Sediment Micron Selection by Water Source

Which micron rating belongs where, staged coarse to fine by water source, and the nominal against absolute distinction that decides whether a rating means anything.

Every page below is computed rather than written, from the same formulas the matching calculator uses, so a figure on a chart page and the same figure in the calculator cannot disagree. Each one carries its working, the basis of every number it prints, and equipment chosen by those numbers rather than from a general list.

• Is a 0.5 micron filter right for city water, no visible sediment? For city water, no visible sediment the sensible staging is 5 micron. What a 0.5 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 0.5 micron filter right for city water, fine particulate or rust flakes? For city water, fine particulate or rust flakes the sensible staging is 20 then 5 micron. What a 0.5 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 0.5 micron filter right for well water, some sand or grit? For well water, some sand or grit the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 micron. What a 0.5 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 0.5 micron filter right for well water, fine silt or turbidity? For well water, fine silt or turbidity the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 then 1 micron. What a 0.5 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 1 micron filter right for city water, no visible sediment? For city water, no visible sediment the sensible staging is 5 micron. What a 1 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 1 micron filter right for city water, fine particulate or rust flakes? For city water, fine particulate or rust flakes the sensible staging is 20 then 5 micron. What a 1 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 1 micron filter right for well water, some sand or grit? For well water, some sand or grit the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 micron. What a 1 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 1 micron filter right for well water, fine silt or turbidity? For well water, fine silt or turbidity the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 then 1 micron. What a 1 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 5 micron filter right for city water, no visible sediment? For city water, no visible sediment the sensible staging is 5 micron. What a 5 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 5 micron filter right for city water, fine particulate or rust flakes? For city water, fine particulate or rust flakes the sensible staging is 20 then 5 micron. What a 5 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 5 micron filter right for well water, some sand or grit? For well water, some sand or grit the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 micron. What a 5 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 5 micron filter right for well water, fine silt or turbidity? For well water, fine silt or turbidity the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 then 1 micron. What a 5 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 10 micron filter right for city water, no visible sediment? For city water, no visible sediment the sensible staging is 5 micron. What a 10 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 10 micron filter right for city water, fine particulate or rust flakes? For city water, fine particulate or rust flakes the sensible staging is 20 then 5 micron. What a 10 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 10 micron filter right for well water, some sand or grit? For well water, some sand or grit the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 micron. What a 10 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 10 micron filter right for well water, fine silt or turbidity? For well water, fine silt or turbidity the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 then 1 micron. What a 10 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 20 micron filter right for city water, no visible sediment? For city water, no visible sediment the sensible staging is 5 micron. What a 20 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 20 micron filter right for city water, fine particulate or rust flakes? For city water, fine particulate or rust flakes the sensible staging is 20 then 5 micron. What a 20 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 20 micron filter right for well water, some sand or grit? For well water, some sand or grit the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 micron. What a 20 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 20 micron filter right for well water, fine silt or turbidity? For well water, fine silt or turbidity the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 then 1 micron. What a 20 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 30 micron filter right for city water, no visible sediment? For city water, no visible sediment the sensible staging is 5 micron. What a 30 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 30 micron filter right for city water, fine particulate or rust flakes? For city water, fine particulate or rust flakes the sensible staging is 20 then 5 micron. What a 30 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 30 micron filter right for well water, some sand or grit? For well water, some sand or grit the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 micron. What a 30 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 30 micron filter right for well water, fine silt or turbidity? For well water, fine silt or turbidity the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 then 1 micron. What a 30 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 50 micron filter right for city water, no visible sediment? For city water, no visible sediment the sensible staging is 5 micron. What a 50 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 50 micron filter right for city water, fine particulate or rust flakes? For city water, fine particulate or rust flakes the sensible staging is 20 then 5 micron. What a 50 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 50 micron filter right for well water, some sand or grit? For well water, some sand or grit the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 micron. What a 50 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.
• Is a 50 micron filter right for well water, fine silt or turbidity? For well water, fine silt or turbidity the sensible staging is 50 then 20 then 5 then 1 micron. What a 50 micron cartridge catches, and why nominal and absolute ratings are not comparable.

Researched, not professional advice. Every figure on these pages is labeled as a published standard, a trade rule of thumb, or something that can only come off your own water test. Where a published figure does not exist we say so rather than estimating one. Test your water before you buy equipment: on city water start with the Consumer Confidence Report your utility publishes each year, and on a private well only a certified laboratory test tells you what you have. Bacteria, nitrate, lead, arsenic and PFAS are not do it yourself topics and need a laboratory and usually a licensed professional.