The Two Most Effective Ways To Purify Water

Most people take clean water for granted. You turn on the faucet and expect to see clear, clean, and safe water.  However, this isn’t the case for everyone in the world. It’s estimated that nearly 800 million people still don’t have access to a clean water supply!

These people need to know how to purify water properly. But, you should also be aware of how to. You never know when you’ll find yourself in need of water and no faucet handy to get some.

It’s also worth noting that the water coming out of your faucet may not be as clean and safe as you think. There’s a good reason why many households are investing in water filters.

How To Tell Your Water Is Pure

You can’t tell how pure or high-quality your water is by looking at it. Water can appear completely clear and yet be harboring a variety of bacteria, bugs, and other unpleasant ingredients. Although you can rely on the government to assure you that the water meets a certain standard, you may find it both interesting and useful to test the water yourself.

You can purchase test kits locally and you’ll discover what exactly is in your water. You may be surprised.

What’s In Your Water

Water goes round in a cycle. It starts by evaporating from the sea and other bodies of water. It will then become clouds which, when the air temperature is right, rain on the ground. The rainwater runs across the soil and through rocks to collect in reservoirs. This water is contaminated by the ground it passes through, picking up bacteria, minerals, and many other man-made contaminants.

The water treatment center filters the water to remove debris and adds chlorine to kill bacteria as well as fluoride to boost the strength of your bones and teeth. These chemicals have been linked with issues ranging from respiratory problems to an increased risk of cancer.

Alongside this, the water can pick up additional contaminants between the treatment center and your home.  You need to know how to purify the water!

1. Filtration

This is one of the most effective and easiest approaches. You can filter water at home by buying one of the many types of water filters from this specialist in Water filters Melbourne.  It’s also possible to use portable filters and large-scale filters for commercial and industrial applications.

There are several different types of filters. The most common is aerated carbon. This is carbon that has been heat-treated, increasing the porosity of the surface and the surface area. Water flows through the carbon allowing chemicals and other contaminants to be caught by the holes in the surface.

It’s one of the most efficient types of filtration although many people prefer to use reverse osmosis. This utilizes the natural tendency for density levels to balance. In other words, water that has a lot of minerals will re-disperse the minerals to water that has less mineral content, creating a balanced solution.

By forcing water through a membrane, this effect can be reversed, ensuring all the minerals stay on one side of the membrane and you get pure water on the other side. It’s simple and effective. You can even add some of the minerals back into your water if you wish.

There are many other types of water filters, if you’re considering adding one to your home then you should chat to your local specialist to discover which is the perfect one for you.

You’ll also need to decide between a single tap system or a whole house system. Both have benefits and are worth considering, depending on your needs.

The key to choosing the right one is to know what is n your water supply. You can check it out by having a water test done at home. This will show you what minerals and contaminants you’re dealing with and help you to choose the right filter.

2. Distillation

The second method of purifying water is distillation. This can be done when you’re in the wilderness or somewhere else without a clean water supply. It is also used by water treatment specialists to ensure the water is safe to drink. You won’t usually distill water at home, but it is possible.

Distillation is an advancement of boiling. You probably know that when there are bacteria in the water you can boil it for ten minutes and it will kill the bacteria. However, it won’t remove any contaminants, distillation will.

You’ll need a source of heat and will have to place a bowl or pan of water over it. The aim is to bring the water to the boil. Above the pan, there should be a piece of plastic. This is high enough for the steam to hit it and cool.

The plastic will need to be shaped, ensuring the water it collects goes into a clean container.

Applying heat causes the water to boil. At this point, it turns from a liquid into a gas, known as steam. The steam rises until it hits the plastic and cools rapidly. This allows it to convert back to water and fall into the collection container.

The secret is that water evaporates at a much lower temperature than the minerals and contaminants held in the water. In short, the water that evaporates and then condenses back into water is pure, all the contaminants are left in the original container.

Additional Thoughts

Distilling water requires a heat source which can make it impractical if you’re in the wild. However, if you have any concerns regarding the quality of the water, this is one way to ensure the water is pure. Providing the collection chamber is clean, you’ll notice the difference in taste and even smell.

In fact, you’re likely to want to purify your water all the time! Considering that water is so important to the human body, it’s a good idea to know what you’re putting into your body and control this factor of your life.