Water Filtration removes unwanted impurities such as sediment, taste, odor, hardness and bacteria from water. Filtration is the process of passing a liquid or gas through a filter to remove solid particles.
A water filter removes impurities using a fine physical barrier, a chemical process, or a biological process. Filters cleanse water to different extents and excel at removing contaminants. The finer the filter, the more particulates are removed.
Filtration can help with the removal of hard water ions, particulates, chlorine, TDS (total dissolved solids), alkalinity and pH.
Types of Water Filters
Mechanical
Mechanical filters physically remove impurities in water using a barrier of some kind. A basic mesh barrier filters large particles out. A ceramic filter with a complex pore structure provides ultra-fine filtration. Mechanical filters are given a micron rating which indicates the size of the particles it can remove.
- 5 micron – removes most particles visible to the naked eye.
- 1 micron – removes particles that can be seen only with a microscope
- 0.5 micron – removes cysts like giardiasis and cryptosporidium.
Absorption
Absorption filters usually contain granular activated carbon which is highly effective at capturing water-borne contaminants. The internal surface of this carbon is covered in nooks and crannies that trap chemical impurities such as chlorine. Some filters use carbon block elements which are more effective and carry a micron rating for particle removal.
Sequestration
Sequestration is the act of chemically isolating a substance. Food grade polyphosphate is often used in scale inhibiting filters to sequester the calcium and magnesium minerals. This inhibits limescale and corrosion but does not soften the water. Sequestration keeps the minerals within the solution while preventing them from forming scale.
Ion Exchange
Ion exchange softens hard water by exchanging the magnesium and calcium ions with other ions like sodium or hydrogen. Ion exchange physically removes the hard minerals in water. It is suitable for applications where water is kept at a constant high temperature such as commercial coffee machines.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis (RO) removes dissolved inorganic solids, such as magnesium and calcium ions, from water. By forcing water through a semipermeable membrane under pressure the water passes but most of the contaminants are left behind. Reverse osmosis is usually combined with other types of filters in order to offer the finest level of filtration available.
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