Laboratory Testing
TESTING
The AquaRain® Natural Water Filter is manufactured to meet stringent NSF standards and fully achieves the USEPA requirements of a Cyst and Bacteria Water Purifier.
Extensive independent testing is the key to proving the performance of any water filter product. The Marathon® ceramic filter elements used in the AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filter have been thoroughly tested by independent laboratories, government agencies and are currently under testing for NSF listing. We can safely say that no other ceramic element has undergone the unique testing program that Marathon® has specified for their ceramic elements. Not only have the elements been tested new, as all other manufacturers test, but Marathon® has included ceramics for testing that have been abraded to their end-of-life tolerance and flushed with contaminated field water so that these special test elements approximate true expended parts ready for disposal, as well as testing elements actually used in a variety field conditions over their entire life. Testing of these end-of-life elements has demonstrated that the patented Marathon® ceramic gravity filter elements will remain effective and meet all mandated performance levels throughout their entire usable life.
Marathon® ceramic elements have been successfully tested in independent laboratories with Cryptosporidium parvum (kryp-toh-spor-id-dee-um parr-vum) for cyst removal, with the EPA mandated Klebsiella terrigena (kleb-see-ell-a terr-ra-gee-na) for bacterial removal. The Marathon® filter elements have also been successfully tested against the Health Industry Manufacturing Association’s test organism, Brevundimonas diminuta (Bra-vun-daa-moan-us da-min-u-taa), which is approximately one-third the size of the EPA bacteria test organism. What is particularly noteworthy, is that all of the above tests have been passed with fully expended elements, ready for disposal. Marathon® has gone the extra mile to insure that our product will perform as promised and remain effective in producing safe drinking water throughout its entire life. To the best of our knowledge, no other manufacturer has dared to test in this way and publish the results of this type of end-of-life testing.
Marathon® ceramic elements are currently in the midst of testing at a renowned laboratory in California, in an attempt to achieve virus removal to the fullest extent of the EPA testing guidelines. We have already demonstrated a 7.7-log (99.999997%) reduction of MS2 colophage virus with no detectable break-through. EPA standards only require a 4-log (99.99%) viral reduction with Polio virus and Rota virus. No other ceramic in the world has demonstrated these levels of performance.
The Marathon® filter elements are filled with the highest grade of silvered coconut shell granulated carbon. The coconut shell carbon has been acid-washed and de-dusted, making it the cleanest ash-free carbon available. The silver-carbon is manufactured to meet NSF 42 requirements, is in the final paperwork filing process of becoming listed with NSF, and it is EPA registered.
INNOVATIONS
AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filters offer several unique innovations that set them far ahead of all other gravity water filters:
PATENTED EXTRUSION PROCESS: Marathon’s patented extrusion process produces a perfectly formed ceramic "tube" that has exacting characteristics. The wall dimensions and concentricity are tightly controlled, allowing an exact external measurement of the remaining wall thickness. 4
ACCURATE KILNS: The Marathon® elements are fired in small computer-controlled kilns which allow complete and accurate control of the porosity of the finished product. The firing of the ceramic is the critical step in the process that determines the final performance. Bulk firing in large room-size kilns cannot provide the consistency that equals highly reliable performance in the finished product. Our ceramic elements are by far the most consistent, high performance ceramic available. Extensive testing proves it.
WEAR GAUGE FOR SAFETY: Our Marathon® filter elements incorporate an end-of-life caliper gauge snapped onto each element. When this highly accurate gauge can easily slip over the outside diameter of the ceramic, the thickness of the ceramic wall has been reduced through cleaning to the point that we recommend replacing the element. The end-of-life measurement is possible only because of Marathon’s unique patented extrusion process, which produces a consistent and measurable finished product. Laboratory testing has proven that the Marathon® ceramic element will be safe to use, all the way to the element’s measured end-of-life..
SPLASH GUARD: The AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filter incorporates a patent pending feature not found on any other stainless gravity water system. The upper vessel that holds the questionable water has a stainless steel splash guard formed on the bottom of the housing that will deflect splashed or overfilled water away from the lower storage area holding the filtered water. Since frequent filling of the upper vessel aids in maximum production, the splash guard adds extra insurance to the daily operation of the AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filter.
EASY LIFT HANDLES: Two solid stainless steel handles have been added to the upper housing to allow easy removal for cleaning. The handles have been spot welded to the container with a special computer operated system that controls the process precisely, forming a perfect bond. No other gravity water filter offers this convenient feature.
SIMPLE & RELIABLE FAUCET: The lever-action faucet used on the AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filter is very easy to use with a simple push of the lever to draw a cup of clean water. The lever may also be flipped up to lock it in the open position for high flow dispensing of larger quantities of water. The simple yet functional design of this American made, NSF listed faucet, makes it a very reliable part of the AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filter. You can depend on it.
ENDORSEMENTS
AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY: Marathon® has been awarded special recognition by the American Ceramic Society as achieving "one of the most innovative advances in ceramics in the last 100 years".
The U.S. MARINE CORPS, Raids & Reconnaissance Group, has selected Marathon’s ceramics for their use in the field.
COL BO GRITZ, U.S. Army (Ret.) Delta Force, Special Forces, most decorated Green Beret Commander in Viet Nam recommends the AquaRain™ system in his radio programs and in his newsletters.
Air, Land, EmergencyReliefTeam(ALERT) use the AquaRain™ and Marathon® Ceramic filter products in worldwide relief programs, and recommend our gravity water filter system for emergency preparedness in the USA.
