Compare PFAS & Lead Whole-House System
A two-stage point-of-entry configuration built on Enpress ONE-E3 tanks. Removes >99% lead (particulate + soluble), >99.95% cysts, and reduces PFOA/PFOS, chlorine, chloramine and disinfection by-products — without stripping the calcium and magnesium your body needs.
Why this is our top-selling, most-recommended system.
Six things this system does that other whole-house filters typically don't.
5× the media capacity
Enpress ONE-E3 tanks hold five times the media of a standard 4.5″ or 2.5″ Big Blue housing.
Certified where it counts
IAPMO and NSF/ANSI 53 for lead, cyst, and PFOA/PFOS reduction — not just "reduces contaminants" marketing.
No salt, no chemicals
Purely mechanical + activated-carbon filtration. Calcium and magnesium stay in your water where they belong.
Up to 25 GPM whole-house flow
Two-stage or three-stage TAC configurations deliver up to 25 GPM — enough for simultaneous whole-house demand. Real-world flow always depends on your incoming pipe size and pressure.
2–3 year filter life
The CT-1005 pre-filter runs 24–36 months or ~300,000 gallons before change-out. Roughly 10× a Big Blue cartridge.
Made in USA
NSF 61 coconut-shell activated carbon, FDA-approved materials, California Prop 65 compliant.
What's inside the 2-stage base system.
Two Enpress ONE-E3 non-metallic cartridge tanks plumbed in series. The first tank captures sediment and protects the second; the second tank does the heavy lifting on lead, PFAS, chloramine and cysts.
Enpress ONE 10/5 Double-Pleated Pre-Filter
SKU: CT-1005A high-capacity dual-gradient pleated sediment cartridge that pulls out rust, silt, sand, turbidity and colloidal particulate — everything that would otherwise clog the PFAS/lead cartridge downstream and shorten its life.
| Micron rating | 5 µm nominal (dual gradient) |
|---|---|
| Cartridge dimensions | 33″ H × 6.25″ W |
| Open filter area | 100 ft² (vs. 16 ft² on a 4.5″×20″ Big Blue) |
| Cartridge rating | Rated well above whole-house demand — not a flow bottleneck |
| Service life | 24–36 months or ~300,000 gallons |
| Construction | Polyester media, polypropylene end caps, double Buna-N O-ring seals |
PIONEER Pb PFOA/PFOS/Lead Cartridge
SKU: CT-05-CB-AMCYLA 0.5-micron carbon-block cartridge that removes lead in both its soluble (ionic) and particulate forms and reduces PFOA/PFOS, chlorine, chloramine, cysts and disinfection by-products. The proprietary AntiLead binder chemically bonds to soluble lead ions — something standard carbon simply cannot do.
| Micron rating | 0.5 µm carbon block |
|---|---|
| Lead reduction | Particulate + soluble (ionic bond removal) |
| Cyst reduction | >99.95% (Giardia, Cryptosporidium) |
| Also reduces | PFOA/PFOS, chlorine, chloramine, plasticizers, DBPs |
| Media | NSF 61 certified coconut-shell activated carbon |
| Compliance | FDA materials · CA Prop 65 · Made in USA |
Enpress ONE-E3 Cartridge Tanks (×2)
The ONE-E3 is a patented 100% non-metallic cartridge tank engineered for high-capacity POE filtration. It replaces small, inefficient 2.5″ or 4.5″ housings and expensive stainless-steel alternatives — with 5× the media volume and a lightweight, easy-service design.
| Fittings | 1″ MNPT elbow or straight (no gluing required) |
|---|---|
| Integrated bypass | Yes — standard on every tank |
| Drain port | 3/8″ fitting with integrated shut-off for cartridge change-outs |
| Tank rating | High-flow non-metallic tank — sized so the tank is never the bottleneck. Real-world whole-house flow is set by service-line pipe size and pressure (see FAQ). |
| Construction | 100% non-metallic, patented |
| Listing | NSF/ANSI 61 & 44 listed device |
| Applications | Residential, light commercial, and commercial POE |
View ONE-E3 tank product page → · Download the ONE-E3 installation manual (PDF) →
Upgrade path #1 — Add Ultrafiltration
Recommended for well waterA Seccua Urspring ultrafiltration module in front of the two-stage system drops filtration to 0.02 microns — small enough to physically block bacteria, cysts and most viruses. This is what we recommend for well water, older municipal systems with intermittent boil-water advisories, and any home where microbiological safety matters.
Seccua Urspring Ultrafiltration
- 0.02 micron hollow-fiber membrane — orders of magnitude tighter than the 5-µm pre-filter alone.
