Triflow filter system

World leading Swiss water treatment company Katadyn has been developing drinking water solutions since 1928.

Katadyn is the exclusive supplier of the FRX02 filter cartridge for Triflow, and also counts among its customers UNICEF, the Red Cross, the World Health Organisation, NATO and the US Armed Forces.

The FRX02 cartridge has been specially developed for Triflow to combine the superior filtration properties of Katadyn’s ceramic and carbon core technology with bacteria killing silver and zeolite to reduce heavy metal contamination. The very high quality, micro-porous ceramic core removes tiny contaminants and impurities from the water supply, right down to 0.2 microns (0.0002mm).

To put the filtering capability of the FRX02 into perspective, the average human hair has a width of 50 microns!

To find out more about Katadyn, visit www.katadyn.com. 

Read on below for further information on the FRX02 cartridge, cartridge life, cleaning and replacement.

Cartridge Details

The Katadyn FRX02 filter is exclusively and specifically designed for the Triflow filtered water system, removing impurities down to only 0.2 microns (0.0002mm). As mentioned earlier, an average human hair has a width of 50 microns!

The FRX02 is the cartridge of universal application for the Triflow system and will cope with the majority of household water conditions found in New Zealand where the water supply is provided by a local water authority or another ‘reasonably sound’, but not ideal, source.

The cartridge comprises a micro-porous silver-impregnated ceramic core with a carbon block insert containing zeolite (a synthetic cation exchange material designed to remove heavy metals such as lead). The combination of these materials gives the FRX02 a wide capability to remove the majority of pathogenic cysts, bacteria (including Giardia, Cryptosporidium and E-coli), dirt, chlorine, lead and other organic contaminants down to 0.2 microns in size.

FRX02 water treatment provides drinking water that is not only clean and odourless, but also great tasting and excellent for your family’s health.

The principal technical characteristics of the FRX02 are:

• A broad performance range (aesthetic, chemical and biological).
• Contaminant removal down to only 0.2 microns.
• NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) International standards tested and approved.
• ISO 9001 accredited.
• 3500 litre capacity.
• Six months recommended cartridge life (before the ceramic core and bacteria inhibiting silver may become exhausted).

Of course, as for all filter systems, performance can vary substantially depending on the quality of the water supply.


Why does Katadyn use silver in the FRX02 filter cartridge?

In a world increasingly concerned with outbreaks of virus and disease, silver is becoming widely recognised for its bactericidal properties and is used in a wide variety of medical treatments from burns to Legionnaires Disease.

Silver’s use in water purification is not a recent phenomenon and records suggest that the Phoenicians (a great voyaging people dating from 1500 to 300BC) used silver containers to store water and other products during long ocean voyages. It has also been suggested that the phrase “to be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth” refers not to wealth but to the health benefits of silver in preventing bacterial ailments in infants.

The scientific basis for the bacteriostatic effect of silver was discovered in 1893 by Swiss scientist Karl Wilhelm von Nägeli and is known today as the Oligodynamic Effect. It is therefore appropriate that Swiss company Katadyn, which uses Oligodynamics to eliminate bacteria trapped in its filters, took part of its name (“dyn”) from the word. (And in case you’re wondering, the first part of Katadyn’s name (“Kata“) stems from the Swiss word for catalyst).

The ceramic core of the Katadyn FRX02 filter cartridge is impregnated with silver during the manufacturing process. The silver ions attract DNA and enzymes in bacteria that becomes trapped by the ceramic core. This prevents the bacteria from multiplying within the cartridge and ultimately results in their death. In this way, the Katadyn FRX02 filter provides protection against a wide range of microbiological organisms including Cryptosporidium, Giardia, E-coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus, Yersinia Enterocolita, and P-Aerugionosa.


Cartridge Life

The Katadyn FRX02 cartridge is a high quality ‘universal’ water filter for use with local authority water supplies or other water supplies of reasonable, but not ideal, quality.

The wide range of capabilities of the FRX02 makes it an appropriate filter cartridge to treat sufficient drinking and cooking water for an average family over the life of the cartridge.

The lifetime treatment capacity of the FRX02 when used with a local authority water supply is estimated at 3500 litres. It is recommended that the cartridge be replaced every six months, which implies an average use of 20 litres per day.

These capacity figures are indicative only and have been determined by Katadyn under defined laboratory test conditions. The realised capacity once your Triflow is installed will vary depending on the water supply quality, flow rate andpressure, and how frequently and regularly the system is used. 

Cartridge replacement is strongly recommended every six months for four main reasons:

1. Through continual use, the FRX02’s ceramic and carbon core will inevitably become exhausted and will filter your water less effectively.

