General Ecology Inc.

WHAT MODEL OF SEAGULL IV WATER PURIFIER SHOULD I BUY?

Home Owner/RV/ Boat Owner

Seagull IV X-1F "auxiliary or dedicated Pure Water Faucet" water purification systems are most popular for residential, marine and rv application. Seagull IV X-1 has a flow rate of 1 gallon per minute provided through General Ecology's ceramic disc faucet mounted on the sink ledge next to the regular faucet group. This permits maximum economy since only water that is to be used for drinking or food preparation need be processed. Incidentally, these faucets are "top-mounting".

Seagull IV X-1F model includes installation accessories so customers can install the unit with relative ease. The kit includes high pressure flexible engineering thermoplastic tubing, and most accessories necessary for installation. The faucet sometimes can be installed in a knockout hole in the sink ledge, or in place of the spray hose which many owners don't use. Otherwise a 3/4 inch hole should be drilled. Instructions for drilling both stainless steel and porcelain sinks are included with the units.

HOW BIG IS A SEAGULL IV WATER PURIFIER?

The Seagull IV water purifier is very compact, with the Seagull IV X-1 and X-2K models being less than 6 inches in diameter and, in the case of the Seagull IV X-1 model, less than 6 inches high. The Seagull IV X-2K model is less than 11 inches high. These sizes easily fit alongside disposals and other equipment normally installed beneath the kitchen sink. And because they typically are installed with flexible tubing, they can be removed from the hanging bracket and brought out from underneath the sink for servicing. specific

The Seagull IV X-6 model, a high flow, high capacity purification system, is considerably larger but still is very compact for the flow rate and capacity.

For detailed specifications, contact one or our Customer Service Representatives. Additional information is also located at our Specs Page on Seagull IV water purifiers.

IS THE SEAGULL IV WATER PURIFIER EASY TO INSTALL... MAINTAIN? CAN I DO IT MYSELF?

The Seagull IV water purifier has been designed to be essentially maintenance free. In the case of the Seagull IV X-1F installation, the only moving parts are in the faucet and these are ceramic. Since no chemicals or electricity are required, and there are essentially no moving parts, maintenance is quite minimal. Cartridges should be replaced as indicated, usually once a year.

All of the General Ecology products were created not only with extraordinary effectiveness in mind, but ease of use and DIY installation as well! All faucets are "top mounting", which means that connection is made to the faucet before it is mounted to the sink, alleviating the need to make connections in the dark recesses of a sink cabinet while lying on your back. Only ordinary tools are required for most installations.

CAN I CHANGE THE PURIFICATION CARTRIDGE MYSELF? HOW DO I KNOW WHEN TO CHANGE IT?

YES!!! Seagull IV cartridges are easily changed by home, boat or RV owner. Complete instructions are packed with each cartridge. Easy Twist Threaded Cartridges- No Tools Required.

Seagull IV X-1 Series replacement cartridge has a rated capacity of 1,000 gallons of drinking water. Cartridge life varies from area to area, depending upon the amount and characteristics of the contamination in the water. A cartridge life of approximately 9 to 15 months is typical. The Seagull IV X-2 Series replacement cartridge has a rated capacity of 2,000 gallons with a corresponding extended time span of use.

Relative to particulate matter, including bacteria, algae, cysts and many other parasites, the cartridge microstructure signals when a replacement is necessary as it will load up and clog, resulting in a reduced flow rate. We note that the Seagull IV water purifier is fully effective against microbiological contamination until the end of its life (i.e. when the flow rate stops.)

We recommend that cartridges be changed at least annually to prevent possible over-accumulation of chemical contaminants such as EDB, PCB, TCE and so forth. In some instances where especially heavy contamination of these latter chemicals is present, please consult your General Ecology distributor or General Ecology Inc. directly for advice.

WITH SO MANY PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET, HOW DO I KNOW SEAGULL IV PRODUCTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE?

You're right, "new" products seem to come and go quickly in this market.

General Ecology is a well founded, privately owned company incorporated over 25 years ago. We created the "Structured Matrix " technology and remain the only source for this advanced technology even though many companies have attempted to copy it.

