Consumers will soon be able to buy one of the most significant breakthrough products for home water treatment, the FANTOM(R) CALYPSO(TM) Microbiological Water Processor.
"This countertop appliance gives consumers confidence that they are drinking microbiologically safe, great-tasting water," said Allan Millman, President and CEO of Fantom. "It’s like having a state-of-the-art municipal water-treatment facility, or water-bottling plant, in the home."
What makes the CALYPSO(TM) appliance so unique is that it incorporates processes used by the world’s most advanced municipal water-treatment facilities and water-bottling plants to kill microorganisms, eliminate or reduce many contaminants and provide delicious-tasting water. In the first stage of the treatment process, ozone, one of the most powerful and safe disinfecting agents available for water treatment, is bubbled through the water to kill potentially harmful microorganisms. In the second stage, the water is pumped through a custom-blended, carbon-block filter.
This revolutionary appliance has been thoroughly tested for its disinfection efficacy and filtration efficiency by third-party laboratories specializing in water testing.
Four different types of microorganisms were used to test the CALYPSO(TM) appliance’s disinfection efficacy: MS2 Coliphage, Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus subtilis spores. E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium are pathogenic bacteria that can contaminate drinking water. MS2 coliphage, E. coli and Bacillus subtilis spores can act as surrogates for specific microorganisms: MS2 coliphage for human enteric viruses such as Coxsackie, Norwalk and Polio; E. coli for bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus; and Bacillus subtilis spores for Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
The disinfection studies were undertaken by an independent microbiological laboratory, GAP EnviroMicrobial Services, using United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Test Waters No. 1 and 3, as outlined in the "Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers (April 1997)." USEPA Test Water No. 1 is similar to most municipal drinking waters, but does not contain disinfectants such as chlorine. USEPA Test Water No. 3 is a stressed-challenge water that has been altered both chemically and physically to provide a "worst case" scenario. The microbial cell concentrations tested were much higher than that found in even grossly contaminated drinking water.
The FANTOM(R) CALYPSO(TM) Microbiological Water Processor achieved what Fantom believes are unprecedented results for a countertop, water-treatment device. The percent reductions for both test waters after the two-stage process of ozone application and carbon-block filtration were equal to or greater than 99.99999% (7 log) for MS2 coliphage, 99.99999999% (10 log) for Eschichia coli (E. coli) 0157:H7, 99.999999% (8 log) for Salmonella typhimurium, and 99.9999% (6 log) for Bacillus subtilis spores.
NSF International has tested and certified the CALYPSO(TM) product according to NSF Standard 42 "Drinking Water Treatment Units - Aesthetic Effects" and NSF Standard 53 "Drinking Water Treatment Units - Health Effects." Based on the NSF test reports, the Water Quality Association in the United States has qualified Fantom to use the Water Quality Association’s Gold Seal.
The new appliance has also passed all the testing requirements for CSA International (required for sale in Canada) and is in the final stages of testing with Underwriters Laboratories Inc. in the United States.
With its regulatory and microbiological testing complete for Canada, Fantom is preparing to introduce the CALYPSO(TM) product to the Canadian market. Manufacturing is slated to begin at Fantom’s Welland plant in the current calendar quarter.
Once testing is completed at Underwriters Laboratories Inc., the Company will be in a position to commence shipping to 48 of the 50 states. Two states, Iowa and California, have separate certification requirements that Fantom is pursuing.
Source: Fantom Technologies, Inc.
