Water Filter
How Do Water Filters Work
Water is one of the most important substances on the planet, it covers 71% of the Earth’s surface and the human body can contain as much as 75%. Water is vital to a huge number of applications including agriculture, science, medical, transportation, heating, recreation, food processing, washing and perhaps most important of all: drinking.
For the majority of us, drinking water comes from a treated municipal supply which is safe to drink, but will often feature unpleasant tastes and odors from chemicals such as chlorine which are used to disinfect the water and keep it free of germs and bacteria. Depending on where you live, you may also find that your main water supply causes limescale deposits to form which can block pipes and damage appliances. These issues, chlorine taste / odor and limescale formation are just two among a host of other common water problems which can be solved by water filtration. But how do water filters actually work?
Absorbtion
Absorption in water filters is most commonly carried out by carbon, which is highly effective at capturing water-borne contaminants. The reason carbon absorbs contaminants so readily is that it has a huge internal surface which is jam packed with nooks and crannies that can trap chemical impurities such as chlorine.
Most common domestic filters contain granular activated carbon (GAC) which reduces unwanted tastes and odors by absorption. More expensive filters use carbon block elements which are generally more effective and usually carry a micron rating for particle removal.
A variety of different substances can be used to make carbon for filters including wood and coconut shell, with coconut shell filters being more effective but also more expensive.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis (RO) is the process of removing dissolved inorganic solids (such as magnesium and calcium ions) from water by forcing it through a semipermeable membrane under pressure so that the water passes through but most of the contaminants are left behind.
Reverse osmosis is a highly effective way of purifying water and is usually combined with a number of other filters such as a mechanical (sediment) filter and an absorption (activated carbon) filter in order to return water with few contaminants remaining.
Reverse osmosis systems use water pressure to force water through the membrane so it uses no electricity, though a certain amount of waste water is produced that has to be sent to the drain. The extra filters involved in multi-stage water filtration can make a reverse osmosis unit more expensive than other filtration methods but in applications where 99.9% pure water is required, RO is one of the preferred options offered.
Water Softeners
A water softener removes minerals that create water hardness, one of the most common water quality problems in US homes. Hard water destroys appliances, leaves filmy soap scum across bathrooms and kitchens, and dries out hair and skin. With over 85% of the United States relying on hard water for their cooking, cleaning, and bathing, water softeners serve a vital purpose in protecting home’s plumbing and appliances. A water softener saves you from replacing prematurely ruined water heaters, scaly faucet heads, and hours and hours of cleaning up soapy residue. Investing in a water softener saves you time, energy, and money while protecting your home and property.
What is a Water Softener
A water softener is a water treatmen system that removes hardness-causing calcium and magnesium minerals from your water through a process called ion exchange. A water softener addresses hard water, one of the most prevalent and devastating water problems. Hard water wreaks havoc on a home’s plumbing and appliances, clogging pipes and shortening the lifespan of dishwashers, coffee makers, and ice machines. The higher the temperature of the water, the more calcium and magnesium will solidify and harden into solid deposits inside your hot water heater. If you live in hard water territory, your water heater may sound like it is popping popcorn. This is because scale has attached itself to the heating element. As the temperature of the heater rises and the tank expands, the calcified rock deposits crusted on the heating elements start cracking and stretching.
Without a water softener, laundry demands extra detergent to prevent it from looking dingy. Dishes will come out of your dishwasher streaked and stained. Filmy scum builds up on your shower curtains, and your soap and shampoo will not lather. Bathing in hard water leaves your skin itchy and dry and your hair lifeless and sticky. The amount of time, energy, and money required to clean up the detrimental side effects of hard water can be overwhelming. A whole house water softener is the solution to the many problems hard water introduces to a home.
