use loop by bringing and re-filling containers you already own.  Glass is good, but it is heavy and susceptible to breakage. We recommend water containers made from polycarbonate resin (a hard plastic, typically tinted blue) with a secure screw cap.

In every case, we urge everyone dispensing our self-serve FreshPure™ Waters to clean and disinfect his or her container regularly. To keep it clean, always recap an empty bottle.

How much do polycarbonate water containers cost?
Depending upon the size you choose, FreshPure™ Waters polycarbonate water containers generally range in price from $2.99 to $19.99.

How long will a polycarbonate water container last?
All of our FreshPure™ Waters containers are of the highest quality available, made from Lexan™ polycarbonate resin. This patented resin is used in high-tech applications such as NASA space helmets and Apple™ computers. Our Lexan™ polycarbonate containers are made to withstand years of repeated use, and are guaranteed for life.  Many of our customers have had their bottles for 10 years. 

Most other containers are produced from PVC or polyethylene. These less expensive plastics can impart a “plastic-y” odor and taste to purified water.  They also allow UV light penetration. Trust our polycarbonate containers to protect your water from harmful UV rays, and to keep it as pure and fresh as when you dispensed it.

How can I be sure that my water container is really made of polycarbonate?
To identify a true polycarbonate container, look for the recycling triangle with the Code Number 7 (seven) on the bottom of the container.  This is your guarantee of a polycarbonate bottle, one which can withstand repeated sanitization and filling. A Code 7 rating indicates FDA-approved food-grade material. Investing in a polycarbonate container saves you money over time, and cuts down on the number of plastic bottles entering our landfills.

How should I clean and disinfect my container?
To keep your container clean and reusable, we recommend the following:

To Freshen
Use one tablespoon baking soda per half-gallon of regular water.  Swish this solution around the bottle and then pour it out. Rinse well, and seal the container until ready to refill.

To Sanitize
Use one teaspoonful of household bleach or hydrogen peroxide (the over-the-counter type works fine) per gallon of water.  Swish the solution around so it contacts all surfaces, then fill the container with tap water.  Let the solution stand for about 5-15 minutes, then empty and rinse your container repeatedly with tap water until the chlorine odor is gone.  Let air dry, then seal.

I have a water dispenser, how often should I disinfect it?
Clean and disinfect your water dispenser every three to six months with the same sanitizing solution described in Container Care above.

What about outdoor water vending machines?
Most people have seen outdoor water vending machines. These machines are often difficult to use, do not accommodate all sizes of containers, and require coins to operate. Cleanliness and tampering outside a store cannot easily be controlled.  A recent study by the University of Arizona found that 23% of outside water vending machines tested in the Tucson area showed unacceptable levels of bacterial contamination.