Water is the source of life. Every known living organism needs water to survive. However, the caveat is that the water needs to be clean and drinkable. There are a plethora of diseases that you can contract from unclean water. While many of these are not prevalent in developed countries, the risk is still legitimate when using water from the tap. Water can have pollutants that are not visible to the naked eye, so even clean-looking water can be harmful. However, it is an issue that can be resolved. Read on to find out if you should filter your water and how to do it.
Benefits Of Filtering Water
To better decide if you should filter your water, you need to understand the benefits of doing so. Filtering water can make drinkable water taste better. Even though drinkable water may be classified as unharmful, some drinkable water can taste very bad. Proper filtration negates that. Filtering water can also adjust the pH of your water to ensure it’s not too acidic or too alkaline. This can help reduce any heartburn that you may be partial to. Filtering water also makes sure it doesn’t have any particulates that can be damaging to your teeth. Arguably, the most beneficial aspect of filtering your tap water is being able to kill bacteria, parasites, and viruses which can all live and be present in your water.
How To Filter Water
There are many ways to filter water. The process is not particularly new, meaning some methods are older and less advanced than others. Every method has its positives and drawbacks, and each filtration system comes at different price points. Furthermore, different systems address different issues with filtration and purification. Here are some of the popular filtration methods:
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filters
Reverse osmosis filters are built off the principle of osmosis. The basic method of action is that unfiltered or salty water is pushed (with high pressure) through a partially permeable membrane to produce clean, filtered, drinkable water. Reverse osmosis filters are highly effective in removing pollutants, bacteria, and viruses. They do not require any electricity. These filters, however, are an investment. You need prefilters, post filters, and osmosis membranes, which all add up. They are also relatively uneconomical in how much water is wasted relative to their counterparts. If you are considering this filter, check out this site to see reviews on the latest RO systems 2020 has to offer. The water you get from them is so clean they’re worth the investment.
Ceramic Filters
Ceramic filters are ubiquitous and you have likely encountered them at one stage or another. The basic principle is that water passes through a ceramic, which is porous in nature and is filtered from impurities larger than the pores. Some are treated with silver to better kill bacteria and algae. Ceramic filters are cheap, last for years, easy to set up, require no electricity, and are effective in reducing bacteria and protozoa. They do not combat any viruses in water, though. They can also be relatively slow. You can find ceramic filters and most large hypermarkets.
UltraViolet Light Filters
Light has frequencies and on the higher end of that frequency spectrum, we get UltraViolet (UV) light. This light, if intense enough, can kill living microorganisms. UV filters have water travel through a glass pipe and UV light is irradiated through to filter the water. This is probably the most superior way of killing bacteria, parasites, and viruses. But it does not work to remove non-living contaminants, such as minerals or fluorides. UV filters are also expensive and need electricity to operate. They do not require any filter replacements, though, after many, many hours of operation, you may need a new UV light source. Given the recent pandemic, UV filters may be an ideal solution if you already have relatively clean and drinkable tap water or a previously installed filtration system present.
You need to be cautious of the water you consume or use in your day-to-day life. We often take clean water for granted and blindly assume that our tap water is ‘clean.’ However, the cleanliness of water can be measured in a variety of ways, and even in developed, first world countries, it is advisable to filter your drinking water. There is a cornucopia of filter types, brands, and sizes available to you and you need to select one based on your budget and the amount needed to be filtered daily. Naturally, if you live alone you will need less water for your household than you will need if you were a family of five. Find the right water filter for you today to protect yourself from any potential harm.