Our First Need® portable water purifiers have been market leaders for over a decade - continuing to be the only portable chemical-free water purifier. General Ecology's First Need series of water purifiers is supplied to many expeditions, medical research teams, major corporations, government agencies, (including army field hospitals), and individuals' needs.

We are broad based supplying major airlines around the world including United, Delta, American, TWA, Cathay Pacific, Quantas, Mexicana and dozens of others. Currently, we do business in dozens of countries around the world and continue to expand each year - creating truly a world-wide network of support and service to our customers around the globe. We believe you can judge a company by its customers, and ours include some of the most sophisticated and discerning in the world

CAN I TAKE MY SEAGULL IV WATER PURIFIER WITH ME WHEN I MOVE?

Yes, all models of the Seagull IV water purifier are readily removed and reinstalled. With respect to the Seagull IV X-1FP or X-1F models, cover plates may have to be purchased from local hardware stores to cover the hole in the sink ledge, but this should not be a problem. Contact your General Ecology distributor or General Ecology Inc. itself for new installation accessories that may be necessary for reinstallation.

Hint: A water purifier is also a good selling point for a home. Many customers are able to sell their units to the new occupants and purchase a new unit after relocating.

WHAT ABOUT MY ICEMAKER, INSTA-HOT UNIT OR REFRIGERATOR WATER?

General Ecology provides handy icemaker installation kits permitting Seagull IV purified water to be directed to your refrigerator for chilled water and icemaker requirements. Similarly, the insta-hot inlet line can also be connected to the water line from your Seagull IV water purifier.

PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

WHAT IS A SEAGULL IV WATER PURIFIER? WHAT IS IT SUPPOSED TO DO?

Simply stated, Seagull IV water purifier is a truly unique, compact, point-of-use system designed to change virtually any treatable non-salt water into delicious drinking water that is both safe and enjoyable to consume.

Because the Seagull IV water purifier was developed with aircraft, yachting, and recreational vehicle applications in mind, it is especially rugged, dependable, simple, and easily serviced.

It requires no additions of chemicals and no electricity. The Seagull IV water purifier is a chemical free drinking water purification system

WHAT IS "STRUCTURED MATRIX"™ TECHNOLOGY? HOW DOES IT WORK?

There are three mechanisms which work simultaneously and synergistically to give the system outstanding effectiveness over a broad range of contaminants>

These mechanisms are (1) ultrafine submicron microfiltration, (2) molecular capture and broad spectrum adsorption and (3) electrochemical separations, incorporated into a "Structured Matrix" to provide uniform flow and reliability and to prevent channeling.

The first mechanism physically strains bacteria, Giardia, Cryptosporidia and other larger organisms, and particulate matter from the influent water, much like a window screen keeps flies from entering a house.

The second mechanism is an integration of pharmaceutical grade, high quality adsorption and molecular sieving materials into the microstructure for high efficiency in removing trichloroethylene, PCB's, pesticides, herbicides and many other chemical contaminants.

The third mechanism consists of negative and positive electro-attractive forces, which are permanently induced into the matrix to attract even smaller particles that cannot be removed by microfiltration alone.

Because of its unique microstructure matrix in combination with organic removal mechanisms, the Seagull IV cartridge does not have the pathogenic bacteria buildup problems common to GAC, carbon block, extruded carbon and other coarser charcoal filters.

To our knowledge, General Ecology's "Structured Matrix" is the only technology formally certified to meet the EPA standard for microbiological "purification" to protect against cysts, bacteria and viruses instantly without multiple pass through, added chemicals, electricity, hold time or production of wastewater.

DON'T YOU NEED CHEMICALS TO DESTROY BACTERIA, VIRUSES?

Normally, yes. Chlorine, bromine, iodine, ozone and sometimes silver and other pesticides (economical poisons) are frequently used in efforts to destroy bacteria and viruses

Because it is General Ecology's goal to remove chlorine and other chemical pesticides as well as microbiological contaminants - for pure refreshing water - it makes no sense to add even more during the purification process.

We are proud that extensive scientific research -proven again and again by world wide testing and use for over 25 years- and ingenuity enabled General Ecology to develop a truly chemical-free purification process to remove bacteria, viruses, chemical contaminants and aesthetic contaminants without multiple pass through, added chemicals, electricity or hold time

General Ecology does not make any claim not backed by testing of authorized facilities. We know people rely on our products for their health and well being - we take that seriously.

