Category 1: Before using ÖKO
First use of the gourd?
Can I filter fruit juice, soft drinks, coffee, tea or other non-soft water liquids with ÖKO?
Does the ÖKO filter remove mineral salts and trace elements (limestone, magnesium, potassium, sodium, etc.)?
NO, the filter does not filter mineral salts or trace elements (dissolved salts).
If you own a TDS device, which measures the quantity of minerals (conductors) present in water, you should find the same measurement BEFORE and AFTER filtration with ÖKO. This device costs from €5 to €30 on the net.
Can seawater be filtered?
No, the ÖKO filter is designed to filter freshwater ONLY.
Seawater contains too many mineral salts and irreparably damages filtration quality.
If you have a softener with salt addition, we strongly advise against using ÖKO, as the amount of salt will irreparably damage filtration quality.
If you have a mechanical softener without salt addition, no problem, you can filter with ÖKO.
Traveling, trekking or hiking in foreign countries? Do you need to filter non-drinking water?
How many liters can I make with an ÖKO filter?
It all depends on the filtered water.
400 L : Urban water, i.e. the water from our taps, where most of the contaminants harmful to our organisms are concentrated (chlorine, pesticides and metabolites, PFAS (perfluorinated compounds), heavy metals, drug residues, fluoride and, sometimes, E.Coli bacteria (when filtration plants go haywire).
The majority of our users filter at home and on the move (office, school, sport, airport, service station...),
at friends' etc etc).
100 L to 400 L: Celle rurale is water from rivers, lakes and streams that is transparent to the naked eye.
Transparent doesn't mean it's not loaded with things invisible to the naked eye.
The naked eye can see from 80 - 100 microns (1/1000 of a millimeter). Bacteria measure between 1 and 2 microns on average.
Microplastics between 2 and 10 microns for example.
It ALWAYS depends on the water you'll be filtering.
If it's loaded (with particles you can't see), pores will clog faster.
It's mechanical, and you'll feel it when you apply harder pressure.
A filter's strength lies in its ability to filter out viruses, bacteria and protozoa, which can make us ill.
That's why it's so popular with hikers, trekkers and travelers the world over.
10 L to 200 L: For stagnant water (muddy puddles, sludge, etc.).
The filter will last between 10 L and 200 L.
Again, it all depends on what's in the water that could clog pores faster.
If you have a choice: filter the clearest, most running water possible (tap water is ideal).
If you have no choice, filter puddles and muddy water. At least you won't get sick, but the filter's lifespan will diminish irreparably.
MORAL : there are billions of "filterable" waters, and everything depends on the composition of the water you'll be filtering. Be responsible, because ÖKO EUROPE can't decently stand next to our tens of thousands of users!
A free, ad-free ÖKO Counter app is available so you can count your fillings.
It is available on the App STORE and PLAY STORE.