Another good reason to use filtration is shown in the photo below which is the filter screen on our city water inlet after the first camping trip out in April. Chlorine concentration levels dissipate over time. What happens with CGs, is that the water in the lines all over the CG stagnates over the winter and biological matter can grow in them which is what happened in our case. Who wants to ingest that carp?? Ugh. I installed 4-stage filtration under our kitchen sink (takes up little space) - 5 micron sediment filtration followed by a 0.9 mic. ceramic cartridge and 0.2 micron "ultra-filtration" cartridge.
Routine maintenance of CGs should include flushing all their lines before the start of the season. After finding this, I called the local water district and they said they would go talk to the CG (again, as this was not the first time) and on the next trip to the CG saw the sign on the way in.
A pleated filter is a really poor choice as bacteria love to grow in them. The best choice is a string-wound polyester filter which do not promote bacterial growth. Installing a filter outside with carbon in it is not a good idea, as you are removing chlorine and leaving the piping system inside unprotected. Use a POU filter at kitchen sink ofr drinking water. KDF in a filter does not kill bacteria passing through the water, it only reduces bacterial growth on the filter itself. 100 microns for removing sediment is very coarse and not very helpful. 5 - 10 microns is good. Small filter cartridges plug up quickly and a 10" whole house housing/filter is a good choice and can be used outdoors or mounted inside. Chlorine does NOT kill all pathogens like Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Only buy an NSF certified filter as performance claims can be exaggerated and when looking at microns, go by the absolute rating, not nominal.