The AquaRain® Natural Water Filter is manufactured to meet stringent NSF standards and fully achieves the USEPA requirements of a Cyst and Bacteria Water Purifier.
Extensive independent testing is the key to proving the performance of any water filter product. The Marathon® ceramic filter elements used in the AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filter have been thoroughly tested by independent laboratories, government agencies and are currently under testing for NSF listing. We can safely say that no other ceramic element has undergone the unique testing program that Marathon® has specified for their ceramic elements. Not only have the elements been tested new, as all other manufacturers test, but Marathon® has included ceramics for testing that have been abraded to their end-of-life tolerance and flushed with contaminated field water so that these special test elements approximate true expended parts ready for disposal, as well as testing elements actually used in a variety field conditions over their entire life. Testing of these end-of-life elements has demonstrated that the patented Marathon® ceramic gravity filter elements will remain effective and meet all mandated performance levels throughout their entire usable life.
Marathon® ceramic elements have been successfully tested in independent laboratories with Cryptosporidium parvum (kryp-toh-spor-id-dee-um parr-vum) for cyst removal, with the EPA mandated Klebsiella terrigena (kleb-see-ell-a terr-ra-gee-na) for bacterial removal. The Marathon® filter elements have also been successfully tested against the Health Industry Manufacturing Association’s test organism, Brevundimonas diminuta (Bra-vun-daa-moan-us da-min-u-taa), which is approximately one-third the size of the EPA bacteria test organism. What is particularly noteworthy, is that all of the above tests have been passed with fully expended elements, ready for disposal. Marathon® has gone the extra mile to insure that our product will perform as promised and remain effective in producing safe drinking water throughout its entire life. To the best of our knowledge, no other manufacturer has dared to test in this way and publish the results of this type of end-of-life testing.
Marathon® ceramic elements are currently in the midst of testing at a renowned laboratory in California, in an attempt to achieve virus removal to the fullest extent of the EPA testing guidelines. We have already demonstrated a 7.7-log (99.999997%) reduction of MS2 colophage virus with no detectable break-through. EPA standards only require a 4-log (99.99%) viral reduction with Polio virus and Rota virus. No other ceramic in the world has demonstrated these levels of performance.
The Marathon® filter elements are filled with the highest grade of silvered coconut shell granulated carbon. The coconut shell carbon has been acid-washed and de-dusted, making it the cleanest ash-free carbon available. The silver-carbon is manufactured to meet NSF 42 requirements, is in the final paperwork filing process of becoming listed with NSF, and it is EPA registered.
INNOVATIONS
AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filters offer several unique innovations that set them far ahead of all other gravity water filters:
PATENTED EXTRUSION PROCESS: Marathon’s patented extrusion process produces a perfectly formed ceramic "tube" that has exacting characteristics. The wall dimensions and concentricity are tightly controlled, allowing an exact external measurement of the remaining wall thickness. 4
ACCURATE KILNS: The Marathon® elements are fired in small computer-controlled kilns which allow complete and accurate control of the porosity of the finished product. The firing of the ceramic is the critical step in the process that determines the final performance. Bulk firing in large room-size kilns cannot provide the consistency that equals highly reliable performance in the finished product. Our ceramic elements are by far the most consistent, high performance ceramic available. Extensive testing proves it.
WEAR GAUGE FOR SAFETY: Our Marathon® filter elements incorporate an end-of-life caliper gauge snapped onto each element. When this highly accurate gauge can easily slip over the outside diameter of the ceramic, the thickness of the ceramic wall has been reduced through cleaning to the point that we recommend replacing the element. The end-of-life measurement is possible only because of Marathon’s unique patented extrusion process, which produces a consistent and measurable finished product. Laboratory testing has proven that the Marathon® ceramic element will be safe to use, all the way to the element’s measured end-of-life..
SPLASH GUARD: The AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filter incorporates a patent pending feature not found on any other stainless gravity water system. The upper vessel that holds the questionable water has a stainless steel splash guard formed on the bottom of the housing that will deflect splashed or overfilled water away from the lower storage area holding the filtered water. Since frequent filling of the upper vessel aids in maximum production, the splash guard adds extra insurance to the daily operation of the AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filter.
EASY LIFT HANDLES: Two solid stainless steel handles have been added to the upper housing to allow easy removal for cleaning. The handles have been spot welded to the container with a special computer operated system that controls the process precisely, forming a perfect bond. No other gravity water filter offers this convenient feature.
SIMPLE & RELIABLE FAUCET: The lever-action faucet used on the AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filter is very easy to use with a simple push of the lever to draw a cup of clean water. The lever may also be flipped up to lock it in the open position for high flow dispensing of larger quantities of water. The simple yet functional design of this American made, NSF listed faucet, makes it a very reliable part of the AquaRain™ Gravity Water Filter. You can depend on it.
ENDORSEMENTS
AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY: Marathon® has been awarded special recognition by the American Ceramic Society as achieving "one of the most innovative advances in ceramics in the last 100 years".
The U.S. MARINE CORPS, Raids & Reconnaissance Group, has selected Marathon’s ceramics for their use in the field.
COL BO GRITZ, U.S. Army (Ret.) Delta Force, Special Forces, most decorated Green Beret Commander in Viet Nam recommends the AquaRain™ system in his radio programs and in his newsletters.
Air, Land, EmergencyReliefTeam(ALERT) use the AquaRain™ and Marathon® Ceramic filter products in worldwide relief programs, and recommend our gravity water filter system for emergency preparedness in the USA.