Before drinking water, it’s crucial to know first if it has been filtered and treated. Tap water contains a lot of contaminants. Some of these impurities are deadly and can cause chronic diseases when ingested for a long time. Using the Berkey water system is one of the best investments you have done as a homeowner. For more information on drinking water filtration, visit the official USA Berkey website
Deep understanding of how water works will help you to choose the right water system for you. The water filter that works great in other people’s households may not work the same for you. Not all water filters are made the same. Each water filter focuses on clearing up a type of contaminant that can be ineffective in removing other impurities. Hence, it is crucial to get a water quality test from your main source before shopping for a filter so that the machine you’re going to buy can remove the existing contaminants from your source.
Today, we are going to talk about the different methods of purifying water, the types of water filters available in the market, and how do these water filters work. Read on and find out how these machines purified the water we drink.
Four types of water purification methods
Here are the top four most common methods of purifying your drinking water:
- Boiling your water
Boiling your water is one of the safest methods to kill bacteria and remove viruses. There are parasites and germs in the water that are not visible in the naked eyes. Hence, boiling the water will help you to kill these germs before serving it to your family.
This method is simple and easy. You need to leave your water boiling for up to five minutes. If the area you are living in is in high altitude, we recommend boiling it for long minutes. Make sure that the boiled water is appropriately sealed and cooled down before it is ready for drinking.
- Filtration
Perhaps one of the most effective ways to purify water and remove harmful contaminants is through filtration. This method is divided into two categories—the chemical and physical processes. Filtration will not exhaust all the mineral salts. Hence, water is safer and healthier to drink. This chemical absorption process will remove all impurities from the water.
Filtration is more effective in removing pesticides and chlorine. It does not consume a lot of energy when operating compared to reverse osmosis and distillation.
- Chlorination
This purification process is widely used by the industry to treat water for household use. It is effective in removing germs, parasites, and organisms that can cause diseases. Chlorine liquids are popular among homeowners to treat their water at home. However, people with thyroid problems should steer clear from using this product as it can cause complications. It should also be applied in heated water. Chlorine liquid can kill all the bacteria to ensure that your water is safe and clean.
- Distillation
Lastly, we have the distillation. This water purification method uses heat in the collection of pure water from the vapor. Water will be heated until it boils. Then it will be left into a boiling point until it starts to vaporize. The vapor will be transferred into the condenser until it cools down.
This traditional method is effective in getting rid of bacteria, salts, and germs. The only downgrade in this method is that it’s prolonged and takes a lot of time. Not to mention that it can also be costly.
Four types of water filters
Now that you know the different purification methods let’s proceed to the different types of water filters in the market. When you’re buying water filters, you will encounter these types of machines.
- Activated Carbon Water Filters
This is one of the most common water filters used at home. It is sometimes called the AC. This type of water filter usually features internal surface areas that contain crannies and nook. This will trap the chemical impurities during the filtration process. It can also remove pesticides and industrial solvents, making it an ideal for families living near an industrial factory.
- Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
This type of water filter works by leading the contaminated water through a rind in very high pressure. Once the water passes through it, the contaminants remain. The pumps are powered by electricity, so it can be a bit costly to operate. However, it is very good at removing pollutants, bacteria, and other contaminants.
- Ion Exchange Water Filters
If you want to soften your water and remove a large limescale deposit, you should opt for an ion exchange water filter. It works by splitting the atoms of a contaminated substance and generate ions. In simpler words, it will translate “bad” ions into “good” ions. The only downside to using this type of filter is it cannot eliminate sodium very well. Hence, people who are on low-sodium diets are not suitable for this kind of filter. It also requires filter recharge by adding salt. It will help to avoid damage to the machine caused by the limescale buildup.
- Distillation Water Filters
Distillation is a simple filtering method. By boiling the water, it kills viruses and bacteria. However, it is not very good at removing heavy metals and other contaminants. It works by boiling water and capturing the steam to condense it. Once it cools down, it turns back into the water and is directed into a separate container. Some contaminants will only boil at a lower temperature than the water. It means the captured steam sometimes carry these contaminants into the separate container. This is why distillation water filters are only ideal for households that are dealing with high bacteria levels and low contaminant levels.
Conclusion
There are different types of water filters and different methods of water purification for every kind of contaminant. Knowing this will help you to choose the best Berkey water system for your household needs. This is why it’s crucial to understand what you’re trying to remove from your water to know the most suitable water filter for you. Aside from that, remember that these water filters will require maintenance in the long run. By that, you need to keep your water filters in excellent conditions as to not worsen your existing water supply than it was before. Keeping these factors in mind will help you to make smart decisions.
