Few things are as important as clean water. In fact, a lot of effort goes into purifying and filtering the water people drink. Given the prevalence of contaminants that find their way into drinking water, it’s important to know about the different water purification technologies that can make water safe to drink.
1. Reverse Osmosis
In reverse osmosis filtration systems, pressure drives water through a semipermeable membrane that catches contaminants. Most filtration systems that utilize reverse osmosis first pass water through one or more prefilters that reduce chlorine, sediment and organic compounds. This filtration method produces reverse osmosis water Midland County TX that is almost completely free of dissolved solids. The concentrated wastewater is typically channeled down the drain; however, some systems can reserve the brine for alternative uses such as watering the plants or washing the car.
2. Carbon Filtration
Carbon absorption is effective at removing odors, chlorine and other chemicals, gases, unpleasant tastes and some microorganisms. Carbon filtration systems come in two forms: granular activated carbon, which uses grains of carbon, or solid block carbon, which uses particulate-size blocks of compressed carbon. There are pros and cons to each system. Solid carbon blocks form more tightly than granulated carbon and allow less pollutants to pass though. However, they also clog more easily. Carbon filtration doesn’t target inorganic contaminants, but it can be used in combination with other methods such as reverse osmosis.
3. Distillation
During distillation, water is heated until it transitions into a vapor. Many contaminants left behind as residue in the chamber, while the vapor is condensed into drinking water. The heating process also kills many viruses and bacteria. While distillation reduces minerals and microorganisms, it only removes chemicals with high boiling points. That means that many common chemicals such as chlorine can remain in the water after distillation. As such, distillation is often used in conjunction with carbon filters.
These popular methods are used on their own or in combination with one another to produce safe and clean drinking water.
