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Using a Point-of-Entry VS Point-of-Use Water System: Which is the Best Investment?
Running water is an excellent modern convenience, but it’s also one that requires some attention. The water in our pipes may contain bacteria, dirt, debris, sand, and many other contaminants. Keep in mind, we’re washing our dishes, cooking, showering, and cleaning with this water every single day. Without proper treatment, a problematic water supply may lead to skin and health issues, stains, or worse.
Fortunately, there are ways to enhance the quality of our daily water supply. For most homes and buildings, comparing a Point of Entry vs a Point of Use water treatment system (POE or POU) is a useful first step. It’s estimated that around 30 percent of all households in Canada use filtered or treated water. Water filtration is a favorite option, while pitcher filters are also quite common.
Before deciding on a POE vs POU water treatment, let’s have a quick breakdown of what each technique means. The table below compares the features of both systems:
| POE | POU | |
| Location of installation | At the main water supply | At the faucets or under the sink |
| Water coverage area | All faucets and appliances in a building | A single faucet, sink, shower, appliance, etc |
| Primary use | General multiple uses in a building | Washing, drinking, or any other use at a single location |
| Initial cost | Relatively high (starting from $1,000) | Relatively low (as low as $100) |
| Maintenance frequency | Low (once in 6 months or a year) | Relatively high (once in 3 or 6 months) |
| Common filter types | Water softener, sediment, UV, iron, carbon block, TAC water conditioners | Ion exchange, water ionizer, reverse osmosis (RO), ceramic, UV |
| Installation complexity | High professional installation is required | Low, could be DIY or a simple professional installation |
| Ideal user or household type | Large family homes, office buildings, or workspaces using a high water volume | Rentals, small family homes, or for specific water uses |
More About Point Of Entry (POE) Water Treatments
Point of Entry water filtration systems are designed to treat the whole water supply that households or workspaces use throughout the day. The installation might be outside the structure of a building at the main line or inside, ensuring that the water is treated before the faucets access it.
Most POE systems make water safe for human consumption and use. However, certain medical setups may require a higher water quality, so additional water treatments will be necessary there. For instance, surgical theatres and sterilization units require RO or deionized water to properly clean their instruments.
Let’s now have a look at the different aspects of POE water treatment systems:
Installation location
POE water treatment devices are usually installed at the point where the water supply enters a home, office, or any other structure. This way, the incoming water is treated for the benefit of the whole house or building.
Volume of water treated
The amount of water treated in a POE water treatment system will depend on the size of the system and the kind of setup it’s meant for.
For a residential POE water treatment system, the daily treated water volume can be anywhere from 300 to 800 gallons. Most units might treat around 500,000 to 1,000,000 gallons before replacement is required. A commercial POE water treatment system may treat 10,000 to 100,000 gallons a day. The annual treated volume will depend on the setup’s usage level.
Maintenance
While POE systems are usually larger than POU systems, they don’t require as much maintenance. They deal with a larger capacity, so the units are quite large as well. They’re durable and don’t require much maintenance, with a filter replacement required every year or so. For example, the Whole House WS1 GAC Catalytic Carbon Filter For Chloramine Reduction is an NSF-certified system with a durable, self-cleaning tank that only requires occasional maintenance.
Cost
A residential POE system may cost around $1,000 to $5,000, with installation charges included. If there are more advanced features included–multi-stage filtration, water softeners, UV sterilization, etc–the price may go above $6,000. In comparison, the cost of a whole home water filtration system, which works as a POE systems in function and setup, can vary widely based on the system’s complexity and household needs.
Commercial-grade POE systems may go up to $10,000 or even higher.
For both systems, annual ongoing costs such as filter/media replacement and professional servicing may add up to $100 to $600 on an annual basis. Not sure whether a POE system is within your budget? Contact WaterMart today and get a quote from our water treatment experts!
Use case scope
POE systems, such as the Whole House WS1 GAC Carbon Filter, will work on removing chlorine, odors, and VOCs from water before it’s used. Such systems are great for commercial or residential properties that need high water quality in most of their faucets. They’ll tackle water hardness and deal with any contaminants that might adversely affect home appliances, pipes, and skin. The convenience and cost-effectiveness make them a common and popular choice for homes, schools, offices, and most other workplaces.
Filter types
The best point-of-entry water filtration system might make use of different technologies to remove any harmful chemicals from the water, stabilize aggressive water, kill bacteria, alter the pH level, and generally maintain overall quality. Let’s check out some of the options available now:
- A Point of Entry reverse osmosis system (RO system) uses a water filtration technique that removes unwanted particles, contaminants, and other impurities from the water using a semi-permeable membrane.
- POE systems may also utilize sediment filters for dealing with rust, sand, and dirt–in short, they’re great for homes that may have cloudy water. These filters use measured pores to filter out most of the larger contaminants.
- The systems also make use of water softeners, which can remove magnesium and calcium. Their UV sterilizers can kill off viruses and bacteria. The WaterMart Water Softener System will give you all these benefits and more.
- Carbon filters will reduce the taste and odor of chlorine. WaterMart’s Whole House WS1 GAC Carbon Filter will provide this benefit while also removing VOCs and unwanted chemicals.
- Certain POE filtration systems may also have iron or manganese filters or perhaps KDF media for doing away with heavy metals.
- One may also opt for TAC water conditioners, which condition hard water using media resin.
