Did you know that human beings can go for about three weeks without food? But we can’t last more than four days without water. Our bodies are composed of 60% water, which makes water life. However, that doesn’t mean you should drink any type of water. Remember, the water you drink should be safe for consumption. The best way to guarantee that your water is safe for consumption is through the use of high-quality filter products.
With all the available water filtration systems in the market today, how do you know which one removes the most contaminants? Well, no worries, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of six popular water filters that can help remove the most contaminants.
1. Activated Carbon Filter
This is a filter that contains small pieces of carbon that are typically in powdered or granular block form. These carbon pieces have been treated, which makes them extremely porous. The carbon filtration system draws its inspiration from ancient roots, which still play a significant role in today’s modern water treatment.
Activated carbon filters can help remove contaminants like organic materials from drinking water. They also remove odor-causing contaminants, which helps make the water more palatable.
So, how does this filter work? The activated carbon filter works by removing contaminants from water through adsorption. The contaminants become attracted to the activated carbon surface, which causes it to hold on to the carbon, the same way iron fillings hold on to a magnet. Unlike absorption, where one material soaks up or takes in another material, adsorption happens when a material sticks to another when passing through.
It’s also important to note that activated charcoal is made when organic material with high carbon content, like coconut shells, coal, or wood, is heated in a way that chars. That char helps to bind the impurities and toxins to the carbon.
2. Ion Exchange
As the name suggests, an ion exchange filter consists of a substance that can exchange one ion for another as water. For instance, you may have hard water in your home if it leaves stains on your washed dishes. Apart from stains, hard water also tends to build up in your pipes. This build-up can reduce the lifespan of your kitchen appliances. An ion exchange filter will replace magnesium or calcium ions that cause water hardness with sodium ions. The sodium ions will help soften the water.
While an ion exchange filter does help clean up hard water and several radioactive materials, it doesn’t remove organic bacteria, material, or particles, as effectively as the filters on the market today.
3. Mechanical Filter
Mechanical filters remove particles in two ways; depth and surface filtration. Most particles are removed using surface filtration, a sieving process that helps trap large particles on the top surface of the filter. The smaller particles that pass through the first process are removed via depth filtration.
Finally, the small particles that make it past the depth filtration stage are removed via a process called adsorption. This is the process where particles are attracted to the filter’s surface and held there by weak electrical forces. The mechanical filter is good for removing waste matter and physical particles.
4. Ultra Violet Filters
This filter is excellent for removing viruses and bacteria. It is also an excellent environmentally friendly option, as the filter can clean your water using different ultraviolet light frequencies.
So, how do ultraviolet filters work? The DNA of microbial cells absorbs the UV light, which helps essentially kill all the viruses and bacteria. The result is safe and sanitized drinking water. However, it’s essential to note that UV filters only eliminate viruses and bacteria, so ensure you use them together with other filters.
This will help ensure that your water has no contaminants like pesticides, chlorine, and lead, leaving you with safe, clean, and drinkable water.
5. Reverse Osmosis
A reverse osmosis filter is a water purification process that utilizes a semi-permeable membrane that helps filter out the unwanted large particles and molecules of contaminants. This filter also helps eliminate drinking water’s sediments like dirt, chlorine, and salt.
So, how does a reverse osmosis filter work? The filter works by pushing water through its reverse osmosis membrane. The water contaminants are left on one side of the reverse filter while the freshwater is pushed to the other.
The upside of the reverse osmosis filter is that it can get rid of water-soluble contaminants like chromium +6 and fluoride. If you require a water softener for your home, a reverse osmosis system will help remove salt from your drinking water.
6. Distillers
The last type of filter on the list is a distiller. This purification system eliminates contaminants from drinking water through condensation and evaporation. Most contaminants present in water don’t evaporate at the same temperature as the water. This temperature difference causes the contaminants to be left behind as the water condenses in a different container.
While distillers help remove most of the contaminants from water, it takes a long time for the distillation process to complete. It can take at most six hours to produce one or two gallons of water. Some of the contaminants a distiller eliminates include:
- Chemicals like herbicides, chlorine, and pesticides
- Heavy metals
- Fluoride
- Hardness minerals
- Sediment, among others
So, how do you choose the right water filter for your home? Choosing the right filter for your home is a tough decision. This is why it’s important to stick to the following factors before making a rush decision. This factor includes:
- Knowing your water supply
- Your home’s design
- Fluoride levels in the water
Understanding how each filter affects these key areas in your home makes it easier to make the right choice.
With a water filter, you no longer have to worry about your health and that of your loved ones every time you take water. You get to relax and focus on what matters in your life, as you have a 100% guarantee that the water you consume is safe.