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Glossary
Water Filtration terms, explained
Short, plain definitions of the words you'll see on product pages and spec sheets. Each one links to a guide when there's more to know.
A
- Activated carbon
- Filter media that adsorbs chlorine, taste, odor and some chemicals. Read the guide →
C
- Catalytic carbon
- A treated carbon that reduces chloramine more effectively than standard carbon. Read the guide →
G
- Grains per gallon
- A unit of water hardness. One gpg equals 17.1 mg/L. Read the guide →
M
- Micron rating
- The particle size a sediment filter is designed to capture. Read the guide →
N
- NSF/ANSI 401
- The standard for emerging compounds such as some pharmaceuticals and herbicides. Read the guide →
- NSF/ANSI 42
- The standard for aesthetic effects such as chlorine taste and odor. Read the guide →
- NSF/ANSI 53
- The standard for health-related contaminants such as lead and cysts. Read the guide →
- NSF/ANSI 58
- The standard for reverse osmosis drinking-water systems. Read the guide →
P
- Point of entry
- Treatment installed where water enters the house, treating every tap. Read the guide →
- Point of use
- Treatment at a single tap, such as a pitcher or under-sink filter. Read the guide →
R
- Regeneration
- The softener cycle that flushes hardness from the resin with brine. Read the guide →
- Reverse osmosis
- Filtration that pushes water through a membrane to remove dissolved solids. Read the guide →
T
- TDS
- Total dissolved solids: minerals, salts and other substances dissolved in water. Read the guide →
- Total coliform
- A group of bacteria used as an indicator of possible contamination in well water. Read the guide →