The best filter for any structure will depend on the source water and its quality, along with the volume of water a specific property requires. For most POE water treatment systems, you’d have to book a professional for the technical aspects of installation.
More About Point Of Use (POU) Water Treatments
We’ve discussed Point of Entry solutions, but what is Point of Use water treatment? A point-of-use water filter system is installed at the point where the water is used. There might be various setups for this, with some shower heads and taps having inbuilt filters. Others may need some assembly, such as our Standard Reverse Osmosis System or Standard Filtration System.
Installation location
POU systems are installed at the point where you use your water. For instance, you may have a filter under the kitchen sink or on the fridge to dispense clean water. Reverse osmosis POU systems are the most common choices, since they deal with impurities and particles in the water along with other issues like fluoride, chromium, metals, etc. As a result, you get better-tasting and healthier water.
Treated water volume
The average water volume range for a POU water treatment system will depend on the type of filter it uses, as well as the application you need it for. A POU unit might treat 10 to 100 gallons a day, depending on its maintenance and upkeep as well.
A Point of Use reverse osmosis system may treat 50 to 75 gallons a day for residential setups or small clinics/labs. The systems using carbon or ceramic filters might provide 0.5 to 2 gallons per minute as required. For a point-of-use water softener, the regeneration volume might vary from 35 to 65 gallons, depending on the water hardness and capacity.
Maintenance
When compared to POE water systems, POU water solutions require more frequent maintenance. The units are smaller, so the filters may need swapping out every 3 months or on an annual basis, depending on the system type.
The maintenance of such systems may not require a professional appointment each time. It can be a DIY task requiring basic tools.
Cost
The initial cost of a POU water treatment unit could be as low as $50 or above $500, depending on the brand and quality. The annual maintenance cost will depend on how many units you have, as well as the usage volume and type of filter. For example, the cost of a reverse osmosis system is generally high due to its smart technology, unique design, and energy efficiency.
While the operating costs are also low, there is some water wastage involved with RO systems. The frequency of maintenance is also higher, which may drive up the costs in some cases.
Use case scope
POU systems are usually best utilized for low-volume requirements such as residential homes or small medical setups. For instance, you may have one installed in the kitchen for filling water bottles and/or cooking purposes. A lab may also get a POU water softener for enhanced water quality for washing glass beakers and other equipment.
Filter Types Used
A point-of-use water filtration system may use various kinds of filters, including the following:
- Activated carbon filters are the go-to for dealing with chlorine or VOC issues. Our Standard Filtration System is a popular choice that uses premium high-capacity filter cartridges, while the Pentair Multi-Stage Filtration System comes with a 5-year warranty and can remove up to 99 percent of all contaminants.
- Options like our Tankless Reverse Osmosis System and the Standard Reverse Osmosis System utilize RO membranes for removing dissolved solid contaminants.
- Ceramic filters and UV light filters are also included in certain systems; they block contaminants like sediments, bacteria, and viruses.
- Alkalizing cartridges used in RO POU systems–they increase the water’s pH to a more alkaline level. This change occurs due to the addition of useful minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium–overall, they make the water tastier and healthier.
- The ion exchange process is yet another valuable filtration method that replaces unwanted ions with more useful ones and softens the water supply. It can also remove certain contaminants and extra-purify the water before use.
Can You Use POU and POE Together?
We may compare POE and POU water treatments, but the fact remains that they serve different purposes. In many cases, a setup may require some combination of both systems.
Some homes may already have suitable water for everyday use, like washing dishes, doing laundry, etc. In this case, a health-conscious owner may only require a POU reverse osmosis unit on their kitchen faucet to maintain a consistent supply of clean drinking water. A POE reverse osmosis setup requires expensive technology, which may not be within one’s budget.
However, many homes might have hard water in their pipelines, which requires a POE water softener before anything else. Some might be supplied with well water, which can discolor clothes, utensils, appliances, fixtures, and so on. You’d need a powerful POE water treatment solution to get the heavy metals and problematic odors out so that every faucet has treated water.
In many homes, a POE water softener might be paired with a POU reverse osmosis system. This way, you’ll get suitable water for general use and specially treated water for specific uses such as washing, cooking, and drinking.
Overall, it makes sense to combine the benefits of POR and POU systems. Take the first step now and contact your WaterMart, the best service provider in Toronto!
Free Water Assessment Offer
Ready to enhance that water quality and safeguard your health? At WaterMart Water Solutions, we provide the best type of water treatment systems for your convenience. The most efficient water treatment for your home will depend on several factors, including a thorough water test for the whole setup.
Never fear; our Free Water Assessment is all ready for our valued clients! We’ll observe and weigh up the details, including water usage, filtration type, and much more. With the test result, we’ll be able to address each water problem and provide the most relevant solutions.
Contact a WaterMart expert today and get a free test to achieve your water quality goals!
Conclusion
POE and POU water treatment systems both have their benefits and downsides, so choosing between them requires some thought. However, you don’t necessarily have to pick one or the other. With a detailed water test and professional assessment, your home or workplace can get the most efficient blend of both POE and POE water treatment solutions.
Before making a final decision, take note of your unique water needs, concerns about water issues, usage requirements, and location. With WaterMart helping you along the way, it’ll be easy to assess your water hardness and other general issues. With a little investment and some maintenance, your water will be clean and safe for daily use. Get your water treatment system today, and you’ll have a safe, efficient water setup that sets your mind at ease.