- Physical barrier to bacteria, cysts and most viruses — no chemicals, no chlorine dosing required.
- Sits upstream of the ONE-E3 tanks so downstream cartridges only see already-clarified water — extending their service life.
- Backwashes automatically — no cartridge replacement, media lasts the life of the module.
Upgrade path #2 — Add Salt-Free Anti-Scale
For hard-water homesTwo salt-free anti-scale technologies that prevent limescale on fixtures, water heaters and appliances without stripping calcium and magnesium from your water. Neither is a traditional ion-exchange softener.
AntiScale TAC System
A third Enpress-style tank filled with Template-Assisted Crystallization (TAC) media. Atom-level templates on treated polymer spheres transform dissolved calcium carbonate into microscopic crystals that stay suspended in the water — and flow out of your pipes instead of adhering to them as scale.
- Long-lasting TAC media — years of continuous scale reduction.
- Upflow service design maximizes efficiency and flow rate.
- Patented Vortech full-distributor plate for uniform media utilization.
- Works regardless of your water's hardness level.
- Preserves calcium and magnesium — no sodium added, no brine discharge.
Flow-Tech Home MAX
An electronic anti-scale device that clamps onto your incoming water line. A low-frequency signal is pulsed thousands of times per second and propagated through your plumbing, neutralizing the charge on dissolved calcium and magnesium ions so they stay in the water and flow out with it — instead of sticking to pipes and appliances.
- No tank, no plumbing cut-ins required beyond the signal clamps.
- Treats every pipe in the home 24/7 — not just downstream of a filter.
- Removes existing scale build-up over time, restoring flow and appliance efficiency.
- 100–240 VAC input · <1 Watt power draw.
- Preserves all minerals in the water.
Available as part of a bundled system only. For manufacturer-direct standalone pricing, call 307-200-9026 or email sales@tradewindswater.com.
Upgrade path #3 — Add StreamLabs Control
Recommended · protects the whole investmentA whole-house filtration system is a serious investment sitting on top of pressurized plumbing. One burst supply line upstream — a washing-machine hose, a dishwasher fitting, a slab leak — can flood the room the filter is installed in and damage the tanks themselves. StreamLabs Control is the insurance-grade automatic shutoff we recommend to protect it.
StreamLabs Control 1″ FNPT Automatic Shutoff
- Ultrasonic flow metering — no spinning turbine in the water path to fail or restrict flow.
- Detects flow as low as 0.1 GPM, plus daily / weekly / monthly Drip Detect for slow leaks the human ear will never catch.
- No subscription, ever — full features in the StreamLabs app.
- Freeze, pressure, humidity and water-temperature alerts (sensor-dependent).
- Built by a Chubb company with property risk-engineering roots — the same class of device insurance underwriters install in their own homes.
- NSF/ANSI 61 & NSF/ANSI 372 for drinking-water safety.
Compare all configurations side by side.
Every configuration includes the two ONE-E3 tanks, the CT-1005 pre-filter and the PIONEER Pb cartridge. Add ultrafiltration for microbiological safety, add anti-scale for hard water, or add both. StreamLabs is sized separately.
| Feature | Base2-Stage | Well water+ Ultrafiltration | Hard water+ Flow-Tech Anti-Scale | Fully loaded+ UF + Flow-Tech |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enpress ONE 10/5 pre-filter (5 µm) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PIONEER Pb PFOA/PFOS/Lead cartridge (0.5 µm) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Two ONE-E3 non-metallic tanks with bypass | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lead reduction (particulate + soluble) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PFOA / PFOS reduction | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chlorine & chloramine reduction | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cyst reduction >99.95% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 0.02 µm bacteria/virus barrier (UF) | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Whole-home anti-scale (salt-free) | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Preserves calcium & magnesium | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Max whole-house flow* | Up to 25 GPM | Up to 18 GPM | Up to 25 GPM | Up to 18 GPM |
| Contractor PRO Direct Price | $2,377 | $4,066 | $3,875 | $5,564 |
* Max flow rates are the system ceiling in a properly sized installation. Real-world delivered flow always depends on your incoming service-line pipe size, material, and static pressure — see the pipe-size chart in the FAQ.
StreamLabs Control is priced and configured separately so you can size the valve to your service line. See shutoff-valve pricing →
Pricing & configurations.
Contractor PRO Direct Pricing on every tier. Free freight, no sales tax where claimed.
