The Best Way To Purify Water

Water purification technology might still be in the early stages of development. A lot of the methods of water purification used today have been around for decades, some for centuries. As time goes by, researchers may come up with newer and better treatment options.   

What we have provided here is a brief overview of some of the popular methods of water purification used in homes and treatment facilities around the country. Some could be considered modern water purification technology, while others need to be improved or possibly scrapped. 

Distillation is one of the oldest methods of water purification. Heat is used to vaporize water, but not elements with a higher boiling point. The result is a de-mineralized liquid that may still contain many chemical contaminants. The disadvantages to distillation include increased cost and energy use. 

Reverse osmosis or RO is sometimes advertised as advanced water purification technology, but to tell the truth, it was developed over fifty years ago. In industrial settings and large-scale facilities with the need to remove large contaminants and most of the mineral content, this system works perfectly. For home use, however, there are better ways to purify your water, because of RO's disadvantages. 

In order for RO to work, pressurization is necessary, so additional pumps and electricity are needed. At least three gallons of water are wasted for every one-gallon that is cleaned. The more effective products waste the most. Less waste means more maintenance and shorter filter life. In today's world, wasting any natural resource must be avoided. Less than 3% of the earth's H2O can be consumed, at all. We have to protect the rest. 

Both reverse osmosis and distillation methods of water purification emit a substance that may not be good for your health. Drinking de-mineralized liquids on a regular basis causes stomach problems and eventually leads to symptoms of mineral deficiencies, such as bone loss and osteoporosis. Plus, neither of these water purification processes can remove chemical contaminants and RO does not remove all bacterial contaminants, so chlorine must typically be added and then a carbon filter used to remove it before drinking or showering. 

Disinfections by chlorine is the water purification technology that stopped epidemics of cholera and typhoid in this country. It has been used for nearly 100 years. In an emergency situation, like a hurricane or a flood, household grade chlorine bleach can be used to clarify and kill bacteria. 

The problem is that prolonged exposure to chlorine and its by-products is believed to cause several different types of cancer. During a shower, your pores open up and absorb even more of the chemical than by drinking it. That's why we say that whenever chlorine is used, it must be removed before showering or drinking. 

UV light is a relatively new development in purifying water. It can kill germs and bacteria, at the source, but there is still a question of bacterial contamination and algae growth in the pipes. 

Treatment facilities use a variety of different methods of water purification. In the home or at the point of use, the most important thing to have is activated carbon or carbon block systems for the kitchen tap and the shower. Carbon is not really new water purification technology, since it was developed in WWI to counter the affects of chemical weapons, but it is still the best choice that we have for removing hazardous chemicals.

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