Water Purification

At first it would appear that your water purification options are just endless, but once you get through the inflated advertising and empty promises you find that one option sticks out above the rest: reverse osmosis.

A variety of contaminants can find their way into your water. Bacteria, algae, viruses, fungi, minerals and a number of manmade chemicals can enter the water system. Consumers on a city water distribution system usually do not have to be concerned about water purification, since the city water systems are designed to test the water on a regular basis and treat the water accordingly. On the other hand private water systems must consider contaminants. The first step is to have your water tested on a regular basis for contaminants and for hardness so that you can take the appropriate action. If there is any doubt about your water, consumers should take the following steps: have your water tested, drink bottled water or boil of your water used for drinking and cooking.

There are a number of systems and solutions for consumers who need to install water purification systems. These can include reverse osmosis systems, ultraviolet systems, bio filtration systems, bio sand filters, and sediment filters.

The solution you select will depend on the type of contaminants in your water. As we indicated earlier, having your water tested initially will help you decide which system to install in your home. Sediment filters remove particles down to 28 microns. Bio sand filters will block iron, manganese, parasites, bacteria silt and hydrogen sulfide. Ultraviolet units can be used to treat bacteria such as e.coli, viruses, and other water born parasites. Reverse osmosis systems can remove chlorine, other chemical contamination, heavy metals, bacteria, sodium, arsenic, boron and a number of other chemicals found in the water.

In addition to treating your water for purification purposes, most consumers will also want to examine the source of their water and determine if the contaminants are from natural sources or from manmade sources. Can you take appropriate action to ensure that your water does not remain contaminated and if this is a one time event, what are the steps you need to take to avoid contaminants from entering the water in the future. Water sources should be protected to avoid contamination. For example, storm water running into a well or other water source can be a significant source of contamination. Always ensure that your well is protected from surface water being introduced to your well.

From time to time even cities will have to issue drinking water restrictions and orders to boil the water to remove bacteria. Note that boiling water will kill the bacteria, however it does not remove the metal contamination and other particles that may be in the water.

If you're building a new home you'll want to have the area water tested first so you know what contaminants you're dealing with. It can save you a fortune in headaches later to do your homework early.