Early 2020, experts warned that tap water is no longer 100% safe for drinking owing to the fact that old broken pipes make it possible for disease-causing organisms to enter the water lines. This is not the first-time residents across the nation are receiving warnings against drinking tap water unless they have filtered or boiled it.
It is without a doubt we all have been taking in bacteria, and the only question we can ask is: how much of the bacteria and other contaminants have we taken before? According to the Environmental Working Group, a not-for-profit that has bee actively involved in protecting lives and livelihoods found unprecedented levels of polyfluoroalkyl in more than 20 American cities.
Having pointed at these alarming statistics, it is now clear that home water filtration systems come in handy to help protect lives. While it is arguable that the U.S water sources are some of the safest globally, it is evident that installing the best water filtration system can go a long way in protecting appliances and pipes, but also riding the water of chemicals, minerals, and other contaminants, making water tastier and safer.
Choosing the right Water Filtration System for Your Home
With different filtration technologies and tens of filter brands available on the market, choosing the right filtration is now tricky. While many of the brands on the market work, chances are they are only effective at working on one or just two water problems while some won’t promise anything better. According to Qualitywaterlab, before you decide which type of filter you want for your home, it’s important to know the type and severity of the contamination that you’re dealing with in your home by having a proper water test performed.
The good news is that a good number of filters out there feature a combination of two or more primary filtration technologies: reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and carbon filtration. Understanding how each one of these technologies work is crucial in helping you select the best water filtration for your home.
A Look at Water Filtration Technologies
As already mentioned, the water filter you choose could probably be designed to use either carbon filtration, reverse osmosis, or ion exchange. Here’s a look at some of the technologies to help you know what types of contaminants you are likely to remove depending on the choice of the filter.
Carbon and activated carbon Filtration
This technology of filtration works by bonding chemically with the contaminants and expelling them as water flows down the filter the effectiveness of activated carbon filters differs. There are those which are designed to reduce the amount of chlorine and improving the taste of water while others have been certified to reduce the level of contaminants, including asbestos, lead, volatile organic compounds and mercury. It is worth noting that this technology does not eliminate common inorganic pollutants such as nitrate, fluoride, perchlorate, hexavalent chromium, and arsenic. You can find activated carbon filters in two forms: granulated activated and carbon blocked car.
Reverse Osmosis
Designed for home installation, these filtration systems feature one or more activated carbon and sediment filters, thus giving the systems a unique ability to eliminate more contaminants. The first activated carbon binds to and removes chlorine, VOCs, and Trihalomethanes and later water passes through a semipermeable membrane that traps any particle larger than water molecules.
Consequently, reverse osmosis filtration technology re highly effective in removing a large number of contaminants than activated carbon filters. The useful water is directed to the right place while the unused or rejected water is flushed out. The only downside of reverse osmosis is that it removes essential minerals that are good for our health such as iron, calcium, and magnesium.
Whole House Filtration
These filters are installed where the water first enters the home so that after the water passes through the system, all other points receive only filtered and safe water ready for use. While the system is comparatively expensive, they reduce the long-term cost of repairing appliances and replacing the plumbing system. The only downside of whole house filters is that they remove chlorine, an essential component that protects pipes from damages due to mold.
Final Take-Home Notes
Once you have tested your water and know what’s in your water, you probably can decide the most appropriate type of water filter that would effectively remove the type of contaminants you are dealing with. If you are looking to significantly reduce your family’s exposure to too much chlorine while at the same time reducing the cost of water filtration in the long run, then whole house water filters are the best choice. However, with the buzz around whole house filters, many unsuspecting homeowners have been duped into buying low-quality filters that at best make them lose money and at worst risk their health because they do little or nothing to rid water of disease-causing organisms and other contaminants.
If you are still not sure where to begin, consult an experienced professional in the field of water filtration to walk you through various aspects of selecting the best water filtration system, including water testing, installation, and maintenance of the filters to achieve longevity.