Response to broadcast NOS Sept. 13, 2025

The NOS broadcast focused on bacteria in water filters. During the broadcast, parts of videos were shown from providers of water filters on the Internet.

I have written blogs before about the fact that these types of programs lump all water filters together and then write negatively about, in this case, bacteria formation in a water filter.

Bacteria in tap water

Tap water contains bacteria. In general, these are harmless bacteria. The moment these bacteria enter a water filter without any protection and the water is in a warm place in the house, these bacteria will multiply. If you as a user do nothing about it then the amount of bacteria will only increase and at some point they can become a problem for your health.

Aqualine water filters and antibacterial protection

Unlike most water filters, Tradeline's Aqualine water filters in Hilversum (they were not shown in the broadcast) have antibacterial protection in several places. The ceramic pre-filter with 0.2 micron holes stops bacteria. The carbon in the filter is mixed with silver to stop bacterial growth in the carbon. Once the water is filtered and has entered the collection tank, the water comes into contact with the Elvan mineral stones. Some of these stones are impregnated with silver for the same reason. This allows the filtered water to stand still safely for an extended period of time.

Practical tips in case of absence

If you are going away for an extended period of time it is best to discard the water from the collection tank and store the multi-step filter and pH ring (for the alkaline version) in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator. If you have left the water in the tank then when you return you may want to discard the water if it does not smell or taste good.

Electrolyser and TDS meter

The broadcast also showed videos of the Electrolyser. We also regularly get questions about the TDS meter. About these 2 'test methods' (In English they call these methods a 'water hoax') I wrote a blog earlier. So here you can read more about the respective method of testing.

Residues and PFAS in drinking water

The water companies in the Netherlands are certainly doing a good job. We are proud of that, too. However, there remain residues that cannot or can hardly be extracted. PFAS is also still a troublesome substance for these companies that can hardly be extracted. For several years, no one knew anything about PFAS. Because of the accident at Chemours, tests showed that there is PFAS in our drinking water. This turned out to have been present in it for years but no one knew about it.

Substances in drinking water are tested separately for longer-term danger to human health. No one knows or can predict what effect the combinations of these pesticides, metals, pesticides and chemical discharges will have in the future. At least by using an Aqualine water filter, you can safely go one step further in filtering out these substances.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions as a result of this response.

Marcel Luijendijk
Director of Tradeline, Hilversum - importer of Aqualine water filters.