Do I really need to change the "cartridges" of the Aqua Vie or Columbia D to their specifications or can I continue to use their internal "cartridges" for longer without replacing them?

The "cartridges" should be changed once a month because they are designed to enrich the water with the necessary minerals. They should also be replaced every month because of the medicinal carbon they have. The shelf life of the cartridge is one month from the time it was used.