Water Filtration System: All That You Need to Know
April 23, 2020
Water is vital for life, and we must all drink around 8 liters of water every day. In hotter regions, the locals drink water in even greater quantities. As important as water is, it is often contaminated with microorganisms, metals, sulfides, chlorides and other pollutants. So before consuming, we must ensure that we drink clean and purified water, free of all contaminants. And this is why we need a water filtration system in Paso Robles, CA.
Many of you may already be utilizing a water filtration system in Paso Robles, CA, but ascertain that you’re using the right one.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN TYPES OF WATER FILTERS?
A water filtration system in Paso Robles, CA can be divided into several types, but we’ll only talk about the four most popular ones here.
ACTIVATED CARBON
Probably the most widely used of all four filter types. Activated carbon filter is often the number one choice when looking around for a water filtration system in Paso Robles, CA because it’s simple to use, small and affordable. Activated carbon in a granular form acts as the filtration medium, and attracts contaminants in the water, which stick to the surface. Clean water then passes out on the other side.
The charcoal, used as the filtration medium, features a porous structure with many ridges that trap contaminants by adsorbing.
DISTILLATION
In this process, water is boiled. The released steam is then captured and forced to condense into liquid water, which is almost in a pure state.
ION EXCHANGE
This type of water filtration system in Paso Robles, CA comprises of a zeolite bed filled with sodium ions. Hard water is passed through the unit, upon which magnesium, calcium and other hard ions are replaced with sodium. Thus, the water expelled from the ion exchange filter is in a soft form and doesn’t form curds.
REVERSE OSMOSIS
A reverse osmosis filter features a number of additional filter units including 3 pre-membrane filters, a post membrane filter and a semi permeable membrane. A reverse osmosis filter doesn’t allow any contaminants greater than a particular size or weight to pass through. Since the semi permeable membrane features fine pores, filtration is quite effective.
HOW DO WATER FILTERS WORK?
The four filters described above remove contaminants from water effectively, but by using different processes.
ACTIVATED CARBON
his type of water filtration system in Paso Robles, CA uses adsorption, a process n which liquids and gases are attracted to other substances in the same form. As water passes though the filtration medium, the spongy surface of carbon attracts impurities, which are then filled up in the ridges present on the surface.
Charcoal removes several kinds of contaminants, but these don’t include lime scale, sodium, fluoride, nitrates and microbes.
DISTILLATION
As already mentioned, water is boiled in this kind of filter. The captured steam is then converted into a liquid form, through condensation. Since water contains impurities, it boils at a lower temperature than other contaminants. Thus, they remain in the original container, whereas the steam rises up in a cleansed form.
ION EXCHANGE
The sodium ions in the zeolite bed are attracted to hard ions present in the water, and in the process, are exchanged with them. The filtered water is soft in nature and has an improved taste. However, the presence of sodium does make the water saltier, so it may not be recommended for heart patients and anyone on a diet.
REVERSE OSMOSIS
As already mentioned, this type of water filtration system in Paso Robles, CA comprises of 5 filters or more. The first filter blocks dust, debris, rust and other particles that can damage the semi permeable or reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. The second filter (often using active carbon as the medium) blocks fluoride, chloride and other harmful chemicals. The third filter is again made from carbon, but this time the surface is denser, ensuring all smaller particles are filtered out.
After the water reaches the fourth membrane, which is the RO one, it hardly contains any contaminants. The ones that are present are also removed depending on the weight, size and charge. The last filter attacks viruses, bacteria, leftover chlorine and any other bad tastes or odors that remain. Sometimes additional filter units may also be integrated with this system to increase the pH level of water.
Reverse osmosis succeeds in removing around 95% to 99% of the contaminants.
HOW CAN YOU TEST WATER FOR ITS QUALITY?
Before you decide on a particular kind of water filtration system in Paso Robles, you should test water for its quality, and then select the most suitable filter depending on the contaminants present.
Water quality can be tested by using a pre-fabricated kit available in the market, by using your senses or by going through the water quality report, which you can get from your local municipality. The first of these is the most effective method of testing water quality.
HOW CAN YOU FIND THE RIGHT WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM IN PASO ROBLES, CA FOR YOUR NEEDS?
The water quality report should give you an idea of contaminants present in water. Keeping the results in mind, which water filtration system in Paso Robles, CA do you think is the best for your particular needs? Also consider other factors such as water usage and budget.
Let’s consider some common situations and see which water filters are the most suitable for that specific case.
LIME SCALE DEPOSITS
If water running rough your taps is filled with lime scale deposits, then an ion exchange filter, electric water softener or a whole house water filter are recommended choices. The first of these is the most economical option.
BAD TASTE OR ODOR
If water has a strange taste or odor, you should use an activated carbon filter, an ozone filter or a reverse osmosis system.
BACTERIA
In case bacteria are present, then your best choices are a distillation filter or UV filter.
Get in touch with us, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, and we’ll help you choose the most suitable water filtration system in Paso Robles, CA for your needs.