Water purification is a mechanism through which harmful pollutants, biological contaminants, suspended solids and gasses are separated from the water.
The aim is to make water suitable for various purposes. Much of water is filtered and fumigated for human consumption (drinking water), but water purification can also be used for a range of other purposes, including medical, pharmacological, chemical and industrial applications.
There are various types of water purifiers available in the market, depending on the water purification process.
Water Purifier Types
1- Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purifier
RO water purifiers are among the finest water purification devices in the market today. RO water purifier is an electric water purifier that works with the reverse osmosis to provide clean potable water. It is basically multi-stage purification cycle which removes impurities, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pollutants causing disease, viruses and other bacteria and ensures pure water.
2- Ultraviolet (UV) water purifier
Ultraviolet water purification is the most efficient method to disinfect water bacteria. UV rays are used by the water purifier to kill the virus and harmful germs present in drinking water and help to protect us against waterborne diseases.
Disinfecting the water with ultraviolet light is very convenient, safe and effective. UV water purifiers are usually applied with other filtration types such as reverse osmosis systems or carbon block filters.
3- Ultra Filtration (UF) water purifier
Ultrafiltration (UF) is a form of membrane filtration that forces the liquid to a semi-permeable membrane under hydrostatic pressure. A semi-permeable membrane is a thin layer of material which can be used to separate materials by applying a driving force through the membrane. UF is basically similar to RO technology, but the only difference is that RO can block very tiny particles, whereas UF blocks large particles.
UF does not use hard water because UF does not absorb dissolved salts in hard water.
4- Activated Carbon water purifier
Carbon filtering is a filtering process that uses a layer of activated carbon for the elimination by chemical absorption of contaminants and impurity by using chemical adsorption. Activated carbon usually made from charcoal. Activated carbon eliminates the majority of waterborne diseases which cause pesticides and heavy metals. It also removes chemicals which cause water tastes and bad smell.
Activated carbon is most effective to extract chlorine from water along with pollutants such as soil, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), taste and odour.
5- Sediment filter
Sediment is defined to be the matter deposited on the ground of water or liquid. Sediment filters are used to lessen and trap a fluid containing solid particulate matter like unwanted dirt and debris from a water supply. The debris can be rust flakes of metal pipes, sand or mud particles and reduces water turbidity. It is a pre-filter and can be used together with other purifiers, such as RO and UV.
6- Gravity based purifier
Gravity-based purifier or non-electric purifier of water uses chemical-free water purifiers. This basically means that water is filtered by natural gravity from higher to lower, without the assistance of external force and the most significant advantage is that water purification systems dependent on gravity, without electricity or running water.
Both visible dirt and contaminants are removed as the water flows from one portion to the next. The activated carbon kit also eliminates bacteria, viruses and other impurities to ensure that the water is safe for use.