Hi,
this very item shown in the GAIAM catalog has a disclaimer on it: not available in CA
why is that?

Hi dpagano,

I just gave Gaiam a call (they answer their phones without an annoying phone menu, they are great!). California has drinking water regulations that prevent them from sending the filters to a residence in CA. I'd say call up your friend in Reno (or LV, depending on where you are in CA), and get it that way. :)

Although, I (and I live in Sacto) may just give the homemade version a try.

Hi,
I am originally from Brazil (Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro ) and those filters are found in most households there, from the very rich to the very poor. I would love to get one but I think they cost too much here, and if you have to pay shipping based on weight....
Adriana Faria

We used a ceramic filter (metal housing) when I lived in central Africa, but we were told that the filter didn't do a great job at filtering bugs, so we were told to boil the water first. Again... probably not necessary in IL. The only weird thing is that you have to be careful to not touch the filter with your oily fingers.

when one consider the DBP'S that nearly all filters that advertise 'lots'... do not 'touch' effectively  ....  2  maybe 3 cents of charcoal and fossil fuel plastic    do NOT   a filter for 'healthy' drinking water  make....
and have  HIGHEST levels of NSF.org certification...   SO  am pointing  out that by-products from chlorination  are left behind by nearly ALL filters  since DBP's do not have a smell or taste...  AND   ARE in nearly every beverage bought....  For fact finding see   "Journal of National Cancer Institute"  6/18/97 issue page 848 to 856....  [ the 'sickcare' industry does not want people to know....TWO TRILLION dollars worth of sick... 'care'????   oh nearly forgot.. guess who owns... B_ _ A ?????   the  company that sells....[ drum roll plz..]   chlorine !!!! ....C _ r _ X   !!!!!!!

Activated charcoal is readily available in bulk.   Make your own filter from stainless steel pipe.  A little research, a little creativity, and an afternoon project, what could be better?

Or buy plastic filters and just stay away from PVC and polycarbonate.  

Hi,
The ceramic filters sound great, but do they also remove naturally or unnaturally occurring chemicals from water, such as arsenic or radon? Just wondering??

Ceramic filters work great for removing large impurities like cryptosporidium, but they do nothing for water-borne viruses.  Using silver with ceramics does work, but requires upwards of 800 minutes of contact time to effectively kill viruses.  As far as arsenic, ceramic filters do not give much if any protection.  For adequate removal of arsenic you would need a reverse osmosis or ion exchange system.