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We have finished Klal 18, and need to refer back to a few points made by the Chayei Adam in Klal 16 regarding borer (s432-433) which apply over here.
If a person uses a filter to filter impurities, according to one opinion in the Gemara, it is a toldah of merakeid. We learned that there are three levels of unusable liquids which may be filtered:
- If the liquid is inherently drinkable as-is, even if there are slight impurities, it is not considered merakeid (tzalul).
- If it is slightly impure (achur ketzas), such as where there is sediment coming from the tap which is not harmful, it is assur miderabanan.
- If it is opaque (achur legamrei), it will be assur mideroaysa to filter it out.
- A person makes tea on Shabbos (which is muttar according to Rav Moshe through use of a kli shlishi) or makes tea essence before Shabbos, and one of the teabags bursts. The person will not drink the tea as-is, and would use a filter to remove those leaves. Filtering in this case would be an issur deoraysa.
- If a person lives in a place in which there are halachic questions regarding bugs in the water (ie, places where bugs are visible or semi-visible in the water), using a filter would be merakeid deoraysa, since people are makpid on it
- Placing pasta through a colander, or using a slotted spoon to pick up salad and allow for the liquid to drip out.
