A water purifier can be a valuable addition to your home, keeping your family safe in the event of a contaminated water supply. Various types of water purification systems are available, and each uses different technologies and techniques to render water safe to drink. Understanding how these technologies work can help you make the right choice of purifier for your home.
Contaminants
The most common types of contaminants found in tap water include microorganisms, organic compounds and dissolved minerals. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be present in your water supply, depending on the water table. Lead and sediment can be a concern if your home has older, deteriorating pipes. Each type of purification system works best on different types of contaminant.
Types of Purifier
There are two types of water purifier. The most common type, and the easiest to install, purifies water from one faucet only. These can include faucet-mounted units or those you install underneath a sink. Whole-house units will provide clean water from every faucet, but these are more expensive, and problems with your home's plumbing can re-contaminate the purified water.
Activated Carbon
Activated carbon is a specially treated form of the element that creates tiny pieces full of nooks and crannies to increase their surface area. This carbon attracts particles out of the water, filtering out many compounds that can affect the taste and odor of your water. Activated carbon is usually found in physical filtration units that can also remove large particles such as cysts from the microorganisms giardia and cryptosporidium. NSF International rates filters capable of removing these contaminants with the NSF/ANSI Standard 53.
Ultraviolet Disinfection
Another method of purifying water is through ultraviolet disinfection. Heavy doses of ultraviolet light can sterilize bacteria, removing their ability to reproduce. These creatures's short lifespans quickly result in water that's free of microorganisms and safe to drink. These systems are usually paired with a filter, however, as they cannot actually remove particles and other contaminants from the water. NSF rates UV disinfection systems with the NSF/ANSI Standard 55.
Reverse Osmosis
One of the most effective water purification systems is reverse osmosis. If a semipermeable membrane divides two bodies of water, and one side has more dissolved particles than the other, water flows from the purer side until the density on both sides is balanced. By applying pressure, a reverse osmosis system forces water in the opposite direction, resulting in pure water on one side and all the contaminants on the other. This type of purifier effectively removes most types of contaminants, especially dissolved minerals and heavy metals. Reverse osmosis systems bear the NSF/ANSI Standard 58.
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