Guide to Home Water Purification Devices
Selecting a Correct Water Purifying Device for Clean Drinking Water
Sep 20, 2008
Water purification devices are popular today, because of concerns people have regarding drinking water. Some of these concerns are warranted and some are perceived. Warranted concerns are due to all the polluted rivers and streams in this country. This is why people invest in water purification devices.
Even though public water treatment facilities clean drinking water to meet national standards, the treated water can still smell or taste funny. This is sometimes due to chemicals which are added to clean the water of pollutants.
A desire for water purification brought about a wave of devices which clean drinking water of unwanted tastes and smells. These devices remove unwanted chemicals and also remove chemicals which are good, such as fluoride used to prevent tooth decay.
Many people are concerned with fluoride in their drinking water and real or perceived side effects. These people do not mind fluoride being removed from their water. Regardless of why someone has a water purification device installed, these devices facilitate the consumption of clean drinking water.
Types of Home Water Purification Devices
Water purification devices come in a variety of types and include:
- Backwashing Filters – are used to remove sediment, chlorine, chemicals, tastes, and odors. Do not expect a backwashing filter to be a magic, one-step solution. Often it is the final stage of a more complex treatment system.
- Water Softeners – are used to remove harsh minerals from drinking. These minerals include magnesium and calcium, which leave deposits in sinks and tubs and are unhealthy for humans to drink. This water is typically referred to as hard water, because of all the mineral deposits.
- Ultraviolet Disinfection – is used to remove bacteria, viruses, and harmful protozoa from drinking water. These harmful microorganisms have contributed too many illnesses such as fever, intestinal problems, and diarrhea. This system provides the most efficient purification to energy cost ratio.
- Reverse Osmosis – uses a semi-permeable membrane which allows purified water to pass through, while retaining the impurities on the input side. This type of water purification system removes 90 – 99% of bacteria, salts, particles, proteins, and other particulate matter which contaminates water.
- Distillation Machines – are another water purification device which boils the water to the point it evaporates leaving behind all unwanted chemicals and impurities. Clean pure water is derived from this type of purification device.
- Activated Charcoal Devices – are used to purify water by allowing water pass through the pores in the charcoal which remove unwanted chemicals and impurities from drinking water. Some of the best systems get rid of lead, asbestos, and coliform. Consumers typically choose either the granular and solid block systems.
- Ultrafiltration devices – use a polymer film which chemically attaches to unwanted chemicals and impurities and removes them from drinking water.
- Deionization – uses electric plates to attract impurities and sedimentation as water passes through. It is typically used in conjunction with reverse osmosis devices. This purification device dissolves and efficiently removes inorganic material.
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