- Enpress ONE 10/5 sediment pre-filter
- PIONEER Pb PFAS/lead cartridge
- Two ONE-E3 tanks with bypass
- Everything in Base
- Seccua Urspring 0.02 µm UF
- Bacteria & virus barrier
- Everything in Base
- Flow-Tech Home MAX electronic anti-scale
- Salt-free · minerals preserved
- Everything above, combined
- Micro-organism barrier + scale prevention
- Our most-recommended configuration
Frequently asked questions.
Does this system remove chloramine, not just chlorine?
Yes. The PIONEER Pb cartridge is specifically effective at reducing both chlorine and chloramine taste and odor from potable drinking water. Chloramine is harder to remove than chlorine and requires the kind of high-capacity catalytic carbon used here (NSF 61 coconut-shell activated carbon).
How often do I replace the cartridges?
The CT-1005 sediment pre-filter has an extended service life of 24–36 months or roughly 300,000 gallons — vastly longer than a standard Big Blue cartridge (1–3 months). The PIONEER Pb cartridge lifespan depends on incoming water quality and household usage; we'll help you plan replacements based on your usage pattern.
Will this work on well water?
Yes, provided your well is disinfected and free of iron/manganese fouling that would blind the sediment pre-filter. For wells with microbiological concerns we strongly recommend adding the Ultrafiltration option — it physically blocks bacteria and cysts at 0.02 microns. If your well tests positive for arsenic, iron, manganese, or sulfides, we'll design a pre-treatment stage upstream of this system.
Why not just use a salt-based softener?
Salt-based softeners solve one problem (scale) by creating others: they add sodium to your drinking water, they discharge brine into sewers or septic systems, and they strip calcium and magnesium — minerals your body actually needs. Both anti-scale options we sell (TAC and Flow-Tech) prevent scale without removing minerals or adding sodium. Full write-up here.
Do I still need an under-sink RO with this system?
Most customers don't. Filtration is happening at the point-of-entry, so every tap in the house — including showers and baths — is treated. An under-sink RO only treats one faucet and wastes 3–5 gallons of water for every gallon produced. If you're on a specific health protocol that requires demineralized water, an RO can still be added downstream.
What flow rate does the system deliver?
The two-stage system (and the three-stage TAC configuration) is engineered to deliver up to 25 GPM whole-house flow. Adding the Seccua Urspring ultrafiltration module reduces the system ceiling to 18 GPM — still ample for simultaneous whole-house demand in most residential homes.
Real-world delivered flow is always dictated by your incoming service-line pipe size, material and static pressure — not by the filter media or tanks. The table below (using the Hazen-Williams equation at 40–70 PSI) shows realistic delivered flow for common service-line pipe types:
| Pipe type | ID (in) | 40 PSI | 50 PSI | 60 PSI | 70 PSI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4″ PEX | 0.68 | 5–6 GPM | 6–7 GPM | 7–8 GPM | 8–9 GPM |
| 3/4″ Copper (Type L) | 0.745 | 10–12 GPM | 12–14 GPM | 14–16 GPM | 16–18 GPM |
| 1″ Stainless Corrugated Hose | 0.75–0.85 | 7–9 GPM | 9–12 GPM | 10–12 GPM | 12–14 GPM |
| 1″ Copper (Type L) | 0.99 | 14–16 GPM | 16–18 GPM | 18–20 GPM | 20–22 GPM |
| 1″ CPVC (Schedule 40) | 0.995 | 14–16 GPM | 16–18 GPM | 18–20 GPM | 20–22 GPM |
Bottom line: the filter media, cartridges, and tanks are sized so the system itself is never the bottleneck — your service-line pipe size is.
How does the system connect to my plumbing?
Each ONE-E3 tank ships with 1″ MNPT fittings (elbow or straight) and integrated bypass — no gluing required. Each tank also includes a 3/8″ drain port with integrated shut-off, so cartridge change-outs are clean and fast. Enpress ONE-E3 installation manual (PDF).
Should I add StreamLabs Control to protect the system?
We strongly recommend it. StreamLabs Control monitors flow continuously and can automatically shut off water at the main if a burst or continuous flow is detected — protecting both the room the filter is installed in and the tanks themselves. It's the same class of device insurance underwriters install in their own homes. See the full comparison →
Ready to configure your system?
Not sure which configuration fits your water and your home? Send us your most recent water quality report and we'll size the system for you — no charge, no obligation.
Product references & documentation.
PIONEER One product listing · CT-1005 pre-filter listing · PIONEER Pb cartridge listing · Enpress ONE-E3 tank listing · ONE-E3 installation manual (PDF) · Why we don't sell salt-based softeners