What is Silver Impregnated (Bacteriostatic) Carbon and how does it work?
Contrary to popular belief, carbon does not filter out bacteria. Whilst carbon effectively removes odours and taste issues from water, carbon ash is actually a source of nourishment for bacteria, making wet carbon filters a breeding ground for microbial contamination. This, unfortunately, causes biofouling of the filter cartridge which can lead to premature blockage, putrid tastes and odours and worse - illness as a result of ingesting the bacteria that has passed through the cartridge and into your drinking water! Using a rotten filter can make you seriously sick - so if in doubt - chuck it out!So, how does Silver Impregnation inhibit the growth of bacteria in a carbon filter? When bacteria come into contact with silver, the silver ions puncture the bacteria's cell membrane and wreak havoc by binding to and denaturing the bacteria's DNA. The sulphydryl group already within the bacterial cell also reacts with the silver, producing a silver sulphur complex that immobilises the respiratory and reproductive activity of the bacterial cell. Interestingly, Silver Impregnation has an incredibly long-lasting effect, as the dead bacteria then leach the silver molecules back into their environment, effectively killing neighbouring live bacteria as they die.
Dead bacteria store the microscopic silver particles within their cells (see above image of dead bacteria with silver nanoparticles (white spots), making them deadly to live bacteria. (Source: "Antibacterial Activity of Silver-Killed Bacteria: The "Zombie" Effect" (2015), https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25906433/).
Disinfection For Protection Against Bacteria
For sanitation against common water-borne bacteria/viruses in rainwater and potable bore water (i.e. *bore water that has been tested to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and deemed suitable for drinking purposes per the Guidelines’ aesthetic, health and safety recommendations), we recommend dosing your water source with a product such as Hydrosil Ultra 7.5% Water Sanitiser. Dosing with a disinfectant will ensure residual protection against microbiological contamination/biofouling in your pipework and/or filter system. Alternatively, for a full-time point-of-use sanitation solution, consider Ultraviolet (UV) Water Sanitation.