Water is the most crucial element on the planet, the building block of life, alongside with carbon, and it’s staggering just how much we’ve polluted the fresh water sources in the past century. Having access to healthy water has become a problem these days, small villages and cities alike, but science and innovation have found a way to overcome such difficulties using nature’s methods of purification as a perfect example. Just as, for instance, sand can naturally remove contaminants from water, so can filtration systems artificially accomplish the same effect. All you need to know are a few guidelines, pros and cons, which will help you choose the right filter that is certified for supplying you with that healthy glass of water, day and night, especially at the comfort of your own home.
Water content
First off, before you choose any filtration system, you need to check what your water is comprised of. Bear in mind that every fresh water source (we’re talking about drinking water, not salty sea) contains necessary traces of chemical elements, metal and non-metal, since ultra clean H2O is harmful to your health anyway. This is what gives water that certain undefinable, but existing flavour, nevertheless. Also, highly contaminated water can apparently be hazardous, too, so either check your area’s annual water quality report, or do some testing by yourself by purchasing a test kit at a certified home improvement store. Your primary concern should be possible traces of lead, but any additional information is always helpful!
Another thing worthy of mentioning is that there is an independent and accredited organization – NSF International, which is responsible for setting standards of water safety, testing and certifying filtering systems using an elaborate and comprehensive chart. And remember, if you see their seal on a product, or system, that means that it has been tested to ensure that it does the filtering job as it claims.
Choosing the right type of filter
This step depends entirely on that previous analysis – finding out the chemical structure of the water from your surroundings, so you could choose between these three methods, or tools for purification: carbon filters, reverse osmosis, or distillation. Carbon filters are good for trapping contaminants like heavy metals (copper, mercury, lead), chlorine, pesticides, etc. in the pores of a highly absorbent filter which is positively charged, thus separating heavier toxic elements from the rest. As for reverse osmosis, this method is particularly good for removing the chemicals used in dry cleaning – perchlorates, reversing the natural flow of water and passing it through a semipermeable membrane, but know that this method wastes water in the process, too. Distillation is an excellent choice for eliminating arsenic, simply by heating water to a boiling point and then collecting steam as it condenses back to its liquid state, leaving contaminants behind. Still, some toxic chemicals can convert into gas under high temperature, so it’s always good to combine a distiller with a carbon filter, just to make sure you rid yourself of all contaminants...
There is a choice from either a whole-house filter, also known as a point-of-entry filter, which does the whole cleansing work before water enters your home, or a point-of-use filter, which serves its purpose at the very moment you use the water, mainly used in faucet and undersink systems, as well as water pitchers and bottles. Whole-house water filters Brisbane have models which are used to remove heavier mineral deposits which give water a bad taste, along with odor. Also, sometimes it’s better to supplement this filter with another type to remove extra contaminants, for instance, if chlorine irritates your skin, consider attaching a filter to your showerhead, too. On the other hand, as for those point-of-use filters, there is a temporary - cheaper, yet slower solution, or a permanent, but costly solution to purifying your water. Water pitchers and bottles need constant refilling and they take time to produce a formidable amount of clean water, while undersink models do the job more effectively, even though they are more expensive to install.
Don’t forget to maintain!
Some filter system manufacturers could have augmented claims, meaning that their products won’t serve you according to the NSF standards, so make sure that every purchase you make is certified properly. Also, if you’ve purchased your purification system years ago, it’s probably time for an improvement, because regulations have drastically changed over the years, so everything has to be up-to-date for safety reasons. Remember to regularly change your filters, follow your certified manufacturer’s recommendations, keep everything clean and make sure everything runs smoothly.
