The quality of your drinking water and for other domestic uses is crucial. Unfortunately, water coming directly from the treatment plant is never safe for consumption. That is why filtration must be part of your plumbing system. However, it is essential to select a type of water filter that will address all your water issues. Fortunately, the market is providing with a range of options to pick from.
Whether you are looking for a whole house water filtration system or drinking water filter unit, the market has something for you. In this article, we have rounded up the 5 most common types of water filter units you can find in Australia.
Here are some of the common types of water filter units for homes
1. Activated Carbon Filters
Carbon filter system or carbon block filters are very popular with Australia. We spoke with refrigerator filter expert David from Discount Fridge Filters who told us water filter cartridges are super effective in filtering contaminants in the water and are cost-effective. “These types of water filters generally remove lead, PCBs, certain parasites, radon, chlorine byproducts, pesticides and herbicides, Asbestos, and cysts. They also help to get rid of particular gasoline, dry cleaning additives, and solvents, some levels of bacteria as well as traces of pharmaceuticals in the water” he explained.
The working mechanism of the carbon water filters is pretty simple. As the name suggests, these filters are designed using carbon as the filtering agent. The carbon is mostly used in the solid form where water passes through and is purified. The carbon filtering process mainly targets larger particles like sediments and silt, larger bacteria, and other dangerous contaminants that pose health risks.
There are various types of carbon block filters to pick from depending on the impurities that you want to remove. So you need to have your water tested for contaminants first before you’ll be able to figure out the best filter for your needs.
2. Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
If you are looking for a drinking water filter that guarantees high-quality drinking water, then reverse osmosis filter is what you need. These types of water filters use a semi-permeable membrane that filters all kind of toxic substances and waterborne contamination. In fact, it is one of the only water filtration systems that removes most of the contaminants, including fluoride, perchlorate, sulfates, industrial chemicals, chlorine by-products, chlorides, and heavy metals amongst others. We’ve previously covered the most common water contaminants you will encounter.
The working mechanism of a reverse osmosis water filtration system is very simple. The system uses 4-5 filtration stages to screen the water. The system simply works by forcing the water across the semipermeable membrane, leaving the contaminants behind in every stage. So once the water reaches the 4th or 5th filtration stage, it is free of all contaminants, including the heavy metals and harmful bacteria.
Apart from getting rid of almost all the contaminants, RO water filtration system also improves the taste and smell of the water. However, they are a bit expensive to install and to maintain. This type of water filter also wastes a lot more water- in every 1 gallon filtered, 3 to 9 gallons are used. However, you will save on bottled water, medical bills and so on.
3. Ultraviolet Disinfection
For the longest time, people have been using mechanical water filters in their homes. Most of these water filtration systems are permanently installed in your home hence lacking mobility. That is where ultraviolet disinfection and other tech advanced water filters come in. Ultraviolet water purification is specifically used to kill waterborne bacteria. One thing that makes UV filters popular is the fact that the device is portable, making them perfect for hiking and other trails where clean finding clean water can be a challenge.
UV disinfection filters’ working mechanism is very simple. The process works by attacking the genetic core of bacteria, killing or disabling them instantly. In fact, it has been found to get rid of 99.99% of harmful waterborne microorganisms. In addition, more advanced ultraviolet water filters can kill viruses and protozoan cysts in the water by exposing them to UV rays.
Apart from the portability feature, UV water filters do not use chemicals, and thus, it is more of a natural purification process. It is also very cheap compared to most of the available alternatives in the market. These filters are widely used for pre-treatment, e.g., for carbon filtration processes which are not effective in removing small bacteria and other microorganisms in the water. They are also cheap to buy and to maintain.
4. Alkaline and Water Ionizer Filtration System
Alkaline and water ionizer are advanced tech types of water filters for home water purification. The purification process works by changing the acidity of the water to make it impossible for harmful bacteria and other microorganisms to survive.
These types of water filters use electrolysis process where water is passed over electrically charged plates and separated in two streams. One of these streams is acidic, while the other is alkaline. So that is how bacteria and other organisms are killed.
There are several reasons making alkaline and water ionizers popular in Australia. One of them is producing soft water in addition to removing harmful microorganisms. That makes it perfect for those living in hard water areas. It is also cheap to maintain.
5. Infrared Filters
If you live in hard water areas, infrared water filters is a perfect solution for you. Apart from removing chemicals, bacterial and myriad of harmful microorganisms in the water, these filters also help to soften your water.
As the name suggests, the filtration system uses infrared (IR) rays to kill bacteria and other microorganisms in the water. So by introducing heat and IR rays into the water, most disease-causing bacteria and other microorganisms cannot survive, and so they will die instantly. That is how water is purified. The whole process leaves the water negatively charged hence the softer feel.
If you are looking for a water filter for your home, these are 5 of the common types you can find Australia. However, the choice of water filtration system should be determined by your water issues. If you have no idea, seek professional advice from a water filter specialist on the best type for your home.