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Water Filters

There are a number of methods of water filtration, each with varying degrees of effectiveness, and varying costs. The general purpose of filtering water is to improve the water's hygiene and aesthetic qualities. Some of the available water filters are described below:

 

Activated Carbon (AC) Water Filters

Activated Carbon Filtration is an established technology that works through absorption of the problematic compounds, primarily to remove taste and odour but systems will also remove some harmful contaminents. AC is a highly porous material with a very large surface area. Chemical pollutants are attracted to and held by the AC's surface. These water filters are best suited for the removal of organic compounds.

More information can be found here:

  • Excellent Paper from North Dakota State University - February 1992
  • Research from Michigan State University - 14th July 1997
  • American Ground Water Trust - 1999
 

Ultraviolet (UV) Water Filters

UV Filters are able to kill the majority of bacteria and viruses in the water which passes through them. However, they won't remove chemical pollutants from the water. Also you should note that the treatment is ineffective outside of the treatment area, so water should be used immediately after it is treated.

More information can be found here:

  • American Ground Water Trust - 1999
 

Water Distillation (Water Distillers)

Water Distillation involves heating the water to boiling point and condensing the steam. Pollutants with a boiling boint near that of water are hard to remove, but generally the distilled water is of a very high quality.

The major drawback to this method is that it requires a large amount of energy. Some people will also complain that the distilled water tastes flat (this is due to less dissolved oxygen).

More information can be found here:

  • Michigan State University Extension on Distillation - Jan 1990
  • Excellent Paper from North Dakota State University - February 1992
 

Sand Filters

Sand based water filters have been used for over 100 years to treat waste water. They are generally used on a larger scale to treat a water supply for a whole community, and will be custom made. Most units require a constant flow of water to work correctly, and so wouldn't be suitable for well water treatment. However, recently a Canadian scientist, David Manz developed an intermitent unit. You can buy pre-built commercial units for home use which are typically used with swimming pool pumps.

More information can be found here:

  • EPA fact sheet - Sand Water Technology Factsheet
  • Centre for Alternative Technologies (UK) - 1997
 

Reverse Osmosis

In water filter terms, reverse osmosis (or hyper-filtration) is the process of filtering water under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane, allowing water to pass through but rejecting other particles such as bacteria, toxins, salts, and anything bigger than around 150 Daltons.

You can find more information on our dedicated reverse osmosis page.