Home water filtration can help cut down on impurities that water utilities don’t remove. Additionally, it can aid in lowering pollutants from the water distribution system, such lead, and from water utility treatment, including disinfection byproducts.

Reverse osmosis and carbon filtration are the two main methods used in the majority of water filter devices on the market, either alone or in combination.

Most Common Filter Technologies

Carbon-based Technology

Activated carbon is used in most commercial carbon filters. As water passes through the filter, impurities are captured and eliminated. These filters are made of high-carbon materials that have been heated to form a porous structure, such as wood or coconut shells.

These filters’ levels of efficacy can differ greatly.

Some are solely certified to improve taste and odour by lowering chlorine levels in water treatment. Others can lower the concentrations of pollutants such volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, disinfection byproducts, and lead.

Certain pollutants, such nitrate, perchlorate, and 1,4 dioxane, are harder for activated carbon filters to remove.

Granulated activated carbon or carbon block are the two most common forms of carbon filters.

Activated carbon used in carbon block filters is compressed to form dense blocks. Although they are typically more costly than granular activated carbon, they are typically better at eliminating a wider variety of pollutants. This is due to their slower rate of filtration and larger surface area that comes into touch with water. However, they might require more frequent replacements.

Fine, loose grains of activated carbon are found in granulated activated carbon filters. Because water passes through them more quickly than through carbon block filters, they are typically a little less effective.

Reverse osmosis Technology

In order to decrease or eliminate a wide variety of impurities, reverse osmosis systems that are supplied for residential use usually additionally come with one or more activated carbon and sediment filters.

Trihalomethanes, VOCs, and chlorine are captured and eliminated during the first activated carbon treatment.

Tap water is then forced under pressure through a semipermeable membrane during reverse osmosis filtration, which filters out any impurities or particles bigger than water molecules. Consequently, a variety of pollutants, including arsenic, hexavalent chromium, nitrates, and perchlorate, are successfully eliminated by reverse osmosis systems.

The amount of water that reverse osmosis systems waste is their main disadvantage. These systems use three to five times as much water as they generate, with the excess water going down the drain.

Additionally, minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium that enhance water’s flavour and are vital for good health are eliminated by reverse osmosis filters. Reverse osmosis system manufacturers may provide solutions to this issue, such as mineral drops that customers can reintroduce into their water.

Some more other kinds of filters commonly used

Ion exchange and water softeners Filters

Typically, water softeners employ an ion exchange process to lower levels of barium and radium, which are present in treated tap water, as well as calcium and magnesium, which can accumulate in pipes and fixtures. Other pollutants typically don’t alter in level.

Doctors may recommend avoiding softened water for those with specific medical issues, such as those who want to follow a low-sodium diet, because water softeners substitute sodium for calcium and magnesium.

Because salty water can damage plants, this kind of filtered water is also not advised for watering gardens and plants.

Distillation Filters

Home distillation systems are not as widespread as other forms of water purifiers. This method warms water till it vaporises, then condenses the steam back into water.

The method eliminates minerals, germs, viruses, and some compounds with a higher boiling point than water. However, it may only partially remove chlorine, trihalomethanes, or volatile organic compounds.

Whole house filters

To ensure that all taps and appliances use filtered water, whole house filters are placed where water enters a home. These systems may make use of reverse osmosis, activated carbon, or ion exchange technology.

In most situations, this kind of technology is not required and is more costly than point-of-use filtering. For instance, if the water includes high levels of iron or radiologicals that could harm household appliances, a whole system might be required.

Whole home systems may increase the risk of dangerous bacterial development in plumbing since they have the ability to eliminate chlorine.

Water is wasted a lot by whole home reverse osmosis filtering systems.