Water filters come in many sizes. They are also made from a wide variety of materials. If you have a water filtration system at your place of business, or even at your home, it will likely have some type of carbon-activated component that will filter the water effectively.
However, there are many other types that are used today that are capable of removing viruses and bacteria from the water. UV light technology, as well as magnetic technology, have been incorporated into these filtration systems. Here is an overview of the most common water filter media options that are currently available.
Why Water Filtration Is So Important Today
Water filters play a vital role in the use of water in today’s world. As more contaminants enter into aquifers, it is vitally important that water be properly filtered. If you are getting water from the city, it is likely contaminated with large amounts of chlorine and other materials.
To remove all of these chemicals and particulates, you will need to have a proper filtration system installed. These are going to be designed using the latest filtration system technology and will likely be used with water filter systems that are quite advanced. Whether you are filtering water from your top, or if you are filtering all of the water coming into your system, it’s going to take a little bit of time to evaluate the most common water filter media that would be appropriate for you.
Not All Water Filters Are Created Equal
If you didn’t know, not all water filtration systems are designed in the same way. There is a reason that some of them are very affordable, whereas others can be excessively expensive. If you are removing the bad taste from water, using a simple carbon filtration system, you can get these for just a few dollars.
However, if you are removing chlorine, particulates, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants, these are much more elaborate systems. For example, if you are relying upon aquifers for your water because you have a well, a filtration system for removing particulates will differ greatly from water that may have bacterial contamination. That’s why it’s important to compare the different systems that are currently available to get the right one for your household.
Activated Carbon Filters
Arguably the most important, and most widely used, water filtration system, activated carbon is formed from organic materials such as coal. There are more eco-friendly versions of this filtration system than coconut shells which are almost as effective as all of the others. Once the water runs through the activated carbon, it will begin to collect different contaminants including pesticides, chlorination by-products, organic contaminants, and elements like copper and lead. It will certainly remove the bad taste that is often found in water with these contaminants, plus the bad odor that you would typically smell will also be replaced.
Catalytic Carbon Filters
This is simply an enhanced version of an activated carbon filter. It can remove chloramine, bacteria, and other contaminants that tend to be present in drinking water today. In particular, chloramine is very difficult to remove unless you are using a catalytic Carbon system. This is becoming more common due to how many chemicals are used to treat water at local facilities.
Mixed-Media Filtration Systems
These are literally a mixture of different types of filter systems. If they are transparent, you can actually see the different layers of material that are used. They will utilize gravel, catalytic carbon, and other layers through which the water will be filtered before you are able to use it. It is very effective at removing toxins, impurities, and sediment that may be present in your well water. It can also filter out tannins that can be in the water that you are drinking which can be of great benefit to those that would be affected by the material.
Kinetic Degradation Fluxion
This is a unique filtration system that is highly effective at removing material such as iron, chlorine, and even hydrogen sulfide. Inside of the filter will be particles that will consist of zinc and copper. If you have bacteria, or even algae in your water, this can be filtered out. These are more expensive systems that are often used by whole house systems, yet they can also be used for single tap filtration purposes.
Reverse Osmosis Membranes
This is a system of filtration that has been used for decades. It is extremely popular, especially in areas where expensive water filtration systems are not available. It’s also a vital filter if you have hexavalent chromium or asbestos in the water that you are drinking. It basically consists of a semipermeable membrane that will allow the water to flow through it, during which it will capture Pyrogens, bacteria, organics, and also heavy metals.
UV Filtration Filters
Perhaps the most advanced form of water filtration available today is that which is made possible through ultraviolet light. Although this will not filter out particulates, it can certainly attack microbes that could cause problems with your health. It is common for contaminants like E. coli bacteria to reside in the water. This is going to be filtered out by using this type of filtration system. Essentially, if you have any type of virus or bacteria that is common in the water that you are drinking, it will be eliminated through the use of ultraviolet light.
Activated Aluminum Filters
Ion exchange technology is quickly becoming a standardize form of water filtration. It uses activated aluminum which is capable of removing calcium and magnesium contaminants, both of which can lead to hard water forming. If you have an abundance of arsenic or fluoride in your water, this can also be helpful at removing these unwanted substances. Barium and radium can also be removed which can prevent potential health issues, and when used with activated carbon, you will have the purest water you can imagine.