2. As the cartridge core becomes exhausted it will clog faster, requiring frequent cleaning.

3. The bacteria killing properties of the impregnated silver will diminish over time meaning that the risk of bacterial influx will grow.

4. Cartridge life is a factor of time as well as use. This means that in situations of intermittent or sporadic use, a cartridge may reach the end of its life prior to the estimated 3500 litre capacity being reached.

Katadyn therefore recommends that the six month cartridge life is adhered to as closely as possible.

To assist you to maintain an effective and healthy filter system, a reminder will be sent by In Residence when your Triflow filter cartridge is due for replacement.

Important: If water remains in the filter system for several days without use, it is recommended that you flush the system for 20 seconds or so to remove any stagnant water and ensure you have nothing but fresh, great tasting water to drink. 


Cartridge Cleaning

It is strongly recommended that you replace your Triflow filter cartridge every six months to ensure your Triflow system remains healthy and effective.

It may however be necessary to clean your filter cartridge periodically to maintain optimum performance during its six month life. This is because the outer surface of the cartridge will collect the solids which are removed from your tap water and may therefore reduce the water flow through the system. By cleaning off this layer of sediment, normal flow will be restored. 

You will know when your cartridge needs to be cleaned because the water flow from the filter will become weak.

To clean your cartridge, follow the cleaning instructions below or click here to download an instruction sheet.

Steps to clean your Katadyn cartridge:

1. Trace the inlet water hose back from the cartridge housing until you reach the on/off valve. Turn this to ‘off’.
2. Turn on the Triflow filtered water lever on the tap to drain excess water from the system. Leave the tap on.
3. Remove your stainless steel cartridge housing by lifting it from the parking bracket. Place the unit in a bucket or on a towel.
4. Remove the Katadyn cartridge from the housing by twisting the housing lid and lifting out the cartridge with the lid. The bucket or towel will catch any excess water.
5. Wash out the stainless steel housing with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
6. Unscrew the cartridge from the housing lid and place the cartridge carefully in your sink.
7. Under running tap water (untreated water is fine for this), lightly scrub the ceramic outer surface of the cartridge with a plastic dish brush or soft cleaning pad.
DO NOT use any cleaning products, chemicals or soaps as these may become imbedded in the ceramic and will affect your drinking water.
DO NOT use steel wool or other harsh scourers as these may damage the ceramic.
8. Before you screw the cleaned cartridge back into the housing lid, wet the two rubber o-rings on the screw end, then screw this back into the lid. Be careful to ensure a snug fit but do not over tighten or the seal may be broken.
9. Slide the cartridge into the stainless steel housing and twist to close the lid, ensuring a proper seal. Replace the housing on the parking bracket.
10. Turn the inlet on/off valve back to ‘on’. Water will flow from the tap spout. Allow the flow of water to flush the system for 30 seconds while watching the under-bench system for leaks. This will also flush out any air from the system.

You should notice a significant improvement in water flow. You have successfully cleaned your Katadyn filter cartridge.


Cartridge Replacement

It is strongly recommended that you change your Triflow filter cartridge every six months. This will ensure that your Triflow system remains effective and healthy for you and your family.
To order a replacement cartridge click here.

For instructions on how to change your filter cartridge, follow the instructions below or click here to download cartridge replacement instructions.

Full instructions are supplied with each Triflow tap, and are included with every replacement cartridge ordered.

Steps to replace your Katadyn cartridge:

1. Order a new Katadyn filter cartridge from In Residence, your certified Triflow stockist.
2. Trace the inlet water hose back from the cartridge housing until you reach the on/off valve. Turn this to ‘off’.
3. Turn on the Triflow filtered water lever on the tap to drain excess water from the system. Leave the tap on.
4. Remove your stainless steel cartridge housing by lifting it from the parking bracket and place it in a bucket or on a towel.
5. Remove the Katadyn cartridge from the housing by twisting the housing and lifting out the cartridge with the lid. The bucket or towel will catch any excess water.
6. Unscrew the cartridge from the lid of the housing and dispose of this with your normal rubbish.
7. Wash out the stainless steel housing with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
8. Before you screw the new cartridge into the lid of the housing, wet the two rubber o-rings on the screw end, then screw into the lid. Be careful to ensure a snug fit but do not over tighten or the seal may be broken.
9. Slide the cartridge into the stainless steel housing and twist to close the lid, ensuring a proper seal. Replace the housing on the parking bracket.
10. Turn the inlet on/off valve back to ‘on’. Water will flow from the tap spout. Allow the flow to flush the system for 30 seconds while watching the under-bench system for any leaks. This will also flush out any air from the system.

You have now successfully installed your new Katadyn filter cartridge.