It is virtually impossible for regular homeowners to influence the quality of their local, municipally supplied drinking water. Globally, mistrust of drinking water and public water supply is growing.
But by installing water purification and filtration systems in their own homes – either at the mainline or directly at the tap – consumers can regain control of their drinking water.
But what is the difference between filtration and purification?
To simplify it:
Water filtration is the process of removing or reducing the concentration of particulate matter, including suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, algae, viruses, and fungi.
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from water.
Water Filtration
Determining which type is most appropriate for you depends on what functions you want a filter to provide. No filters or treatment systems are 100% effective in removing all contaminants from water, and you need to know what you want your filter to do before you decide on any particular system.
Filters commonly found in homes include :
- Tap-mounted filters.
Tap-mounted filtration systems attach to a standard tap and can be switched on and off between filtered and unfiltered water flow, this is a relatively inexpensive solution.
- Tap-integrated (built-in) filters.
Tap-integrated filtration systems are taps designed with built-in filters (instead of an attached filter, like a tap-mounted system) and require technical installation.
- Under-sink filters.
Under-sink filtration systems are installed under a sink and send water through a pipe to the filter’s own specially installed tap. This filters large amounts of water, does not take up countertop space.
- Whole-house water treatment.
Whole-house water treatment devices treat all water entering the house, not just the water used for drinking. This treatment is necessary to avoid unfiltered and contaminated water entering your home water system, however, these types of installations are often expensive and may require modifications to plumbing and professional maintenance.
Water Purification
When choosing between systems we recommend going for a multi-stage treatment solution including a reverse osmosis process, which helps to remove impurities such as:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Odours
- Chlorine
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pesticides
- Heavy metals
Especially in regard to water-borne viruses, reverse osmosis is the only method which can successfully remove them from the water.
When it comes to private water purification systems, there are typically two options:
Point-of-entry (PoE) systems
These are installed on the main water line for the home and purify the water before it reaches outlet points such as washing machines, toilets, and bathrooms.
Point-of-entry purification systems purify all household water, removing most odours, residual chlorine and its taste, and most forms of pollutants, and delivers water suitable for general household use – washing, cleaning, cooking, etc.
This type of system must be capable of handling a large volume of water and is typically used to provide softened water to eliminate staining and the use of washing detergent.
Point-of-use (PoU) systems
This is used primarily to ensure a high quality of drinking water. As the name suggests, they are installed at a specific point of use in the office or at home, such as the kitchen or bathroom, and purify the water coming out of the tap.
Some point-of-use systems are installed on the countertop or mounted on the tap itself, while others can be installed under the sink. Since the purification takes place right by the tap, any risk of re-contamination, such as from defective in-house plumbing, is eliminated.
To find out more about these different systems and what will best suit your home and needs, please contact DMS Plumbing today. Professional Plumbing experts are available 24/7.