The quality of water used in your homes is becoming more and more suspect of contaminants such as chromium, lead, chlorine, fluoride, microbes, and bad odor. Across the nation, newspapers are discussing and reporting about water quality problems related to human health. There are many types of filters and dispensers for sale that vary as much in what they filter as they do in appearance and price. Replacement filters must be understood as well to determine length of use and long term cost.
Different filters offer different methods of filtration and will vary in function. For example, many filters will remove chlorine and bad odors, while not removing lead or other heavy metals such as chromium, or other organic compounds or bacteria. The general and primary concerns seem to focus on removal of chlorine, odors, lead, and microbes. However, other materials may need to be considered due to local industry or geology.
Clean drinking water is a basic necessity among human beings and all other living things. We have seen and experienced how empires were created and destroyed because of water resources thus we can conclude that clean drinking water is really important and can be considered one of the building blocks of a community and country as a whole.
There are many types of systems on the market and here are a few categories to choose from with some pros and cons to help you decide.
1. Filter pitchers – these filters are simple to use, and often use activated granular carbon to attract and remove contaminants. However, keep in mind that all activated carbon filters are not all equal, so read about what they are certified to remove through certifiers like NSF International. In general filter pitchers will help remove smell and taste and many will remove chlorine. The hardest thing is to determine when it is time to change the filter. Depending on the brand, some of these will also remove lead. These systems are least costly, however, replacing filters can be costly and knowing when to replace can be hard to determine.
2. Countertop filters – these types of filters usually attach to the sink aerator and can filter larger amounts of water much faster than filter pitchers. They are generally more expensive than filter pitchers; however, a wide variety of filters are offered to suite your needs. The filter itself is usually larger and will last longer depending on use. They are fairly easy to install, however the hose leading to the faucet can get in the way and some people do not like the appearance. These units can remove lead, chlorine, odor, bad taste, and many more specific filters are available, depending on what needs to be removed.
3. Faucet-mounted filters – these filters use the same filtration as countertop and pitcher filters, but mounts directly to the tap in place of the aerator. They can filter water faster than a pitcher, but tend to be bulky, cumbersome, and can clutter up the sink area. The size of the filter may also dictate that you change it more frequently.
4. Under counter filters – For those who want to filter large amounts of water fast, this may be the filter system for you. It has the same benefits as the countertop filter that attaches to the faucet. It offers a wide variety of filter types and sizes. The main canister is hidden under the sink with a dispenser attached to the back of the sink. The dispenser for faucet is offered in a variety of styles and quality changes with price. The cost may vary considerable depending on the type and/or quality of the system. This type of filter may or may not require some professional plumbing. The types of materials removed is similar to the counter top filter
In most countries, the government teams up with a private company to supply drinking water to the residents. The cleanliness of the water will usually depend on how they manage the filtration process of the water to be delivered to households. There are instances of water contamination that are reported from time to time due to the mixing of chemicals that should not be included during filtration. Other factors like old, rusted water pipeline or poor water treatment can cause water contamination.
It is important for us to be know the water filtration process in order for us to understand well how our drinking water is cleaned before distributed to our homes.
Well, here are the basic steps of water filtration:
1.) The first step is coagulation. This process is used to clump all together particulates by adding coagulants like alum and lime to the water for easier filtration.
2.) The next step is when water enters a much larger clump process which is called flocs.
3.) The third step is sedimentation. This is the process where water is allowed for 24 hours to stand down to let the large clumps settle to the bottom.
4.) The fourth step is the process where the water is filtered and disinfected using chlorine.
5.) The final stage is the aeration. This is the stage where contaminants like radon were removed.
As you can observe now portable water purifiers that are introduced in the market uses gravity-based water filters because it follows the basic steps of filtration. A water purifier is separate by two levels wherein the upper level is where the water is placed for filtration and as gravity pulls down the water through a special mix filter, it automatically goes down to the second level. On the second level, the water is now ready for drinking. Although the technique is effective, it usually takes time especially when the filter has been used for days and it is already clogged by contaminants.
A more effective way of water filtration is the one being used by some small bottled company wherein they use different machines for liquid purification. This is a much efficient way of filtering the H20 we drink.
Nov 9th, 2011 by homeforlife