WHAT BACTERIA SHOULD I BE AWARE OF IN MY DRINKING WATER?

Fortunately, there are only a few strains of bacteria you normally need to be concerned about relative to drinking water. These are salmonella, of which S. typhosa, or typhoid fever, bacteria is the best known, shigella, which causes diarrhea and cramping, the dreaded cholera of the Middle Ages and some foreign countries at the present time, and the well-known E. coli. Additionally, some bacteria, such as Campylobacter jejeuni, which formerly were considered to be non-pathogenic to man, have been found to be human pathogens.

Bacteria, like people, need food to exist and multiply. Bacteria also have relatively short life spans (measured in hours, not days or years). Typically, this food comes from organic contamination in the water.

Since bacteria are removed on the outer surfaces of the cartridge matrix and the nutrients (food for the bacteria) are absorbed in the interior of the matrix, the Seagull IV cartridge effectively isolates bacteria from an essential food base. Bacteria, without food, are unable to reproduce, and die within a relatively short time. Also, in many situations, incoming water will contain contaminants such as chlorine, phenols,pesticides, etc., which are hostile to, and help kill, bacteria concentrated on the outside of the matrix.

WHY SHOULDN'T I TREAT ALL OF MY WATER?

Only about 2% to 5% of all water entering your household is actually consumed directly or through foods. It would be wasteful and uneconomical to purify waters needed for cleaning, toilet flushing, and laundering

HOW CAN A SMALL UNIT UNDER MY SINK DO MORE THAN A LARGE WELL-RUN MUNICIPAL TREATMENT PLANT?

Seagull IV water purifier was specifically designed for today's contamination problems and incorporates sophisticated separation technology not available or not practical for use in large-scale treatment. Most municipal treatment plants are well operated but were designed and built decades ago to handle what, in many ways, were much simpler problems. They were not designated to handle chemical contamination, Giardia, Cryptosporidia, asbestos, etc. It will be decades in the future before these plants can be completely upgraded. Also, even if plants were upgraded, the distribution systems can contribute to the contamination in your drinking water

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO BOTTLED WATER?
SURPRISINGLY, SEAGULL IV WATER PURIFIERS ARE QUITE INEXPENSIVE.

Many ordinary aluminum and plastic-housing, charcoal filters, which must be used only on previously treated waters and are largely inefficient, cost almost twice as much for the unit and several times as much for replacement cartridges. Bottled water, which can be of questionable quality can cost seventy-five cents to a dollar or more per gallon. The present cost of the SEAGULL IV, for example, including the cost of the equipment, operating, maintenance, and installation costs averaged over a 10 year period, is only about 10 cents per gallon. Putting this in perspective, 1000 gallons of bottled water costs $750.00 to $1,000.00 or more, while a 1000 gallon RS-1SG cartridge costs less than $65.00; and an entire system with cartridge costs only a fraction of the cost of 1000 gallons of bottled water.

And remember, Seagull IV water purifier is much more than a superb taste and odor system, it can remove pathogens and many chemical contaminants to "non-detectable levels".

No need to carry or store bottled water.- Simply your life.

WHO ELSE MAKES A PRODUCT LIKE SEAGULL IV WATER PURIFIER?

General Ecology developed the Seagull IV drinking water technology from basic research and is the sole manufacturer of the product. Many companies have tried, without success, to duplicate the outstanding effectiveness of the Seagull IV water purification system. Don't be mislead by companies making claims that they're "just as good", or "better than Seagull IV". No one can duplicate our "Structured Matrix" chemical free purification technology certified to US EPA Guide Standard for "Microbiological Purification" against cysts, viruses and disease bacteria.

A BETTER PRODUCT SIMPLY DOESN'T EXIST.

Warning: A message to our customers - We strongly recommend that you purchase product from authorized dealers with current models of Seagull IV water purifiers in stock. Certain unauthorized individuals in no way connected to General Ecology Inc. have purchased Seagull IV water purifiers and have modified them by substituting cheaper quality materials or technology in place of our top quality materials and proprietary, unique "Structured Matrix" technology. Unauthorized modifications invalidate our warranty and more importantly jeopardize your health. Contact General Ecology Inc. if you have questions regarding a company or individual in your area.