Systems and methods of eliminating filter air locks

A method of eliminating air locks in a water retention filter cartridge and treating unfiltered water to remove at least one of organic, inorganic, and radiological contaminants from the unfiltered water to produce potable water suitable for human consumption, the method comprising:

• (a) passing untreated water through the water table retention filter cartridge configured to remove at least one of organic, inorganic, and radiological contaminants from untreated liquid water to produce potable water suitable for human consumption while eliminating air locks in the water retention filter cartridge, the water table retention filter cartridge comprising:
• a cartridge sidewall having an open top end and a closed bottom end, wherein the open top end of the cartridge sidewall receives unfiltered water and that opens into an encased filter cavity;
• wherein the encased filter cavity is defined by a filter sidewall disposed within the cartridge sidewall, the filter sidewall having an unfiltered water end located at the open top end of the cartridge sidewall and a filtered water end spaced above the closed bottom end of the cartridge sidewall, wherein the filter sidewall houses filter elements and receives unfiltered water at the unfiltered water end from the open top end of the cartridge sidewall and filters the water as the water passes through the filter elements;
• an outlet cavity formed between the filtered water end of the filter sidewall and the closed bottom end of the cartridge sidewall and extending between the filter sidewall and the cartridge sidewall to a top wall located at a top of the filter cartridge, wherein the outlet cavity receives filtered water that passes through the filter elements and redirects the filtered water to the top of the cartridge such that air is not drawn into the outlet cavity and does not migrate to the encased filter cavity;
• and
• a plurality of water outlets positioned at an upper portion of the cartridge sidewall proximate to and below said top wall, wherein the plurality of water outlets receive the filtered water from the outlet cavity and through which the filtered water exits the filter cartridge, thereby producing potable water suitable for human consumption;
• and
• (b) collecting the potable water that exits through the water outlets.

An air lock eliminating water treatment apparatus capable of killing microbiological organisms while removing organic, inorganic, and radiological contaminants from water, the apparatus thereby discharging potable water therefrom, the apparatus comprising:

• a water table retention filter cartridge including:
• a cartridge sidewall having an open top end and a closed bottom end, wherein the open top end of the cartridge sidewall receives unfiltered water and that opens into an encased filter cavity;
• wherein the encased filter cavity is defined by a filter sidewall disposed within the cartridge sidewall, the filter sidewall having an unfiltered water end located at the open top end of the cartridge sidewall and a filtered water end spaced above the closed bottom end of the cartridge sidewall, wherein the filter sidewall houses filter elements and receives unfiltered water at the unfiltered water end from the open top end of the cartridge sidewall and filters the water as the water passes through the filter elements;
• an outlet cavity formed between the filtered water end of the filter sidewall and the closed bottom end of the cartridge sidewall and extending between the filter sidewall and the cartridge sidewall to a top wall located at a top of the filter cartridge, wherein the outlet cavity receives filtered water that passes through the filter elements and redirects the filtered water to the top of the cartridge such that air is not drawn into the outlet cavity and does not migrate to the encased filter cavity;
• and
• a plurality of water outlets positioned at an upper portion of the cartridge sidewall proximate to and below said top wall, wherein the plurality of water outlets receive the filtered water from the outlet cavity and through which the filtered water exits the filter cartridge;
• and
• a water container in fluid communication with the water table retention filter cartridge that receives the filtered water from the water outlets.