Water treatment system and method

1 . A water treatment system comprising a filter and a filter head;

the filter comprising:

a cartridge;

a cap attached to the cartridge;

the cartridge comprising:

a first compartment comprising at least one first water-treating medium;

a second compartment comprising at least one second water-treating medium;

the cap comprising a selector;

the filter further comprising at least one bypass extending from the selector and throughout the first compartment and into the second compartment, each of the at least one bypass having an inlet and an outlet;

wherein the selector is operable to allow selecting:

in a first state all water entering the filter passing through the first compartment;

in a second state all water entering the filter bypassing the first compartment and passing through the second compartment;

in at least one intermediate state a first part of water entering the filter passing through the first compartment and a second part of water entering the filter bypassing the first compartment and passing through the second compartment, and

the filter head reversibly attachable to the cap.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a water inlet extending from the filter head to inside the cap, such that water entering the cap for treatment spills onto the disc.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a water outlet extending from the cartridge, and into the filter head.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a reference marking, and wherein the selector comprises:

a dial marked thereon with indications, the indications representing:

the first state, the second state, and at least one intermediate state,

wherein each state is embossed at a different location on the dial;

and wherein each state occurs when the indication representing the state is aligned with the reference marking.

5 . The system of claim 1 , the selector further comprising an arcuate trough with an open top;

the dial comprising a rotatable disc having a cut-out part and a solid part,

the trough and disc structured and positioned relative to each other such that:

in the first state the solid part completely covers the open top;

in the second state the cut-out part completely faces the open top, and

in the at least one intermediate state the cut-out part incompletely faces the open top.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein at least one bypass inlet is in the trough.

7 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a water outlet extending from the cartridge, through the disc and out of the cap.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third compartment; the third compartment comprising filter material.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the filter material is ultrafiltration material.

10 . The system claim 1 , further comprising a filter element within the second compartment and covering each bypass outlet of the at least one bypass, thereby preventing ingress of the second water-treating medium into the at least one bypass.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a space sized to accommodate expansion of the first water-treating medium.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first water-treating medium is a water softening resin.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the at least one bypass comprises magnesium and essentially does not comprise calcium.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein second water-treating medium is selected from: titania, iron (III) oxides, iron (III) hydroxides, carbon-based media and mixtures thereof.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the carbon-based media are selected from a group consisting of:

activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, carbon molecular sieves, charcoal, catalytic carbon and mixtures thereof.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bypasses are internal to the cartridge.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein during the first state all water passing through the first compartment subsequently passes through the second compartment.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the at least one bypass comprises magnesium and essentially does not comprise calcium.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein none of the at least one bypass essentially comprise calcium.

20 . A water treatment system comprising a filter and a filter head;

the system further comprising a pressure-sensitive button capable of popping when pressure of water flowing out of the filter head is above a predetermined value and sinking when pressure of water flowing out of the filter head is below a predetermined value, the system optionally further comprising: an observation portal enabling view of water flowing out of the filter head;

a release portal for release of gases from water flowing out of the filter head;

wherein the observation portal, pressure sensitive button and/or release portal are disposed in the filter head;

the filter comprising:

a cartridge;

a cap attached to the cartridge;

the cartridge comprising:

a first compartment comprising at least one first water-treating medium;

a second compartment comprising at least one second water-treating medium;

the cap comprising a selector;

the filter further comprising at least one bypass extending from the selector and throughout the first compartment and into the second compartment, each of the at least one bypass having an inlet and an outlet;

wherein the selector is operable to allow selecting:

in a first state all water entering the filter passing through the first compartment;

in a second state all water entering the filter bypassing the first compartment and passing through the second compartment;

in at least one intermediate state a first part of water entering the filter passing through the first compartment and a second part of water entering the filter bypassing the first compartment and passing through the second compartment, and the filter head reversibly attachable to the cap.