What is the Best Way to Purify Water?

You want to know your drinking water is safe. If you’re concerned about contamination, and don’t want to resort to bottled water, your best option may be a reverse osmosis system in your home. 
Below we review different ways to filter and purify water.

Filtration

For regular in-home use, some households opt for an in-line filtration system like a faucet-mount or fridge filter. These systems work well to provide good-tasting water – removing chlorine taste and odor. They can also filter out select minerals like zinc, copper, and mercury.
However, these carbon filtration systems can’t filter out many other harmful substances, such as pharmaceuticals in the water supply, lead, arsenic, or viruses and other microorganisms. 

Problems with in-line filters for everyday household use:

• Ineffective against microorganisms, lead, arsenic, and more 
• Ineffective against larger odor and aesthetic issues, e.g., sulfates of 2-3 parts per million 
• Susceptible to sediment buildup – slowing down water flow
• Requires frequent cartridge changes – expensive and time-consuming
• Takes up space in the fridge or requires a bulky faucet-mount
• Cartridges need to be changed on a regular basis or water quality can decline

While filtration isn’t generally effective for water purification (i.e. removing microorganisms), water filtration systems are still a valuable part of a home water treatment system. Whole home filters can remove tannins, sulfur, iron, and other particulates from your water. 

Reverse Osmosis

For everyday use, a reverse osmosis (RO) system is one of the best ways to purify water. That’s because RO systems combine multiple carbon filters with a unique semi-permeable membrane to provide a more sophisticated level of water treatment. 

Here’s how reverse osmosis works:

• Step 1: Water flows through a sediment filter that reduces chlorine and takes out larger sediment. 
• Step 2: Water is pushed through the semipermeable membrane. Water molecules pass through, but bacteria, viruses, sodium, chlorine, and other larger molecules are stopped.
• Step 3: Water flows through two more carbon filters to remove any remaining taste and odor. (This is the only step you’re getting with a standard filtration pitcher, fridge filter, or faucet mount.)

With reverse osmosis, purified water is stored in a small storage tank so it’s ready on-demand for drinking and cooking. It's a convenient and economical solution to get great tasting, safe water right from your faucet.

What Is the Best Way to Purify Water in Your Home? Contact Us 

We have local water specialists in your area who can provide the best advice for water purification appropriate to your home and situation.