Manganese Dioxide Filters
Manganese dioxide may not be a very well-known term in the standard water filtration industry, but it is certainly one of the best. These are designed for removing heavy metals such as manganese, iron, and also hydrogen sulfide. When these materials are in your water, you could end up with heavy metal toxicity in your system which can lead to a whole host of health issues.
If you are constantly cooking vegetables with the water coming into your home, or simply making tea and coffee, excess iron can lead to substantial problems. These filters will easily remove all of these contaminants which can lead to heavy metal poisoning.
Other Options To Consider
There are a couple other options to consider when it comes to filtering the water for your home. There are individual filtration systems that you can install yourself. There are also whole house systems that can filter everything. The cost difference is likely going to be substantial, but over the course of several years, the whole house system will be the best choice. To understand how effective these systems are, you must first look at some of the most basic ways that water can be filtered. Let’s begin with looking at filtered water compared to simply boiling the water that you drink.
Boiled Water Versus Filtered Water
Clean drinking water, especially in rural areas, can often be prepared through the process of boiling. When you boil and kill all the living contaminants within it. If you have ever received a notice from your local county about the quality of your water, this is why they recommend this process of filtration.
As long as the water is able to reach boiling temperatures, causing the bubbles to appear and water to change from liquid to vapor, you have done your part. It is a very effective and affordable solution to killing pathogens such as viruses and bacteria in the water, as well as parasites that may be residing there.
On the other hand, if you do have some kind of filtration system available you may want to consider using one of the many that have already been mentioned. If you are on a budget, carbon filtration systems will likely be the best choice for you. However, if you have the ability to boil water, it’s a great way to eliminate contaminants.
Is Boiling Water Better Than Distilling Water?
There is no comparison between boiling water and distilling water if you hope to remove all of the contaminants in the water itself. The distillation process is much more effective. It literally leads to completely pure water. There will be nothing in the water including a complete absence of chemicals, salts, metals, and also microorganisms. You must have a distiller available in order to go through this process.
To make this water as pure as possible, it’s good to first boil the water, allow it to condense, and then push it through the distillation system. On the other hand, you may simply want to add the water to the boiling chamber of the distillation device.
The steam is going to be sent through channels where it will then condense back into clean water. These typically contain some type of distilling chamber, a thermometer, and some type of burner that will provide the heat necessary for causing this reaction.
Which Water Filtration System Should You Use?
After looking at all of the possibilities for filtering your water, you may come to realize that you must first test your water to see what is in it. You can get water testing kits at your local store, or you may hire a professional that can tell you exactly what is in your water to help you make your choice. If it is well water, and there are no contaminants, a simple activated carbon system will suffice.
If the water has chloramine, catalytic carbon filters would be much better. If the test shows that you have large amounts of algae, bacteria, or even scale in your water, KDF filters would be the best. Reverse osmosis may not be the most affordable solution, but if you have pyrogens detected in your water, as well as heavy metals, this would be the most applicable choice. Finally, if you detect trace amounts of barium, radium, or if you have high amounts of bacteria, activated aluminum more UV filtration should be used, respectively.
Why A Whole House Water Filtration System Might Be The Best Choice
If you are going to filter the water coming into your home, filtering all of the water might be the most applicable option. If you have the money to do so, you should hire a local professional that specializes in this type of installation. Although it might be a local plumber, there are also businesses that not only sell but install these whole-house systems.
They will also have multiple options when it comes to the filters that you will use in order to filter your water properly. As mentioned before, testing the water must be done so that you can determine the best course of action will be. These companies will certainly have testing kits available and can provide you with the most accurate data in regard to the contaminants that are present water that you drink.
How To Find These Companies
A quick search for businesses that install whole house filtration systems will lead you to several different options. There are some that have been installing whole house filtration systems, as well as independent systems for sinks in your kitchen and bathroom, for many years or decades.
By assessing what other people have said, and comparing the prices that they offer the filtration systems for, you can make a logical decision. In general, if they are filtering all of the water coming into your home, they will be installing one of the most advanced filtration systems.
Looking at all of these options, it is clear that the first course of action would be to test your water to determine exactly what is in it. You will want to use one or more of these filtration systems in order to remove contaminants that are detected. The cost of a test will be minimal, yet it will provide you with the data necessary to finally set up a water filtration system for your home.
Once done, you will no longer have to worry about drinking contaminants that could lead to health issues for you and your family. If you have ever thought about getting a whole house water filtration system, it might be time to consider this option. Even if you have filters on several taps at your house, this might be the best solution so that the water that you use for bathing, as well as drinking, will be its very best.
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