How Do Water Filters Work? {A Complete Guide}

Do you know how water filters work? What’s the quality of water when it is not filtered? Is clean water always safe? When you look at water in a bottle or a glass, you will see the water is clear. You may think it is safe to drink. In America, the case is usual. However, the cleanest water may contain particles that are not visible to the naked eye.

Some small types of minerals the in the water. They affect the taste of the water. At the same time, the minerals are very harmful. In developing countries, water sources like rivers’ water are compacted with protozoa, bacteria, and other parasites.

They may make you ill or sometimes may kill you. Over 780 million people in the whole world are fighting this problem. So you may read out the article and find out how water filters work to save you from this problem.

How Do Water Filters Work?

Water filters are devices that are used to remove impurities from water. They can be used for various purposes, such as drinking water, cooking, and even cleaning. Water filters come in many different types, but they all work by using a physical barrier or chemical process to remove contaminants from the water. Here is how water filter work:

1. A large surface area inside traps sediments and contaminants physically.
2. As water passes through activated carbon, it acts as a magnet for lead and volatile organic compounds.
3. In contact with chemicals like chlorine, chemical reactions inside the filter reduce them.

Types of Water Filters

Carbon/Activated Carbon

The activated carbons have the power to remove the contaminant from water. The filters are very effective. Some filters remove chlorine and upgrade the taste and odor.

There are some other that removes a large number of contaminants like lead, mercury, volatile, asbestos, and organic compounds (VOCs).

At last, the activated carbon cannot remove pollutants like fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, hexavalent chromium, and perchlorate. There are two types of carbon filters like granulated activated carbon and carbon block.

Carbon Block

There is more pulverized activated carbon in the Carbon block filters. It is shaped into the block with high pressure. They are more effective than granulated activated carbons filters as it contains more area. If they quickly flow water, they are more effective.

Granulated Activated Carbon

There are grains of activated carbon in these filters. The carbon block is less effective than the filters as it has a smaller activated carbon surface. The effectiveness also depends on the flow of the water.

Ceramic

The ceramic filter has a tiny hole that holds contaminants like cysts and sediments. They failed to remove the chemical contaminant.

Deionization

The filter applies an ion exchange method to remove mineral salts and some other electrically charged molecules from water. The method fails to remove nonionic contaminants like trihalomethanes or microorganisms. EWG’s filter guide will not include filters based rely on the technology.

Distillation: The system raises

The system raises the temperature high to the vaporization level and the steam back to the water. It can remove many bacteria, minerals, viruses, and chemicals with high boiling points. WEG never uses such type of filter and relied on this technology.

Fibredyne block

It is the proprietary type of carbon block filter that demands to contain higher sediment-catching capacity than the other carbon block filters.

Reverse Osmosis

In this method, water goes through a small permeable membrane which removes particles bigger than water molecules.

The RO removes many particles, but it fails to remove activated carbon, having fluoride, arsenic, nitrates, and hexavalent chromium. Moreover, RO fails to remove trihalomethanes, chlorine, or volatile organic chemicals.

There are lots of Osmosis system which has activated carbons. But they cannot remove other contaminants. The quality depends on the carbon filters and the membrane system.

Customers need to know that RO filters use 3 to 20 times more water. And only wastewater. Besides, they are best for cooking and drinking only.

UV (ultraviolet)

The system sometimes uses ultraviolet rays to destroy bacteria or some other microorganisms. They do not remove chemical contaminants. EWG does not offer such kind of filter-based technology.

Water Softeners

The technique is used to an ion exchange system to lessen the level of magnesium, calcium, barium and few forms of radium. They fail to remove other contaminants.

As water softener replaces magnesium and calcium with sodium. The treated water contains high sodium content.

There are different opinions on softened water. Doctors advise some patients not to take softened water. As it is similar to using water in gardening or watering plants.

How Do I Choose a Water Filter?

When it comes to choosing a water filter, the source of your tap water is an important factor. For public tap water in Europe and North America, a high-quality activated carbon filter is usually sufficient for removing contaminants such as chlorine, lead, and other organic compounds.

This type of filter works by trapping these particles on its surface, allowing clean water to pass through. However, if you have well water or public tap water from other regions of the world, then a combination of reverse osmosis (RO), ion exchange (IX), or ultraviolet (UV) filters might be necessary to remove all contaminants.

The TAPP 2 water filter is one example that provides excellent filtration for both public and private tap water sources. It uses a three-stage filtration process that includes activated carbon, ceramic microfiltration, and ultrafiltration membranes to remove bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and other impurities from your drinking water.

The TAPP 2 also has an optional mineral cartridge which adds essential minerals back into the filtered water for improved taste. With its advanced technology and easy installation, the TAPP 2 is an ideal choice for anyone looking for a reliable and effective way to purify their drinking water.

What is the Process of Activating Carbon Blocks?

Activated carbon block filters are an effective way to purify water. They work by trapping contaminants and impurities in the tiny pores of the carbon block. The most common type of activated carbon used in water filters is made from coconut shells, as it is the most efficient and eco-friendly option.

The filtration process begins when unfiltered water passes through the filter under pressure. Microscopically, the carbon block is composed of many small “spherical” particles that act like a sieve, trapping contaminants and impurities in its tiny pores.

This ensures that only clean and safe drinking water passes through the filter. Activated carbon block filters are highly effective at removing chlorine, sediment, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and other harmful substances from your drinking water.

How Often Should I Change My Filter?

Changing the filters in your water filtration system is an important part of keeping it running properly. The filter cartridge must be replaced regularly to ensure that the water you drink is free from contaminants and bacteria. Depending on the type of filter, this could be anywhere from every few months to once a year.

The frequency of changing your filter depends on your filter type and how much water you use. Generally, activated charcoal filters need to be changed more often than other filters, as they can become clogged with sediment or grow bacteria over time.

It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommended schedule for changing your filter, as this will help ensure that your water remains clean and safe to drink. Additionally, if you notice any changes in taste or smell coming from your tap, replacing the filter sooner rather than later is a good idea.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Conclusion

Understanding how water filters work is important for anyone who wants to ensure they drink clean, safe water. Water filters can be used in various ways, from filtering out contaminants in tap water to purifying contaminated groundwater. I hope I have cleared up the working process so you won’t have to worry much.