Which Method of Water Purification is Best for You?

Now that you have decided to buy a water purifier the next step would be to determine which technology to opt for. Domestic water purifiers available in India use chemicals, activated carbon filtration, UV purification, reverse osmosis or a combination of technologies. The quality of water differs from source to source and it is advisable to select a purification system that is best equipped to eliminate the impurities present in the water where you live.

The water purifier you select should ideally depend on the extent and type of contamination together with the TDS (total dissolved solids) level of water.

Reverse osmosis eliminates 100% of micro organisms such as viruses and bacteria and up to 99.8% of solid suspension including salt if the membrane is a high quality one. Mechanical pressure is used to direct water to flow through a semi permeable membrane that traps all solids of or larger than .0009 microns. Reverse osmosis thus not only frees water of impurities but also desalinates it.

However, reverse osmosis is not always the best purification method. Reverse osmosis based purifiers should not be used where TDS levels are low because it could result in water that is completely mineral deficient and thus unsuitable for drinking. reverse osmosis water purifiers are most suitable for water that is sourced from deep tube wells, hard and saline water with TDS levels above 500 mg/litre and chemically contaminated water.

Popular reverse osmosis purifiers include Eureka Forbes’ Aquaguard Total reverse osmosis, Kent’s Mineral reverse osmosis system and Whirlpool’s Purafresh.

UV water purifiers are widely used in India and effectively render all micro organisms inert by changing the cell structure. Deactivated microbes do not harm humans. Most UV purifiers are based on a combination of ultra violet purification and filtration. These purification systems use a lamp to simulate the sun’s ultra violet rays and emit the same in measured degrees. This method does not remove minerals from water nor does it reduce TDS levels. Hence UV water purifiers are best used where TDS levels are below 500 mg/litre and the water tastes normal. Ultra violet purification ensures germ free water.

The leading UV purifier is Eureka Forbes’ Aquaguard, a time tested brand widely used in homes, offices and commercial establishments across India. In 2007, multinational Philips introduced Intelligent Water Purifier, which uses UV technology. The brand is available in four models.

Resin based technology is also used to treat water and make it safe for drinking. One such method uses a biostat carbon block to eliminate bad taste and odour and remove chlorine and organic chemicals. This is followed by treatment with an active disinfectant to destroy micro organisms. Post purification, the chemical is removed from the water. Eureka Forbes’ Aquasure is based on this technology and is very economically priced at just under Rs. 2000. Hindustan Unilever’s Pureit retails at around Rs. 1800. Pureit is based on a patented technology that combines chlorination and filtration to purify water, which is ultimately free of chlorine. It is powered by a Germkill battery kit. Neither Aquasure nor Pureit run on electricity.

So, selecting the right water purification system for you and your family is not nearly as confusing as it first appeared to be. All you have to do is ascertain water quality and select the right technology within your budget. Once you’ve done that, shop around for the best brands that use the technology. You should enquire about after sales service, particularly for UV and reverse osmosis purifiers as these need professional maintenance. There’s no point in investing thousands of rupees in a high tech system that is not promptly serviced when it malfunctions.