Different Types of Water Filtration Systems
Posted by admin | Posted in Water Filters | Posted on 10-09-2011-05-2008
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This guest post has been contributed by Aaron from Plumbers Phoenix; he does work on Phoenix Water Softeners and is a successful Chandler Plumber.
People have been using water filters for many years now. This device can remove impurities from water through a chemical process, a fine physical barrier or through a biological process. It is generally used for drinking water, irrigation, swimming pools and aquariums. To filter water, adsorption, sieving, ion exchanges and various other processes may be used. The basic categories and different types of water filters are found below:
1. Point-of-use Filters
These filters are commonly for home use. Examples are:
Metallic alloy filters
Granular-activated carbon filters
Microporous ceramic filters
Ultrafiltration membranes
CBR or carbon block resin
2. Water Treatment Plant Filters
This type includes the following:
Screen filters
Media filters
Slow sand filter beds
Disk filters
Cloth filters
Rapid sand filters
3. Portable Water Filters
This type of water filter is used by aid organizations for humanitarian emergencies, the military, hikers and people who need a small, portable as well as light filter system. They work through a mechanical hand pump. There are also those that make use of a siphon drip system for forcing water through. For the rest, they are already built into the water bottles. These filters can remove protozoa, bacteria and even microbial cysts which are known to causes diseases.
Different types of water filters are actually not similar to water purifiers. There are types that can even remove or kill viruses like rotavirus and hepatitis A. The most in-demand types of water filters are:
UV sterilization Denatures and inactivates bacterial DNA through the process of DNA & protein absorption via UV radiation.
Charcoal or active carbon filters Removes water contaminants through its carbon content. However, prolonged use also makes it vulnerable to various bacteria. In this case, post sterilization may be required.
Ceramic filters Prevents bacteria from passing through its filters since it usually has a 0.22 uM size. There are also smaller varieties.
Ion exchange resins Makes use of mix beds or separate anion & cation columns in polishing water to achieve fair quality.
Reverse osmosis Regarded as the most effective when used as a multi-filtration system. It works by combining active carbon and particle filtration.
Cartridge filters
The common issue between water filters and water filters is that people buy them impulsively without thinking which is more suitable and/or required for their home environment. It is important to initially determine what the different types of water filter can do before you finalize on buying one for your home.