How Does a Water Softener Work
A water softener removes calcium and magnesium from water through a process called ion exchange. When the hard water enters into the mineral tank, it flows through a bed of spherical resin beads. These plastic beads, usually made from polystyrene, are charged with a sodium ion. The resin beads are anions, meaning they have a negative charge. The calcium and magnesium minerals have a positive charge, making them cations. Since opposite charges attract, the negative charge of the minerals is attracted to the positive charge of the resin beads. As the hard water passes through the resin, the beads grab ahold of the mineral ions and remove them from the water. When the bead seizes the mineral ion, the sodium ion is released. The column of resin strips all the hardness out of the water as it passes through the mineral tank, and softened water flows out into your home.
What is Hard Water
Hard water is water with an abundance of mineral content, specifically calcium and magnesium. This mineral-rich water causes devastating effects on household appliances. Water hardness minerals resist dissolution and seek to return to a hardened form. When hard water is heated, calcium ions form calcium carbonate, a precipitate formation also known as scale. Scale accumulates in pipes, clogging them and reducing water pressure. Scale also forms inside water heater appliances, shortening their lifespan and increasing energy bills. The minerals in hard water resist lathering with soap and leave behind unsightly white soap scum all over your bathroom and kitchen. In a home plagued by hard water, showerheads lose flow, laundry is dull and dingy, and dishes emerge from the dishwasher streaked and cloudy.
Is Well Water Hard
Well water is very likely to be hard water because of its reliance on groundwater supplies. Hard water is predominantly found in groundwater, which is used by both wells and municipalities alike. Surface water supplies like large lakes or reservoirs are fed primarily by precipitation and rain, so they avoid contact with heavy mineral content. Groundwater seeps through layers of mineral-rich rock on its path to underground aquifers, absorbing hardness-causing minerals like calcium and magnesium along the way. Well owners rely on groundwater for their home water supply, so though well water it isn’t inherently hard, its prolonged exposure to the earth means it probably has elevated hardness levels. However, many city suppliers use hard groundwater for municipal distribution as well, so the problem is far from limited to well owners or rural areas.
How do I Know if I Have Hard Water
If you live with hard water, odds are you are already aware of it. From rattling heaters to spotty glassware and dishes, it’s hard to miss the signs that you are living with hard water.
UV Water Purification
How Does it Work
UV water treatment is a relatively simple process. Step 1: Pre-treated water enters the stainless steel chamber flowing around the UV lamp. Step 2: The microbes in the water are exposed to the ultraviolet light (254nm wavelength) which alters their DNA, making them unable to replicate. The microbes are now harmless.
What Does it do to the Water
UV treatment purifies water by exposing living organisms to ultraviolet light, but it does not filter them out. Water filters do not remove bacteria and viruses with the same effectiveness as UV systems. UV disinfection works alongside water filtration systems to provide clean water.
UV Purification or Boil Water
Water purifiers use multiple purification methods to ensure the water is free from contaminants. For example, reverse osmosis removes dissolved solids and chemicals, while ultraviolet light kills bacteria and viruses. Boiling water only uses heat to purify water, and it may not be effective against all contaminants.
How Long WIll it Last
Typically, an Ultraviolet or UV lamp lasts 12 months or about 9000 hours of use. The light stays lit longer than 12 months but after one year of use it's ability to kill bacteria will slowly diminish and it will no longer kill bacteria, leaving your family vulnerable.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis (RO) is the process of removing dissolved inorganic solids (such as magnesium and calcium ions) from water by forcing it through a semipermeable membrane under pressure so that the water passes through but most of the contaminants are left behind.
Reverse osmosis is a highly effective way of purifying water and is usually combined with a number of other filters such as a mechanical (sediment) filter and an absorption (activated carbon) filter in order to return water with few contaminants remaining.
Reverse osmosis systems use water pressure to force water through the membrane so it uses no electricity, though a certain amount of waste water is produced that has to be sent to the drain. The extra filters involved in multi-stage water filtration can make a reverse osmosis unit more expensive than other filtration methods but in applications where 99.9% pure water is required, RO is one of the preferred options offered.
