A drinking water filter assembly has a filter cartridge which includes a filter element contained in a pressure vessel for unitary disposal, the cartridge received on a base containing attachment fittings for ease in installation and replacement with limited exposure to contaminants during a filter change. A storage management device determines a storage characteristic of a plurality of storage devices with respect to performing a storage operation. The sample reservoir may be interchanged with a radiation probe adaptor. The adjusting member is adjustable in position relative to the casing to thereby change the engaging force between the casing and the elastic element. Programmable logic circuitry or other utilization circuitry is typically provided to receive the outputs of the byte alignment circuitry and to selectively provide the control signal.