Can water filters remove a wide range of contaminants & bacteria from residential water sources? As a matter of fact, home water filters work extremely well when it comes to removing contaminants. Here's a list of the most common contaminants typically found in residential drinking water:
- Chlorine
- Chloramines
- Bacteria
- Pesticides
- Viruses
- Inorganic / Organic Compounds
Water filters help ensure that these contaminants are removed from home water sources.
When it comes to choosing a type of filter for the home, there are a few things to keep in mind. Different filters are ideal for filtering out different materials and performing different tasks. Another aspect of filters that buyers should keep in mind is the ideal pore size. Pore size denotes the smallest size of material able to be caught in the filter. With these things in mind, continue reading to find out which contaminants and particles are removed with Carbon Filtration, Reverse Osmosis Filtration, and Ultrafiltration.
Sediment Removed by Carbon Whole House Filters
One of the most common types of filters within the home are carbon filters. Specifically, granular activated carbon or GAC filters are used within many home systems. GAC filters, such as these, work to remove a number of different contaminants from home water, including chlorine. These contaminants and their effects are easily filtered by a GAC system. This is because GAC filters are specifically designed to have high porous surface areas. These pores catch various contaminants including chlorine molecules and remove them from the water passing through the filter. This process is commonly known as adsorption.
Chloramines are another substance that can cause problems within household water. These molecules are able to be removed by another carbon filter, called a catalytic carbon filter. The surface of these filters is treated so that the surface now acts as a catalyst, increasing the chemical reactions taking place within the filter. This process decomposes the chloramines, which makes them simpler to remove.
In general, carbon filters being used within the home will work in a number of ways to treat the water passing through them. Carbon filters are known for removing organic compounds, as well as anything that could affect the taste or odor of the water. Some types of carbon filters are designed to remove cleaning solvents and any pesticides present within the water. In addition, carbon filters are able to remove metals like lead and copper from water, though they are unable to filter out substances like nitrates, bacteria, or any dissolved minerals within the water.
Impurities Removed by Reverse Osmosis
Some filters, like reverse osmosis filters such as these, work to remove the smallest particles possible. Reverse osmosis is a method of filtering water that works by pushing the contaminated water through a membrane with the smallest pores possible. The water that is expelled on the other side is essentially pure water, as reverse osmosis removes almost all bacteria, viruses, and most minerals within the water itself. Along with the reverse osmosis membrane, most reverse osmosis filters include post filters, meant to ensure the cleanest water possible.
Pore sizes on reverse osmosis membranes are approximately 0.0001 micron in size. This pore size is what makes reverse osmosis so efficient in removing impurities like protozoa such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. In addition to removing any foul taste or smell, reverse osmosis also removes bacteria like Salmonella, E. Coli, and Shigella from home water systems. Viruses such as Hepatitis A, Norovirus, and Rotavirus are also filtered out of household water by using a reverse osmosis filter system. Other chemical contaminants that can be filtered out of a home’s water supply include sodium, copper, chloride, lead, arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, nitrate, and calcium. Desalinization takes place during the filtering process when using reverse osmosis by removing monovalent ions within the water.
Contaminants Removed by Ultrafiltration
Another option when determining the best process for removing debris and various other contaminants from a home’s water supply is to utilize a system called ultrafiltration, like this one. Ultrafiltration results in less of a change to your water supply when compared to reverse osmosis simply because the pore size in an ultrafiltration membrane is larger than the pore size on a reverse osmosis membrane. At a size of approximately 0.01 micron, the pores in an ultrafiltration membrane are able to remove a considerable number of possible contaminants from household water.
While its effectiveness in removing chemicals from water is low, ultrafiltration is able to remove protozoa, bacteria, and viruses from water supplies. Ultrafiltration also keeps key minerals in your water supply, like fluoride. The ultrafiltration process ensures tastes and odors are eliminated from water, as well as things like chlorine, benzene, and rust, which contaminate the water and can make it dangerous for consumption.
Choosing a Filter to Remove Sediment from Water
When it comes to deciding what type of filter you need to remove sediment from your home’s water supply, there are a number of different things to keep in mind. The first step in determining the correct water filter for you is to find out where your water is coming from: the city or a well. The next thing you will need to do is get that water tested to determine the composition of the water. When you understand what you want to remove from the water, picking a filter type will be easier. Other aspects of your water’s composition need to be taken into account as well, like the size of the contaminated particles in the water and the number of contaminants in the water. These two factors will help better decide the pore size your filter requires. Any pretreatment being performed on the water needs to be taken into account as well. Once you have all the information on your home’s water supply, choosing the correct filter for your needs is simple. If you have any questions during this process, we are happy to help.