Whole House Filters | Water Filtration Ireland

Cryptosporidium Removal

Unfortunately the parasite Cryptosporidium (Crypto) is still a concern in certain water supplies in Ireland, if this affects you we are here to help with proven certified solutions to ensure safe drinking water.

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that exists in the form of oocysts, which are protected by a robust outer shell. The resilience of the oocysts enables Crypto to withstand chlorine-based disinfection methods used in Ireland, rendering it difficult to eliminate through conventional water processes.

When ingested, Crypto oocysts can cause a gastrointestinal illness known as Cryptosporidiosis. Affecting the intestines of both humans and mammals, symptoms typically include stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, dehydration and headaches. Most at risk of infection are young children, the elderly and those with low immune systems however most people who have healthy immune systems will recover without treatment.

There are many products on the market such as our own Reverse Osmosis product range that would likely deal with Cryptosporidium but unfortunately have not gone under the required certification to prove effectiveness, this is why we only recommend certified solutions for Cryptosporidium removal. Many suppliers do not understand the certification standards and so list products simply with NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or 58 as being suitable for cyst removal but this is not correct, there should also be a statement the end, for example, 'NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for cyst removal' . We would recommend you view the certification before purchasing. This is important to keep in mind when selecting a solution for your home.

Certified Removal Solutions

Filtration is an extremely effective method for preventing the transmission of Crypto and ensuring the safety of drinking water. Our filter cartridges have been independently tested to NSF 53-2011 standards with a removal rate of >99.99996% when tested with 3 μm micro-spheres.

Cartridges are manufactured in a clean room environment, lot coded for material traceability and a Quality Assurance Certificate is supplied with every cartridge. Each cartridge is vacuum sealed and then enclosed in a durable outer plastic layer for further protection.

We can supply a solution for any water supply but the below three solutions are most common and cost effective for domestic applications.

All the systems below are neatly designed to be installed under-sink and to supply filtered water to a separate faucet or to a tri-flow faucet. Our solutions are supplied with all parts required to retrofit into a typical household built to typical Irish standards.

Solution 1 (Economy):

This is our most cost effective solution comprising of a single filter housing supplied with a certified Cryptosporidium removal filter. It is a tidy solution to fit under most sinks.

Parts supplied: Feed adapter & feed water valve, filter housing, mounting bracket & filter. Faucet & 2 metres of tubing.

Solution 2: (Standard)

Since the certified filter is of very small pore size a pre-filter would be recommended to avoid premature blockage and reduced lifetime.

This upgraded solution is supplied with a dual housing and a 1µm pre-filter. Otherwise it is the same a solution 1.

Parts supplied: Feed adapter & feed water valve, dual filter housings & filters. Faucet & 2m of tubing.

Solution 3: (Advanced)

An addition of a UV unit adds an extra layer of protection against Cryptosporidium which some customers prefer. The UV unit outputs 30mJ/cm2 of shortwave, high energy UV light which is especially effective at disrupting microorganisms.

Otherwise it is the same a solution 2.

Parts supplied: Feed adapter & feed water valve, dual filter housings & filters. Faucet & 2m of tubing. UV Unit.

How often do the filters need changing?

This really depends on usage, for a typical household changing the cartridge every year at minimum is recommended. Some customers use the filtered water year round and others just use it during a contamination period.