Having clean water for drinking is one of the most important things your household should have access to. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most expensive and cumbersome challenges to deal with when it comes to household water supply. If you live in a large city like New York City, for example, your tap water is likely treated and therefore safe for consumption. However, if you live in a rural area or in an older home that shares well water with numerous other homes, the water may not be safe.
The most common contaminants in water are germs like bacteria and viruses. Other contaminants include chemicals, metals, and asbestos. Although boiling your water does kill some of these contaminants, it also concentrates others, so you’ll want to have a secondary purification system. If your home has a private well, it’s very important that you have your water tested on a regular basis to ensure it’s clean. One of the best ways to do that is to use a home water filtration system specific to your needs.
Talk To A Professional
When choosing the filtration system that suits your household needs and fits your home best, there are many factors to consider:
- The size and layout of your home (e.g., an apartment building versus a house)
- The number of people who live in your home
- Whether you have a private well or access to municipal water
- Your budget for the filtration system
There are several types of filtration systems available on the market. It’s important that you choose one that is certified by an independent organization. In case you don’t know where to start, make sure to book a consultation for your water. By going through the results of water analysis an expert will give you the necessary advice on what type of filtration system would be best for your household.
How Does A Water Filtration System Work?
There are several types of filters, each one removing different contaminants. Stages include sediment filters, activated carbon filters, ion exchange resins, and UV lights. The specific type you need depends on the quality of your tap water.
Sediment Filters
Sediment filters are used to remove dirt, rust, and other particles from the water. The filter is made up of a sieve-like material that carries out mechanical filtration. The sieve can be constructed in different ways with various materials such as sand or gravel. It may also contain activated carbon granules that absorb organic matter like chloroform or benzene.
Sediment filters work by trapping dirt and sediment particles on the surface of the filter media while allowing clean water to pass through it until it reaches its destination. However, sediment filters have two flaws: they need regular maintenance to ensure good performance; they cannot eliminate all contaminants found in water because only larger ones can be trapped on their surface.
Activated Carbon Filters
Activated carbon filters are among the most common types of water filtration systems on the market. They make use of high-purity activated carbon to absorb organic compounds like herbicides, pesticides, volatile organic solvents, etc.
One of its main features is that it removes bad tastes and odors associated with tap water while also preventing bacterial growth in storage tanks. Activated carbon is a type of charcoal created by heating wood or other plant matter until they become active carbon. These are then treated with oxygen to open up pores between their microstructures so they can absorb compounds from liquids passing through them. Activated carbon is known for its ability to remove chlorine from water because it has negative electric charges that attract positive ions found in chlorine. In fact, activated carbon is frequently used as a water decontaminant after emergencies such as spills or natural disasters.
Ion Exchange Resins
One type of ion exchange resin used in some filtration systems is a cation/anion exchanger that removes metallic ions from your tap water by swapping them with another molecule with a different charge. This type of filter also changes the taste and odor of certain contaminants into more desirable ones. For instance, it can remove sulfates from the water to reduce its harsh taste and increase its softness. Anion/cation resins are made up of beads that act like magnets to capture positive or negative ions depending on their composition. They are often used in combination with other types of filters because they do not remove organic compounds and other dangerous pollutants.
UV Light Purifiers
Ultraviolet (UV) light purifiers eliminate bacteria and viruses in your water by passing their liquid medium through a chamber where ultraviolet light at a specific wavelength is applied. The UV rays weaken the DNA of microorganisms so they cannot reproduce, thus making them unable to cause an infection. UV filtration systems are very effective against Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia but cannot kill parasites such as roundworm eggs that can be found in surface waters.
Choosing the right water filtration system for your home can be a difficult decision. It’s important to understand what type of contaminants you want to be removed from your tap water and which ones are most likely present in it before making a purchase. For instance, if there is an outbreak of Cryptosporidium or Giardia lamblia near your house, UV light purifiers may not remove those parasites from the water. Make sure that whichever filter you choose has been certified by NSF International as well as meeting any other requirements necessary for safety and quality assurance.
