: : MEDIA / PRESS RELEASES / LEGALITY OF INSTALLING A WATER FILETER : :

The Star/ Wednesday 27 Oct 2004

The recent issue concerning the legality of installing a point-of-entry (whole house) water filter at the water meter has caused much huh-hah, confusion and anxiety to existing water filter users as well as consumers planning to install a water filter to improve their water quality. Is installing a water filter against the law? Is my water filter installed the right way within the permitted boundary of rules and regulations?

First of all, there is no question about the rights of consumers installing water filter. Should they feel that the water for their daily consumption is not up to their standard, or if the water supply is causing staining of their laundry or causing various health issues, it is everyone's right to do something to improve their water quality.

The question that remain is whether the filter is installed the right and legal way. Water resources in Malaysia is managed by individual state's water authority under the current arrangements, therefore each state has slightly different rules & regulations concerning the installation of a point-of entry water filter. However there are common sense rules that will determine if the water filter will interfere with the proper maintenance and function of the water meter as well as potential reverse pollution of the water supply.

BACFREE will like to take this opportunity to clarify some of the issues raised and how BACFREE's filter and installation method had always complied with these regulations. As we do not appoint agents, middleman & contractors, all BACFREE's filters are installed by our experience team of technician that fully comply and adhere to our company's guidelines.

One of the issues raised was the fact that the installation of a water filter within 3 feet of the water meter will interfere with the proper functioning of the meter as well as complicate any future maintenance works. This is a fair concern of the water authorities. So far all BACFREE's point-of entry filter is installed at least 3 feet from the water meter (distance measured from water meter to the inlet of the filter). And most of our filters are installed within the compound of the house, thus avoiding any inconvenience to the water authorities during servicing and maintenance of the water supply piping & water meter.

Moreover due to the fact that our point-of entry filters are mostly multimedia sand filters that do not cause significant pressure reduction and flow restriction thus reducing the possibility of interfering with the proper functioning of the water meter. Filtration system that employs cartridge or hollow fiber filtration technology will cause significant pressure and flow reduction hence interfering with the proper functioning of the meter.

The other issue raised was concerning the possibility of reverse contamination of the water supply due to back flow of dirty water from poorly or improperly maintain water filters back through the water meter into the community water distribution pipes. Back flow of water do occur and reverse contamination do take place from time to time. BACFREE has always recognized this fact & in our installation we always take into account of the interest of our customers as well as that of the surrounding neighborhood. All our point-of entry filters (EC & IC series) comes with a Non-Return Valve (Check Valve) that effectively prevents any backflow of dirty water back to the JBA supply pipes. The accumulated dirt inside the filter is then effectively removed from the filter into a nearby drain during the backwash process.

As for the issue of poorly maintained filter causing bacteria colonization and contamination, all BACFREE water filters are of sound designs that ensure complete & effective backwash, therefore ensuring no bacteria colonization will take place. On top of that all BACFREE's point-of-entry water filters comes with a 5 years warranty on water quality, and we take the extra step of providing our customers with a water quality report that includes a Coliform Presence/Absence Test (harmful bacteria detection test), as well as Turbidity, Colour, Hardness and pH.